‘PP Paper’ Perfect For The Next Planedemic
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Elizabeth Smith holds up a copy of the North Mississippi Herald as she speaks during the public comment portion of the city meeting.
WATER VALLEY — A routine meeting of the Water Valley Board of Aldermen took an unusual turn Tuesday night when a resident used her allotted public comment time to deliver a wide-ranging critique of city officials, including aldermen, Mayor Tommy Reynolds, Planning Commissioner Meagan Backes, Water Valley Utility Commission Chairman Brandon Presley and the North Mississippi Herald during a five-minute speaking period that stretched across a number of topics.
“I am binding you to your oath of office that you took to Almighty God to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Smith told city officials. “God first, people second and government last.”
Smith objected to the board’s public comment time limit, noting that citizens are restricted to five minutes.
“You only allow we the people to speak for five minutes,” she said. “He just took 30 minutes to talk. Thirty minutes.” Smith said about Presley’s update to aldermen.
Holding up a copy of the North Mississippi Herald, Smith criticized the newspaper’s coverage of local issues.
“This is not a newspaper,” she said. “This is a propaganda paper. Let’s call it a PP paper for short. You might want to stock up on this for the next ‘planedemic.’”
Smith said she had attempted to submit a letter to the editor and alleged wrongdoing involving city officials and planning matters.
“I tried to put a letter to the editor in the paper about what is going on in Water Valley,” she said. “Because they are doing some dirty stuff in the basement.”
Her remarks included allegations that a planning commissioner had purchased multiple properties and that zoning decisions had benefited those holdings, though no documentation was presented during the meeting.
Smith also described the city government as operating as a for-profit corporation rather than serving residents.
“We the People have been paying their salaries, and they have been so arrogant,” she said, later adding that residents were “funding our own demise.”
She further criticized the process for obtaining public records, referencing a request for an older ordinance.
Smith’s comments expanded to include concerns about city finances, borrowing and the role of the utility commission.
“I saw this thing coming with Brandon Presley,” she said. “First the electric, then he wants the water… it is going to be total control because that is what it is all about. It is all about money and control.”
At one point, Smith addressed the audience directly, urging them to pay attention to local government actions. She also referenced symbolism, including the city’s Blue Devil mascot and imagery on firefighter uniforms as the most demonic she has ever seen.
“The devil uses symbolism, pay attention,” she said.
Mayor Tommy Reynolds concluded the exchange at the end of the allotted time.
“Your five minutes is up,” Reynolds said.
