OCEAN SPRINGS — While other Coast municipalities postponed their public meetings, the City of Ocean Springs pushed forward Tuesday evening, raising questions about the timing and intent during a once in a lifetime snowstorm.
The decision to proceed with the meeting, despite hazardous road conditions and no urgent agenda items, has sparked accusations of secrecy. The city initially announced the meeting would not be streamed live on YouTube, a departure from its usual practice.
After public backlash online, the city reversed its decision not to stream the meeting. However, many residents say the reversal came too late for them to get word and showed up thinking it would be the only way to watch.
Neighboring cities Biloxi and Gulfport chose to postpone meetings scheduled for Tuesday. Gautier and Pascagoula opted for remotely recorded Zoom meetings to keep personnel and the public off the roads.
Questions Surrounding Motive
Adding to the controversy, an updated meeting agenda excluded the section allowing aldermen to raise new issues. Rumors had circulated beforehand that motions to replace City Attorney Robert Wilkinson, amid growing public outcry over the Securix contract scandal, might have been introduced if the agenda had included the usual format.
The meeting also came on the same day a report revealing a questionable consulting contract was circulating. The story sparked immediate backlash online, with residents demanding answers and more transparency on the matter. Some speculate that the city’s decision to hold the meeting during the snowstorm was a calculated attempt to minimize public attendance and avoid addressing the controversy.
Aldermen Respond
“The meeting definitely should’ve been moved to another night,” Alderman at Large Bobby Cox told a resident via text message. “I was hoping for Thursday. The consensus ended up being to have it and only handle essential business. I was shocked when I got there and everyone was there. I was told most were calling in.”
Ward 2 Alderman Rickey Authement offered a more obedient answer. “When I was elected, I was committed to doing the first and third Tuesday of the month for meetings,” he stated. “That meeting was not canceled, so I was there.” When pressed on why the city chose to hold a public meeting while simultaneously telling the public not to drive, Authement explained, “You’re asking the wrong guy. You’ll have to ask whoever told the public not to come to the meeting. I didn’t tell anybody that.”
Public Comments
During the brief meeting, residents Joe Jewell and Ellen Hall addressed the Board, both urging the body to consider replacing the City Attorney. There was no response from officials.
A total of six members of the public attended the meeting that lasted less than five minutes.
