Former Councilman Arthur Dowdell addressed the Auburn City Council claiming Councilman Clemon Byrd is not a legal resident of Ward 1 at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Byrd defeated Dowdell for the Ward 1 seat in the Aug. 26 city elections.
Dowdell filed a lawsuit alleging Byrd does not live in Ward 1 in the Lee County Circuit Court.
Judge Jacob A. Walker dismissed the suit without hearing any evidence because it was filed 12 days after a five-day deadline for contesting elections had passed, according to court documents.
During the Citizen's Communications portion of the City Council meeting, Dowdell rose to spoke and claimed he has met with the FBI about Byrd's residency.
"(The FBI) did come to our house and they did find that this case was warrant for an investigation by the U.S. Attorney General's office in Montgomery," Dowdell said. "We will meet with (the Attorney General's office) tomorrow."
Dowdell also claimed his residency underwent scrutiny when he ran for office in 2006, including the Auburn School Board sending people to check his house to make sure Dowdell and his children were there.
"I don't want to see Mr. Byrd--I do respect him and I like him," Dowdell said. "He went to school with my children."
According to Dowdell, Byrd rented the house on Martin Luther King Drive from Dowdell's cousin.
Dowdell claimed he has video of Byrd's house, which proves Byrd does not live in Ward 1.
"As of this date, if you want to see the films and the videos, Mr. Byrd does not stay at my first cousin's house," Dowdell said.
After Dowdell finished speaking, he left the room, and Mayor Bill Ham called the next speaker to the podium without acknowledging Dowdell's statement.
Byrd has always stated he lives in Ward 1 every time he has been asked about it.
"My reaction to him is basically still the same," Byrd said. "I'm just going to keep on doing what I'm doing for the people."
- Other items discussed at the City Council Meeting:
- Jeff Steiger, representing Auburn taxi owners, brought up concerns about Uber. City Manager Charles Duggan said a new ordinance is being drafted to allow officers to issue citations to ride-for-hire drivers operating without a license that will include a $500 fine and up to 6 months in jail
- Approved a contract with Adams Construction & Associates, Inc. for $865,130 to finish the renovation of the alleyways connecting College Street and Magnolia Avenue to the city parking areas
- Approved $602,860 to be spent along with $1.6 million from the Alabama Department of Transportation for improvements on the intersection of Opelika Road and East University and the intersection of South College Street and Longleaf Drive
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