The city of South Fulton has set a date for an ethics hearing to determine if public money was misused by a City Council member.
Ethics board members on March 2 will hold what board chair O.V. Brantley described as a “mini-trial,” where each side is allowed to present evidence, in the case against councilman Khalid Kamau.
This is the first formal ethics hearing for the young city, which incorporated in May 2017. Like others who have formed cities, South Fulton has struggled with issues between its City Council.
Kamau in late August attended the Robert E. Knox Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute on Jekyll Island. With Hurricane Dorian approaching, Kamau said he left the four-day training seminar early after Gov. Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency — not an evacuation — in Glynn and several other counties.
READ | South Fulton drama a rude awakening after dream of new city
Kemp's state of emergency on Aug. 29 didn't order people to leave, but it prohibited price-gouging and acknowledged that the areas in the path of serious storms.
Kamau said he left on Aug. 30, the last day of the seminar. Kemp's evacuation order came Sept. 1.
The councilman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after the ethics hearing earlier this month that he feels he is being politically targeted.
The resident who filed the complaint, Patricia Wise, said she was concerned about city leaders misusing money after hearing about the Jekyll Island issue from another council member at a public meeting.
During a Nov. 12 City Council meeting, council member Helen Willis said she wanted the mayor to investigate Kamau not getting credit for the seminar — which cost the public $2,600.
MORE | Georgia spared Dorian's destruction, but hurricane season not over
The two council members have found themselves feuding as recently as the turn of the year.
In a move initiated by Kamau, he and three other council members during the holidays unsuccessfully tried to remove Willis and Mayor Bill Edwards from office for their roles in a development deal.
Everyone from city leaders to residents say they want South Fulton to move forward from the drama.
The ethics hearing will be at the 5440 Fulton Industrial Boulevard municipal building starting at 6 p.m.
Follow The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Facebook and Twitter
Previously...
About the Author
