The article I am referring to appeared in the 9 Oct 2015 issue...front page..."Board censures Thompson" reported by Brooks Taylor.
When is the Tunica Times going to start reporting both sides of the story? Brooks, this story is one sided. Did you ask any of the other Supervisor to give their view about this situation? More and more the Tunica Times is becoming a mouthpiece for Cedric Burnett. You need to get both sides of the story and report both sides of the story.
Let's review what you did report:
"District 2 supervisor Cedric Burnett said after the meeting that the employee that was reprimanded was county administrator Michael Thompson and that the Board had also voted to place Thompson on a three-day unpaid suspension."
Did you ask any other Supervisor or Thompson himself for a statement? No, you did not. Burnett is the most disruptive of our Supervisors and yet you seem to publish his comments or his take on just about everything. How about some fair reporting for a change?
Next:
"On Monday, county comptroller Adrian McKay made a complaint against Thompson with the Tunica Police Department. Thompson, who was out of the office until Tuesday, October 6, has been charged with disturbing the peace. A court date of Monday, October 19, has been set to hear the matter in municipal court." This incident happened on 27 Aug 2015 and McKay decides to contact the police on Mon, 5 Oct 2015. Do I have this right? Hmmm....
Let's talk about Adrian McKay for a bit. You were in attendance when I reported to the Board of Supervisors that Adrian McKay, our Comptroller, who lives in Olive Branch and claims Homestead in Desoto County attempted to vote in the Tunica County Primary. Meg was present when this was announced in the affidavit caucus on 5 Aug 2015. Neither one of you reported this situation. Why was that? Do you believe the citizens of Tunica County do not need to know that the person who controls our money; who does not live in this County; tried to vote in our elections?
There are so many prominent Tunica County citizens who have been hell-bent to make an issue of Michael Thompson not living here. What about Adrian McKay? He doesn't live here and you all haven't said one thing about that. Every time I hear one of these prominent Tunicans refer to Thompson's residency, I am thinking that this same "prominent Tunican" is part of our problem.
"After an executive session near the end of Monday's meeting, Miller announced that the Board had voted to formally place the comptroller under the direct supervision of the county administrator."
Say what? Why was this even necessary? Of course, the Comptroller is under the direct supervision of the County Administrator. Why would anyone think differently? What or who would give McKay this idea? We both know who but you wouldn't investigate that now would you, Brooks? How about looking in the Employee Handbook under "Insubordination."
The article goes on to say about placing McKay under Thompson:
"When questioned about this action, Burnett said he wasn't clear about the reason for the Board's action Monday.
If we see there's a problem with those two, they should be separated in my opinion, Burnett said Tuesday." Burnett you are simply ridiculous. What if one of Joe Eddie's employees didn't want to take orders from the Road Manager? What would you do then?
Anyone else remember Burnett suggesting firing Thompson and making McKay and Rechelle Siggers "Co-County Administrators"? This is why this too is ridiculous:
1. Our County Administrator and Comptroller may not be the same person. We have been written up for this many times in our Annual Financial Statements. As a Supervisor of many years, Burnett should know this.
2. Rechelle Siggers is an elected official with statutorily specific duties. Another elected person may not give her jobs to do...even if you are Cedric Burnett.
I wish the Tunica Times would take a good look at their one-sided reporting. You are becoming less and less reliable as an unbiased source of news.
PS: The Tunica Times still owes Michael Thompson an apology for the untrue article they wrote about him on 19 Dec 2014.
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