CLAY COMMISSION HARD PUT REMOVING POSTELWAIT

(05/05/2005)
Officials ask judge to remove PSD chair

By Jim Cooper-Editor
Times Record-Roane County Reporter

A hearing has been scheduled for next month to determine the status of Clay-Roane Public Service District chairman Melissa Postelwait.

Clay County Commissioners filed a petition last week in Clay Circuit Court seeking Postelwait's removal from the board after she refused to comply with their request to resign.

In a preliminary hearing Monday, Judge Richard Facemire allowed Postelwait to continue acting as a board member pending the results of a further hearing scheduled for June 30.

Facemire did order Postelwait to return all PSD property, including money, that she might have. Postelwait had previously agreed to turn in her keys and said she had no PSD property or money.

Postelwait was also ordered not to be on Clay-Roane property unless it was for official PSD business and was told to have no confrontational language with employees or other board members.

Postelwait was arrested and charged with battery after an April 14 PSD meeting in Clay where she allegedly cursed at and slapped Susan Beard, Roane County's only member on the five-person PSD board. Postelwait is free on $500 bond.

The chairman apparently became upset after Beard raised questions about finances, including cash advances allegedly made to Postelwait that had not been repaid.

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