Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Government Accountability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident alleges mismanagement and retaliation at Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County meeting; chairman denies wrongdoing
Summary
Resident Warren Williams told the Nov. 12 board meeting that citizens face mismanagement, retaliation and nepotism in Chattahoochee County; Chairman Charles Coffey denied tax fraud and said he has only filed one homestead claim in writing. Commissioners agreed to investigate some claims and moved into executive session on legal matters.
Warren Williams, a county resident who said he was speaking on behalf of many citizens, told the Board of Commissioners on Nov. 12 that “a dark cloud hangs over us” and accused county leadership of mismanagement, retaliation and nepotism.
Williams said residents feel ignored and disrespected and alleged that political signs directed at the chairman had been removed and that the county had targeted him with a tax assessor visit after he requested to appear on the agenda. He also alleged that friends and family have been hired to county jobs and said the Magistrate Court judge is being investigated.
Commissioner Damon Hoyte thanked Williams, said he would investigate alleged retaliation and urged that Facebook comments remain visible so the community can be heard. Hoyte said he could not answer some of Williams' specific allegations and that Chairman Charles Coffey would need to respond.
Chairman Coffey addressed the audience later in the meeting, denying the tax‑fraud claim and saying he has filed homestead only in writing for one property. Coffey said an assessor’s error affected multiple property owners and that he does not have family employed by the county. "It would be difficult for anyone to care more than I do for this county," Coffey said, adding he serves to make the county a better place.
County Attorney Bin Minter told the board in old‑business remarks that Commissioner Hoyte has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the county related to signs placed in right‑of‑way, and that an appeal tied to a magistrate court decision is scheduled for Dec. 6; the county has filed an answer seeking dismissal of the claims. Minter also said the county will review any applicable Facebook moderation policy with the county manager.
The board then entered executive session to discuss legal matters; the session began at 10:46 a.m. and the regular meeting reconvened at 11:30 a.m. Chairman Coffey said no votes were taken inside the closed session and that the subjects discussed fell within legal exceptions to Georgia’s open meetings law.
The meeting record shows the board did not take formal action in response to Williams' allegations during the public‑comment period. The transcript indicates some items tied to the claims — including the pending court appeals and internal policy questions about the county Facebook page — remain matters for further inquiry or legal process.
