A joint ethics complaint against City Commissioners Katrena Felder and Diane Hopkins was dismissed Thursday in a meeting lasting just 54 minutes.
The ethics complaint was filed by Shawn Sanders, the father of the late Sgt. Kennedy L. Sanders who was killed January 28, 2024 in a drone attack in Jordan.
The ethics board tasked with hearing the complaint December 19 was comprised of Chairman Dr. Albert Bussey, Dr. Earl Martin, Rev. Kit Brinson, Shawn Taylor and Lorene Regulus. The alternates were Tim Peacock and Dr. Jené Walker. The meeting was moderated by Interim City Attorney Huey Spearman.
An ethics complaint must be heard within 30 days of filing, Spearman explained, requiring the panel to rule on whether or not the complaint warranted further investigation.
The board members had received a copy of the four-page complaint in advance and were familiar with its contents allowing Spearman to give a brief summation to facilitate the proceedings in a timely fashion.
Spearman pointed out the document began with a heartfelt thank you to the city and citizens of Waycross for their support and kindness during the family’s time of tragedy and mourning.
Spearman then moved to the first allegation of unethical conduct.
“Commissioner Diane Hopkins, District 4, has questioned the free usage of the city auditorium to honor Sgt. Sanders. Commissioner Katrena Felder, District 3, has supported Commissioner Hopkins by publicly offering disingenuous explanations.”
The city extended the use of the C.C. McCray City Auditorium to the Sanders family for the memorial service and a banquet to honor the fallen war hero.
“In essence, the first allegation is all about a commissioner having asked a question allegedly about the free use of the city auditorium for for the Sanders family,” said Spearman. He questioned whether or not it was a violation of the code of ethics to ask a question.
The second ethics violation allegation purports Felder “attempted to illegally use her public office to demand, through coercion of a city employee, a government produced document of value for free.
“Interestingly, it (complaint) said ‘if this incident is factual,’” noted Spearman. “This allegation seems to be from a third party with or without the permission of that city employee, I don’t know.”
A violation allegation should be filed by the original complainant, not by a third party, explained Spearman.
The third allegation states, “Former employees were disgusted by what they described as hypocrisy on behalf of Commissioner Hopkins — she abused her office by demanding and receiving the usage of the city auditorium for several weeks for her personal use to host her daughter’s wedding, evading payment.”
The complaint again says “if this information is factual.”
No documentation was submitted to the panel regarding the dates of Hopkins’ daughter’s wedding.
An ethics violation must be filed within 90 days of the violation occurring and not longer than two years.
It was surmised the wedding occurred in 2015, but no proof was presented. After a 13 minute closed door executive session, the panel voted unanimously to dismiss the complaint against the commissioners.
The panel recommended a letter of apology be issued to the Sanders family on behalf of the City Commission.
The recommendation will be presented to the commission for a vote at its first bi-monthly meeting in January, 2025.
