Utilities oversight comes into sharp focus in Lanett

BY JOHN BRICE

THE LAFAYETTE SUN

LANETT — Council Member for District 5 Kim Roberts addressed ongoing issues regarding management of the utilities department during her report at the Lanett City Council meeting on Monday, June 1.

"Mr. Mayor, I have been in receipt of your emails stating that you will not be allowing me to access the department head of utilities and gas nor the daily operating reports," she said. "I want to thank you for clearing up what has been a continuing issue by stating that you are denying me after many requests for these reports and access of the city of Lanett department heads. As you, my fellow council members, city employees and citizens, have been present during past city council meetings are aware, I have repeatedly asked for these reports for approximately the last six months."

Roberts went on to clarify her intent in discharging her duties as chair of the Lights and Gas Committee. 

"I have expressed that I have nothing to report on at council meetings because of this," she said. "As head of the Utilities Committee, I have repeatedly asked for the access to better familiarize myself with and investigate daily operations so that I would be better prepared to chair this committee. Mr. Mayor, you have delayed me for too many months in fulfilling my obligation as the oath I took on Nov. 3."

Roberts suggested solutions for a path forward in resolving these issues with oversight of utilities provided by the city during her concluding remarks. 

"Despite this delay, it is my intent to move forward to the best of my ability and form a utilities committee that we can begin to serve the citizens of Lanett keeping them updated," she said. "While you have stressed that you run the day-to-day operations, maybe it is time for you to come clean with the citizens and let them know about our financial situation and why the city looks the way it looks. I hope that this council will consider hiring a city manager to run the day-to-day operations. Again, thank you mayor for clarifying your position." 

Mayor Jamie Heard responded to the concerns expressed by Roberts. 

"Ms. Roberts, you have been to several trainings in Montgomery, and it clearly states that the council does not run the day-to-day operations," he said. "That is the job of the mayor. You could call on Mr. Summers and ask to talk to him, but you do not run the day-to-day operations. That is what you need to know. The city is cleaner than it was years ago. We are working every day. We have cleanups. You haven't participated in one. Whether you physically are able or not, you haven't even shown up to one meeting. We are working, you can do some things in your community."

Heard made his own position clear by addressing the points raised by Roberts. 

"You have not been pleased with me from day one because you did not support me, and the person that you supported did not win," he said. "I am not stepping down, I am not going away. You've got three and a half more years to deal with me. You can step down, but I am here for the long run."

In other business

• There was a proclamation read by Council Member for District 4 Charles Bagley recognizing Juneteenth 2026.

• There was a resolution approved for the appointment of Matt Shiver to the 9-1-1 Board of Directors.

• The cost of demolition by code enforcement for dilapidated properties owned by Scruggs and Galvez/Rivera was reported.