Joint City/CEIDC Meeting Monday
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
CROCKETT – The joint Crockett City Council and CEIDC (Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation) meeting held Monday, Jan. 27 was held as scheduled, although one of the main points of the meeting – the official dissolution of CEIDC – had to be postponed, after one of the main attorneys in the case was unable to attend due to the death of his wife the night before.
City leaders were visibly shaken by the news, as Crockett Mayor Dr. Ianthia Fisher explained the situation and asked for prayers for the family. City Administrator John Angerstein informed council the law firm would work to get another attorney up to speed on the issues, so the matter could be taken up at a future meeting. That meeting has now been officially set for Monday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. at Crockett City Hall.
Fisher explained that while the vote had been clear to end CEIDC, given its financial ties and obligations, council needed to meet with legal counsel to make sure the city was protected, any debts or liabilities would be properly transferred and the process would go through smoothly and legally.
“Before anything can take place, there has to be a resolution that’s approved,” Fisher said. “In case council can’t come to consensus, then there’s another step that has to be taken, but we’re going to follow all of the rules and regulations for the shutdown as it has been prescribed by law, and that’s where we are. We don’t have control over that at this point. As the council, we can’t vote until we have the actual resolution, because it has to have all of the steps in it the law requires. It’s not in our hands, it’s in the hands of the legal system at this point.”
CEIDC is also set to approve a lease agreement with Workforce Solutions, before breaking into executive session to discuss the termination of the corporation and any other matters related to its closing.
The city council part of the meeting, a replacement to Houston County Appraisal District Board pf Directors will be discussed, replacing retiring “Red” Kitchen.
A resolution to set the May city election for Mayor, Precinct One and Two Council members and to have Houston County Elections run the election will be presented.
If approved, the dissolution of CEIDC will be formally recognized and accepted by the city.
In a further executive session, city council is set to discuss pending lawsuits from both CEIDC Executive Director James Gentry and former CEIDC Office Manager Woodrow Jones.
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
