Former Indianola City Attorney Derek Hopson Sr. has filed a formal Notice of Appeal in Sunflower County Circuit Court, challenging his recent termination by the Indianola Board of Aldermen and Mayor.
Hopson, who was dismissed after a contentious special called meeting on June 17, alleges that the city violated statutory requirements regarding public meetings and that his dismissal was procedurally illegal.
The appeal, filed June 25, lists the City of Indianola as the appellee and seeks Hopson’s immediate reinstatement. It contends that the motion to terminate his contract was never properly listed on the meeting agenda, with the only related item being “Attorney Bills?”
Court documents reveal that during the June 17 meeting, Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi moved to terminate Hopson’s contract, a motion seconded by Ward 2 Alderman Darrell Simpson. Despite objections from Ward 3 Alderman Ruben Woods and Ward 5 Alderman Sam Brock, the vote resulted in a 2-2 tie, which Mayor Ken Featherstone broke with an affirmative vote to terminate.
Hopson’s appeal asserts that the discussions and vote constituted an “illegal vote” and that the contract termination was not a stated purpose of the special call meeting. He is seeking a court ruling that the city violated statutory requirements, supported by substantial evidence.
The appeal also requests extensive records related to the meeting, including initial and amended agendas, supporting materials, presentations, and all audio and video recordings. It further demands all emails, text messages, and correspondence involving the city clerk and the Mayor regarding the special call meeting.
This legal action follows a deeply divided board of aldermen meeting on June 23, where a motion by Alderman Marvin Elder to reinstate Hopson narrowly passed but was ultimately vetoed by the mayor. During that meeting, heated debate centered on the legality of Hopson’s initial firing, with Woods arguing it was illegal due to its absence from the agenda.
Fratesi defended the termination, citing billing issues linked to the agenda item “Attorney Bills?”
The city currently lacks official legal representation, as subsequent motions to hire new attorneys—Mac Arthur Turner and Carlos Palmer—failed to gain sufficient approval from the fractured board.
The city is set to meet next Monday in a special called setting to move forward with the recently-renewed HOME grant.
