Shady Doings at Muscle Shoals City Council

 

From a Muscle Shoals resident/city council observer:

November 16th, the newly elected Muscle Shoals City Council (some supported by the Citizens for a better Muscle Shoals PAC), censored the citizens that elected them!

GINA CLARK, KEN SOCKWELL AND WILLIS THOMPSON voted to remove your access to voice concerns at a PUBLIC MEETING. It seems CHRIS HALL and newly elected DAVID MOORE were the only 2 that remembered their campaign promises about being transparent and accessible.

The old Ordinance/Council Rules of Procedure would allow a Muscle Shoals citizen to come up to the podium and address the Council and Mayor during comments from the Public at the meeting with a 5 minute time limit. We were allowed to speak without being on the formal business agenda. However, this new group imposed a deadline for 3 p.m. on Friday before the Monday Council meeting to call city hall and be put on agenda.  This also restricts speaking at the work session held prior to the council meeting.

Sounds harmless? Well think about this - if something comes up over the weekend or the day of meeting and is added to the business agenda that you would like to ask a question or discuss, you are out of luck.

Suppose someone they want to impress shows up, like a senator, state representative, governor, or even the president? By their own rules, they will not be allowed to speak if not on the agenda as of 3:00 the previous Friday.

This City Council is an elected position to serve and listen to the Public and represent the city of Muscle Shoals and be transparent, not an appointed board that has no accountability.

Is this a BETTER MUSCLE SHOALS? What are those 3 afraid of - the public that pays taxes that keep this city in business?  Is the intent to block the voice of opposition to an item on the agenda until it is voted on by the council?

At first I thought it was to quieten the voice of the public when there was flooding issues, because after all, what I understand is the sales tax that was earmarked for flood mitigation has gradually become a hand-out program and not spent to keep our homes flood proof. (I'm sure that will be heard loud and clear in the courts by those who spent thousands of dollars after their homes flooded). But, the more I have seen and heard at the work sessions and meetings, the backroom politics of Mayor Lockhart, Gina Clark, Ken Sockwell and Willis Thompson are becoming very clear.

It appears the group ClickEnergy that was paid by Mike Lockhart and some of the other candidates is now getting a sweetheart monthly paycheck from the citizens of Muscle Shoals for posting pictures and information on Facebook they are given by the City employees. For $12,000.00,  the city employees will send out the information to this group of political activists (linked to the issues at UNA) for them to post to the city FB/social media. One would think the same city employees would have enough intellect to simply upload those same pics and info they send to this political activist group that we are paying $12,000.00 of our taxes. Where is this Energy group of political activists located? Someone's basement, or maybe Sheffield or Tuscumbia?

Then, if I heard it right, Mr. Lockhart is pushing the council to change the funding for the school system to increase their take since the taxpayers voted against a tax increase. So, Taxpayer, you said no more taxes - Mr. Lockhart says tough - he will get it any way he can - backroom politics and restricting the public's access to the council.

Get ready City Employees, forget about anything but a meager little 2% raise occasionally, Lockhart will add to the war chests of the school system where his wife works. Those people like Chad Holden and "Citizens for a Better Muscle Shoals" PAC are transplants in Muscle Shoals and have made a mockery of the fine school system that was nationally known. Gone are the days of high level academic achievements, high ACT scores, and pride, replaced by a football program that can't win a state championship no matter who they recruit. Take a deep dive into the school's finances, salaries, benefits and wild spending. Do your own research.

City employees, Mr. Lockhart and those 3 city council members that limited yours and mine access to be heard are not concerned about you or me, the taxpayer. They have their agendas and it is increasingly getting more apparent as the days go by.

Just my two cents worth. May not matter to some, but will affect all.

I'm sure there will be more to come out. When you have the attitude "do it quick and they will forget", we will see a lot more of this backroom dealing.

Stay tuned.

Citizens Matter. Stop the Waste