Jones Co. Assistant Administrator Demands Transparency Amid Possible Firing

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – In a called meeting that lasted only ten minutes, Assistant Jones County Administrator Margie Tyson tried to get answers, but left with none.

“If there’s something that I have done that they haven’t told me about, then of course, they need to tell me,” Tyson told 41NBC.

She wants to know why Chairman Preston Hawkins, along with commissioners Daylon Martin and Larry Childs want her fired in the middle of budget talks.

“You know it’s a sad situation to be in to need to take care of County business and have this type of thing going on,” she said after Thursday’s meeting.

“There’s an opportunity for us to affect some change,” Jones County Commissioner Daylon Martin told 41NBC.

Martin wouldn’t say what change that is, though. Two other officials could also be terminated: County administrator Mike Underwood and Jill Thompson. But Thompson resigned yesterday, and Underwood wasn’t at today’s meeting.

The board decided 3 to 1 to table the firing discussion since they were missing a board member. But Commissioner Tommy Robinson cried foul, defending Tyson, and saying the reasons for firing her are childish.

“And the only reasons I could get are reasons that might come from a 5th or 6th grader,” Robinson told commissioners.

The county attorney told Robinson he was out of line.

“What is stated in executive session, as far as discussions between the commissioners should stay in executive session,” said Frank Childs, Jones Co. Attorney.

“I oppose this, I strongly oppose it, and I think this group of men are cowards not to go ahead and face this lady right now,” Robinson shot back.

“I do want transparency,” he said.

“Tommy’s part of the problem,” said Martin.

Later in the meeting, commissioners asked Margie Tyson to assume the responsibilities of Mike Underwood, her supervisor, while he is out sick. She has until tomorrow to accept, but Robinson–who is defending Tyson and her colleagues– says her termination is still on the table.