Lawsuit Against Aldermen in Dresden Settled
File photo: On May 10, Members of the Dresden Board of Mayor and Aldermen reviewed preliminary drawings for a new, proposed, municipal complex to replace the city’s police department, city hall and fire station destroyed in the December 10, 2021, tornado. David Fisher/The Enterprise
The following is a press release issued earlier today from Dresden attorney Roy Herron’s office. This announcement comes five days after Dresden Mayor Jeff Washburn filed a civil suit in Weakley County Chancery Court Friday, July 8 against all six city aldermen. To read details about the suit filed, pick up a copy of today’s Enterprise or get a website pass and read all of this week’s stories on the e-edition.
DRESDEN (July 13)
From Roy Herron’s Law Office:
The Dresden Mayor’s lawsuit against the Board of Alderman is over. The matter was quickly ended when the six aldermen hired Dresden attorney Roy Herron who negotiated the settlement.
“I did public service for 26 years, but you couldn’t pay me $100,000 to go through what these public officials have endured since the tornado. For seven months, they have all worked days and many nights to serve Dresden’s citizens. I am grateful they once again have put their citizens first by quickly resolving this lawsuit.”
The settlement provides that the Mayor and Aldermen will adhere to the Open Meetings Law, follow the town’s Social Media Policy, and rescind the resolution censuring the Mayor. The Board felt the Mayor had gotten their message and all the parties agreed to amicably resolve their differences.
Herron said all of the Aldermen and the Mayor signed the Agreed Order on Wednesday morning, as did Chancellor Mike Maloan. The document was filed in the Courthouse by noon.
Dresden’s Aldermen are Gwin Anderson, Ralph Cobb, Jr., Lyndal Dilday, Sandra Klutts, Kenneth Moore, and Willie Parker. Dresden’s Mayor is Jeff Washburn.
I am appalled that the board of aldermen would “hire” a Dresden attorney to represent them against his friend the mayor. Only one person had the guts to stand against a tyrannical leader, and she ended up standing alone. I truly hope that a certain woman (or 2) will be willing to run for the city board because apparently, the men on the board need to find some courage! Be a LION! By rescinding the censure, alderMEN gave Jeff Washburn exactly what he wanted! He does not deserve to be mayor of Dresden…perhaps someone should speak to his former pastor.
Soooo…the alderman did what they and the public thought was right and then little mayor threatens a lawsuit and they cave? Like none of it happened? Like he wasn’t mishandling money? Like he wasn’t name calling citizens and blocking them on a government page? Like he wasn’t demolishing properties without permission? So that’s it? Wow.
It would appear that Jeff Washburn thinks that the rules do not apply to him and that he is somehow above the law. And according to the “settlement”, it seems he’s not the only one.
Is judge Tommy Moore still profiting from that building he owns that houses the parole office? Is that a conflict of interest?
I’m thankful for the decisions elected leaders made to reset and get back into focus the task of serving dresden. Mistakes were made but it’s not something that can’t be worked through. However, the extremist sideshow created by a small few outsiders who stir up division and equate our fallible people as trash, are dissatisfied with themselves and attempt to damage others beyond repair. These few don’t represent the vast majority of citizens who simply want Dresden to get back to normal, repair the damage the tornado caused and get past the drama they have created.