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3299 HWY. 51 SOUTH ڰCOVINGTON, TN 38019 9 0 1 . 3 1 3 . 8 6 2 9 ڰt r y u s c h e v y. c o m
THE LEADER THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2012 ▪ VO L . 1 2 8 , N O. 2 8 ▪ T H E VO I C E O F TIPTON COUNTY S I N C E 1 8 8 6 ▪
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Town of Mason under fire
Lack of financial controls lands officials in hot water with state By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com No stranger to controversy over mismanagement of taxpayer money, this time it's the
city officials in Mason that are under scrutiny. In a scathing letter dated April 24, Dennis Dycus, the director of the state comptroller's Division of Municipal Audit, accuses the mayor and aldermen of "allowing ample opportunity" for theft to continue at city hall after a clerk was charged with stealing more than $96,000 in 2009.
Following the embezzlement scandal, Dycus provided city officials with a nine-recommendation report related to the establishment of internal controls that would deter future thefts. "(The former clerk) was allowed to embezzle such a large amount of money because you, the mayor and board of aldermen, have
refused to implement even the most basic system of internal controls, therefore providing ample opportunity for anyone responsible for the financial affairs of the town to more or less take whatever they wanted to, which they did," Dycus wrote. None of the recommendations has seen any followthrough, he said.
On Wednesday, Mayor David Ward refused to answer questions about internal controls or standard operating procedures, citing a need to focus on an upcoming meeting with an representative from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS), the city attorney, a certified public accountant and the town recorder. SEE MASON, PAGE A3
Atoka charter revisions clear General Assembly By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com Charter revisions submitted to the General Assembly have been passed, bringing the most significant changes to the document since its original draft in 1911, said Town Administrator Brian Koral. However, the changes should not affect day-to-day life for residents. "Most of it's just structural changes and changes in vernacular," Koral said. "Back then they said the town had to appoint a constable, but now we appoint a police chief, for View the instance." proposed Since its adoption more charter than a century ago, the revisions, town's charter has had and other nine revisions, the last documents, four being in 1969, 1977, online at 1973 and 2006. townofatoka.com. Currently, the mayor's role on the board is to serve as a tie-breaker, but he will also have the power to veto an ordinance under the revision. "That gives the mayor a formal role in the legislative process. We actually mirrored that on how the governor's authority works." As a means of checks and balances, the board will have power to override a veto by the mayor. If an ordinance is not signed within five business days of its adoption by the board, it will become law. There is no pocket veto, Koral said. The existing version of the charter requires the mayor to sign an ordinance if it's adopted by the board. "I think the mayor should have a formal say, because if there is something the mayor feels strongly about, then he has that ability to say no and the board can take that into consideration. It at least interjects him, formally, into that practice." Introduced in the General Assembly chambers by Representative Barrett Rich and Senator Mark Norris, the revisions received formal approval from the General Assembly on April 24. Koral expects the board to formally adopt the revisions at the June Board meeting, with an effective date of July 1. Reader’s Guide Mostly sunny. High 88, low 66.
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2010 Tipton County begins clean-up after the historic May Day flood on May 1. HOW TO REACH US Call 901.476.7116 Fax 901.476.0373 Email news@covingtonleader.com Visit us at 2001 Hwy. 51 South, Covington, TN 38019 or online at covingtonleader.com
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Footloose and fundraising By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com By any criteria, Saturday night's Dancing With the Stars event at the National Guard Armory was a success. The sold-out event, which is the primary fundraising event for the Carl Perkins Center in Covington, raised $67,000 for the center, the most ever raised at the event, which has taken on various formats over the past 20 years. “We had a lot of people come out that don't normally come,” said Harriet Cannon, the event's chairperson. “It was a huge success. I think the Dancing With the Stars them was the key to the success.” The event was so successful organizers scheduled an encore performance Sunday afternoon. On Sunday, the dancers performed again to a crowd of approximately 100 people. Event chairperson Harriet Cannon said next year the Dancing With the Stars theme will be used again. "Next year is the 20th year of our dinner and auction event, Cannon said. "It's going to be a really big deal." Tom and Tiny Barton took first place, followed by Lee Johnston and Darlene Huffman, Ick and Ann Burlison and Mike and Marianne Dunavant. Jesse and Mickey Cannon won the People's Choice Award, determined by monetary donations. ► To see more photos from the event, visit www.covingtonleader.com.
Dr. Jesse Cannon and wife Mickey pose with the mirror ball trophy they won for people's choice. The Cannons danced to "Soul Man" by Sam and Dave. Photos by Glenn Baker
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Tom and Tiny Barton won the coveted mirror ball trophy dancing to "Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)" by The Contours at Carl Perkins Center's Dancing with the Stars program Saturday. The event raised $67,000 as part of the charity's annual fundraising gala. Photos by Glenn Baker
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Covington beer board fines five By SHERRI ONORATI sonorati@covingtonleader.com Five businesses and their owners/ managers in Covington were recently brought before the Covington Beer Board for a revocation of beer permit hearing for the unlawful sale of alcohol to minors. Connie Rene King, Jimmy Vandergrift and Ric Morris for Penny Partnership dba Fastimes, 101 Hwy
51 N.; Adel Elrafei for Bull Market #9, 510 Hwy 51 S.; Ismail Allouzi for Corner Thrifty Mart, 825 Peeler Rd.; Rebecca Davis and William Davis for South Main Market, 1000, South Main; and Issam Zorgui for C-Town Market, 526 Hwy 51 North faced the board on April 9 to determine the fate of each business. Alderman Tommy Black made a motion that each owner be fined $500 in lieu of suspension or revo-
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cation of their beer licenses. The motion was not seconded. Aldermen William Scruggs, William Timberlake and Shelvie Rose then each made counter motions that the accused businesses be fined $1,000 in lieu of suspension or revocation of beer licenses, which were seconded and approved with Black voting nay on each of the five motions. The fines were paid within seven days of the board’s judgment.
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