The Chickamauga City Council has set a new date for a public hearing that will determine the future of Mayor Trey Deck.
The hearing was rescheduled after dozens of residents arrived at City Hall expecting to attend the originally scheduled session, only to be turned away due to overcrowding concerns. City officials said the meeting room met fire code requirements for just 66 people, while far more showed up.
The City Council says it initiated a formal public hearing process to review “concerns raised about the Mayor.” The hearing had been scheduled for January 30 but was postponed because of the limited capacity of the meeting space.
The public hearing has now been rescheduled for Monday, February 9, at 6 p.m. at the Chickamauga Civic Center. City officials say the larger venue will allow more residents to attend, and overflow seating will be available outdoors. A live broadcast of the hearing will be provided for those unable to enter the building.
In a statement, the Chickamauga City Council addressed concerns from residents about the lack of publicly available details leading up to the hearing.
“We understand some residents have concerns over the limited information shared publicly at this time,” the statement reads. “Because this matter is part of a formal proceeding, the City Council is unable to discuss or share specific allegations or evidence prior to the public hearing. At the hearing, residents will have the opportunity to hear the information presented and understand how the concerns are being reviewed through the City’s established process. The Chickamauga City Council cares greatly about the city of Chickamauga and its future.”
City officials have not released additional details about the concerns under review, citing the ongoing formal process.