WEST POINT — Another job may soon be open in West Point after an office manager at the Water and Light Department was suspended indefinitely Monday.
Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity reported Jan Wray was suspended after her husband, Bill Wray, owner of Bumper 2 Bumper Auto Parts, was witnessed driving a city vehicle as the two traveled last week to an out-of-town software workshop. Only city employees are allowed to drive city vehicles.
Mayor Scott Ross and City Administrator Randy Jones both would not comment on the matter as it concerns city personnel.
The Wrays have been at odds with city officials in the past. In April and May of this year, Clay County Circuit Court ordered West Point to pay the Wrays $7,500 in reimbursement and attorney”s fees after the city undertook a clean-up project of Bill Wray”s business in 2006. Old cars and various items were removed from the Bumper 2 Bumper parking lot without Bill Wray”s consent.
During the hearing, Wray claimed the city clean-up panel”s warnings to remove certain items from the front of the business were “vague and contradictory.”
Bumper 2 Bumper was also forced to comply with a city sign ordinance banning portable billboards from parking lots. A billboard currently displayed in the front window of Bumper 2 Bumper reads: “What would happen if I got a DUI, Mr. Mayor,” a reference to rumors Ross evaded a DUI charge.
When asked about the rumor, Ross said it is “patently false.”
“Anyone can start a rumor,” Ross said.
Jan Wray is the second Water and Light employee to land in trouble in recent weeks. Light Department Interim Superintendent Shasta Plunkett was cleared of charges of disturbing the peace Oct. 27 in West Point Municipal Court.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.