Resident accuses road commissioners of improper payments; county says matter is in litigation

During public comment, Gwen Holden identified herself and told the commission she had documents showing five road commissioners received $4,600 in payments for meetings in 2020 that they allegedly did not attend.

"Five road commissioners...got paid $4,600 for meetings in 2020 that they did not attend," Holden said, and urged the mayor and county attorney to require repayment by the commissioners and to "stand up for the people, stand up for the law."

A commissioner responded that the claim is already the subject of a lawsuit. "That is a subject of a lawsuit that is currently underway," the commissioner said, and added the county will await the legal outcome before taking further action. The chair reiterated the principle that anyone who received money they should not have should repay it.

The commission did not take immediate action during the meeting on the allegations; a commissioner said he will address a repayment matter privately with an identified commissioner and the commission scheduled an executive session for March 31.