Ridgeview News received the following information from a person attending the Town Council meeting held on Tuesday, January 13th, 2026.
Following the recent resignation of Jessica Metz, who had moved from the city limits and could no longer hold the position of councilwoman, another resignation was made by Isabella McCormick, on Tuesday, January 13th, 2026. McCormick was appointed as Town Recorder in October of 2025.
The Town Council has held multiple meetings lately to address the issue of missing staff and missing money with the report of a $12,000 check having been cashed or attempted at a Virginia bank.
Two citizens attended the Tuesday night meeting as well as council members, Tanya Cunningham, Chasity Shock, Emilee Morgan, and Marissa Staples as well as Mayor John Villines.
Mayor Villines was reported to have gone over finances and handed a copy of the accounts to each council member to go over.
The resignation of Isabella McCormick, Recorder, was noted with the Mayor wanting to get an assistant to help Marissa Staples, who is Office Manager as well as Council woman.
It was at this point that Courtney Alexander was suggested to fill the position, since she is already familiar with everything. Ms. Alexander has alledgedly been assisting the town recently in office operations.
An unnamed council member disagreed with the idea of hiring Alexander and the meeting became heated between council members, with Mayor Villines trying to calm the situation down. Two Council members left the Mayor and other two council members to the meeting, believing that the behavior was unacceptable by professionals.
The next regular Town Council meeting is set for the first Monday of February, 2026.
