COTTONWOOD: In Cottonwood a few “malcontents” have been creating drama. And the drama is causing two long friendship to end.
Cottonwood Mayor Van Granger served Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Hall’s son and wife notice they are not allowed to come to the Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department or Cottonwood City Hall. And I have expressed to Mayor Van Granger that is perhaps the most stupid decision he has ever made in his entire life.
Last date RSN posted a letter where Attorney John White placed Cottonwood Mayor Van Granger on notice that certain comments needed to be withdrawn and Fire Chief Randy Hall and his son given a public apology.
A COUP OF COTTONWOOD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED BEFORE
A number of months ago or over a year ago, a group attempted a power grab in taking over Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department. It did not work. But that has left many in the Cottonwood Volunteer Fire looking over their shoulders.
THIS CURRENT DRAMA
Cottonwood Volunteer Fireman are paid $ 20 a call to help off set them responding on their own vehicle. Several months ago the amount doubled for the quarter. Cottonwood Mayor Van Granger walked in Cottonwood City Hall following working with the water department. It is a struggle for Cottonwood to keep more than one person in the water department.
The City Clerk is reported to have told the Mayor the quarterly amount to the fire department has doubled since the last quarter. The Mayor is reported to have said check and see why.
AND HERE IS WHERE THE PROBLEMS STARTED
Let me set the stage.
The City Clerk for Cottonwood is new. One of the police officers, Jim Smith, quit Dothan Police Department as a Captain under major controversy between Captain Jim Smith and then Dothan Police Chief John White. Smith went to Cottonwood as a Police Officer. He is now referred to as Colonel. There are only three police officers, a Chief, Colonel and an officer ( may have rank.)
When Jim Smith was Captain of Dothan Police Department he also served as Director of the City of Dothan – Houston County 911. So Smith knows the Computer Aided Dispatch system and reports.
The City Clerk called Bart Blackmon, Supervisor of Houston County Sheriff 911. The clerk requested a print out from the computer aided dispatch for Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department. After discussion between Blackmon and then Communications Captain James Ivey, they told the City Clerk they would have to go through Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Hall. Blackman then called Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Hall inforning him of the request. Hall then called the City Clerk.
Now the City Clerk would not have known to call Houston County Sheriff Communications Bart Blackmon. So all sources feels like she was operating under instructions from Cottonwood Police Colonel Jim Smith. Of which Smith should not to be involved in the issue.
Then it got started the Cottonwood Police Department was “investigating” Chief Hall and Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department.
THE CITY CLERK, THE COTTONWOOD MAYOR, COLONEL JIM SMITH NEVER ASKED COTTONWOOD VOLUNTEER FIRE CHIEF RANDY HALL
The so called “investigation”, they never asked Fire Chief Randy Hall why the calls increased. They were making phone calls behind his back. Randy Hall hit the roof in that his character was being questioned and the City Clerk, Mayor Van Granger, Colonel Smith never had the respect to even ask Chief Hall.
Randy Hall has a very secure and high demand job in the private sector. And to question his character in a so called investigation made Randy Hall very upset. And as he asked questions the stories changed within Cottonwood City Hall.
TRENTON HALL AND HIS MOTHER RETURNED THEIR CHECKS TO COTTONWOOD CITY HALL
Cottonwood Volunteer Fireman Trenton Hall and his mother went to the Cottonwood City Hall. Mayor Van Granger was sitting in the office with Cottonwood Police Chief Tony Money, Cottonwood Police Colonel Jim Smith when they walked in. Trenton Hall came in and handed them his and his dad’s checks and said they could stick the checks up their ass. Reports are Colonel Jim Smith said what did you say and he repeated they could stick the checks up their ass. Mrs. Hall replied, yes, straight up the crack and walked out.
The Hall family is very close and give a lot of their time and family time, for free, in service to others. It made Chief Hall’s son and wife very angry that they were questioning Randy Hall’s character. So their reaction is what any good son and wife would do.
WITHIN 24 HOURS THE VIDEO OF THAT WAS ONLINE
The cameras in Cottonwood City Hall captured what was said to do with the checks.. Within 24 hours the video and audio made it on the FACEBOOK of Robert Golden. Who is reported to be great friends with Colonel Jim Smith. RSN contacted Robert Golden and asked him to take the video and audio down.
The video was within the Cottonwood City Hall and only certain people who work with the City of Cottonwood has access to the video. So it was an apparent inside job that the video was released to Robert Golden. Then Golden posted it online. Everyone has denied responsibility for the video being released to Robert Golden.
BLOG IN COTTONWOOD
Then a blog began. A lot of speculation of who started the blog, Cottonwood Truths. But it seemed the authors have inside information into the bowels of Cottonwood City Hall. And they posted the video of the encounter at City Hall.
COTTONWOOD VOLUNTEER FIREMAN HAVE ALREADY LEFT THEIR EQUIPMENT AT COTTONWOOD MAYOR VAN GRANGER’S HOUSE ONCE
The members of Cottonwood Fire support their Chief, Randy Hall and fellow fireman Trenton Hall. Once before when a coup began the fireman left their gear at the front door of Cottonwood Mayor Van Granger. All seemed to calm down and they returned and got the equipment. But the volunteer men and women refused to have Randy Hall and Trenton Hall and Mrs. Hall treated this way.
Based on the actions of Cottonwood Mayor Van Granger all but about 6 Cottonwood Volunteer Fireman have left the department. This weekend they quit based on Mayor Van Granger’s notice to trespass Chief Hall’s son and wife. Chief Hall’s son is a volunteer fireman and EMT.
AFTER THE LETTER FROM JOHN WHITE, COTTONWOOD MAYOR VAN GRANGER FIRED COTTONWOOD FIRE CHIEF RANDY HALL AND TRENTON HALL
The letters from John White had been sent out days ago. RSN got a copy and printed the letter. This weekend Cottonwood Mayor Van Granger tresspased Chief Hall’s son and Chief Hall’s wife. Now the incident discussed above took place several months ago and Mayor Van Granger acted out of madness and retaliation.
The Cottonwood Fire Chief is appointed by the full Cottonwood Town Council. Therefore the custodian of the fire department and equipment is under the Fire Chief. Not sure the Mayor has the legal standing to tresspass from the fire department or membership of the department. That is, unless the Mayor and Town want to pay the fire department salaries.
I reached out to Cottonwood Mayor Van Granger and told him that was the stupidest decision he has ever made. Granger said he could not comment, which I assume is on the direction of Cottonwood City Attorney Press Register. I like Press but would never – ever – ever hire him for legal counsel. Register is a master of billing.
RANDY HALL AND FAMILY
Randy Hall was raised on Cottonwood, all of his life. He has been dedicated as a Cottonwood resident and as Volunteer Fire Chief.
When the tornado struck Cottonwood Randy Hall took off from his paid job and stayed in Cottonwood 24 hours a day. Hall slept in the mobile command post. Because Randy Hall and his family have a true passion about serving others. And being raised in Cottonwood all of his life, Randy Hall knows the people. And Randy Hall looks after the men and women of Cottonwood Volunteer Fire when working a scene. He makes sure they are all ok along with the citizens served by Cottonwood Fire.
When the fire station and senior citizens center were destroyed, Randy Hall went to work to secure funding to rebuild. Hall offered to manage both the fire station and senior center. The officials of Cottonwood decided they would manage the senior citizens center. To date, Cottonwood Fire Station has long been completed. The senior citizens center managed by the officials of Cottonwood, still not completed.
Mayor Granger, you never mess with a man’s son and wife. You are way out of line and your employees started this mess. Chief Hall will stand up for his son and wife, and they will stand up for Chief Hall. But in addition, Chief Hall will stand up for citizens that power abuses. And you have abused your power in this situation.
PAST ELECTION FOR MAYOR
It was Randy Hall and others who worked and met to help get Van Granger elected Mayor. The past Mayor Pro Tem resigned and Van Granger was made Mayor Pro Tem, Then Mayor Coachman resigned which threw Van Granger into the Mayor’s seat. Election rolled around and Hall and others rolled their sleeves up and worked for Van Granger to get elected.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED
The increase in the $ 20 paid to the volunteer fireman for that quarter was very simple. There was bad weather during that quarter and many trees down blocking roads. Cottonwood Volunteer Fire was dispatched by Houston County 911. The volunteer fireman took care of things, cutting and removing trees from roadways to allow safe passage, along with other calls into 911. Everything is legitimate and all each of you had to do was to ask Chief Hall. He would have been more than happy to provide you with documentation.
A simple QUESTION, rather than backstabbing would have solved the issue. But NOOOO, the backstabbing of Chief Randy Hall had to take place.
Then when asked, stories changed. The Hall’s wasted no time in saying, you know what, we do not need this and hand delivered, in person, the checks back to the Town of Cottonwood. And told Colonel Smith and Mayor Van Granger where they could put the checks.
This hurt the Mayor’s feelings to be told what he could do with the checks. After all, he was the Mayor and CEO, he feels, of Cottonwood. When if he would return his feelings from his shoulder’s to his buttocks, he would realize this was handled all wrong. But the Mayor can not rise above his feelings and realize the matter was handled all wrong. Not blaming the City Clerk because she followed directions – from someone she should not have.
The Mayor recently got a smart phone. He has the video of being told where to put the checks on his phone. Reports are he is showing people the video and saying I am the Mayor and should not be talked to his way.
Mayor, sorry your feelings are hurt. Anyone elected is not royalty but a public servant. Just because you are Mayor does not place you in a special cloud. And this matter was handled wrong from the start.
If you keep listening to those who have your ear, you need to go ahead and resign as Mayor. Because this issue and your actions against Randy Hall’s son and wife are not going away very easy or soon.
You and Randy have been friends for a long time. But you are allowing others to come between the friendship.
