This is INSANE.
Paul Wellenberger is getting involved in local politics again. Suddenly, Jackie Sikes is having speakers publicly trash him and Fairfield Bay’s city treasurer, Rose Owen, in city council meetings!
Rose Owen even admitted she was being “thrown under the bus” as cameras were rolling.
The City Council had a meeting to discuss Mayor Paul Wellenberger becoming a city council member. Before taking a vote on Paul Wellenberger, Mayor Jackie Sikes called in 2 speakers that “AMBUSHED” Treasurer Rose Owens and former Mayor Paul Wellenberger to attack their character. Rose found herself defending her job as treasurer after never being approached or asked in private about the city loans in question by Jackie or the speakers she selected.
Apparently, Jackie is willing to call on people to ambush the treasurer in public about loans and even calls on them to speak publicly. She refuses to privately give these speakers information before they speak!
All of this is happening right as the city council is trying to bring back former mayor Paul Wellenberger to restore order to the city council.
Jackie Sikes Calls In The First Speaker
The first speaker Jackie called up has only lived in Fairfield Bay since October. Yet Jackie still called her up to suggest foul play involving Rose Owen:
“When I see numbers. I look for reasons why they are where they are and what they are… I’ve been looking at the Lin Creek Culvert Project.”
The speaker went on, saying:
“The city received almost $425,000 to pay for that fix. I see where $376,000 was spent on that. My first question is where’s the other $50,000+?”
Rose Owen, the treasurer, says the money left over went to the Conference Center. Rose Clarified about how grants and invoicing works:
“When you get something like that [grants and federal money], they don’t give you the money. You submit bills to them…”
The speaker kept pushing, saying:
“Who would’ve given you the instructions using that money?”
Rose responded:
“The Mayor. Paul Wellenberger.”
The situation got extremely uncomfortable as the attacks became more targeted. Rose finally said:
“I don’t like to be thrown under the bus here.”
City Councilman Roger Hooper was forced to jump in:
“Madam Chair, I think we’re debating something we’re going to need all the paperwork for… you probably haven’t looked at all the paperwork.”
Jackie jumped in, saying it was Rose who didn’t understand:
“So Rose, the money didn’t… actually go into the city general fund.”
Roger Hooper jumped in again, saying that speakers should have all the data before launching public attacks:
“Again, I think we’re debating something… that takes more research and you don’t have all of it.”
Jackie Calls In Second Speaker
Just like clockwork, another speaker was called in by Jackie. The speaker had the exact same questions as the previous speaker about the same Lin Creek Culvert project.
PLEASE NOTE: Jackie never had these people privately ask questions about transactions. Rose Owen was never even asked to show them paperwork about such an event. It was for pure public spectacle. End of story.
The second speaker stated the following:
“I’m a full-time resident, this year, after being a weekend resident for many years…”
The speaker then asked Rose point-blank if the money going to the Lin Creek Culvert project authorized by Paul Wellenerger was illegal:
“I’ve got some concerns… a loan, a grant, government disaster release funds transferred to another party… was that even a legal transaction?”
His question led Rose Owen to chuckle out loud.
You can watch the entire video yourself below:
Enough Is Enough
The fact that Jackie Sikes would call on people misinformed people like this to publicly attack city officials instead of politely asking for financial documents is downright scary.
This is tearing our city apart.
It’s obvious these speakers haven’t even asked Rose Owen about their concerns in private. They’re just being given a podium and a microphone to create more drama for our city by Mayor Jackie Sikes.
PLEASE NOTE: Jackie changed these meeting rules. City Council meetings used to be private before Jackie used her power as Mayor to start calling on random speakers who are allowed to say whatever they want.
It’s a circus masquerading as city government. It’s time to apologize to Rose Owen and Paul Wellenberger. They don’t deserve this. Period.
PLEASE NOTE: A movement has launched to recall Mayor Jackie Sikes by a group called “We (the MAJORITY of) the People of Fairfield Bay” to remove Jackie Sikes. Many other scandals and issues can be read about here.