As the former city engineer and public works director for the city of Red Bank from 1997 to 2003, I am pleased to see employees seek justice and challenge the elected officials that have chronically enabled discriminatory behaviors in their local government.
I was a municipal engineer that was hired from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to conduct millions in sewer rehabilitation for the city of Red Bank that is widely known as a train wreck. The city of Red Bank allowed wastewater to surcharge into citizens homes, and an uncovered landfill to leach metals into public waterways. I worked diligently on the removal of moratoriums and to resolve these issues from decades of mismanagement of their public infrastructure. What I got in return was absolutely horrible.
My dad taught me I was equal, to complete higher education, and to work hard. I had never encountered discrimination in my profession or work until Red Bank. Understand, it feels absolutely horrible to be judged that you are inadequate because of gender, race, age, or other attribute you cannot control.
In 2002, the mayor of Red Bank and other City Commissioners openly and repeatedly stated to the female city manager and I, that the city elected officials and local organizations “wanted the hens out of the hen house,” referring to the female managers and city hall. The message was, you are not as good as male managers.
They even met in groups of three at the Mountain City Club violating open meetings. Allegation, I think not, given the fact I still have the certified depositions with the mayor acknowledging their violations of open meetings law.
Former Police Chief Sneed, you will see people you trusted and thought would tell the truth lie for their employer. You will hear attorneys with a pack of thugs from the Tennessee Municipal League insurance say you will not be a good witness. Ignore, and hang on to the truth.
April Eidson