A called Demorest City Council meeting Tuesday did little to ease tensions in the town as speculation continues to swirl over who is responsible for the alleged theft of more than half a million dollars from the city’s water fund.
The mayor and council met in a closed door executive session for nearly two hours. They returned to open session and quickly adjourned without taking any action.
Juanita Crumley, center, stands with family and supporters outside council chambers as the Demorest City Council meets inside in executive session.
As the council met inside, family and supporters of embattled former Demorest City Manager Juanita Crumley waited outside with her. Crumley – who routinely stays to take minutes during executive sessions – left just a few minutes into the closed door session and was called back in by the council an hour and a half later.
After nearly four decades on the job, Crumley’s future with Demorest remains uncertain. Some members of the public have joined former city councilwoman Florence Wikle in calling for Crumley’s ouster on the heels of a year-and-a-half long investigation that uncovered nearly $600,000 in missing money.
No suspects have been named and no arrests have been made in connection with the money’s disappearance.
Mayor Rick Austin told reporters after the meeting that the council discussed personnel matters and the investigation into the missing funds. “These are serious matters that are being discussed by the council with serious consequences and, at this point and time, the council is still under consideration of several matters that are before us and we expect a conclusion and a decision on Tuesday night at the next meeting.”
Although Austin would not specify, every indication is that the council is considering Crumley’s fate.
Crumley served as Demorest City Manager for 39 years. She was recently demoted to City Clerk in the wake of the water fund investigation.
The tension in council chambers was palpable at the start of Tuesday’s meeting as Crumley’s supporters stood to defend her and pressed the council to explain why she was demoted. See Tensions run high in Demorest. When the meeting ended Mayor Austin asked Demorest police chief Greg Ellingson to clear the room. That didn’t sit well with at least one Crumley supporter. Betty Gragg says she’s upset that the mayor didn’t ask people to disperse more politely. “What kind of leadership is that? That’s very heartbreaking to me that he asked thirty people here, ‘Okay, clear the courtroom.’ I mean, who does that?”
Gragg says she stands by Crumley and says, “I know that she is doing a good job. It’s obvious that they have been audited many times and they have not found anything (prior to the investigation).” Gragg questions why Demorest’s auditors are not being held accountable for not catching the missing money earlier.
Now Habersham reached out to Crumley and her family for comment. They declined to be interviewed.
The Demorest City Council will hold its regularly scheduled work session next Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 6:30pm. The location has not yet been determined. The council is looking for a larger venue to accommodate the public so that those who attend will not have to wait outside during executive session. The meeting location will be announced here on Now Habersham prior to the meeting.
