Council chaos over condemnation process

News-Times
News-Times

By Tia Lyons

Staff Writer

City officials were unable to restore order Thursday when an El Dorado City Council meeting erupted into a verbal melee, in which tempers flared and accusations flew during fiery exchanges that involved city officials, city employees and audience members.

A discussion about the city’s condemnation process set off a contentious debate, during which highly-charged and pointed comments were hurled at and amongst city officials, drawing collective gasps and other such reactions from the audience.

In one instance, Mayor Frank Hash was categorically called a “liar.” In another, Alderman Vance Williamson was accused of being Hash’s sycophant.

Throughout the meeting, Alderman Willie McGhee ignored requests by his fellow council members to stop interrupting them as they spoke.

At one point, Jeff Teague, local auto dealer and former chairman of the El Dorado Airport Commission, stepped to the podium and said he was offended by a comment McGhee had directed toward Hash.

Condemnation delay

The fray began, ironically, with a recommendation from Hash and a vote by the council to delay demolition for a building that was condemned by the city nearly four years ago.

Annie White asked the council for an extension to allow her time to find financing to rehabilitate the building at 712 E&B and bring it up to code.

White said she purchased the property when it

appeared on the state’s delinquent property-tax rolls, but at the time, she did not know that the building that sat on the property was “in such sad shape.”

Kirby Craig, city code enforcement officer, said he first discussed the property with White in February 2014 and granted her time to repair the house.

“Nothing had been done by (June 17, 2014), so I resoluted it on (June 17, 2014),” Kirby said.

White said she previously researched funding options, including federal government housing programs, to repair the house.

“I looked at it before, but I stopped. But now, I have to revisit that,” she said.

McGhee asked White about her plans for the building and she said that she wanted to fix it up for rental property. Craig said the building is approximately 900 square feet.

White requested and was granted 90 days to seek out funding for repairs, telling city officials, “If I don’t get the funding, then the city council can do what you want to do with it.”

Craig said he would put the agreement in writing.

“If the funding is not approved, would you let the city council know beforehand so we can take action?” Alderman Dianne Hammond asked.

White said yes.

Following the council’s vote, Hash stressed that the city “is not trying to hurt people” by enforcing its condemnation process, which allows for the owner of a condemned property to request a delay and present to the city a plan to repair the property.

‘Disrespected’

McGhee then inquired about a recent instance in which the city took down a house that had been on the condemnation list since 2016.

The house, owned by Sylvester and Renee McHenry, was razed in a controlled burn last week and Renee McHenry told a News-Times reporter that she was not notified about the burn.

“I had TVs in there, a king size bed, a brand new bed mattress, refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, microwave … everything,” she said. “I’m just upset.”

In June 2017, the McHenrys asked that the city remove the house at 1112 Ouachita Avenue from the condemnation list and the council voted to move forward with the condemnation process.

McGhee said he was out of town when the house was burned on March 28 and he received several phone calls about the matter.

“Some folks were saying they had personal items in the house … What was the problem with notifying her and saying, ‘We’re going to burn the house down tomorrow. If you got something in it, come over there and get it and bag it up in some trash bags?’” McGhee said.

“Her attitude,” Craig said. “Mr. McGhee, how she talked to me several times and how she cussed at me, which I’m not taking a cussin’ from anybody …”

“So you decided to burn her stuff up because she cussed you?” McGhee asked.

“No,” Craig said, adding that he and city officials previously tried to speak with the property owner about the matter. He also said the property owners did not contact him when certified letters were mailed to them about the condemnation process.

“When they act like a 2-year-old throwing a temper tantrum, I’m not going to deal with that,” Craig continued.

When McGhee pressed and asked Craig to listen to him several times, Alderman Mary McAdams stepped in, saying, “We’re tired of listening to you.”

Later, McGhee called brothers Brian and Ralph Smith to the podium to discuss a condemned property they own at 710 Ouachita. The brothers said that Hash refused a request to place them on the council’s agenda.

“I did not refuse Mr. Smith,” Hash contended.

“How can you sit there and say you didn’t refuse me? You don’t remember me coming to your office?” Ralph Smith asked incredulously.

“No, sir, I do not,” Hash responded.

“You are a liar,” Ralph Smith charged.

Hash later said Ralph Smith visited his office and Hash explained the process citizens he must follow to be placed on the agenda, including completing a request form.

The mayor said Ralph Smith submitted a city complaint/suggestion form and he suggested that the Smiths first try to resolve the issue with their aldermen — Hammond and McAdams —, as outlined in the complaint/suggestion form and then fill out the appropriate form to appear before the council if the matter is not resolved by their aldermen.

“Wow, he could be a car salesman, couldn’t he?” McGhee asked sarcastically.

Teague told McGhee he took umbrage to the comment and McGhee apologized. Following the meeting, Hash said Ralph Smith also apologized to him and he accepted the apology.

During the meeting, Brian Smith said the brothers attempted to work with Hammond, noting, “That didn’t work.”

Hammond said the Smiths did not contact her.

McAdams said Brian Smith called her, but she could not meet with him at the time he requested.

“When I called you again, you said the issue had been resolved,” McAdams said.

Alderman Kensel Spivey inquired about the status of the complaint, saying that she had emailed it to city officials days earlier, including Hammond and McAdams and that Williamson was the only one to respond to the email.

Williamson wrote that he had looked at the property and it appeared to need “a lot of work done.”

Brian Smith questioned the “constitutionality” of the city’s condemnation process, saying that city officials did not contact him prior to condemning the property.

Craig later said that a certified letter was sent to the property owners and returned as undeliverable prior to him recommending condemnation to the council.

Following the council’s vote, Craig said a second letter was sent to Brian Smith, notifying him that he had 30 days to contact the city. A relative signed for the letter, but no one contacted the code enforcement office, Craig said.

City Attorney Henry Kinslow noted that Brian Smith previously sued the city about a similar case regarding another condemned property, saying that the case reached the U.S. Court of Appeals, which ruled in favor of the city.

“So, you’re familiar with the process. I explained this to you years ago,” Kinslow said.

He advised the Smiths to meet with Craig to work out a plan to rehabilitate the property at 710 Ouachita.

At one point, Hash asked Ralph Smith to sit down, saying, “We’re through with this, and you’ve had a good say.”

To that, McGhee responded, “Wow. People are tired of being disrespected.”

He then accused his fellow council members of allowing Hash to “get away with murder.”

McGhee referred to a previous council meeting in which tensions boiled over and Hash called for a motion to adjourn the meeting before McGhee could ask the mayor to speak to the Smiths.

“Mr. Vance Williamson obliged you because he strokes you and he’s got you like he always do and that’s what I’m trying to say,” McGhee said.

Williamson challenged the comment, sharply asking McGhee, “What do you mean by that? What do you mean by that, Mr. McGhee?”

Williamson later told the News-Times, “He thinks I’m taking up for the mayor. The reason I shut down the meetings is because it gets out of hand. It has nothing to do with the mayor. It’s because I don’t want to deal with that.”

As the council advanced the discussion, Alderman Billy Blann noted that White approached the council with a request to delay condemnation and allow time for her to develop a plan for rehabilitation.

“She had a reasonable request. We gladly gave her another 90 days. I don’t know why we’re being …” Blann began before he was interrupted by McGhee.

“Please let me talk. You’ve been talking all night,” Blann said.

Other aldermen chimed in.

“Stop interrupting,” McAdams said.

Added Alderman Mike Rice, “Mr. Blann was speaking, Alderman McGhee.”

McGhee continued to speak, prompting Blann to ask, “What do you do when an alderman will not follow the (council’s operating rules)? I’ve been waiting 20 minutes to talk.”

“Remove him! Remove him! This was my time I was on the agenda!” McGhee insisted.

The council later moved on to another topic, with Blann inquiring about work that the South West Arkansas Planning and Development District does in helping the city to apply for grants.

Again, McGhee cut off Blann’s comments, referring back to White’s request.

“He interrupted me again! Can I please finish my conversation? You know, you’re very rude, you know that …?” Blann said before telling Hash that he was ready to adjourn the meeting.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.

Upcoming Events