The investigation uncovers allegations against Walton’s former mayor

The Walton City Council approved the results of an investigation into the conduct of former Mayor Gabe Brown at a meeting Tuesday night.

The final report of the months-long investigation contained seven key findings, according to special prosecutor Bryce Rhoades. The results were:

• that Brown used or otherwise permitted the use of a city-issued card for personal use;
• that Brown retained a city-owned vehicle in his possession for an additional week after returning from city business and then parked the vehicle in front of a city council member’s residence;
• that Brown used a city plow truck to clear the parking lot of a private business outside the city’s corporate limits, for which he received cash and merchandise;
• that Brown authorized payments in excess of the agreed upon contract price with a contractor and failed to submit two change orders to the City Council for approval;
• that Brown authorized payment to the same contractor before the city received an invoice for the work performed;
• that Brown personally authorized payment to the same contractor by cashier’s check from the general fund.
• that Brown authorized the payment of $200,611.90 to a second contractor for work performed on the Owens Park Lake project without first placing a newspaper advertisement for bids.

The full final report of findings will be made available to the public on the City’s website and will provide further details on each of the seven points.

The investigation began earlier this year after the City Council became aware of possible misconduct by then-Mayor Brown. According to City Council Member Dan Martin, a private citizen first alleged wrongdoing in August 2023.

“The snow plow truck was the first incident that got this ball rolling,” Martin said. “A private citizen just called a city council member and said, ‘Hey, I saw this and I just wanted you to know about it.’ This council member discussed it with Gabe Brown.”

Previously, the city council said Brown plowed snow from the parking lot of a business outside Walton for monetary gain before the city itself had been plowed.

The council launched an investigation into Brown’s actions following the allegation. This included hiring special counsel Rhoades to lead the case and hiring a consultant to conduct a forensic audit of the last fiscal year.

After Brown resigned in late March and then rescinded his resignation, the council decided to prepare charges against him to remove him from office. At a special meeting on Tuesday, May 7, the council was prepared to announce the allegations to the public. However, while the council was in executive session, Brown submitted another letter of resignation, effective immediately.

The council voted to table the motion to impeach Brown and announce the charges at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

“This report is essentially a summary of what those charges would have been,” Rhoades said.

Because Brown has resigned from office, the allegations have no consequences for him as an elected official, and he still retains the opportunity to put his name back on the ballot for mayor in November. Now Rhoades said that disclosing the allegations is only for publicity.

“The report was started with charges that would have been used for removal if the council had decided to do so, but since he resigned they no longer have that option,” Rhoades said. “The council has decided that the matter should be made public so that everyone now knows what was being investigated.”

In the meantime, the city must appoint an interim mayor to serve the remainder of Brown’s term. Six candidates will run for the position, including three council members: Amy Long, Terri Courtney, Dan Martin, former mayor Mark Carnahan, Eric Tungate and Bruce Bloomer.

While the city originally planned to interview and vote on the top candidate at a special meeting on Wednesday, May 15, the City Council decided to postpone the meeting until Monday, May 20.

Martin said the candidates will have the opportunity to speak to the public, then the council will move into a closed discussion to make a final decision. The council must decide unanimously who the candidate will be.

“I am confident the council will make the right decision. I think there are good candidates,” Courtney said. “I personally believe the lack of communication and teamwork between the mayor and council. And if I had the opportunity, I would like to create a team environment where we all work together.”

Martin said he hopes the city will take action to restore residents’ trust in government.

“I can say anything, the council can say anything, but if we don’t put plans in place that could prevent this type of financial misconduct, if the citizens don’t see that we’re taking this absolutely seriously, whether that’s the appointment of a city manager “or the implementation of policies in the city office, without action my words don’t count tonight,” Martin said. “And I hope that by November they realize that the city has done everything in its power to put the situation behind them, but it certainly cannot be ignored.”

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