Alderman Walks Out Of Meeting In Crane
August 19, 2020
Isaac Estes-Jones
The City of Crane was unable to hold its scheduled tax levy vote on Monday, August 17, after an alderman abruptly left the meeting, leaving the city without the quorum necessary to carry out official business. The city will attempt to reconvene the meeting on Monday, August 24.
Alderman Ray Hicks walked out of the meeting. He was angry that Chief John Elmore would not disclose the reasoning behind investigating Alderman Hicks, including subpoenaing his phone records. “What was the excuse you used to subpoena my phone records? I’m asking for the reason,” Hicks asked Elmore early in the meeting. “I’m not talking about it,” Elmore replied.
The details surrounding this situation are not public at this time. No information on the allegations on either side of the issue have been formally released.
It should be noted that at a recent board meeting earlier this summer, Alderman Doug Minton asked a similar question of Elmore, insinuating that his phone records were also subpoenaed, allegedly improperly.
In both instances, Chief Elmore responded that information about ongoing investigations cannot be released and the investigation is “ongoing,” according to Elmore.
Because Alderman Minton was not at the August 17 meeting, Hicks’ departure deprived the board of a quorum. The board was set to hold a final vote on the annual tax levy later in the meeting.
“The tax levy has to be turned in... by September, so we will try to reconvene on Monday, August 24, and if that doesn’t work, we can try again August 31,” said Mayor Collin Brannan. Without this levy, the city will not be able collect property taxes.
The incident occurred during the remarks from visitors portion of the meeting. Among the comments were those from a citizen admonishing the police department and city council for not handling issues with speeders in the city. The commentary carried on for some time, with discussion among the aldermen, mayor and citizen.
The remarks from the man became somewhat hostile toward the city council, with the individual repeatedly saying, “You’re all cowards,” to the board members. The man was eventually asked to leave as his commentary became more incensed.
After the man left the meeting, Alderman Hicks stated he had a continued question for Elmore. At that time, he asked, “What was the excuse you used to subpoena my phone records? I’m asking for the reason.” After he received his response from Elmore, Hicks asked Mayor Brannan if he knew the reason Hicks’ phone records were pulled.
“No,” said Mayor Brannan.
After a short but terse back-and-forth between the two, Hicks announced he was leaving the meeting.
“I’m done. I’m going. Now you can’t vote on personnel or anything else.
“Bill was right, you are cowards. He’s got something on you,” Hicks concluded, addressing the final comment to Mayor Brannan.
“I take offense to that,” Brannan said. “He’s got nothing on me,” he continued.
During past board meetings, Hicks has repeatedly brought up issues he sees with the police department. At a meeting in July, where Alderman Minton requested the reason for the subpoenas, Alderman Hicks raised an issue about one of the hourly police officers sitting with Elmore through the meeting. At that point, the officer returned to patrol.
Because the city was not able to make any formal decisions, they held a long discussion about other things going on in the City that do not require board motion.
The remaining city officials, including Mayor Brannan and Aldermen Bentley and Fearn, talked about streets that may need paving and discussed at some length the goings on of the city’s water system. Mayor Brannan also told those in attendance that the city located a major leak in the water system that is being repaired.
“The leak is on the other side of the creek, in the conservation land,” Brannan said.
As of presstime, online court records do not show pending charges or criminal court cases against either Ray Hicks or Doug Minton.
The City of Crane was unable to hold its scheduled tax levy vote on Monday, August 17, after an alderman abruptly left the meeting, leaving the city without the quorum necessary to carry out official business. The city will attempt to reconvene the meeting on Monday, August 24.
Alderman Ray Hicks walked out of the meeting. He was angry that Chief John Elmore would not disclose the reasoning behind investigating Alderman Hicks, including subpoenaing his phone records. “What was the excuse you used to subpoena my phone records? I’m asking for the reason,” Hicks asked Elmore early in the meeting. “I’m not talking about it,” Elmore replied.
The details surrounding this situation are not public at this time. No information on the allegations on either side of the issue have been formally released.
It should be noted that at a recent board meeting earlier this summer, Alderman Doug Minton asked a similar question of Elmore, insinuating that his phone records were also subpoenaed, allegedly improperly.
In both instances, Chief Elmore responded that information about ongoing investigations cannot be released and the investigation is “ongoing,” according to Elmore.
Because Alderman Minton was not at the August 17 meeting, Hicks’ departure deprived the board of a quorum. The board was set to hold a final vote on the annual tax levy later in the meeting.
“The tax levy has to be turned in... by September, so we will try to reconvene on Monday, August 24, and if that doesn’t work, we can try again August 31,” said Mayor Collin Brannan. Without this levy, the city will not be able collect property taxes.
The incident occurred during the remarks from visitors portion of the meeting. Among the comments were those from a citizen admonishing the police department and city council for not handling issues with speeders in the city. The commentary carried on for some time, with discussion among the aldermen, mayor and citizen.
The remarks from the man became somewhat hostile toward the city council, with the individual repeatedly saying, “You’re all cowards,” to the board members. The man was eventually asked to leave as his commentary became more incensed.
After the man left the meeting, Alderman Hicks stated he had a continued question for Elmore. At that time, he asked, “What was the excuse you used to subpoena my phone records? I’m asking for the reason.” After he received his response from Elmore, Hicks asked Mayor Brannan if he knew the reason Hicks’ phone records were pulled.
“No,” said Mayor Brannan.
After a short but terse back-and-forth between the two, Hicks announced he was leaving the meeting.
“I’m done. I’m going. Now you can’t vote on personnel or anything else.
“Bill was right, you are cowards. He’s got something on you,” Hicks concluded, addressing the final comment to Mayor Brannan.
“I take offense to that,” Brannan said. “He’s got nothing on me,” he continued.
During past board meetings, Hicks has repeatedly brought up issues he sees with the police department. At a meeting in July, where Alderman Minton requested the reason for the subpoenas, Alderman Hicks raised an issue about one of the hourly police officers sitting with Elmore through the meeting. At that point, the officer returned to patrol.
Because the city was not able to make any formal decisions, they held a long discussion about other things going on in the City that do not require board motion.
The remaining city officials, including Mayor Brannan and Aldermen Bentley and Fearn, talked about streets that may need paving and discussed at some length the goings on of the city’s water system. Mayor Brannan also told those in attendance that the city located a major leak in the water system that is being repaired.
“The leak is on the other side of the creek, in the conservation land,” Brannan said.
As of presstime, online court records do not show pending charges or criminal court cases against either Ray Hicks or Doug Minton.