“That hurt, that hurt a lot,” Auvil said.
By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Former City of Parsons Recorder Tim Auvil addressed the City of Parsons Council during the public comment portion of the August 6th meeting regarding his removal from the Parsons Parks and Recreation Commission (PPRC). Auvil read from a prepared statement.
In the opening to his statement, Auvil addressed his 17 years of service to the City of Parsons and how much he enjoyed his time on the PPRC. “During my 17 year tenure on City Council, diligently and tirelessly served this City of which also included nearly 15 years proudly serving on the Parsons Parks and Recreation Commission, commonly known as the PPRC, or which I thoroughly enjoyed during during that time. I personally coordinated with engineers, contractors, regional and state officials affiliated with any and all projects of improvements to the parks systems and all other projects within this city. I have attended a multitude of meetings, received and responded to “thousands” of emails and phone calls pertaining to all city projects. I gave my time freely, believing I was serving a purpose for my hometown, in hopes of creating more job opportunities and additional recreational possibilities,” Auvil said.
In his statement, Auvil said he had not violated any ethics or judiciary offenses that would have warranted removal and believed that the reason given that he was no longer on the City Council was not warranted. “ This Council, by a majority vote, with the exception of Councilman Greenlief, voted to remove me as a member of the PPRC during the July 16th, 2024 meeting. This action was without cause, as my term does not expire until December 31, 2025. I have not violated any ethics code nor have I incurred any judiciary offenses. Therefore, no reason exists to dismiss me from the PPRC other than personal reasons among this council,” Auvil said.
Auvil said that the fact that he was no longer a City Council Member did not matter when it came to his position on the PPRC. “It was stated, since I was no longer on City Council, I could no longer serve as a member of the PPRC and,or be a liaison. This is and always has been a “pronoun” affiliated to “any” Council member on the PPRC. It HAS NOT, nor has it ever been an appointed position,” Auvil said
Auvil went on to say that as a Commission, commission protocols must be maintained unless legally changed. “The PPRC is a Commission, NOT a council committee, established by City Ordinance. All protocols to ordinances MUST be maintained by council unless otherwise changed via three readings of a legally prepared document. The third of which, must be a public hearing,” Auvil said.
Auvil also addressed the wording on the agenda item in which his removal was listed. “My unjust removal from the PPRC was done on an agenda item simply stating ‘Removal of Park and Recreation board member – Councilman Tim Turner’. The wording on this agenda item, that evidently targeted me, was a public violation of my rights, this prohibiting me the opportunity to address council in my defense for this unjust act. My name was not shown on the agenda item to remove me personally from a COMMISSION, and was not posted in the timely manner until late Friday afternoon July 12th, which was less than the required : As I quire, ‘Three business days before regular meetings,’ unquote, as per State regulations,” Auvil said.
Auvil called the action a “slap in the face” and said he refused to remain silent. “This action was not only a slap in my face, but frankly a stab in my back! Not only is this an unethical action taken against me by this council, it is a defamation of my character and an insult to my name and reputation. It is a violation of city ordinance and I refuse to remain silent and allow the record to show that I was removed from ‘any’ office and/or position I ever held, without the ability to speak on my own behalf,” Auvil said.
Auvil said he put his personal life second to the city and attempted to guide the city in a financially responsible manner. “This is the thanks I get for putting my personal, professional and fiscal life, behind my dedication to this city throughout my tenure I have consistently provided the majority of the logistics, financial research, homework and protocols needed to inform councils how to move each and every one of this city’s project and improvements forward in a fiscally responsible manner,” Auvil said.
Auvil said the Council cannot make up the rules. “You cannot make up rules, move and/or pass motions without properly adhering to city ordinances simply because you want to. There are established State regulations and guidelines all councils must adhere to,” Auvil said.
In his closing, Auvil said the Council has brought adversity to a body that did not exist before and said he was concerned for the future of Parsons and the possible instability the Council could cause. “In closing, you have brought adversity to council that did not exist before. You’re leading our city toward instability that will diminish the progress of Parsons. The sad part is, non of it was necessary and this deeply concerns me about my home’s future,” Auvil said.”
Council Member James “Sam” Humphrey told Auvil that he was not at the meeting. “Just so you know, I was not at that meeting,” Humphrey said.
As he left, Auvil said he was hurt by the act. “That hurt, that hurt a lot,” Auvil said.
As previously reported in the Parsons Advocate July 23rd, the Parsons City Council voted four to one to remove Auvil from the PPRC. Council Member David Greenlief was the dissenting vote and Council Member James “Sam” Humphrey was absent. In a separate vote, it was voted to replace him with Council Member Seth Rosenau as Council liaison to the Commission.