Following the announcement of Tax Collector Travis Crimm's retirement at the end of this month, county leaders have named Ashley Saxton as the interim tax collector.
Crimm's retirement takes effect June 30, with Saxton filling the position on July 2.
A special election to select the county's next tax collector will be held in November, along with the election already in place for U.S House and Senate positions.
Cobie Collins, president of the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors, said the county is in the process of setting a qualification deadline.
"Anyone who wants to run is welcome to qualify," Collins said. "If their packets meet all the necessary requirements, they will be a candidate for tax collector."
Collins said the county is preparing to resume business as usual within the critical department.
"Crimm told me himself that all his staff would quit if we appointed Saxton as the interim tax collector," Collins said. "As of today (Thursday morning), we have received no letters of retirement or resignation.
The county tax collector's office has a total of six employees.
"Crimm also told me if Saxton even came into his office, he would have her escorted out by officers," Collins continued.
Crimm said that Saxton is a former employee of his office, and she is the only person he has been unwilling to work with. He said that he will not work with someone that he previously let go.
Collins said Crimm has been unwilling to make the transition smooth with training, adding that two potential hires declined helping the county after meeting with Crimm.
"One gentleman, who has trained with Crimm before, was told by Crimm that he needed three more employees to run that office," Collins said. "We had to tell him that this board could not hire those three, but he was under that assumption. We also had one Yazoo County retiree who met with Crimm for about 40 minutes to an hour, and then he just left her there. He has not been willing to train anyone, and he's leaving on June 30."
Crimm said that any suggestion that he is unwilling to work with potential successors is “a lie.”
He said that he had to leave early during the training with the retired employee due to the birth of his grandson. He said the other potential candidate reached his own conclusions about not wanting the job after meeting with county officials.
Crimm said that he decided to retire after learning that his budget would not be increased during the upcoming fiscal year, and that as a result his office would continue to be understaffed. The subject of staffing and the budget have been the source of much conflict between Crimm and county officials in recent years.
“The stress had just gotten to be too much,” Crimm said. “I am retiring for my health and for my family. The Board of Supervisors has no idea what it takes to run that office, but they want to control everything about it. I just reached a point where I decided it was time for me to walk away.”
Collins said he is reminded of the time he was elected as District 5 supervisor after Herman Leach was moved into District 3's post when he moved out of the ward. He said Leach took almost three months to train him for the post.
"He spent months training me for his former post," Collins said. "You are not an efficient elected official if you are not willing to cooperate with someone to show and train them what you have been doing."
Collins said he is frustrated with the situation, but the county is preparing for the future.
"I have talked to two retirees who are ready to come on board to help if needed," Collins said. "The county should not miss a beat on our tax sales. We are ready for whatever comes our way. We are taking the appropriate action to be prepared."
Crimm said he is leaving with confidence that he has done the best job he could do for the taxpayers.
