The City of Waycross has been plagued by problems during 2024 due in part to absences in the city commission.
Vacant seats have played havoc on the city’s ability to make moves leaving it in a stranglehold.
“We basically haven’t been able to do anything for six months,” said City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford.
This included passing the FY25 budget, which was introduced June 4. It finally passed October 15.
The absences began in January with the illness of District 4 Commissioner Diane Hopkins, who missed meetings from January 2 until her April 16 return. Her district was left without elected leadership for over three months.
Section 22 of the City Charter states, “Absence of any member of said commission from four consecutive regular meetings thereof shall operate to vacate the seat of said commissioner so absent, unless the absence is excused for legitimate cause by the commission by resolution setting forth the reason thereof and entered upon the journal.”
The Charter makes no statement about submitting medical excuse documents nor does it state how long a commissioner may be absent without appointment of a substitute or the election of a new commissioner.
District 1 Commissioner Norman Davis died Thursday, April 20 leaving his district without representation for the majority of the year.
Davis’s seat could have been filled almost immediately based on the city charter, which states, “In the event a vacancy occurs on the commission for any reason other than the expiration of the term of office, the commission or those remaining shall order a special election to elect a member to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term...”
A called meeting was held April 22 to discuss and vote on a resolution authorizing a special election to fill the seat. However, Commissioners Katrena Felder and Hopkins were absent, leaving only Commissioners Sheinita Bennett and Alvin Nelson to vote.
The lack of a quorum prevented consideration of the resolution for a special election during the General Primary May 21.
The next blow came with the dismissal Nelson from the District 5 seat. Nelson was sworn in Tuesday, January 2 having won the seat from sitting commissioner Henry Strickland.
Strickland contested the election results in a lawsuit filed in Ware County Superior Court on the assertion that old, incorrect district maps had been used.
Retired Senior Judge Gary McCorvey was assigned to the case by the Ware court. Nelson was removed from the seat in May until another election could be held. Nelson appealed the ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court.
The seat remained vacant for four months. Nelson was returned to the seat in May by order of the Supreme Court until his appeal of McCorvey’s ruling could be heard.
In addition to Hopkins’ absences between January 2 and October 8, 2024, Felder and Bennett have missed one regular meeting each and Nelson has missed zero.
In 2023, Hopkins missed eight meetings, Bennett six, Felder two, and Strickland none.
The District 1 seat has been filled finally bringing to a close the difficult year for the city.
Staff writer Rick
Nolte contributed to this article.
