By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
The Prattville City Council appointed a familiar face to the City’s Industrial Development Board (IDB) Tuesday night, but at least one citizen told the Council it’s a face she’d rather not see in government ever again.
The Council approved a resolution to appoint former Mayor Jim Byard to the IDB as well as Dr. Tom Miller. Byard’s appointment was sponsored by Council President Albert Striplin and Miller’s appointment was sponsored by Councilman Lora Lee Boone. Both men were appointed by unanimous votes of the Council.
It was Byard’s appointment that drew the ire of Prattville resident Jon Lee Finnegan and a few other citizens.
“The City of Prattville was in dire straits because of Byard and he went on his merry way; I am sure he did not even look in the rearview mirror when he left. Luckily, through sacrifices, this town survived,” Finnegan said.
In a 2011 interview, former mayor Byard blamed the bad economy for the cities financial troubles and said it was a problem many other cities were going through as well.
Byard resigned as Mayor after he was appointed as the director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, an agency of state government which administers federal grants. He currently has his own consulting firm.
Bill Gillespie was appointed as mayor of Prattville and some say he inherited a financial mess when he took office. The city was even on the verge of filing for bankruptcy — but he promised to bring down the debt and he has delivered on that promise.
“Get new blood on that Board, not someone who did not have the city’s best interests at heart,” she said. “Don’t thumb your noses at Prattville’s citizens, which is what you will be doing by appointing him.”
Striplin said he requested the council appoint Byard upon the recommendation of the IDB. “Mr. Byard has an impressive background in economic development,” he said. “His vast knowledge gives us the right tools in our economic development toolbox. He has the experience and the knowledge needed to move us forward.”
But Finnegan said Byard’s experience does not erase “the harm and turmoil he put the citizens of Prattville through.”
“Leave the seat empty or appoint someone else, but not him,” she said. “This gets his foot in the door and who knows what will happen with the upcoming elections.”
