DEMOREST – Demorest City Manager Kim Simonds will not honor Mayor Rick Austin’s request that she resign.
In an email to Austin and copied to city council members today, May 6, Simonds wrote, “I decline your request that I resign as city manager. It really is my hope that we can move forward and get the real work of the city accomplished.”
That was not the news Austin was hoping to hear.
“Her ability to lead and manage this city has been irreparably harmed,” Austin said. “I still believe that to be true. I’m sure that we will take this matter up on Tuesday evening.
At issue was Simonds’ firing of Police Chief Robin Krockum last month.
More than 75 people gathered outside Tuesday night’s city council meeting to protest Simonds and to support Krockum, several of those speaking out against Simonds and Councilmen Nathan Davis and John Hendrix.
Faced with threatened litigation Tuesday night, the city council ultimately voted unanimously to reinstate Krockum if he will accept the position.
“I have not discussed anything with Chief Krockum,” Austin said.
Currently, Interim Police Chief Casey Chastain is running the police department. He was sworn in after Tuesday night’s council meeting.
