Q&A with Katie Whitley
HANCEVILLE — Times editor Derek Price interviewed Hanceville Mayor Katie Whitley on Tuesday. It was her first sit-down interview since a controversy erupted in the city over former Fire Chief Mike Watson’s suspension and termination.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Will there be an increase in residents’ fire dues?
Well, we hope not.
Has there been any discussion among the council members about whether the dues are going to go up?
It hasn’t come up yet.
If you’ve got more paid employees in the fire department, there would have to be some way to get extra revenue to pay for it. How do you want to pay for it, then?
We’ll just have to look at it.
Who has access to the funds from fire dues? The fire chief?
No, only the council.
After the grand jury cleared the city of any wrongdoing — or at least saying they didn’t break any laws — did you consider giving Watson his job back?
No.
Why not?
It had nothing to do with the bid law. There were a lot of other issues.
How long will Hanceville be using the Johnson’s Crossing first responders?
We’re no longer using them.
Who is handling first-responder calls for the city?
We are. The fire department handles those.
Are you saying everything is back to normal at the fire department?
Well, we’re not back to normal because we still have to have some personnel brought on board.
How many volunteers are working for the fire department now?
Really, I can’t say because we’re screening people for it. We’re looking for more volunteers.
Are the volunteers who left with Watson still not coming back to the city?
I don’t know. Some of them left, then came back again. It’s just been back-and-forth, back-and-forth.
Between letters to the editor, online forums and people talking out in the community, there have been a lot of critical comments about you personally, about your administration and about the city leadership. How do you respond to those?
I just don’t respond. There’s no point in responding. They’re going to say what they’re going to say regardless. I don’t go online and look at that stuff.
As far as firing the chief, that was never up to me to decide.
And about this other thing about the fire house being locked down, the firehouse was never — never — locked down by me. Two people had keys, and it was back and forth.
There are a lot of people upset over recent events in the city of Hanceville. Do you think they have any valid complaints or concerns?
I don’t know. If they do, they ought to talk to me about them. The door’s open.
Do you have a plan for boosting the residents’ confidence in the city, especially the ones who feel disaffected?
Sure. We’re going to get out our side.
And what is your side?
We’ll come forward with our investigation results when they’re complete.
Are you saying there’s an internal investigation involving Watson specifically?
Yes.
Are you investigating any other people within the city?
I can’t say that.
Do you think it’s likely that there will be criminal charges brought against someone in the city government?
I won’t comment on that.
Since the grand jury investigation, are you considering any changes to the city’s purchase order or finance policies to keep more issues from coming up?
No. We already changed our policies back in July.
So you think the city’s financial system is secure?
I think so, with the changes we made.
Do you intend to privatize Hanceville’s water board?
I have nothing to do with the water board.
Do you intend to run for mayor again in 2008?
I haven’t made a decision.
When do you think you might make up your mind?
I don’t know. I’ve got plenty of time.