Do you know what today is? No, it’s not Election Day, a holiday, or anything noteworthy. But for the purposes of this article, it is Learn Investigative Reporting Day. That’s right, folks—today we’ll embark on a journey from start to finish on a hot local topic.
First, we need a subject. What’s trending? What's lighting up social media and local news? Last week, News Channel 9 aired a story about the Rossville City Council’s decision to terminate the contract with the Rossville Athletic Association (RAA) for managing the city’s ball fields on Ellis Road. The chief proponent of this action was City Councilman Jonathan Lassetter, supported by his son, also a council member, and Erika Harris, whose husband was the city’s public works director until last year when he was caught misusing city charge cards. His replacement? Walker County Commissioner for District 1, Robert Blakemore, whose wife, Courtney, heads the RAA.
We’ve got the “who” covered. Now let’s dive into the “why.”
Jonathan Lassetter told News Channel 9 that his stance was to protect the city from liability, citing concerns about insurance and the association’s nonprofit status (more on the rec, RAA and nonprofit status will be in an upcoming article).
His explanation for the action sounds reasonable enough. But let's look the contract they just terminated.
Surprisingly, the contract is short and doesn’t require the RAA to maintain insurance coverage or even that it be a nonprofit organization. There’s a clause stating that the “User hereby agrees to be responsible for all injuries to person and property occasioned by or caused in connection with User's use of the premises.”
This clause protects the city from the liability Lassetter feared, making it wise for the RAA to carry insurance, which they did at the time of the meeting last week.
So, here’s a massive, glaring, blinking red light: the city council, in its infinite wisdom, terminated a contract supposedly to protect the city from liability. But the contract already protected the city. By ending this agreement, they removed the shield that safeguarded Rossville from potential claims or lawsuits.
Brilliant move, blockheads. Truly brilliant.
In their attempt to act in the city’s best interest, Lassetter, his son, and Erika Harris have done the opposite. They’ve exposed the city to greater risk and financial strain, as the facilities will now need new management. The RAA received no funding from the city yet managed the ball fields effectively. Now, the city must find and fund a replacement.
So, we must ask: Why did they do it? Were they simply incompetent, stupid, or was there a hidden agenda?
This is one of the most blatantly stupid or dishonest actions I’ve seen from a local government. The blockheads who voted for this deserve an award for their outstanding display of why they shouldn’t be in office. In the absence of such an award, let’s recognize them for reminding us that local city council chambers across America have long been the epicenters of governmental incompetence, stupidity, and corruption.
Not all council members share this distinction. Mayor Hal Gray and Council member Todd Franklin opposed the ludicrous scheme. Mayor Gray advocated for revising the contract to better define roles and responsibilities, aiming to benefit the community. His approach was a refreshing display of measured thinking in a city that desperately needs competent leadership.
Unfortunately, the blockheads on the council are carrying on the obstructive tradition of city councils from many years past. In the absence of an official award for their incompetence, perhaps this little original ditty below will serve as a commemoration of their efforts.
So, on this Learn Investigative Reporting Day, we’ve uncovered a tale of local city council gone awry, highlighting the need for more competent and responsible leadership. Check out "Blockheads of the Rossville City Council," dedicated to this stunning display of ineptitude.