MEIGS — Through an open records request, the Thomasville Times-Enterprise (TTE) has learned that Meigs Mayor Pro Tem Jimmy Layton might be ineligible to serve as city council member because of loans he allegedly took out with the city while serving as police chief more than 10 years ago.

Layton denies he owes the city money or that he did anything illegal.

In a Wednesday interview with the newspaper, City Attorney Tom Lehman said long-swirling allegations that Layton owes money to the City of Meigs are “a matter that should be examined” and those allegations, if true, “may be a basis for disqualification.”

According to the Meigs oath of office for council members, which Layton signed on March 23, 2015, he swore, “I am not the holder of any unaccounted-for public money due this state or any political subdivision or authority.”

Lehman said, “You hear so much stuff (coming out of Meigs) it’s hard to know what’s actually true.”

On Thursday, Layton told the TTE, “I don’t owe the city anything. I paid for everything. I did not ever take anything.”

He said he had receipts for some of the transactions with the city and was looking for others. He said his late wife wrote the checks and kept up with their financial transactions.

Layton also said the record-keeping at City Hall was terrible.

“They can’t even find invoices from 2015,” he said.

Layton has not shown any receipts to the TTE to date.

Later Thursday, an open records request was sent to Meigs Interim City Manager Al Bryan, Meigs Police Chief Gary Price and Layton seeking any public records showing loan payments by Layton to the City of Meigs, reimbursement of Layton’s expenses, payroll deductions and any receipts for payment going back to 2003, as well as any meeting minutes referring to the loans and payments. Also requested was a copy of any City of Meigs policy regarding personal loans to city employees or officers.

Bryan gave Price the responsibility of responding to the request, per state law. Bryan confirmed Price was given full access to all documents pertaining to this subject at City Hall.

After receiving copies of several checks and hand-written notes between the city clerk and Layton referring to “his loan,” the following email exchange occurred between the Times-Enterprise and Price.

TTE: Thank you for your timely response. I just want to confirm …

Jimmy Layton was to have paid back a Meigs check of $240 written to the Peace Officers Annuity and Benefit Fund. There is only one check for $120. Is that correct? Did he, to your knowledge, ever pay back the other $120? Is there a receipt for that?

Price: Yes, that is correct. There was only one check, to my knowledge, and, based upon the documents provided, there was no additional payments annotated.

TTE: Please explain the memo asking for an additional $10 per week on his loan, making payroll deduction $30 weekly … Does this mean he had a loan with Meigs? I don’t see any policy from Meigs allowing loans. Is this a common practice?

Price: Again, based upon the documents provided, it would appear that he had a loan with Meigs. There is no written policy and that is not commonly practiced.

TTE: I also have a check written for Jimmy for $400 to “put on loan” on 9/11/03. Then there is a check from Meigs for $400 to “reimburse” him for it. Is that right?

Price: That information is correct. There was a payment made on the loan out of his personal account for 400 dollars and then the city issued him a check for 400 dollars.

TTE: Are there any more receipts showing that this loan was completely repaid?

Price: No, there are no receipts.

TTE: I also have a check to Peace Officers A&B Fund for $335 on 03/08/04 with another check to Layton for the same amount on the same day. Can that be explained?

Price: There is absolutely no explanation that can be provided by this office.

TTE: I also did not receive any policy regarding a Meigs policy on loans to employees/officers.

Price: There is no such policy as the City of Meigs, to my knowledge, does not give loans using public/governmental funds. That practice would be unethical.

Price added, “Perhaps Mr. Al Bryan would be the more appropriate person to ask the policy and procedures of the City of Meigs as he is our city administrator. It would be his responsibility to ensure the policies and procedures are followed. If there were none in writing, he would be the person to make the suggestion and create the policy manual to be followed by all city employees. I am only responsible for the Meigs Police Department. With that being said, I have provided you all the documents that I have access. My answers to your questions are based upon the information provided from those documents held in the city’s possession. I cannot account for any other documents you may have received from others, concerning the loans in which Mr. Layton had with the City of Meigs.”

Bryan offered no further explanation.