The Town Council of Cedar Bluff will hold a called meeting Wednesday afternoon to act on a letter of resignation tendered last week by Mayor Donald Sanders.
Sanders tendered his letter last Friday, at the same time saying the resignation had nothing to do with any of the ongoing federal investigations into corruption in town government in Cedar Bluff.
Town Council was scheduled to meet last Friday afternoon to act on the termination of Becky Sanders, wife of the mayor, who had been working for the town. Shortly before that meeting was scheduled, The Herald was notified that it had been postponed and was told that a meeting would be
held 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to act on the letter of resignation submitted by Mayor Sanders.
The Herald also was told that Mayor Sanders’ resignation would be accepted.
Sanders, 53, as mayor pro-tem stepped into the position of mayor last May when Bob Davis resigned, a month before he was found dead in his home. Town Council then voted unanimously to appointed him as mayor on June 6. He had served on the council since September 1999.
Davis earlier had announced that he would have to resign because of mistakes he had made earlier. He was involved in an investigation by the office of U.S. Attorney Alice Martin for the illegal sale of confiscated firearms.
Last Wednesday morning, the town council met with Assistant U.S.Attorney Pat Meadows in an executive session. Cedar Bluff officials would not comment on what was discussed during the executive session, nor would a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office comment,
explaining that the Justice Department’s policy was to not to or deny any ongoing investigation.
Sanders’ resignation had nothing to do with the investigation, nor was he implicated in any way with any wrongdoing. He said his resignation has to do with the time it takes away from his job with Cherokee Electric Cooperative. The said the job is a full-time position but pays part-time of $600 a month.
Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Baker takes over the duties as mayor until the town council can meet to make an appointment. Baker said she is not sure if she will be interested in the position. She was elected to the council last year and had previously served two terms.
Last year Cedar Bluff Town Manager Rickey Steele was the second town official to resign, following Davis. Steele faced charges of lying to the FBI in the investigation into the illegal removal of firearms from the Cedar Bluff Police Department. He pleaded guilty and received a sentence of probation and a $100 fine.
Mary Shaner later resigned as town clerk and was arraigned in December on federal charges of forgery involving checks on municipal accounts totaling about $13,000
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