Gaskin Breaks Tie on Masks
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THE 75¢ Thursday, September 30th, 2021 Vol. 23 | No. 40 | Issue #1473 INSIDE Gaskin to Ask for Wings Over Forensic Audit BY BRIAN JONES Columbus [email protected] Mayor Keith Gaskin intends – 3A to ask the Columbus City Coun- cil to move forward with a fo- rensic audit in October, he said during a Sept. 22 Q&A at City Who Hall. He also expressed disap- Hagan Walker, left, and Anna Barker, right pointment at the council’s deci- Did the sion to earmark federal money for premium pay for city em- ployees. Auditor Mayor Keith Gaskin Muppets & Proposed forensic audit Gaskin said both on the campaign trail and since taking office that Arrest he wanted the council to consider a forensic audit. He said he got the idea from a speech State Auditor Shad White gave at the Columbus Ro- Now? – 12A tary Club, during which he suggested the city have one performed. While Margaritas some citizens are very vocal about their desire for a forensic audit in the wake of the embezzlement arrest of former Chief Financial Officer Milton BY BRIAN JONES the Columbus Rotary Club on Rawle and the city’s large deficits in consecutive budget years, the final [email protected] Sept. 28 about expanding their say-so will have to come from the council. Fish Fry for business and building partner- Gaskin said last Wednesday he was that day conducting an in-house Hagan Walker and Anna ships with Sesame Street and interview with a firm he was considering to perform a forensic audit of the Cops – 12B Barker, co-founders of Starkville-based Glo, spoke to l See MUPPETS, Page 6A l See AUDIT, Page 8A Digging in the Dirt: State Falls to LSU – 16A Time Capsule Comes Out Next Week The Packet A 49-year-old time capsule placed in front of Leigh Mall in 1972 will be opened and displayed next Wednesday. The public is invited to watch the event live, and those who can’t make it to the mall can watch it online via the city’s l See CAPSULE, Page 9A Public Works Director Casey Bush and Police Chief Fred Shelton inspect the capsule site 2A THE PACKET Thursday, September 30th, 2021 The mayor intends to ask the council to approve a forensic audit to get a handle on the city’s financial situation. The audit could cost over $100,000. Given the city’s current financial shape, do you think this is a wise idea? Why or why not? Thomas Merchant Allie Shelley Sims Yes. There should be an Andrew Tuggle audit to see where the Benton Yes! Anytime there is a change money was spent. The How is this in leadership following a long benefits of audit will- prob even a ques- held position there should be an ably out weigh the cost. I tion. An audit in-depth audit performed by an would think that officials is long over- outside party. It’s a best practice are or were bonded. due. in business Pam Kremer Susan Shelton Michael Price Foster Romans Yes. It’s time for some Yes, but only if they If there is any suspicious accountability. Financial plan on following up activity the warrants an best practices and inter- with legal action, if audit that may show an nal controls need to be they find anything elected official stole money, put into place to help the criminal- otherwise then regardless of the cost it city run on budget. it’s pointless would be well worth it. Bill Blaine Don Merchant Debbie Walker Walters Wasn’t for it Stanfield Yes!! Do Yes! It’ll when Robert Williams it no mat- be money Smith was mayor We need ter what well and I’m not for it one. Let it it costs. spent! now. happen. CPD, Local Churches Plan Activities for Domestic Violence Month The Packet ing Lot Farmer’s Market, and will go to Main Street The Columbus Police Department and the and ending at the Columbus local faith community are partnering for a joint Police Department. Shelton event the weekend of Oct. 8-9, according to Po- said the march is an oppor- lice Chief Fred Shelton. The event, which is part tunity for citizens, members of Domestic Violence Month, includes a vigil, a of the faith community and prayer walk and a movie night. law enforcement to show a The event starts Friday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. at the united effort to stand against municipal complex, 1501 Main Street, with the crime and violence. Shelton Vigil For Understanding, Shelton said. The vigil’s Finally, Shelton said the goal is to bring together a diverse cross-section of movie “Courageous” will be shown at the Colum- community members, including law enforcement bus Soccer Complex Saturday night at 7 p.m. The agencies and the faith community, to call for un- movie is family friendly, and food stations will be derstanding as it relates to violence. set up. Members of the public can bring canned A prayer walk is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. goods to donate to Helping Hands Charity. 9, from 10-11 a.m. The march starts at the Hitch- Advertise In The Packet Today, Call 662-329-1741! USPS 012495 Mailing address [email protected] STAFF AT THE PACKET LaTeekia Gunter PO Box 53, Website Isaac Jamerson Published weekly Columbus, MS 39703 www.columbuspacket.com Managing Editor on Thursday. Phone/Fax Brian Jones POSTMASTER: Offices are located at P: (662) 329-1741 Yearly subscription price is $39. Community Reporters Send address changes to 425 College Street, F: (662) 368-6674 Single issue price is 75¢. Pam Brownlee The Columbus Packet, Columbus, MS 39701. Email Periodical postage paid at Staff P. O. Box 53, [email protected] Columbus, MS. Susan Noland Columbus, MS 39703. Thursday, September 30th, 2021 THE PACKET 3A Planning Underway for Next Year’s Air Show The Packet status,” he said. “As of now the plan is to Columbus Air be a traditional, in- Force Base Lt. Col. person air show. You Rory Klepper spoke go in, walk through to the Columbus the exhibits, talk to Exchange Club on the pilots, see the air- Sept.23 about the up- craft and then watch coming Wings Over the performers.” Columbus air show. Contingency The show is set plans have been made for March 26-27, for a drive-through 2022. or virtual event, he The USAF Thun- said, in case the situ- derbirds will be the ation changes for the headlining attrac- worse between now tion, he said, and the and then. C-17 Globemaster “We really want demonstration team to get as many air- will also be there. craft on board as Although other com- possible,” he said. mitments have been Klepper “Command is really made, he didn’t want on board because this to talk about them yet because they aren’t under is a pilot training base, and we want to have every contract. possible Air Force air asset on site.” He did say that the plans, at least for now, are He said the base is estimating to have a traditional air show. drawing about 30,000 to 40,000 “We are trying to stay on top of the COVID people per day. “During this pandemic, we have seen just how vital internet service is to every family. I’m proud to do my part in highlighting this pro- gram and raise awareness so that Mississippi families can save.” —Public Service Com- missioner Brandon Presley, “We went through 2020 on discounted broadband mostly unscathed. 2021 we are starting to see some is- “Obviously, the em- sues in the supply chain.” bezzlement is one thing, but —GLO CEO Hagan we’re talking about look- Walker on the lasting ef- ing at all spending, across fects of the pandemic the board, in all city depart- ments.” —Mayor Keith Gas- kin, on a potential forensic audit Read The Columbus Packet Today! Stay Informed! 4A THE PACKET Thursday, September 30th, 2021 Opinion people. Also much like Lowndes County, there are a lot of weird pay disparities. All Rants, Raves and Circumstance that needs to be ironed out. During a work session held the day after that first budget meeting, four of the coun- BY BRIAN JONES cil members worked with city officials to try to come up with a way to give raises that [email protected] are fair. Interim Chief Operating Officer Mark Alexander, Jr., then-Chief Financial Of- ficer Deliah Vaughn and Human Resources Director Pat Mitchell were supposed to get I’m casting my net back over the last few weeks this together to come up with a pay scale, including raises based on longevity and merit. time - I’ve been pretty overwhelmed, what with all the This is a good idea, and I hope the current budget debacle doesn’t derail it. The city, council meetings, called meetings, special meetings, whether it’s Public Works or the police department, is only as good as its employees. emergency meetings, what-the-hell-let’s-pass-the-budget You don’t get high quality employees with low pay, nor do you keep good, veteran em- meetings, and so on. I’ve sat down to write a column ev- ployees by paying newbies more than you pay them. ery week for the past three or so and just gotten swamped, This is a slight digression, but I also would love it if the current administration so this is big and rambling while I try to dig myself out.