Mills County Supervisor Resigns From Golden Hills RC&D Board Amid Controversy

Carol Vinton, outgoing member of the Mills County Board Of Supervisors, has tendered her resignation from the board of directors of Golden Hills Resource Conservation & Development after making misleading and controversial statements about the organization’s bylaws during a public meeting.

At the board of supervisors’ meeting Monday, Dec. 23, Vinton indicated Jack Sayers, elected to the county board in the November general election, would not be eligible to represent Mills County on the Golden Hills RC&D board because he didn’t meet the non-profit organization’s minimum age requirement of 21. Sayers is 18 years old.

“The bylaw states that you have to be 21 to be on the (Golden Hills RC&D) board and they’re not going to change it,” Vinton said.

Vinton said Golden Hills RC&D directors discussed the matter and it was a “unanimous” decision not to change the age restriction. However, three days after the meeting, Golden Hills RC&D Interim Director Lisa Fox sent out a letter stating that the organization has no such age restriction in its bylaws.

“The bylaws do not assign any kind of age restriction to those seats. There is no mention of age requirement anywhere in the organization's bylaws,” the letter stated. “Golden Hills selects its board of directors through a formal nomination, selection and voting process, working to ensure there is representation from appropriate counties with individuals who can further the mission of the organization through skills, experience and leadership. Furthermore, we carry a strong non-discrimination policy that is woven into all aspect of our agency, including the board.”

Fox reiterated her written statement in a phone interview with The Opinion-Tribune on Monday morning (Dec. 30) while confirming Vinton has resigned from the organization’s board of directors.

“Golden Hills bylaws do not have any age restrictions and we really took Vinton’s comments seriously because they were completely inaccurate and out of turn,” Fox said. “The board accepted her resignation today and we encourage Jack’s nomination for a board seat. Our board, we’re a private non-profit so we have a private governing board and they vote on their own directors, so we don’t have county-appointed seats.”

Fox said anyone could make a recommendation for the board, which is comprised of elected officials and private citizens.

“We’ll definitely accept Jack’s nomination. I’ve already reached out to him for his resume. We’re just going to add that to the pool.”

Fox noted that currently, Golden Hills RC&D receives no funding support from Mills County.

“We haven’t received any money from them since 2022 and that was just a pass-through grant,” she said.

Sayers, who will be sworn into office as a county supervisor on Thursday, Jan. 2, was in attendance at the Dec. 23 supervisors meeting and asked Vinton directly why Golden Hills RC&D would have the age restriction on their bylaws.

“Why are the bylaws 21? Does it go back to the fact that the voting age used to be 21?” Sayers asked. “What is the legal reasoning behind them having 21 as a bylaw?”

Vinton’s response to Sayers’ questions was, “Probably great leadership back then.”

Sayers was elected to the county supervisor seat occupied by Vinton in the November general election after he won the Republican Party primary election in June. Incumbent Lonnie Mayberry finished second in the primary with Vinton coming in third. As the top two vote getters in the primary, Sayers and Mayberry advanced to the general election as the Republican Party candidates for the two seats up for election on the county board. Mayberry and Sayers finished first and second respectively among a five-candidate field in the general election.

The discussion at the Dec. 23 meeting concerning Sayers’ eligibility to serve on the Golden Hills RC&D board came after Richard Crouch, chair of the Mills County Board of Supervisors, read a letter aloud from Golden Hills RC&D chair and Cass County Supervisor Steve Baier. In the letter, Baier asked the supervisors to re-appoint Vinton as Mills County’s representative to the Golden Hills RC&D board.

“As chairman of the Golden Hills Board of Directors, I would really appreciate it if the Mills County Board of Supervisors would see fit to reappoint Carol Vinton as the Mills County representative on the Golden Hills Board,” the letter stated.  “Our bylaws permit a non-supervisor to represent the Board of Supervisors.  You can expect her to give you valuable updates and other reports on the projects undertaken by Golden Hills.  During this recent time of turnover, both on the staff and the board of Golden Hills, I could truly use Carol's experience and insight as we move through this period of transition.”

Mills County’s three supervisors serve as representatives for Mills County on nearly 40 local and regional boards and agencies. The supervisors themselves usually make the appointments but sometimes require approval of the specific agency they’re serving on.

Sayers said despite the letter from Baier, Vinton should not be appointed to represent the county on the Golden Hills RC&D board because voters removed her from office. Sayers told Vinton he’s heard from county residents who don’t want her representing the county in any capacity.

“The voters voted, Carol, and they decided whom they want to serve and who to represent Mills County,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s on Mills County Board of Supervisors, if it’s on a county board, such as planning and zoning, if it’s on anything to that regard.

“As a county, we have a right, Lonnie, Richard and I, come Jan. 2, to decide who we want to serve on this board and that should be respected by the organizations themselves. Organizations need to respect who we reappoint, no matter who it is.”

Crouch had a different take after hearing Sayers’ comments.

“After hearing Mr. Sayers’ comments and things, I have a problem with when a board calls and asks us who they would like, why they want them, and you’re coming in and telling us that Mills County does not want this person to serve in any position, anywhere,” Crouch said.

Both Crouch and Vinton said they’ve been involved in discussions with representatives of other boards and agencies who have concerns about an 18-year-old being involved in the decision-making process.

“I have to say this, Jack, there have been other boards that have said the same thing to me that they still have reservations about having someone 18 years of age sitting on a board making decisions for multiple counties, multiple people,” Crouch said. “Their biggest problem is you’re quite young, I’m trying to be nice about this, I won’t tell you what some of them said.”

Crouch didn’t say which agencies had expressed concerns about Sayers’ age, but said the supervisors should respect the wishes, concerns and bylaws of other boards and agencies when making appointments or recommendations.

“I feel like we’re beating a dead horse, the issue here is the boards that have contacted me and evidently Carol are telling us what they want,” Crouch said. “I’m not worried what the people here in Mills County voted.”

Sayers immediately took exception to Crouch’s statement, saying, “I am because they’re who we represent, Richard.”

Crouch responded, “And I understand that to an extent, but we still have to respect these boards of other counties and other organizations. We didn’t set the rules, we didn’t set the bylaws, I don’t know, 50 years ago, 20 years ago, whatever, but we have to go by them.”

Vinton specifically named the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) as an organization opposed to having an 18-year-old involved in financial decisions.

“So, Jack, when I sat on that board (finance), they did not want an 18-year-old sitting on the MAPA finance, which is millions and millions and millions, and I won’t go into the comments, and the discussion and the remarks,” Vinton said.

“You’re going to have a tough, tough way to get through this, let me tell you. People are already starting to wonder, what is going to happen?”

Sayers discounted Vinton’s statement and said if appointed, he would be allowed to represent Mills County with MAPA.

“I know it was told to me that MAPA was saying this and when I called them, that was not true for the MAPA finance committee, because I called the director myself and he said that was simply not true that someone of your age could not serve,” Sayers said.

Dialogue got contentious at times, with Sayers reminding Vinton that he was the person elected to represent Mills County citizens.

“I don’t know why you’re laughing, Carol, I was duly elected to the board of supervisors and come January 2, I’ll be sitting in your spot so I think I deserve a little bit of respect because I was elected just like you were elected eight years ago, just like you were elected four years ago,” he said. “I’ve given you a lot of respect, I deserve respect, too, because the voters in Mills County voiced their opinion and that’s what we have to go off of.”

Vinton responded, ‘”I understand that, Jack, but like Richard said, these boards aren’t going to change for one person. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it’s going to be and you better suck it up because they’re not going to change.”

Sayers released the following written statement on Friday after confirming with Fox that Golden Hills RC&D has no age restriction policies.

“As an elected supervisor of the county, I believe it’s crucial for Mills County to have a strong advocate on regional boards and commissions that utilize county tax dollars. Although my first priority is to work hard on the Mills County Board of Supervisors, I think it is also important to have representation on regional boards. Therefore, I believe that all regional boards or commissions involving our community should include a representative from the Mills County Board of Supervisors rather than an outgoing supervisor. 

“After speaking with Golden Hills RC+D Interim Director Lisa Fox, she confirmed that there is no bylaw concerning age restrictions on their board of directors. This raises serious concerns about why outgoing Mills County Supervisor Vinton falsely claimed such a restriction exists and that the board of directors voted unanimously to uphold a bylaw that is not real.

“Lisa Fox also clarified that since 2021, Mills County no longer appoints its representative to the Golden Hills Board; the organization now selects its own members. While Mills County still has representation, it is not chosen by the Mills County Board of Supervisors. However, the Golden Hills Board of Directors welcomes recommendations from counties. Fox stated in our phone call on December 29th that the Golden Hills Board of Directors is gravely concerned with Supervisor Vinton’s misleading comments, and that her position on their board is under serious review.

“Mills County deserves a positive representative on regional boards, especially those that receive taxpayer funds for projects. Because of that, I believe that Supervisor Vinton's actions disqualify her from serving on the Golden Hills Board of Directors. On January 2nd, the Mills County Board of Supervisors will make a recommendation as to who we believe should represent Mills County on the Golden Hills Board of Directors. Golden Hills Interim Director Lisa Fox has agreed to us doing so. Whomever it may be, I have full confidence that Golden Hills will treat our recommendation fair. I appreciate the community’s support at this time.”