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Resident Warren Williams alleges mismanagement and nepotism at Cusseta-Chattahoochee County meeting; chairman denies wrongdoing
Summary
At the Nov. 12 commission meeting resident Warren Williams accused county officials of mismanagement, retaliation and hiring family and friends; Chairman Charles Coffey denied the allegations and said he has only filed homestead on one property. Commissioners pledged to investigate and the meeting entered executive session on legal matters.
Warren Williams told the Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 12 that county leadership has created “a dark cloud” over the community by tolerating mismanagement, retaliation and nepotism.
“I am coming as a representative for many citizens of the county,” Williams said during the meeting’s public comment period, adding that his concerns were “not about race, color, gender, it is about human decency and respect and integrity.” He alleged that elected officials have hired or rehired friends and family and that county employment decisions have created a toxic environment for residents who try to speak up.
Williams also said county staff visited his property the day after he requested to be put on the agenda and accused the chairman of filing more than one homestead exemption on a property; he said taxes were paid after signs critical of the chairman appeared. “People are hiring friends and family,” he said. “There are more girlfriends and boyfriends on county payroll than should be.”
Commissioner Damon Hoyte responded that retaliation will not be tolerated and said he would look into Williams’s claim about targeted action by the assessor. “We will investigate,” Hoyte said. County Attorney Bin Minter told the commission he is coordinating with the cemetery committee on an ordinance and said the county may establish a Facebook policy with the county manager to address what content is allowed on the county page.
Chairman Charles Coffey answered Williams directly later in the meeting, saying he cares for the county and denying the specific accusations. Coffey said a homestead exemption must be requested in writing and that he has “only ever filed” for homestead on one property; he denied owing the county money and said he does not have family members working in positions related to him. “I do this for the citizens and the county,” Coffey said.
The meeting’s minutes record that a pending appeal related to political signs (an action arising from Commissioner Hoyte) will be heard Dec. 6 and that the county filed an answer seeking dismissal. The commission voted unanimously to enter executive session at 10:46 a.m. to discuss legal matters and reconvened at 11:30 a.m.; Chairman Coffey said the closed session covered legal issues and that no votes were taken during the session.
What happens next: Hoyte’s stated investigation into the assessor visit and the Dec. 6 court scheduling on the sign-related appeal are the nearest procedural developments noted in the minutes. A public hearing on SPLOST was also set for Dec. 3; the minutes do not say whether that hearing is related to Williams’s comments. The minutes do not record any formal finding or change in personnel as a result of Williams’s remarks.
