By David Howell

A hefty salary cut for Sardis Mayor Rusty Dye, combined with eliminating health insurance in the coming year’s budget proposed by Sardis aldermen, just isn’t right, Dye said.

The cuts were recommended in August budget meetings as city officials work to trim almost $63,000 from the coming year’s budget. Dye currently earns $21,600 annually. With the proposed cuts, his salary would be reduced to $7,200 per year. Plus he would lose his health insurance under the proposed budget – another $7,800 annually.

“They just did not do me right,” Dye said in an interview with the Southern Reporter in which he wanted to tell his side of the story. Dye noted that he has worked hard for the city during the last 14 years, serving eight years as alderman and six years as mayor.

“I work seven days a week,” he added. “When there is a problem, I try to address it.”

“I would not have opposed taking some cut in pay as we attempt to balance this budget, but the aldermen should share this responsibility with  me,” Dye said.

Currently aldermen earn $6,000 annually, and with the proposed cut, Dye said he would only earn $1,200 more than aldermen.

“They work part-time, anybody can see that this is not fair,” Dye explained.

And the health insurance, that is what really hurts after Dye underwent a liver transplant last year.

“I don’t mind saying it, I need health insurance,” Dye said. “That is just wrong. I am not mad at anybody, but I was treated unfairly.”

His comments also come after a censure approved by three aldermen who attended a budget meeting last week. In the censure, which is a reprimand, aldermen accused the mayor of intimidation and incivility when interacting with city employees, students and faculty at the North Panola High School as well as other citizens in the city.

The allegations also include failure to ensure city ordinances are enforced, misuse of city labor and equipment, advising city employees to withhold information from aldermen and neglect of duty.

Dye addressed each allegation in the interview. First on the list is unethical behavior through the use of intimidation and demeaning language directed toward students and faculty at North Panola High School. This comes after an incident in August when Dye observed students from North Panola High School’s track team practicing on Industrial Park Road.

Dye acknowledges that he overreacted when he observed the students.

“They (the track team) were running on both sides of the road and it was dangerous, we have truck traffic coming in and out of those factories,” Dye said.

In a letter addressed to Dye dated August 19, Conservator Robert King expressed concern in the situation and how it was handled. Dye shared the letter with the Reporter in which King asked that the mayor address him directly if there are questions about the school district in the future.

“I appreciate Mr. King and the way he handled this,” Dye said. “I also apologized to King. I haven’t seen the coach but I would apologize to him too.”

An account from a law enforcement officer said Mayor Dye blocked the exit with his car and the coach refused to get into Dye’s vehicle and talk to him. According to that report, the coach backed up the bus then went around the mayor’s vehicle with Dye following the bus back to the high school.

That source reported that Dye allegedly used improper language while addressing the school employee.

“When I saw it, I overreacted, it scared me for the students’ safety,” Dye said about the incident.

As for unethical behavior directed toward other citizens in the city, Dye points out that he has lived in Sardis for 61 years.

“The citizens of Sardis will not agree with that,” Dye said.

Next Dye addressed the second allegation, intimidation and incivility when interacting with city employees.

Dye agrees there has been an issue with one employee, but said it stems from a bigger issue as an alderman has tried to undermine him during the last two years.

“We have one alderman who acts like an investigator. He has had it out for me the last two years,” Dye added.

The third allegation, failure to ensure city ordinances are enforced, is not true.

“I look at that ordinance book, I try to make sure all of the ordinances are enforced,” Dye said.

The fourth allegation, misuse of city labor and equipment is also unfounded, according to Dye.

“They almost wore my equipment out, two chain saws and pole saw back when we had that tornado,” Dye said. “I might have borrowed a city spray rig, but for several years we used my personal spray rig.”
Taking it a step farther, Dye also addressed city funds.

“I never once have even opened one of the city’s cash drawers, and I don’t know the combination to the city safe,” Dye said. He adds that any check issued by the city is only approved by aldermen consent when properly placed on the claims docket.

The next allegation, advising city employees to withhold information from members of the board of aldermen, also stems from at least one alderman working to undermine him, according to Dye.

“Like I said, he has had it out for me for the last couple of years.”

The final allegation, neglect of duty, is perhaps one of the most painful for Dye.

“I have been a dedicated city employee for 18 years. I have put my heart and soul into helping this town,” Dye explains. He adds that he has helped the town make major strides forward.

As proof, he lists numerous projects that have benefited the town with his assistance,  either directly or indirectly:

•   The James Appleton Justice Complex that houses the police department and justice court system;
•   The Panola County EMA building that occupies the former armory;

•   Renovations to the back building at the Sardis Fire Department;
•   Three major sewage improvements within the city at a cost of $1,000,000, paid for with grants;
•   A half-million dollar erosion control project on Wilddog Ditch;
•   Numerous small improvements maintaining city-owned buildings and property.

Dye is hopeful that concessions can be made for the cuts proposed for the upcoming fiscal year. Before the budget is adopted, a public hearing is scheduled Sept. 6, at 5 p.m. at city hall.