Council votes 3-2 not to reinstate Caler
Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008
ELKINS -- A special called City Council meeting brought about 70 citizens to the District Court Building last Wednesday to call for the reinstatement of Kevin Caler to his job as Water and Sewer Department superintendent. A 3-2 vote by the council dashed the hopes of those citizens.
Mayor Jack Ladyman called an executive session immediately after calling the meeting to order. Almost an hour later, he and five council members returned to hear the citizens speak out about Caler.
J. D. Demotte, Elkins fire chief, addressed the council first. "Kevin has served Elkins since 1998, Demotte said. He made the distinction, using a quote from a speech by former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, between office holders who are elected and those who work long term as government employees. He added that Caler has all the necessary local and sate licenses. "He has maintained his expertise for the city of Elkins."
Local businessman Gerald Bowman said he would like to see Caler get his job back. "The city losing Kevin Caler would be a loss morally and financially," Bowman said. "He is one of the most honest and hard working in Elkins."
Sunny Ledford and Kim Bowman addressed the council on behalf of Caler. They both mentioned the petition that had 104 signatures from citizens who wanted the reinstatement of Caler.
"We would have had more signa- tures but the people wanted to talk about what Kevin has done for them, so it would take about 30 minutes each place listening to them," Ledford said.
Council members Bruce Ledford and Bonnie Wilcox voted in Caler's favor. Bob Cox, Bill Epperson and Bobby McGarrah voted against the reinstatement of Caler.
After the meeting Mike Lemaster, chairman of the Water and Sewer Committee, said," We try to stay apolitical. Out mission is to serve the city of Elkins. We want to keep politics out of this."
Lemaster did say he regretted the loss of Caler as city superintendent.
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