Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone has officially vetoed an attempt by three city aldermen to reinstate former city attorney Derek Hopson Sr.
According to the veto letter obtained by The Enterprise-Tocsin, Featherstone delivered it in writing on Wednesday afternoon.
“Careful thought was given to the decision to cast my veto,” Featherstone said in the letter. “As Mayor, I have a fiduciary duty to make certain that the City of Indianola gets the best legal counsel possible. This decision was made in the best interest of the City of Indianola using reasonable diligence and prudence.”
Featherstone broke a 2-2 tie during a special called meeting last Tuesday to fire Hopson after a brief discussion on Hopson’s billing practices.
Aldermen Gary Fratesi and Darrell Simpson voted in favor of the termination, while Aldermen Ruben Woods and Sam Brock voted against it. Alderman Marvin Elder was not present.
All five aldermen were present during a contentious board meeting this past Monday evening.
A motion was made by Elder to reinstate Hopson during a discussion about the attorney’s potential replacement.
When reached by phone on Wednesday, Featherstone told The E-T that Hopson is not currently representing the city on legal matters.
“He’s definitely not our attorney right now,” Featherstone said.
Featherstone initiated discussions on Monday night by presenting curriculum vitae (resumes) from attorney candidates, including Natasha McGee Woods, who is apparently based in Jackson, Carlos Palmer and Mac Arthur Turner.
Brock would eventually second Elder’s motion on Hopson’s reinstatement.
Woods defended Elder’s motion claiming that Hopson's firing was “illegal,” asserting it was not listed as an agenda item.
Fratesi argued that the termination was justified due to issues with Hopson’s billing practices, specifically citing “messed-up” invoices.
“Attorney Bills?” was the item that appeared on the special called meeting agenda that prompted Hopson’s dismissal.
Woods suggested that the item was too vague to result in such a motion.
The discussion grew heated when Featherstone questioned Elder's rationale for reinstatement, asking, “Okay. Now, just out of curiosity, you reinstate him, he was terminated last week. Explain to us why?”
Elder responded, “I don’t have to have a reason why.”
Woods then interjected, reiterating his claim that the termination was illegal due to the item not being on the agenda.
Featherstone countered that “a discussion of his invoices was on there,” a point supported by Fratesi, who added, “The bills.”
Woods maintained that a discussion of invoices was not on the agenda.
Fratesi then directly linked the “messed-up” bills to his vote to terminate.
The debate further escalated as Fratesi suggested Woods “file a complaint with the ethics commission,” to which Woods responded, “We’re not gonna file a complaint. We’re gonna go to court.”
Featherstone then drew a parallel to the December 11, 2024 hiring of Hopson, suggesting a similar procedural approach.
“Well, let’s think about it. When we hired Attorney Hopson, we were discussing some other things as well,” Featherstone said.
Woods retorted, “So, two wrongs make a right,” to which Featherstone clarified, “I’m not saying it’s wrong; I’m saying it’s the same thing.”
Fratesi questioned Woods: “So you’re admitting what you did was wrong?”
Featherstone reiterated, “Apples to apples, I never said anything was wrong.”
During that December meeting, the agenda item was a discussion on potential replacements for former city attorney Kimberly Merchant, who had announced her resignation weeks earlier.
Mac Arthur Turner and Carlos Palmer were in attendance during that meeting but were hardly considered for employment before Elder made the motion to hire Hopson effective immediately. That 3-0 vote resulted in Merchant leaving the meeting and Hopson finishing it as the city attorney.
Woods, Elder and Brock voted in favor of Hopson returning to the city, while Fratesi and Simpson voted nay.
Featherstone immediately announced his intent to veto.
Subsequent attempts to secure new legal counsel also failed.
A motion by Fratesi to hire attorney Mac Arthur Turner as an interim was seconded by Ward 2 Alderman Darrell Simpson. That motion failed with a 2-3 vote, with Fratesi and Simpson voting yes, and Woods, Elder, and Brock voting no. Immediately afterward, Simpson’s motion to hire Attorney Carlos Palmer, seconded by Fratesi, also failed by the same 2-3 margin.
Fratesi expressed his frustration after the second failed vote, stating,
“You’re going to cripple the city.”
However, Woods emphasized that the board had, in fact, voted on hiring legal representation, apparently referring to the 3-2 vote on Hopson.
Later in the meeting, Fratesi made another motion that would have authorized Featherstone to work on a case-by-case basis with an attorney of his choosing until the position is filled.
That failed on the same 2-3 vote as the prior two motions.
The meeting concluded with the board unable to proceed on five critical legal items, as they await legal opinions.
Hopson has been connected with the city since at least September of 2024.
He was hired last fall as special counsel and later in December as the city attorney.
