A simmering dispute over recent pay raises for some LaFollette city employees came to a head last night during the City Council's regular monthly meeting.

The LaFollette Press provides some background on the raises in question:

The pay increases, which range from $1,000 to $5,000 a year, were described by council members Ken Snodderly, Hansford Hatmaker and Mike Stanfield as a move to make the pay scale for city positions more equitable to other similar-sized cities. (Mayor) Jennings said the raises are politically motivated.

The proposed raises included $4,000 for public works director Jim Mullens, $1,000 for recreation director Johnny Byrge, $5,000 for animal control officer Stan Foust, $5,000 for librarian Nancy Green, $2,000 for city financial director Terry Sweat, $3,000 for full-time office worker Amanda Hardwick, $4,000 for city treasurer Wanda Dower, $3,000 for city clerk Linda White and $3,000 for city administrator David G. Young. Snodderly's plan also included a part-time city office worker for another $12,000 yearly. With FICA, withholding and retirement, the increases will cost the city around $43,000, Snodderly said.

Prior to last night's meeting, Council was served with a lawsuit by Councilman Bob Fannon and his attorney Dave Dunaway asking for an injuction to stop those raises. This apparently angered those on the Council who support the raises (Snodderly, Hatmaker and Stanfield) and they refused to second any motions or vote on anything. When Mayor Cliff Jennings attempted to start the meeting by addressing the minutes of the previous meeting, Ken Snodderly, Hansford Hatmaker and Mike Stanfield refused to participate. With the refusal to approve the minutes of last month's meeting, they effectively shut down the city and its services until the next council meeting.

City workers are due to be paid Thursday.

Mayor Jennings says he will call a special meeting for Thursday morning to work out the problem. He's quoted as saying, "It's time Council put aside their personal vendettas and ran the city like the business it is."