TBCD manager offers resignation, board declines

ANAHUAC— A tense discussion highlighted last week’s Trinity Bay Conservation District monthly meeting, leading to General Manager Jerry Shadden offering up his resignation letter.

The conversation between Shadden and board Director Annette Rayburn was about work orders and day-to-day matters, according to board President Victor Caraway.

Towards the end of the meeting, Caraway asked if there were any board member reports, which is when Rayburn spoke up about concerns she had.

Rayburn asked Shadden about a work order on Belton Lane that took six months to fix and another issue which took longer to fix.

Shadden said he wasn’t quite sure why it took so long to fix, but when it was brought to his attention, he took care of the issue.

Shadden added that he is working on creating a change order computer system.

Rayburn then asked why there isn’t one in place yet, and Shadden said there wasn’t enough staff to write that kind of program.

Shadden reiterated that he is trying to address how to better track work orders, using the example of a meter reader who had a stack of incomplete work orders in his truck.

“All these people that are getting these outrageous bills, it’s not fair to them,” Rayburn said. “And I know you’ve adjusted them, but it’s still not fair.”

Rayburn then mentioned a “disturbing phone call,” from Shadden, but didn’t go into detail on the call, other than noting that Shadden said he would resign at the end of the meeting.

“I want to see if you’re a man of your word,” Rayburn said.

“You and I talked about it, and I tried to explain it to you. I did everything I could to address the situation and that was not good enough,” Shadden said. “So here it is, I would be glad to resign if that’s what the board wants me to do.”

Rayburn responded saying, “I think the people of Winnie would be very pleased.”

The board then went into executive session to discuss Shadden’s role with TBCD.

“I’m doing everything I possibly can,” Shadden said, noting there is just him, a secretary and Operations Coordinator David Hoyt.

When the board returned, they made the decision to reject Shadden’s letter of resignation, and Rayburn said she wanted it on the record that she disagreed with the decision.

“As long as the board wants me, I’ll be here,” Shadden told The Progress after the meeting.

Rayburn declined to make any further comments.