During Tuesday night’s Cadiz City Council meeting, councilman Frankie Phillips brought to question what he believes are gratuitous concessions surrounding the impending retirement and outgoing Cadiz Public Works Director Kerry Fowler.
Fowler’s retirement from the city is officially set for Dec. 31, 2021, and his replacement — Craig Oakley — is already on the job.
At the crux of Phillips’ argument is Fowler’s continued ownership of what he called “city property,” including a laptop, an iPad, an official e-mail address, and a cell phone bill that’s still paid by city government funds.
This particularly drew the ire of Mayor Todd King, who came to Fowler’s defense.
City attorney Allen Wilson duly noted that “administration of the daily functions of the city does rest within the mayor’s office,” to which Phillips and King returned to a healthy rebuttal.
Councilwoman Susie Hendricks referenced a text message from King, that laid out Fowler’s hopes and expectations as his career comes into its waning stages.
It stated that Fowler wished to continue monitoring the newly-activated Cadiz Water Plant, help with properties, work with the State Parks system to help expand the sewer plant and transfer the water to town at no cost, to attend the Kentucky Rural Water Conference as a long-time representative of Trigg County, assist his replacement (which is Oakley) learn the missions of the job…with continued pay for his cell phone and access to his work email account remaining until his retirement became final.
King, as well as Assistant City Clerk Susan Hyde, both noted Fowler has been aiding the City of Cadiz as recently as last week — particularly with mosquito spraying, and business with Atmos Energy.
Phillips remained concerned.
Barbie Johnson, the city clerk/treasurer, noted she’s in the midst of a considerable assessment of employee inventory during these first two months in service.
