Resident accuses council of plotting to remove city manager; council enters executive session

Ross Shealy, a Moss Creek resident, used the public-comment period at the Aug. 21 Casey City Council meeting to praise City Manager Tracy Hegler and to allege that several council members had arrived at the previous meeting with "a fully formed plan to get rid of her." "It's clear to everyone in this room that it was a planned thing," Shealy said, and later added, "I do wonder whether it would have gone down the same way if it was a male city manager."

The comment followed recognition and routine business earlier in the meeting. Shealy told the council he thought recent council behavior had favored antagonizing the mayor rather than acting "for the good of the city," and he urged members to make decisions based on the city’s interests. The speaker identified himself as living in Councilman Carter’s district and said he has been active in local organizations, including Edenwood Pool and Casey United Methodist Church.

Later in the meeting, Mayor (S1) moved, and councilmembers seconded, to go into executive session "for receipt of legal advice relating to claims and potential claims by and against the city and other matters covered by the attorney-client privilege." Mayor Pro Tem James (S3) joined that motion. When the council returned from executive session the mayor said no action was taken while in executive session.

The transcript records Shealy’s allegations and the council’s vote to seek legal advice; it does not include a response from individual council members denying or confirming the alleged plan, nor does it record any formal personnel action. The transcript names Tracy Hegler as the city manager who was discussed during public comment, but it does not include any formal motion to remove or discipline the manager.