Rumors swirl, but nothing concrete in mayor's exit

While a whirlwind of rumors continue to swirl around the recent resignation of former Marmaduke mayor Byron Phillips, there is little in the way of new, concrete information.

An article last week in the Paragould Daily Press said Phillips was told by the Arkansas State Police the first week of June that he was under investigation.

However no investigation has yet been confirmed by the ASP nor have any charges been filed in Greene County.

Phillips' letter of resignation was accepted in a special meeting of the Marmaduke City Council on Friday, June 5. The council named city recorder/treasurer Betty Jackson as interim mayor. Jackson said she was unaware of Phillips' resignation until approximately 10 minutes prior to the special meeting.

Calls to Phillips' cell phone have not been returned, but the Daily Press quoted him as saying, "I broke the law. I've got to face the consequences for that."

"I'm sorry it's all happened," Jackson said of the situation. "I wish people wouldn't look down on things or look down on him. I'm sorry it happened. I've known Byron since he was a kid."

In a special meeting Friday, held primarily to discuss another matter, Jackson told the city council to either appoint a new mayor or make plans to hold a special election prior to the scheduled July 20 regular meeting.

At the meeting, the council discussed making the office of mayor a part-time position. The mayor's monthly salary of $2,158 would be scaled down accordingly should the council vote to change the position from full-time to part-time status.