Greenback Alderwoman, Robin Peeler Blankenship, daughter of former mayor Tom Peeler, posted her resignation from Greenback City Council last Thursday on her Facebook page. It was also reposted later on her husband's Facebook page.
Later on the same day, Mayor Dewayne Birchfield, responded to her post.
May 23, 2019
To: Town of Greenback,
Attn: Mayor Dewayne Birchfield
RE: Letter of Resignation
As I sit and listen to the mockery at the city council meetings held by you and your other council members and realize that if you didn’t have someone sitting behind you feeding you what to say that you would not have a clue how to handle the meetings, even with the agenda right in front of you. You are a complete joke in that position and being led around by those who ran your campaign most of who are not even residents of the city.
And as for your other council members, Delmar Davis and John Walker both have turned out to be nothing but bald face liars. They both know exactly how the meetings were held before and they both know what was and was not voted on but both say “they don’t recall” even though Delmar made the motions before and met others to decide what property should be deeded over. Delmar himself added extra property to the PPAWS side to “make sure to block off the gate so the school would not have access”.
Delmar and John both asked me to stay on and to help them fight and keep what was good and what was right, then at the very first meeting they both bowed down and kissed your butt like they had been promised the moon (or threatened in some way) probably by someone on your campaign staff. Delmar even said to me at dad’s retirement party that he could not wait for your wife to find out the truth about you and one of your female cohorts and that he had the proof. Gee – wonder where that proof is now or was that another bald face lie from his mouth.
Delmar said “no way would he allow Linda Black to be back on council” then he voted her right in and John right there with him. Linda told 2 weeks before the meeting that she was going to be back on council – funny how those things work out way before a vote is even done.
Then you signed a contract in January with the new attorney and she was not even voted on until February – there again funny how that worked out. Same with your recorder, you had her picked ahead of time and I am sure the other resumes did not even get looked at for a second.
I was told before the 1st meeting that you would do whatever you chose and didn’t care whether it was voted on or even legal – boy did that come true.
So, effective immediately I hereby submit my resignation as a member of the Greenback Board of Alderman.
Robin Peeler Blankenship
Statement from Mayor Dewayne Birchfield 5/23/2019
***************************************
We ( your city government ) have been made aware of a resignation post being made by Robin Blankenship today.
We would like to be clear that we have not received Mrs. Blankenship’s resignation in writing at our office and until such time she will be listed as an acting alderman on our city council.
We regret the unkindness and maliciousness of Mrs. Blankenship’s post. Especially her personal attacks not only on myself and my family but on her fellow alderman. However, if she chooses to resign, we will wish her well in her further endeavors.
We thank our remaining alderman for their continued service and will continue to work beside them to the betterment of the Greenback community.
We would like to take this opportunity to update you on the things that have occurred in our town since I have taken the office of Mayor.
These things are due to not only our effort, but yours as well.
And we thank each of you for kindness and support in making our town the best it can be!
Thus far we have had:
A Town Christmas Festival,
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny,
A community blood drive,
A Christmas movie pajama party at the depot, we’ve gotten a yoga class weekly at the community center, we’ve had CPR classes, we’ve got our own town bees and purple Martin colony, we have been paramount in support of our local library, we have planted a community garden to benefit our local food pantry, we have supported our school in an awesome 5k!, we have celebrated our youth by posting their accomplishments on our page for the town to see, we have welcomed new businesses to our town in person, we delivered letters to and from Santa on behalf of our communities children, we have begun the process of getting a pavilion at our city park and getting our community center repaired and re-stained.
And THAT is since DECEMBER !!!
None of this would be possible without YOUR support. And once again we can’t thank you enough.
Once our city is again able to be in compliance with the state and federal governments, we will begin the process of applying for the many grants that we will then be qualified to apply for. We hope this can be done as quickly as possible because there is so much to do!
I regret that my performance in city council meetings has not been up to Mrs. Blankenship’s approval . However , I would much rather spend the time learning the correct and legal way to proceed in regards to city business.
And this simply takes time.
Since I have been your mayor, I am coming to understand the repercussions of a government which refused to take the time to go by the book, or the law for that matter.
I am having to deal with situations I had no hand in creating. I am currently, and will continue to count on any and all means I feel I may need to do things in the proper way to save my community from going through anything like this ever again.
And lastly , if you are among those who have made a comment about our town going downhill due to unrest. I would first like for you to review the list up above. I would also like to ask what you are doing personally to contribute to our town being the best it can be. You are invited to volunteer at any time in our community garden, or our food pantry, or our summer reading program .
You can go on a trash pickup day, or visit an elderly neighbor, join the new neighborhood watch, or mentor a teen in need of a friend. Anything honestly. We’d love to have you take part!
Because sitting in your home complaining that things aren’t the way they used to be helps no one. Not you, and especially not your community. And the love you refer to as missing from Greenback can easily be put right back in by YOUR actions.
I have no desire to make Greenback in any way less loving. I do however plan to make sure it is run legally. That is my job as your Mayor. And if that offends you I apologize. But in that sense I can assure you that Greenback will change.
And yes, things ARE different. Our town is alive, and our community is thriving. And so many people are working so hard to see that that continues.
I appreciate each and every person who has stepped out and showed up to support this amazing community.
More than I can say.
I truly do.
Thank you
Sincerely , Dewayne Birchfield - Greenback City Mayor