Debbie Cook Resigns
| After thirty years in the office, twelve as the
elected City Treasurer/Recorder, Ms. Debbie Cook has submitted her
resignation effective Monday, March 26th, 2007. Citing health and
personal reasons, Ms. Cook tendered her written resignation (See Below)
to the mayor, City Administrator, Dale Hurst and city council. Council
will hold their regular meeting Monday Evening and is expected to
appoint an interim replacement for Ms. Cook. The next regular city
election is will be November 2008. Ms. Cook will be greatly missed by
the citizens of Lenoir City.
Ms. Cook and Lenoir City, City Court Judge, Terry Vann, have been in an ongoing dispute over the operations of the clerks office for some time now. Vann recently made frivolous allegations about Debbie's management of her office which were later found to be untrue. Click Here For Letter Of Appreciation To The Citizens. Click Here For
Knoxville News Sentinel Story I |
| March 23, 2007 Dear Mayor, City Council, and City Employees: I wish to announce my early retirement from the City of Lenoir City as the Recorder-Treasurer-City Court Clerk.. For the last thirty years, I have tried to serve our citizens with the upmost respect for their tax dollars. There is too much malice and discontent in the offices at city hall. If a person does not go along with the “status quo” then you are an outcast and treated terrible. I was elected as the Recorder-Treasurer for my honesty and integrity and that sort of thing is not popular inside the walls of your building. I do not deserve nor will I continue to be subjected to the uninvited cruelty, disrespect, and discourtesy shown to me by some of the city’s elected officials, public officials, and employees. As you know, my health has not been very good in the last few years, and I have been very stressed with different issues there in the workplace. I feel that waiting until my term is finished would be detrimental to my well being. I do appreciate the opportunity to serve our community and hopefully there will be a smooth transition when I leave office. I wish to have an audit by the city’s private auditors to make sure the cash and checking accounts are in order. This is a procedure that should be followed to protect the outgoing and incoming Lenoir City Treasurer-Recorder. My official day of retirement will begin on March 26, 2007. Respectfully, Debbie Cook |