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Resident accuses county of ‘mismanagement’ and retaliation; commissioners deny and promise review
Summary
At the Nov. 12 meeting a resident, Warren Williams, accused Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County officials of mismanagement, alleged targeted tax‑assessor visits and hiring favoritism; Commissioner Damon Hoyte said retaliation would not be tolerated and Chair Charles Coffey denied wrongdoing.
Warren Williams, a county resident, told the Board of Commissioners on Nov. 12 that “a dark cloud hangs over us” and accused county leaders of mismanagement, targeted enforcement and hiring friends and family to the county payroll.
Williams said county residents feel ignored and disrespected and alleged that, after he sought time on the agenda, the tax assessor visited his property while others were not visited. He also said “the Magistrate Court Judge is being investigated.”
Commissioner Damon Hoyte thanked Williams for speaking and said the commission would investigate any retaliation tied to public comment, adding that suppression of Facebook page comments would not be tolerated. Chairman Charles Coffey responded to several of Williams’s allegations. Coffey denied irregular homestead filings or tax fraud, saying a county assessor had found an error on one parcel shared by multiple taxpayers and that he ‘‘has only ever done so on one piece of property.’’ Coffey also said he has no relatives working for the county and that he serves ‘‘for the citizens and the county.’’
County Attorney Bin Minter reported that a separate legal matter — an appeal stemming from a former magistrate decision connected to Commissioner Hoyte’s sign dispute — is scheduled for Dec. 6 and that the county has filed an answer seeking dismissal of claims. The attorney said the county will review its Facebook policy with the county manager.
No formal action was taken at the meeting in response to Williams’s allegations beyond commissioners’ statements that they would look into the retaliation concern. The commission proceeded to other business and later entered an executive session to discuss legal matters.
