OAK GROVE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – “I don’t know where we go from here, I feel like we are broken,” said Councilmember Janet Edward amidst an Oak Grove City Council meeting that was filled with heated discussions among residents and councilmembers. On Sept. 2, every seat in the council chambers was filled as city officials prepared to carry out sensitive talks about the sudden termination of a city employee and fiscal responsibility.
Residents and councilmembers were shocked to discover this week that Oak Grove Community Center Director Melissa Lynch had been fired by Mayor Jackie Oliver with no warning or explanation after holding the position for about eight years. Two individuals spoke up during public comments to share their support to Lynch, praising her efforts at the center.
“For them to take all of her hard work and put it in the garbage can, that’s unfair,” said one resident, with another speaking highly of her activism efforts and continuous positive impact on the community. Both voiced that the community deserved answers, and councilmembers agreed.
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Tax levy, council concerned about fiscal responsibility
During the meeting, the council was supposed to vote on an ordinance that would approve the previously budgeted 4% tax levy of .2301 cents per $100. However, Edwards spoke up to say that they should instead go with the compensating property tax rate that is similar to last fiscal year’s rate in an attempt to be more fiscally responsible.
“I think there has been some fiscal irresponsibility over the past few years,” said Edwards. “Until we can get our finances under control, I think we should not do a tax levy.”
She explained that the compensating property tax rate at .2230 cents per $100 would bring in $1.4 million in revenue for the city and would help make up for the $35,000 in documented merit raises that the mayor has distributed since 2023. This accompanied by the $13,000 stolen by a city employee puts the city farther behind financially.
Campbell added that these high value raises given to select employees could have covered the salary of a couple of part-time firefighters in Oak Grove. Councilmembers voted to postpone the vote until the next meeting when the financial director could be present for consultation.
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Council loses control of meeting, mayor responds
Questions about the termination of Lynch rose again amid financial discussion, with Mayor Oliver saying that she will not discuss the matter in an open meeting. She disclosed that the plan to fire Lynch was not shared during a private executive session with the council because of past tendencies for information to leak to the public.
Chaos soon overtook the council chambers, as residents shouted directly at the mayor, and an argument broke out across the room between Councilmember John Campbell and a resident. Oliver attempted to gain control with the gavel saying, “You guys act like animals.”
Police Chief Dennis Cunningham intervened and cleared the room as the mayor attempted to adjourn the meeting. But the motion to adjourn did not pass, and councilmembers continued talks in a now-empty room.
Future of Oak Grove Community Center, possible cause for termination
While there are no clear answers about the termination, Mayor Oliver did confirm after the room was clear that she and the city attorney are not investigating any sort of theft. She did discuss that there may have been a lack of transparency between the community center and city hall about incoming and outgoing donations during flood recovery that left some questions.
Prior to this explanation, Campbell loudly berated the mayor, calling her a liar and accusing her of relying on personal relationships when it comes to firing people and awarding raises. Edwards also voiced concerns that the city might be opening themselves to potential litigation due to how the termination was handled.
“In the end, she (Lynch) is responsible for her building, and she let citizens and councilmembers take charge. … She needed to somehow have control of this,” said Oliver. “I was concerned that all of these supplies were there, and we don’t have any control over it.”
No action was taken during the meeting, although discussion about termination is anticipated to be ongoing. In the meantime, Mayor Oliver will be acting as director for the community center.
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