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Council rebukes petition targeting Councilmember Bill Sims, calls social-media rumors unlawful
Summary
Mayor Jennifer Williams read a petition seeking removal of Councilmember Bill Sims and counseled citizens on legal process; councilmembers defended Sims and described the petition as unlawful and petty, urging residents to seek accurate information rather than rely on social media.
Mayor Jennifer Williams read a petition and accompanying letter delivered to the city attorney that sought the removal of Councilmember Bill Sims, and she used a prepared statement to explain that under state law a councilmember may only be removed by a district judge for limited statutory grounds, not by a citizen petition.
"The City Attorney's duty is to the City, not the individual citizens," Williams said, and she urged residents to do their due diligence. Several councilmembers publicly defended Sims. Aaron Scott said the petition was "petty" and noted, "we can't discriminate against someone because they are hard of hearing." Larry Sutherland and Randy Page also expressed support for Sims and criticized the petition; Sims thanked the council for their support.
Citizens in the audience urged the city or city attorney to address individuals spreading misinformation on social media; Mayor Williams replied that freedom of speech limits what the City can directly control and that the best remedy is public transparency at meetings. Mayor Williams also reported the city has spent approximately $4,000 in attorney fees since May 2024 related in part to recent issues and contrasted that with roughly $6,000 in attorney fees for the prior fiscal year.
