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The Rinaldi Report by Peter Rinaldi
To interfund loan or not to interfund loan Natchez Aldermen recently did a hand-slap on City Clerk Donnie Holloway, telling him not to transfer monies from one fund to another. The vote was a bit disingenuous, as aldermen know full well the reason why the clerk transfers funds is to make immediate payments that are due. The city is perpetually cash short. Holloway must make those transfers or the bills go significantly in arrears. Subsequently, those loans are noted in the aldermen’s meetings, usually voted on, and then recorded in the minutes. The aldermen have been playing the blame game recently, pointing figures at department heads for miscarriages of administration. But you should look at aldermen’s own behavior. Year after year, they pass a budget that overstates revenues and understates expenses. The city ends up with a paper-load of interfund loans, tax anticipation notes and short term notes that can’t be repaid with current cash flow, a budget that’s completely out of whack. For example, the city used the $100,000 deposit from the developer of the Roth Hill project to pay for negative cash flow. The city also pledged the Worley $500,000 condo land deposit to a tax anticipation note. But the terms of their agreements, both deposits can be demanded with minimal notice. That means, of course, the city is essentially $600,000 poorer than its books state. The mayor and aldermen are playing fast and loose with your money.
I recently received an email from a reader. It said,
“City government is run by idiots.” No more so than the populace
itself, a city of idiots, who continue to allow the reigning
aldermen to mismanage so much of what they touch. You get the
government and “leaders” you vote for.
Cop shop scandal As you may have heard by now, an FBI investigation led to the arrest of two Natchez Police officers, Elvis Prater and Dewayne Johnson, for violating the civil rights of the Ellard brothers they arrested in May 2009. The FBI said the officers lied to the feds during the investigation Johnson also allegedly stole one of the Ellard boys’ credit cards and misused it, asking a woman relative to buy some beer with the stolen card. Some background: In May 2009, police were called to Main Street to quell a disturbance near a bar. An argument developed between one officer and Daniel, Jason and Jacob Dillard. The Ellards had been drinking and Daniel probably jumped the officer as he was being handcuffed. Back-up was called. Two more Natchez Police officers responded along with an Adams County Sheriff’s deputy. The Ellards were Tasered by the deputy, subdued and carried off to jail. But before booking the offenders, at least one of the cops (minus the deputy) may have beat the tar out of Jason Ellard. Jason required in-patient hospitalization, incurring what turned out what’s estimated to be more than $100,000 in hospital and medical bills. Jason and Daniel were arrested for felony assault and other misdemeanor charges. The day after the arrest, the Ellard Family cried foul, saying the cops had brutalized the young men. Chief Mullins responded at the time, saying he would have an independent investigation of the cops’ behavior and would bring in the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation for such a review. MBI said they never received any such request from Mullins. Now Mullins asserts the reason an after-incident investigation was never carried out because the Ellards would not participate in the inquiry. What is the truth? What appears to be more likely is that Mullins dropped the ball on this investigation and did his administrative best to defend his officers and let the incident die a natural death. The officers weren’t even placed on leave, a normal practice for a serious incident. It’s fair to say no real investigation was ever attempted. Both Mayor Middleton and City Attorney Everett Sanders eventually obtained photos of the beat-up Jason Ellard. The aldermen were also aware of the incident, the arrest and the Ellard Family allegations. The city’s response was no response. There was no official cover-up, just purposeful neglect. Here’s where leadership should come in. Mayor Middleton and Chief Mullins knew some and most of what had happened and did nothing, waiting for the Ellards to file suit. When the FBI showed up to investigate, Mullins and his leadership team said they didn’t know why the FBI was poking around. Yet they had to have known weeks ago that the relative who had misused the credit card had pled guilty and been sentenced in the related case. Even at this very late date, they launched no review. Think about this. If Butch Brown was still mayor and Willie Huff still Chief, would the same lack of concern and lack of action been shown? Not likely. Mullins has subsequently issued statements about the authority of the Civil Service Commission and he really can’t discipline officers without civil service authority. This is bold-faced bull. The reality is the officers can be disciplined by Mullins and his leadership team. If the misbehavior is serious is enough, he can ask an aldermanic vote to confirm his punishment. And if the officer feels he is not treated rightly, he can file an appeal with both the civil service commission and the aldermen themselves. Or if still unsatisfied, the officer can file civil suit. There are some conclusions you could draw from the Ellard affair. First, even if a cop is wrong, don’t jump him. Cops have guns, the law and even more power. In an alcohol-induced state, you might think you can triumph over a cop or a deputy. More likely, you’ll get you arrested on a host of charges and could get your head beat in. Also, some Natchez cops act like criminals because they are criminals. NPD has a history of errant and terrible officers. This incident is another indication that Middleton and Mullins are weak, very weak when it comes to performance. Thank goodness for the FBI. The feds have done a service not only to the Ellards but the Natchez community as a whole. There are lessons here and a need for changes. But is Natchez strong enough to make those changes, or are we, like Middleton and Mullins, so wimpish, wishing it would all just go away? The upcoming federal court case should clarify what actually happened between the officers and the Ellards and whether crimes were committed. But what should happen at NPD and city hall is already too crystal clear. When the uppity-ups in charge are not competent, don’t be surprised if the lower-downs act like fools, behave poorly or criminally. Good leadership and proper actions start at the top and flow from the top. |
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55 Seargent Prentiss Drive · Suite 4 · P.O. Box 17833 · Natchez MS 39122 · (601) 446-8803
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