ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Tony Kennon planned a meeting on Aug. 15 with all Orange Beach city employees — but Councilman Brett Holk was not invited. Nor were any of the other council members. 

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Holk wanted to know why. And when the discussion was over, what was once a quiet municipal election with issues simmering in the background suddenly became lively banter in an open meeting.

In the employees’ Holk said, Kennon told the employees he did not support him or councilwoman Pattisue Simpson in Tuesday’s vote. Kennon agreed with that assessment.

“I noticed that you had a meeting held with the mayor and employees of the city, and it was in the Justice Center, and it was between you and the employees, and no council members were allowed,” Holk said. “And you expected all the employees to attend, and it was a very important meeting.”

Kennon said he called the meeting because of things he’d been hearing about certain council members’ campaigns.

“The purpose of the meeting was I was being inundated with questions being formulated because of the campaign, campaign promises, confusion amongst employees about people being let go, people getting raises, cost of living; the typical nonsense that happens during a campaign,” Kennon said.

“It’s been my policy since I’ve been mayor — I sit down with our employees at any point in time I feel there’s uneasiness, or anxiety and answer their questions. And I feel like they left the meeting feeling much better about the situation, but I can’t speak for all employees.” 

Four seats on the council are being contested in Tuesday’s upcoming election.

In Place 2 Holk faces challengers Jeff Boyd and Ty Fleming Sr. and in Place 3 Simpson faces Jerry Johnson. In Place 4 incumbent Joni Blalock faces Kris Jones and in Place 1 Al Bradley faces Iris Ethridge.

Holk asked the mayor why he wasn’t allowed to be at the meeting and felt he and other councilmembers should have had to opportunity to attend if they wanted.

“I’m hearing from people who have seen this and they asked ‘Brett, how come you weren’t there?’” he said.  “I said it was not emailed to me, I did not have the knowledge to go to this meeting, and I was hoping you could explain what went on in it so we would have some knowledge.

“As elected officials we should be at these meetings to protect the interest of the people.”

Thus setting up this exchange:

“I did have a couple of people tell me that you said your views on who you were supporting in the election, is that correct?” Holk asked

“Absolutely,” Kennon replied.

“Do you want to say now who you are supporting?” Holk asked.

“Yes, sir. I’d be glad to,” Kennon replied. “I am not supporting Brett Holk or Pattisue Caranza (now Simpson). We can leave it at that.”

But it was hardly over.

“For me the only  things that we’ve disagreed about were taxing the people and raising the sewer fees and swapping money to put the people in debt more,” Holk said. “It’s fine for you to say that but that’s the only thing we’ve disagreed on.  Everything you said you would not do, that you voted to do.”

Raising the sewer fee from $20 to $28 has been a big issue in the election. Holk portrays it as a tax. Kennon says it’s a fee and not a tax and the city was required to raise the fee to comply with revenue bond regulations.

“A fee is not a tax,” Kennon said. “I’ve never voted to raise taxes. The bond covenants of our sewer plant, which are revenue-based bonds, require that the sewer break even. It requires that the fees equal the expenses. We explained that to you on multiple instances.”

Holk said that 20 percent of the fee increase went into the general fund and that made it a tax.

“That’s a tax, it’s just a hidden tax,” Holk said. “So you have voted for taxes even though you campaigned against those taxes. As far as what you are saying, you’re not telling the truth.”

Kennon said the money went to the city to cover administrative costs.

“Let’s make it clear,” he said. “The sewer rate went up 40 percent, 20 percent went back to the city in reimbursement for management, administrative costs that the city provides the sewer plant such as payroll, etc.”

Kennon also said Holk harmed the city with his portrayal of city finances in a letter to the editor in the Mobile-Press Register saying the city was $100 million in debt. Holk was opposed to spending $1.5 million to buy the events center at The Wharf and used the financial numbers to cite the reasons why the city shouldn’t buy it.

Kennon said the letter was false.

“There were no lies in that letter,” Holk said.