More Drama at the County Commission

Memphis, Tn - One commissioner stood by his bribery accusations. Another played a surprise voicemail for everyone to hear.

The Commission considered voting on censuring Commissioners Mike Ritz and Terry Roland for accusing Commissioner Brent Taylor of offering up a bribe.

That censure never happened, because things got even more complicated.

Commissioner Taylor said if Commissioners Mike Ritz and Terry Roland took back the bribery accusations, he would drop the resolution to censure them.

Roland said he had been misquoted by the newspaper, but Mike Ritz stood by his accusation. He even passed out proof.

He showed an email from Taylor that outlined what other commissioners would receive and concede in a redistricting compromise. Roland would support three member districts and hold a news conference proving that. There was even a script provided for the news conference. Commissioner Justin Ford would make some changes to his plan, and request a suburban economic development aid package. The aid package would benefit suburban residents and use Shelby County Money.

Ritz said at the very least, that was a violation of the open meetings act.

"I looked at the total package when I got it the day after Christmas and it appeared to me that using county money to get commissioner Roland to vote for plan 3C. It looked lie a bribe to me. When elected officials use public money to assist another public official to get their vote on something unrelated, I think that's a bribe," said Ritz.

But, Taylor shot back, "My question to commissioner Ritz would be, I'm assuming you're saying I violated the open meetings act that you've never done that yourself and just in case there was any questions, um, I do have a recording here!"

Taylor began playing a voicemail message fro Commissioner Ritz, but didn't make it all the way through it.

Commissioners discussing County business outside of public meetings is a violation of the open meetings act.

The commission voted to table the censure resolution, something they're not supposed to do. But in effect, it lets them pretend none of that ever happened.

Commissioners also voted no on a redistricting map, meaning they have to start over from scratch again. There seemed to be growing support for 13 single member districts.

The commission is almost a month past its deadline to agree on a new district map based on the 2010 census.

A vote to change the rules on ousting the chairman was sent back to committee. Some on the commission wanted the change to get rid of Sidney Chism.