Upholding Ethics and Accountability in South Fulton

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

As one of your elected council members, I remain committed to upholding the highest standards of government ethics and ensuring that our city operates with transparency and accountability. That is why, during last Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, I joined all six of my fellow council members in voting to restrict the mayor from exercising any powers beyond what is lawfully permitted.

This decision was necessary as a forensic investigation is currently underway into excessive and questionable purchases, as well as the abuse of a taxpayer-funded debit card, called a purchase card or P-card. Fiscal responsibility is a fundamental duty of government, and we will not tolerate any misuse of public funds.

Despite the mayor’s misinformation on social media, local radio, and television, I remain confident that the facts will prevail. The Council’s action will be vindicated by the investigation, and together, we will move beyond this moment of uncertainty. South Fulton is a city on the rise, and with strong leadership and a shared commitment to integrity, we will continue building a community that we can all be proud of.

You can read the full statement of the Council below.

Thank you for your continued trust and support.

Warm regards,

Helen Zenobia Willis

Councilmember, District 3

City of South Fulton

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

City of South Fulton City Council Takes Actions to Ensure Accountability and Safeguard Public Resources

SOUTH FULTON, GA (February 12, 2025) – The City of South Fulton City Council took action in response to concerns regarding the unauthorized use of city resources, noncompliance with established policies, and conduct unbecoming of a public official.

It is the consensus of the Council that Mayor khalid kamau engaged in actions constituting a breach of public trust. As a result, the Council implemented the following temporary measures, effective immediately, to protect city assets and uphold transparency and accountability:

·        Revocation of Mayoral Budget Access – The Mayor’s budget access is revoked, except for his salary and benefits.

·        Removal of Pool Table from Mayoral Suite – The Council has ordered the removal of the pool table from the Mayoral suite.

·        Employee Directive – The City Manager will issue a memorandum to all employees, effective immediately, instructing them to cease and desist all interaction with the Mayor consistent with the City Charter. Any violation of this directive will result in immediate disciplinary action by the City Manager.

·        Return of Unauthorized Equipment — Film studio equipment procured without proper authorization shall be returned to the vendor. If a return is not feasible, the equipment will be transferred to the Public Affairs Department for official city use.

·        Reallocation of City-Owned Devices — The three Mac devices purchased for the mayoral suite will be redistributed to the IT Department.

·        Reclassification of Personnel – The Film and Media Manager position will be reclassified as a Special Projects Manager and will report to the City Clerk.

·        Surrender of Equipment – All equipment, including the drone, must be turned over to the City Manager by the close of business on February 12, 2025.

·        Security Measures – The General Services Director shall secure the mayoral suite.

·        Revocation of Access – The Mayor’s access to all city buildings and facilities is temporarily revoked.

·        Mayoral Vehicle Policy – The electric vehicle assigned for mayoral use shall be revoked. A travel allowance will be reinstated until a formal policy concerning the mayoral vehicle is established.

The Council remains committed to ensuring the responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources and maintaining the integrity of city operations.

These temporary measures will remain in place where feasible until all city investigations are complete.

If your community is hosting a meeting or event and would like

Councilmember Willis to attend, please send your inquiries to helen.willis@cityofsouthfultonga.gov.