Two supervisors came close to a physical altercation last week following a discussion over “disruptions” during the Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau board meeting.
Supervisors Van Foster and Willie “Deuce” Wright were involved in a heated discussion during Friday’s Yazoo County Board of Supervisors meeting after Foster said Wright is guilty of disrupting the CVB meetings.
Wright said he has a right to voice his opinions on CVB matters, but he said Foster’s accusations were “lies.”
Foster said the matter came to his attention after speaking with some of the CVB board members.
“It’s come to my attention that they had another interruption at their board meeting last time, and I know what it was about,” Foster said. “I called the legal department in Jackson, seeking an opinion on what we could do about this.”
Foster said he was told visitors to the CVB meeting are to remain seated and silent unless they are recognized by the board. And if they become disruptive, they can be asked to leave or possibly even jailed.
“When somebody goes up there and uses foul language and gets disruptive in their meetings, it affects them,” Foster said. “They are volunteer appointees to that board. When they are trying to conduct their business and they are interrupted, which has happened before or this wouldn’t have been brought up, we just need to get this corrected.”
Foster also said Wright has disrupted the CVB meetings, evening threatening board members.
“And when that person, and Deuce you know who I am talking about, says that when you left you said ‘we have something waiting for you,’ and he took that has a personal insult.”
“Now you saying ‘Deuce,’” Wright replied. “I'm gonna straighten it out. Go ahead and finish talking.”
Foster said Wright’s comments were recorded, and possible legal action is being pursued.
“What I said was if we have to get out in the streets and let it be known...that was no threat to anybody,” Wright said. “They can take it how they want, but it was not a threat to anyone.”
Wright said he believes Foster has listened to the CVB meeting recordings, adding that also believes Foster secretly meets with some board members.
Foster said he has never met with board members or listened to any recordings.
Wright said he wasn’t concerned about Foster seeking legal advice in Jackson.
“I don’t care if you call Washington D.C,” Wright said. “I know I ain’t threatened nobody, and I ain’t said nothing out of the way. The only thing I did was bring to their attention what they were doing. When you lie on a supervisor...understand me good.”
Foster said if Wright has issues with CVB matters, he should approach his appointee to the board to “get it ironed out.”
“If you get disruptive, they have a right to have you removed,” Foster added. “I knew it was going to get out of hand.
“I also asked them if it was legal for the CVB to buy turkeys and distribute them at the ballgames,” Foster continued.
Wright continued to accuse Foster of listening to the CVB meeting recordings.
“I haven’t heard anything on a tape,” Foster said. “And if you call me a liar again, I’m gonna get upset with you.”
“You sure enough made me laugh then,” Wright said. “What is you gonna do?”
“You don’t want to know,” Foster said.
“Why don’t you let me find out,” Wright asked.
Foster then asked Chief Investigator Terry Gann with the Yazoo County Sheriff’s Department, to leave the room.
“Terry, would you like to leave,” Foster asked.
Foster said he knew the discussion would get heated, adding that it always does when “Wright gets in the middle” of anything.
Foster asked for the county board to pass a resolution that would forcibly remove disruptive people from the CVB meetings. But board attorney Jay Barbour said because that is the law already, adding a resolution isn’t necessary.
“Whenever you decide to, please don’t stop,” Wright said, to Foster. “That tickled me just then.”
“Don’t let your mouth overload you now,” Foster replied.
“We gonna make this a fair trade,” Wright said.
“It is going to be a fair trade,” Foster said. “I’m 30 years your senior.”
“I wish you would scratch on me,” Wright said.
