Carthage councilwoman publicly confronts resident who asked for her resignation
CARTHAGE, Mo. — A public confrontation involving Carthage City Councilmember, Jana Schramm was caught on camera outside Carthage City Hall following a city council meeting.
The argument stemmed from what took place during the council meeting. Speaking during the public comments portion of the meeting, former Carthage councilmember, T.J. Teed asked for the resignation of councilmember Schramm and fellow councilmember, Tiffany Cossey.
“As citizens of the city of Carthage, we are also asking you Mrs. Schramm, for your resignation before the end of this council meeting. You are an embarrassment to the city and the office in which you hold,” stated Teed, while reading from a statement on his phone.
Teed’s address to council was applauded by many of those in the audience, which was filled to capacity.
“Councilmembers, I ask that you do the right thing and stop this fight,” said Teed in his closing remarks.
WATCH: T.J. Teed’s Public Comment To City Council
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The council meeting continued without argument or debate, which had been ongoing following the April 2 election, when five new members won seats. The meetings have been both controversial and confrontational, and have led to some city employees resigning, including City Attorney, Nate Dally, and the resignation of one councilmember.
Tonight, the council unanimously approved several items, which included a contract with Lime Scooter rentals, and a vote authorizing the city to purchase 21 new cameras for the police department.
City Administrator Greg Dagnan reported to the council they had three law firms submit bids to provide legal counsel and two applicants to serve as city attorney, replacing Dally. The mayor will now form a hiring committee to interview and vet the applicants.
This was the first meeting since the new council was seated that the Carthage Citizens United group didn’t refer to Dagnan as the “former” City Administrator, nor did they call for Dagnan to be removed from his seat.
WATCH: Confrontation Takes Place Outside City Hall
After the meeting adjourned, we asked Teed to speak on camera about his request for the resignation of both Cossey and Schramm.
Just as the interview began, Schramm walked out the doors of City Hall and began to confront Teed on the sidewalk — briefly blocking the camera with her hand.
The nearly five-minute-long confrontation was seen by multiple people who were leaving the council meeting. The back-and-forth accusations between Teed and Schramm ended peacefully with this:
SCHRAMM: “You called me several times.”
TEED: “I have not called you several times.”
SCHRAMM: “Oh, TJ.”
TEED: “Oh, Jana you know better than that, and this is because I asked for your resignation, and I’ll be back at every council meeting continuously asking for your resignation until you do it.”
SCHRAMM: “And you are fine to ask for that, but I am not going to resign because I was voted in. So, thank you TJ, but please stick with the truth and the fact.”
TEED: “Ok, well the recall effort is on the way.”
SCHRAMM: “That’s okay.”
TEED: “Okay, thank you.”
Both agreed to comment on camera — where they talked about who’s to blame for a number vehement council meetings during the last month, and what the solution might be to get the council on a path of respectfulness and productivity.
“It’s just become contentious in the city. It’s Cossey and Schramm that continuously belittle the mayor. They are constantly after the city administrator, and they want to see nothing else but see our city destroyed.”
T.J. Teed, Carthage Resident and former Carthage Councilmember
“There needs to be more communication and less hate online. And it doesn’t come from both sides, and we try to go on and do what we’re here to do.”
Carthage Councilmember, Jana Schramm
City Business Accomplished
During councilmember comment session, members of the budget committee said things were going well and tax revenues were up.
Additionally, the Parks and Rec Department gave an assessment on the damage and cleanup from last week’s EF-1 tornado. Over 100 trees were damaged at the golf course. Parks and Rec Director Abi Almandinger applauded city employees for all the hard work they have been doing with the cleanup.
The next Carthage City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m.
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