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Okolona council approves package of personnel actions including terminations and new hires
Summary
The Okolona council approved a package of personnel actions in a single motion: immediate terminations, new part-time police hires pending drug tests, transfers to hourly status, and authorization to advertise for a new city clerk. The package passed unanimously; separate 30‑day extension for an employee was also approved by roll call.
The Okolona Board of Mayor and City Council approved multiple personnel actions in a bundled motion during a Feb. 9 special meeting.
A council member moved a package that included terminating Clarissa Leighton for job performance (effective immediately); contracting with Jean White for professional services; advertising for a city clerk; transferring Denise Collins from salaried to hourly status at $15 per hour; moving 'Refundia' from part time to full time at $14.75 per hour in the electric department; terminating Jeremy Harris in the police department (effective immediately); and hiring two part-time police officers (Jalen Chandler and Jansen Ashby) at $15 per hour pending drug tests. The motion was seconded and, after a roll call, the mayor stated the vote was unanimous and the package passed.
Separately, the council voted by roll call to give Jasper Gardner 30 days to pass a PT test, with compensation at $15 per hour during that period. The mayor conducted the roll call; Councilman Barton, Councilwoman Gates, Councilwoman Morgan and Councilman Thomas recorded 'yes' votes and the motion passed.
The motions were presented as personnel-management decisions; the transcript records approvals but does not include further detail on appeals procedures, effective dates beyond 'immediate' for some terminations, or details of any severance or human-resources follow-up. Several hires were explicitly listed as contingent on pending drug tests.
The council closed its personnel business and then adjourned the special meeting.
