The chances that the Ringgold (Georgia) City Council will investigate allegations made by the former police chief seem to be slim, Mayor Nick Millwood said.
"I think we may meet some opposition," he said. "I think we had three council members who were pretty clear during the meeting, and I don't know if we'll have the votes to do that."
At Monday's city council meeting, three members - Sara Clark, Randall Franks and Jake Haynes - pushed back on criticism about the city, city manager Dan Wright and the way the city's charter was changed to make it more difficult to fire the city manager.
Ringgold Councilwoman Sara Clark and Mayor Nick Millwood talk during a work session Monday, July 31, 2017, at the Catoosa County Colonnade in Ringgold, Ga. / Staff file photo by Erin O. SmithThe other two council members, Kelly Bomar and Rhonda Swaney, said they felt it was their duty to look into allegations made by former police chief Dan Bilbrey and others into how the city has been managed.
Millwood, who would not have a vote, said he also would be in favor of looking into the allegations.
The council will need at least three votes to officially open an investigation into city affairs that were first brought up when Bilbrey publicly resigned in January.
Bilbrey gave a passionate speech about how his department is underfunded, overlooked and how morale with his employees was consistently low.
A week later, Bilbrey told the Times Free Press that Wright put a tracking device on his car without his knowledge. Wright declined to comment on the allegation.
Local attorney McCracken Poston told the council Monday that several city employees have reached out to him and told him things that would warrant an investigation.
Ringgold Police Chief Dan Bilbrey speaks at Monday's Ringgold City Council meeting where he resigned after nearly 10 years as chief. / Photo by Patrick FilbinBomar and Swaney made it clear at Monday's meeting that they would support an investigation.
"I personally will not tolerate a witch hunt for any of our employees, but the allegations made against the city and its elected officials and administration last meeting by former police chief Dan Bilbrey must be investigated," Bomar said. "Many statements were made that indicted us in this room, on this council and former members of this body."
"I think any time a head of a department publicly comes forward in a meeting and lays things out that are not what I would consider best practice, I think it behooves us to look into it," Swaney said. "I don't like that it's becoming polarizing. That shouldn't be happening. Ultimately, I feel like we need to be looking into whatever is causing division in what's going on in this building."
Charlie Lamar, who unsuccessfully ran for city council in November, said the reason for the investigation is not to fire someone. The point is to be transparent and responsible, he said.
"Y'all are the only people that can do it," Lamar said.
Councilwoman Clark said in an interview Thursday that the council discussed the issues in executive session Monday night and she was "perfectly satisfied with what was discussed."
"I don't want to tear the city apart just by looking at this," Clark said. "What does it accomplish to look into it? A never-ending conflict is what you'll get."
She also said the "so-called evidence" that Poston alluded to is not something she's interested in if it means it will create more conflict.
"I'm not going to go after rumors," she said.
Poston said he isn't advocating for Wright's termination. He believes an investigation is the least the council could do at this point, he said.
Councilman Jake Haynes did not return multiple calls for comment. Councilman Randall Franks did not respond to multiple email requests.
Members of the public - most of them city employees - took nearly two hours at Monday's meeting commending Wright for the job he does, how loyal he is as a leader and how much they support him in his role.
Jama House, Ringgold's finance director, clarified some of Bilbrey's comments he made when he resigned. House said the police department has more and newer vehicles in the fleet than Bilbrey had mentioned as well as more space for department employees to work.
"I don't see the harm in saying I want to ask questions and get to the bottom of things," Millwood said. "Obviously some of the council members don't share that view."
Contact Patrick Filbin at pfilbin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickFilbin.