The Greenville Herald-Banner has reported that the Texas Rangers are investigating Commerce Assistant City Manager Steve Wilson. The purpose of the investigation has not been released.
“Since Mr. Wilson serves as the Assistant City Manager, the Commerce Police Department was conflicted from conducting an investigation and I requested that the Rangers look into the matter,” Hunt County District Attorney Noble Walker told the Herald-Banner. “Once the investigation is complete, we will then determine what, if any, further action is to be taken.”
The Herald-Banner reported that during a budget workshop on Aug. 1, city council member Sue Davis recommended the city not fund the assistant city manager position in the next fiscal year. The city provided a recording of the meeting to the Herald-Banner on Aug. 21.
“I will give some reasons, if you want to hear them: Dereliction of duty, official misconduct, abuse of position with respect to management of city employees,” Davis said on Aug. 1. “I think it needs to be brought out. It’s not pertaining to the investigation that is going on. I’m not bringing any of that up, because [Hunt County DA Noble Walker] is working on it, but this is a completely different direction.”
During the Aug. 1 meeting, Davis alleged that Wilson does not have the proper certifications to manage the city’s public works department and, in the community development department, permits were being waived and certificates of occupancy were being issued by individuals who legally could not do so.
“So you’re saying that we definitely have misdemeanors and felonies that have been committed by the Assistant City Manager Steve Wilson?” city council member Richard Hill asked.
“Yes, and his department,” Davis said. “What they’re doing are Class C misdemeanors and felonies with waiving permits and doing [certificates of occupancy] under Steve’s signature, which they’re not supposed to do. So all these years, that’s been happening.”
The Herald-Banner reported that Hill and council member Jean Klaus provided the Herald-Banner with nearly identical statements which made it clear they had nothing to do with bringing up allegations regarding Wilson in the budget meeting and they would not act on the issue until they had more information.
