Greene County Democrat

Tag: Suzette Powell

  • Eutaw Chamber of Commerce holds Political Forum for Municipal Candidates

    Special to the Democrat by John Zippert, Co-Publisher

    The Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce held a Political Forum on Saturday, August 2nd, on the lawn of the old Greene County Courthouse in Eutaw. The forum was for candidates running in the August 26, 2026’s Eutaw Municipal elections. Over a hundred people turned out to hear the candidate’s views and answers to questions posed by the voters.
    All three candidates for Mayor of Eutaw, incumbent Latasha Johnson, Corey Cockrell and Tyrone Atkins were present. Most of the candidates for Eutaw City Council in Districts 1 to 5 were also in attendance to give their platform and views.
    Mayor Latasha Johnson, in her opening comments said, “ I love the City of Eutaw, and I have lived here all of my life. I have worked as Mayor for unity and progress. When I came into office in November 2022, the city’s finances were in bad shape. With help from a financial advisor, we developed a budget and began regular annual audits. We borrowed $500,000 for needed vehicles and equipment. That loan will be paid in full in September and we can borrow funds again for equipment and road maintenance which are needed.”
    Johnson, continued, “ We have received $9 million in state and Federal grants, with no matching requirements, based on our audits and financial system, to upgrade our water and sewer system, along with Boligee. We also received grant funding from the state to re-pave Highway 14 coming into the city and for the TAP- Streetscape project for sidewalks around the old Courthouse Square.”
    Corey Cockrell, who is currently a County Commissioner for District 3, said “I am the best candidate for Mayor based on my work on the County Commission and in community.” Cockrell, who is also a full time teacher and head football coach at Eutaw High School, passed out a sheet showing $19 million in road work projects the Commission got funded during his tenure on the County Commission.
    Cockrell said he was hardworking holding community events and cock-outs in the community to listen to the voters. He said, ‘I will promote jobs and housing for people in the city; and I will correct the financial problems of the city by getting more grants and revenues.”
    Tyrone Atkins, the third candidate for Mayor said, “ Not much has changed in Eutaw since 1995. Too many empty storefronts downtown. The city officials are not dealing with the everyday problems of people in finding jobs, shopping at one grocery store with high prices and lacking recreation for the children and young people. That is why young people are leaving Eutaw, as soon as they graduate high school and not coming back.”
    There was also a spirited debate among the candidates for Eutaw City Council positions. Tracey Hunter, incumbent candidate in District 3, is unopposed. She spoke briefly about her intentions to continue serving and developing more programs for youth in the community.
    Two candidates for District 1, Ke’Undra Cox and incumbent Valarie Watkins, both spoke and answered questions. Watkins said, “I am not going to make a lot of promises. I am running on my platform of honesty, integrity and transparency. I have helped to deal with an abandoned house on Roebuck and other places around the city. I have pushed for speed bumps for the safety of children in the neighborhoods. I want to cure some of the financial problems of the city. We have too many people paying their water bills late. We have too many city workers for our budget.”
    Cox said, “ I have returned to Eutaw after six years in the Air Force learning leadership skills. I am one of the youngest people running and I want to bring the perspective of young people to the Council. We have the potential to do better, and I want to help the city to serve young people so they will not move away but stay here to live and work.”
    In District 2, incumbent Jonathan Woodruff Jr. and Maurice Walton were present, Charles Naylor, Jr. was in the hospital and could not attend. Woodruff said, “ I will continue to work to improve infrastructure. I will work with a servant spirit and represent my district as well as the entire city. I will work to keep us within our financial commitments in the budget. Walton said, “I will work as a team member with the other council members and the mayor to make Eutaw a better city for all of its citizens. I will work to expand recreational opportunities for youth, beatification and improvement of our city, and recruiting new businesses and jobs.”
    In District 4, incumbent Larrie Coleman was not present because of a previous commitment. Sarah D. Brewer stated, “ I want to improve the infrastructure – too many potholes and exposed culverts; we need to fix the water system – water pressure is low, and the quality of water is often undrinkable. We need to be transparent with the finances, have regular audits and cooperation among the mayor and the council members.” In answer to questions on her vision for the city, she said, “ Build it and they will come, referring to infrastructure development.”
    Lorenzo French, another candidate for District 4, said” I will work to restore trust and accountability in the city council. I will work for more civic engagement by all people. Having worked at the Robert H. Young Community Center, I know the needs for more activities for our youth. You must love the place you live in – and I love Eutaw.”
    In District 5, the incumbent Suzette Powell, was absent due to a prior family commitment with her grandchildren. Carrie Logan, the only White candidate for City Council, and other candidate for District 5, said, “I have lived in Eutaw for the past thirty years and have volunteered with the Chamber of Commerce, my church, the Garden Club and others to improve the image of the city. We must improve our infrastructure and work with other governmental agencies, such as the County Commission and Industrial Development Authority to make things better for all.”
    The election is less than three weeks away, on Tuesday, August 26,2025. If a runoff is needed, in races where one candidate does not get a majority (50% or more) of the vote, it will be held on Tuesday, September 23rd. The last day to register to vote for the August 26th election is August 19, 2025. Absentee voting is going on now until August 19, 2025, to get a mail ballot or walk-in to vote. For more information, contact the city election managers, at City Hall, phone 205-372-4212.

  • Eutaw City Council appoints board and committee members, reviews water system issues, E-911 and pays bills

    Shown L to R: Eutaw Police Officer Tyler Johnson, Asst, Chief Kendrick Howell, Chief Tommy Johnson, Mayor Pro Tem LaJeffery Carpenter, Officers Robert Geter and William Smith displaying their new uniform. Chief Johnson stated he has an open door policy. Look professional and act professional. We are here to help our citizens.

    At its regular meeting on January 26,2021, the Eutaw City Council
    dealt with several outstanding issues including naming people to city committees and boards, reviewing continuing problems with the water system, support for E-911, reviewing an agreement for joint work with the County Commission and Industrial Board, setting lease rates for space at the Carver School Community Center and paying bills.
    The Mayor and City Council appointed members of the following boards and committees:
    • Eutaw Zoning Board: John Zippert, Broderick Fulghum, Cynthia Cooper, Corey Cockrell, and Shirley Eubanks
    • Eutaw Housing Authority Board: James Powell, Jonathan Lewis, Jacqueline Allen, and Isaac N. Atkins
    • Eutaw Medical Clinic Board: Judy Jarvis, John Zippert and Joyce Cotton
    • Eutaw Historical Commission: Evelyn Davis, Gilda Jowers, Diane Liverman, Carol P. Zippert, Sharon Trammell, Johnnie Mae Knott, Sandra Walker, Judy Jarvis
    • Eutaw Cemetery Board: Nicolas Wilson, Joseph Fritz, Suzette Powell, Sharon Trammell, and Connie Tyree
    The Council took up the issue of setting a rental payment for use of rooms at the Carver School Community Center. The CRFD, a non-profit agency has had a space for a year and Liberty Tax, a business. is requesting a space. Councilwoman Tracey Hunter raised the concern that the monthly charge includes utilities. Mayor Johnson said it was a community center not a business, so the city was not likely to recover all costs for the facility, but needed to charge a fair rate for non-profits and others. Hunter then moved to table the issue until more research and information was available.
    The Engineers of the South (EOS), the consulting firm that is currently contracted to monitor the operations and quality of the Eutaw Water System was present and stated their interest in supporting efforts to improve the system. The spokesperson for EOS said that they would provide a proposal to increase time on monitoring the system, help in auditing and correcting faulty meters and replacing meters that could not be repaired. EOS is also answering an ADEM complaint about the water system, which was sent to the past Mayor but never answered.
    The City also has a proposal from Kathie Horne of Water Management Associates for improving and repairing problems with the water system. Her agreement is for three years and charges $6 per meter, per month. Mayor Johnson said the city has 1,400 water meters, which means that Horne’s contract is for $8,400 a month or more. Johnson said she wasn’t sure if the city could afford this contract and welcomed other proposals, like one from EOS. The Mayor said this would be discussed in more detail at a Council Work Session on Tuesday, February 2nd.
    The next agenda item was a pledge by the City since 2004, to provide $30,000 a year for the operation of the E-911 emergency assistance and dispatching services, which has never been paid. Johnny Isaac, Chair of the E-911 Board was present and said, “In 2004, I was the Sheriff and Reginald Spencer was Eutaw Chief of Police, we agreed to transfer dispatching services to E-911. This is saving the city between $200,000 and $300,000 a year. We hope you can support us with $30,000 that was pledged but never paid. The monies we get from the phone bill tax of $1.86 per customer is not sufficient to operate E-911”
    Mayor Johnson said the City should pay $30,000 a year to support E-911, from bingo funds. The Council agreed and supported this expense.
    The Council reviewed an agreement between the City, County Commission and Industrial Development Authority for development of the Interstate 59/20 Exit 40, especially the location of a motel and other projects to improve the county. The Council tabled this issue for further discussion at the upcoming work session.
    The Council received a listing of outstanding bills for the months of November, December and January, which they approved for payment.