(Southaven, MS 1/4/2012) Vacationing Southaven Mayor Greg Davis will come back to work with new rules.
No more lavish hotel stays and big restaurant tabs without any questions being asked.
“We were surprised by some actions, taken a back by some things that have been brought out,” says Southaven Alderman Ronnie Hale.
Southaven residents have said enough is enough.
“They definitely need to have some rules and guidelines in place,” says Susan Whatley of Southaven.
And now the Board of Alderman is getting tough, voting to get rid of the resolution that apparently gave what Greg Davis felt were carte blanche privileges as a 24-7 Mayor.
Since he was always on duty, spending was allowed.
“It’s our money. That’s not fair to us. We work hard and pay our taxes and he’s spending it like it’s his own money,” says Chris Roberts of Southaven.
But no more. The Aldermen are now requiring prior approval of all travel and expenses and board authorization before any reimbursements are made.
The Mayor will also have to turn in all receipts before the board votes to approve the expenses.
And after thousands of dollars of undocumented mileage racked up by Davis on his personal vehicle, the Board is now requiring him to keep a mileage log and is also looking into having the Mayor use a city vehicle.
“We were uninformed on some things as the general public was. We intend to change that,” says Hale.
“They approved the spending didn’t they? They were aware,” says Garilyn Morris of Southaven.
“One thing, he probably won’t get re-elected, neither any of the Alderman that helped him. I think he can’t spend without their approval so someone else knew he was spending the money,” says Roberts.
Mayor Greg Davis is on vacation and couldn’t be reached today.
Other changes could be on the way to Southaven.
City Aldermen say while they have been legally bound from discussing a lot of things, they want the public to know they are addressing all the issues that have been brought out.
