The City of South Pittsburg, Tennessee 204 W. 3rd Street * South Pittsburg, Tennessee 37380 wwwsouthpittsburg-tn.gov Mayor Administrator Virgil F. Holder GeneVess Commissioners Telephone Jimmy P. Haley, Jr (423) 837-5012, Ronald Lancaster Matt Stone Samantha Rector Fax (423) 837-7303 June 19, 2019 An Open Letter to the Citizens of South Pittsburg, TN and ‘The South Pittsburg Board of Commissioners: Having grown up in this city, I have come to love the city and I have sincere affection for the great people living here. When I was fortunate enough to be elected Mayor of South Pittsburg, I felt we could easily work together, make improvements for the benefit of the city, and make the needed changes that had previously mired our city in dispute, disagreement, name calling and even the restriction of First Amendment Rights to state in public things that were felt to be wrong with our city. Unfortunately, I have been taught over the past months, that improvements cannot be made with the presence of certain powers that exist within the city. ‘These powers are being exerted by certain people who want to remain locked into the same bad policies of the past. We are unable to make meaningful changes and improvements to South Pittsburg as a small number of individuals are constantly protecting their own private interest to the demise of our great city. City Hall (City Administrator) now tells the majority of the Board when, where and what to do instead of our elected Board directing City Hall. During the past several months, my attempts to make improvements have been thwarted by a group of commissioners that have already decided the path in which they will take before the matter is ever discussed during a city commission meeting. This majority of commissioners have already discussed, agreed or have been instructed on the path they are to take. They continue to take steps to protect the same old interests that I campaigned against. As a result of my refusal to just say “Yes” and “go along”, and my questioning of “why” and “what” the atmosphere in City Hall has become non-productive and has created a hostile work environment. Unfortunately, 1 have found my efforts to be fruitless.June 19, 2019 Since, City Hall (City Administrator) has control of the majority of this Board, on more than one occasion, as mayor I am limited to exactly how the City Charter reads. The City Charter states that I am to act as a part time mayor only, cast my vote at City Meetings, chair the City Meetings, and sign City contracts once approved by the Board in an open meeting. ‘This is in contradiction to how past city mayors have been able to perform their role as city mayor. ‘As mayor, it has become obvious that the City employees work in fear of saying something or letting something slip to me concerning City business that the City Administrator does not want me to know. This attitude of the City Administrator towards the Mayor has been noted by visiting personnel from State agencies and by other city administrations. Our beloved city is now being directed by City Hall (City Administrator) that is operating in the wrong direction for the entire City and making decisions to please a small group of people. ‘These are just some examples that I am aware of: Meetings were held with the commissioners and police department employees excluding the mayor. When asked why, the City Administrator’s explanation for the Mayor being excluded was that “I knew you would not agree so I felt you did not need to know.” Subsequently, the Mayor was advised to get out of the City Administrator's office when trying to discuss this attitude with a City elected Official. I was advised he (City Administrator) has his three votes; he did not have to tell me anything and get out of his office. The majority of the Board at that time agreed with the City Administrator. As an elected official of the City of South Pittsburg, I have not been included on any discussions concerning policies or decisions of the City since November of 2017. This is why you have not seen me at City Hall as you did in the beginning, The majority of the time I now learn what the city is doing or has done long after the fact while on the streets or via social media. The direction and purpose for which our city is being moved is to please the select few. My hopes and prayers were that we could change the nature of our city government so that our city government worked on behalf of all of our citizens and not the small special interest groups. The process required by the State of Tennessee for bidding out services and purchases for our city has not been followed. ‘This improper practice has been called out on several occasions in City meetings. In one instance, no bids at all were asked for nor was the permission for the purchases authorized by the City Board, There is no such thing as “Piggy Backing” another government agency’s bid! Page 2 of 3Sune 19, 2019 ‘The discussions at City Hall now include the increase of fees (garbage) or create new fees (storm water) in order to generate greater income for the city to use. Comment was and has been made in workshops, if the citizens want services, they will have to pay for them like in Chattanooga and East Ridge. The citizens of our City now have the highest city property taxes in our county. Unfortunately, the city ignores the fact that an increase in fees is the same as an increase in taxes as it has the same results once it is implemented. In the last meeting, I learned the City Administrator has diverted city’s monies to a non- City organization. The City Administrator has also tumed the operations of City assets (Princess Theater) over to a non-City individual and the same non-City associated organization for their profit at the citizen’s expense. Taxpayers have paid approximately 20% of the total property taxes collected this year for the Princess Theater including the monthly payments. Our City is now violating and/or not requiring our own City ordinances and resolutions to be followed by certain special interest groups. When the majority of the City’s Board of Commissioners (present and past) has no issues with the City Administrator’s actions, an over run of over $400 thousand dollars of the City’s 2018-19 budget, and diverting city monies, it is time, It has come to the point that I cannot sit and remain in office while government behaves in this manner. In weighing this decision I have been reminded of an Abraham Lincoln quote “If you're right, it won’t matter what they say. If you're wrong, it won’t matter what they say.” So in my opinion the best thing I can do is make what I believe to be the right decision. I can no longer be a part of this improper exercise of government. It is for this reason; | will be resigning my office as Mayor of the City of South Pittsburg, Tennessee effective immediately. Virgil F. Holder Page 3 of 3