Clerk Angela Goodwin and the City of Indianola will part ways on Sept. 30, a little over a year after she took over that office.
The move was made official this past Monday night after a long executive session when the board of aldermen eventually voted 4-0 to accept a resignation that had been submitted back in early June.
In her resignation letter earlier this year, Goodwin said, “I would like to thank you for this opportunity. Making this decision comes with mixed emotions; however, I am resigning with the professionalism and integrity with which I began this profession. I must admit I have gained valuable knowledge and enjoyed working in such a challenging position. Thanks to the Board, Mayor and colleagues for such an experience.” Goodwin, a Gentry High School graduate, returned to her hometown here after spending several decades working as a civil engineer in California.
She accepted the city clerk position in July 2023, and the city hired financial consultant Dr. Phyllis Rhodes on the same day.
Goodwin and Rhodes were immediately tasked with completing a budget for
the current fiscal year in just a matter of weeks, and that was accomplished ahead of the statutory deadlines last year.
Goodwin and Rhodes had worked toward an apparent upgrade of city hall software systems, but purchases of several expensive software systems were met with resistance by the board.
Rhodes was let go in May, along with her assistant, Astreya Zachary, who had been helping with payroll since January 2023.
Major payroll problems began at the start of the year and have persisted, culminating in a disruption of pay for city employees two weeks ago.
Goodwin announced her resignation shortly after Rhodes was released in the spring. She said that she had intended for it to be effective May 31, but she decided to stay on until Sept. 30.
Until Monday night, the board had not accepted that resignation.
Also, during executive session, the board approved eight new hires:
• Tressy Ellzey as a crossing guard in IPD
• Cheryl Williams as a crossing guard in IPD
• La’Marquisha Lyons as a crossing guard in IPD
• Arriel Hutchinson as part-time police officer
• Kristine Whitley as an inventory clerk in public works
• Christopher Devon Broadway as a laborer in public works
• Michael Anthony Howard as a laborer in public works
• Waunita Robert Jones as a Part-Time HR clerk in the HR department
