The Results of Nepotism in Muscle Shoals

 

The City of Muscle Shoals is looking for a new city clerk. The current clerk has announced her retirement after less than a year in this position. Now the TimesDaily has mentioned that Elaine Coan's job performance has been questioned. Really?

In 2013, city employee Coan was accused of gossiping about some private Civil Service Board conversations. At this time, another employee was also accused of being less than circumspect, but our focus here is on only Coan.

In 2017, Coan made TD news again after she called called a black co-worker "Aunt Jemima." At this time, Coan was the city's human resource director. At this point, we're sure you're asking how she was ever promoted to the clerk's position.

One reason Coan lasted as long as she did with the City and even continued to advance is her husband. For years, Lanny Coan was a member of the Muscle Shoals Police Department. Did that factor in?

It would be odd not to surmise Elaine's good fortune with the City after all her troubles cannot be the result of her husband's position in law enforcement. So, Mayor Mike Lockhart and council, how's that nepotism working out for you?

Elaine Coan/Imposters?

During the early part of August, we heard about Muscle Shoals employee Elaine Coan calling another employee "Aunt Jemima." We didn't run with the story since it's our experience the City of Muscle Shoals refuses to comment on such issues. Now the story has made the TimesDaily, and apparently every word sent to us was completely true.

The TD did report that Coan was having to watch a film on diversity. This is the Human Resources Director; she should have these things down pat by now. So we guess she won't be getting anyone else's job, now will she? Oh, just picking a name at random, she won't be usurping Ricky Williams' position anytime soon. 

Et tu, Elaine...and all that.

(Coan's first name was listed incorrectly when this article was first published. Apologies to readers.)

*****

We frequently come to the defense of those unfairly named as members of our blogging group. It usually makes no difference. So now we'll try a different tact.

Yes, both the Lauderdale and Colbert writer mentioned a few weeks ago are part of our team. It makes no difference that we had never even heard of the Colbert writer. We even embarrassed ourselves by asking her real name. 

So, yes, they both have great senses of humor; that automatically makes them us. Just keep it under your hat...matter of national security and all that.