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Impeachment process begins for city clerk

Iron Mountain Lake officials say woman misused credit card

By CHRIS CLINE
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

IRON MOUNTAIN LAKE — The impeachment process has begun for Iron Mountain Lake City Clerk Christine Lincoln. The board of aldermen met in closed session last week to hear a complaint levied against the clerk.

Mayor Jody Niccum said the complaint stemmed from Lincoln’s misuse of the city’s credit card. The board voted to draft a letter during the closed session informing Lincoln that she was being impeached. Following Monday’s public board of aldermen meeting, Police Chief Michael Kemp delivered a letter to Lincoln at her residence notifying her of the impending impeachment. Niccum said a public hearing for Lincoln has been scheduled for Nov. 24 at City Hall. For now she is on paid administrative leave.

Niccum said the board of aldermen covered a lot of ground during Monday’s meeting.

“We had a good turnout,” he said. “People are back in to what is going on in the city.”

He said the board adopted a resolution that will bring the city’s municipal codes current with state statutes.

City Treasurer Paul Powell gave a report on the city’s finances. Powell was appointed to the new position in October.

“He has made some changes that makes it easier for us to understand where the expenditures are,” Niccum said. “Our finances were in the negative last month. This month we are back in the positive. We are getting ready to review and adjust our budget. We want to see where we have surpluses. This time of year it is always difficult to make payroll, so we want to move some money around.”

Niccum said the board approved the purchase of a new blower pump for the city’s sewer aeration system. The cost of the new pump is approximately $1,700.

Prior to the start of Monday’s meeting there was discussion about appointing a police commissioner to whom the police department would report directly. However, Niccum said that the city’s ordinances currently call for a police commission, which consists of an alderman from each ward. He presented the aldermen with a draft of the ordinance and told them to review it.

“It’s going to come up again at the next meeting,” Niccum said.

Kemp was also hoping that one of his officers would be promoted to full time status during Monday’s meeting. Niccum said that did not happen because until the budget could be reviewed and adjusted, the board did not feel comfortable making that commitment.

At the end of the meeting several citizens presented a petition to Niccum that demanded the removal of Kemp as chief of police. Niccum said he was very disappointed with the petition.

“It’s very unfortunate that some people feel this way,” the mayor said. “I think Chief Kemp is doing a great job. When he started he had nothing here to work with. He has been diligent in trying to build up the department. It has come a long way in a short time. He is cleaning things up and he has the support of the majority of the people here.”

Niccum said most of the residents who are unhappy with Kemp have been pulled over for various reasons and have received tickets.

“His job is to enforce the law,” Niccum said. “People need to understand that. In my opinion he (Kemp) is doing a wonderful job.”

He said he was told that the petition had 170 signatures on it.

“How many of those are actually citizens here, I don’t know,” he said.

The mayor was unsure as to what merit the petition has in removing Kemp as chief.

“As far as I am concerned his job is secure here,” Niccum said.

Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.