Waycross City Commissioners Diane Hopkins and Katrena Felder have been named as respondents in an ethics complaint filed by citizen Shawn Sanders regarding the use of the C.C. Mc-Cray City Auditorium.
Sanders, the father of the late Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, cites violation of two Georgia laws governing public officials in his complaint received November 14 by City Clerk Jackie Powell. Both statutes O.C.G.A. 45-11-5 and 45-11-10 are related to extortion by public officials, Waycross Interim City Attorney Huey Spearman said.
In the complaint, Sanders alleges questions regarding the use of the auditorium raised by commissioners during hearings on the city’s Fiscal 2024-25 budget the past few months are central to his filing.
The Sanders family was provided use of the auditorium at city expense for a public viewing of the fallen soldier February 16. It was used again at city expense June 30 for the first Sanders Memorial Banquet to raise funds for a foundation created in the late soldier’s honor.
The U.S. Army reservist was among three soldiers, all from Georgia, killed in a January 28 drone attack on their base in remote Jordan.
Contacted Monday, November 25, neither Hopkins nor Felder wanted to comment on the complaint.
Felder is named in another ethics complaint currently in the deliberation stage by members of its board. Misuse of her city-issued credit card and attendance at a partisan event while on city business are cited in that action.
The panel has announced it will reveal its findings at 9:30 a.m. Monday, December 2 in City Hall.
Sanders’ complaint became public during the City Commission’s bi-monthly meeting Tuesday, November 19 when it was announced a board needed to be impaneled to handle a second complaint.
Hopkins
Felder
Shawn Taylor, Lorene Regulus, Martin Gray, Dr. Earl Martin and Jene´Walker were randomly chosen from the pool of board nominations to hear the second complaint. Walker, who is involved in the December 3 runoff with Shawn Roberts for the District 1 commission seat, was replaced by Kit Brinson, citing a possible conflict of interest if she’s elected.
The first statute covers extortion by public officials related to favors in exchange for money or benefits, Spearman said. The second relates to one public official coercing another public official into unlawful acts with punishment for any offense being a misdemeanor, he said.
Taylor, Regulus and Gray also are members of the panel handling the first complaint. Spearman said the new board would undergo training as part of its 30 days to investigate the complaint and decide its merit before a dismissal or continuation.
Fees to rent the auditorium are $500 Thursday-Saturday and $400 Sunday-Wednesday. There’s a $450 cleaning fee regardless of the day.
The Sanders public viewing was held on a Friday and the banquet on a Sunday.
The pool of possible board members was created by two nominations from each of the four commissioners and Mayor Michael-Angelo James.
If the complaint is deemed to have merit, the panel then has 30 days to continue its investigation and conduct a hearing in order to render a decision.
Complainants have a right to appeal to city commissioners if not satisfied with the board’s decision, Spearman said.
