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Multiple residents call for Coweta city manager's resignation over alleged misconduct; council takes no action
Summary
Several Coweta residents used the public-comment period on April 6 to urge the resignation or termination of City Manager Julie Casteen, alleging code-of-conduct violations, incomplete audits, mishandling of open-records requests, and a conflict of interest tied to a proposed data center; the city attorney asked for documentation and the council took no action.
During the public-comment portion of the April 6 meeting, several residents urged the Coweta City Council to seek the resignation or termination of City Manager Julie Casteen and made multiple allegations related to conduct and transparency.
Resident Cathy Hogate told the council she wanted what was best for the city, expressed concerns about safety and growth, and said "trust, faith, and communication have been broken," urging the council to act. Allen Prather alleged violations of the city's code of conduct, said an audit remains incomplete, and demanded accountability for what he described as improper actions connected to a failed effort referenced in the record as "Project Atlas." City Attorney Partick Boulden asked Prather to provide copies of the materials he cited.
Others raised related concerns: Jimmy Rothrock read the city-job description aloud and criticized what he described as complacency and lack of empathy from senior officials, and he alleged a conflict of interest involving a proposed data center. Darren Blanchard (the minutes also list a variant spelling 'Blancard') said he had been called a liar by the City Manager in prior communications and asserted that open-records requests had not been fully satisfied; he said produced text messages include instances where the City Manager called residents "stupid" or "not very smart." Council repeatedly asked speakers whether they lived within city limits; several speakers replied they did not. The minutes record no formal response from the City Manager and no council action on personnel matters.
What the record shows: multiple residents made allegations and demanded resignation or termination; the city attorney requested documentation from at least one commenter; and the council took no personnel action during the meeting. The minutes do not record any investigation results, disciplinary actions, or a formal response from the City Manager; they do not specify whether the city will pursue an independent review.
