A lot has happened in just the pass few days. More history being made in Pike County Mississippi. Right in McComb. Yes, the Mayor of McComb is still without his power. I am convinced that his authority and his powers were taken from him illegally. That’s the wrong kind of history being made. But, the saga continues. This battle for power and control.

On Tuesday, at the city of McComb board meeting, Mayor Zach Patterson said that the August 26 special meeting called by some of the selectmen was illegal and invalid. It turns out that the mayor is correct. Those selectmen, E.C. Nobles, Danny Esch, Wade Lamb, and Robert Maddox have been working so hard to seize control of McComb city government and by-pass, control and/or limit Patterson and his administration, that they are tripping over themselves making mistake after mistake. And, ultimately, they will have to pay for those mistakes. They will have to answer to God, I believe, as well as, to the people. And they will have to answer for all of these illegal actions.

On Tuesday, the mayor said that several City Codes and State Statutes were violated so that the selectmen could hold their illegal meeting to sign city payroll checks. The mayor had refused to sign anymore checks because his power to supervise those employees had been taken from him illegally by those same selectmen, putting Patterson in a position where he would have to sign for employees that he could no longer supervise.

The selectmen are now signing checks and are holding illegal meetings at City Hall. And, they have the support and approval of City Attorney Wayne Dowdy. Here are some of the codes and laws that were violated on August 26 and legal opinions of the State Attorney General:

There must literal compliance to the procedures and process of calling a special meeting or the meeting is ‘null and void’. That was from the attorney general. Selectman Melvin Joe Johnson and Mayor Patterson were not properly notified of the meeting, rendering the meeting null and void. The attorney general concluded that section 21-3-21 of the Miss. Code of 1972-annotated requires that the Mayor or Vice Mayor must be present at any special meeting. Non compliance to this code section renders everything done in that meeting, that is, every action taking by those participating in that meeting, null and void. It is invalid. That is Mississippi law.

The selectmen held an illegal meeting and were fully supported by the newly appointed city attorney Dowdy. Indeed, it may turn out that everything this group of selectmen is doing is illegal or will be ruled invalid.

Then how will all of this be corrected or straighten out? All of this craziness at City Hall because Enterprise-Journal Editor Jack Ryan recommended to a majority of the selectmen to stop Mayor Patterson. Block and reverse all of his initiatives. The selectmen did that and then they took his powers. A mayor voted in by the people. More bad history is being created.

This same group of selectmen, along with selectmen Johnson and Robert Earl Smith, met with State Senator Kevin Butler, State Representatives David Myers, Sam Mims and Angela Cockerham on Thursday. In the mayor’s absence, they asked those legislators what they needed to do to get the motel tax revenue back (it is due to expire on Dec. 31st.). Mims said that he would not support McComb getting the revenue again, unless there was proof that the money would be spent the way he felt it should be spent.

He was corrected by the citizens who attended the meeting, along with McComb Community Relations and Tourism Department Director Tasha Dillon, when he continued to say that Dillon’s department funded family reunions and church events--what he said were misuse or incorrect use of those funds. However, Dillon’s department has never funded a family reunion or church event. Indeed, it had to be pointed out to Mims that paying for musical bands for different events was a proper use of the funds, because this created ‘tourism’. It was clear that Mims rationale regarding stopping the motel tax, was wrong at best, if not just plain evil. I believe that he was getting revenge against Mayor Patterson because of the problems Mim’s father had with Patterson. Former city administrator Sam Mims left his city job on bad terms with the mayor. Mims, I believe, killed the motel tax revenue for revenge.

So did, unfortunately, I believe, David Myers. No matter what he says publicly, privately it is personal. His battle with Mayor Patterson became too personal. Now, I respect Myers and I respect Mayor Patterson. But, wrong is wrong. The personal stuff should have never gotten in the way between the two of them. But, it has. And, we have a mess. Bad history. That’s what is being created here.

I asked Myers if it were him, and they took his powers while he was mayor, like they did, would it bother him. He said YES! He wouldn’t like it at all. But, he also said the mayor brought it on himself. However, no matter how you may feel about all of this, it is making bad history. Wrong is just wrong.

The people who attended the meeting wanted to be heard. And when they were allowed to speak, they all defended Dillon and her department. Mims and Myers were the only ones who voiced any problem or concern over how the money was being spent. Everyone else who spoke up support Dillon and her department 100%.

I’m very tired now. Wore out from all the bad history made this week. I hope that next week is better. For all of us.