Council member says private business will remain separate from city operations after ethics concerns raised

Council members at the March 5 Pendergrass workshop addressed public concerns about a council member’s private business and the possibility of using city resources for private gain. Members asked the business owner to put in writing how private operations will be kept separate from city activities.

A committee member urged that the business "go on record to discuss" how private work will be handled, saying the aim was to ensure there is "a difference and a distinction...so that you're not misappropriating any kind of city resources." The request was for a written statement to be prepared in the coming weeks.

In response, a council participant said, "I plan to keep private business separate from city business. I always have and always will," and indicated they had completed ethics-related forms when elected.

Speakers noted that some residents posted on Facebook they would refuse to patronize the business because they believe the owner is unethical; other members pushed back and emphasized that owning a private business in the city does not itself constitute misuse of city resources if operations are kept separate.

No formal motion, sanction or formal investigation was recorded during the meeting. Council members discussed setting up a written statement or record in the near term and reaffirmed a commitment to ethical conduct and transparency.

The council will continue routine oversight and follow up as needed; no formal action was adopted on this matter during the workshop.