A staff upheaval in Copperhill last week was put back to normal this week as resignations by City Recorder Sandi Collins and clerk Evelyn Arp were withdrawn. “It’s over,” said Mayor Herbert Hood, adding “It’s a relief for everybody.”

Collins submitted her resignation last Monday, followed by the resignation of part-time clerk Evelyn Arp. Collins, who has served as City Recorder for eight years, said she was told to do something she felt was not right. “I did not participate and I will not participate,” she said.

At issue was Police Chief Gary Bowman’s paycheck. Collins said she has not seen him for weeks and told Vice Mayor Mike Williams, who is in charge of the police, that she would not sign Bowman’s check. She said Williams then signed the check. Collins turned in her letter of resignation, saying “It has come the time that I am not allowed to do my job as it should be. I will not do it any other way.” She added she has worked very hard to make sure every penny of the people’s money was used for their benefit.  Arp soon followed suit, saying simply, “My anxieties make me feel uncomfortable with Sandi Collins resigning her position.”

Collins said she had been complaining that Bowman was not coming to the city. When he turned in a recent time sheet, he added a note saying “Since you know the hours that I work, pay me what you think I should get.”

Collins said she went to the bank to take her name off as signatory for city checks, which must be signed by two people. She, Mayor Herbert Hood and Williams had been the ones allowed to sign. “It’s one thing for an employee to turn in 40 hours,” she said, adding, “It’s another for an alderman to falsify documents to say he worked 40 hours.” She said she told Williams she wouldn’t have any part of it if the city is doing business that way.

Hood said the note that Bowman sent was inappropriate for any employee, especially one in Bowman’s position. He said Williams has told him that Bowman reports where he is, often outside the city for various duties. Hood said Bowman has a job as police chief and “we want more exposure of him up here. His primary duty is up here.”

Hood said he did not know if the situation with Collins was due to a lack of communication or a misunderstanding but said, “As far as I’m concerned, she has the most important job in Copperhill. People don’t realize how much responsibility she has.” He and Williams had both asked her to reconsider the resignation.