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Published Tuesday, October 06, 2009 in Local

Grantville manager resigns after drug arrest

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Times-Herald

The city of Grantville is once again without a city manager.

City Manager Scott Starnes, who has been on the job less than a year, resigned Saturday, following his Friday evening arrest for buying marijuana.

The arrest was the result of an approximately four-week investigation by the Grantville Police Department, according to Chief Franklin Allen and Grantville Mayor Casey Houston.

According to a press release issued by Allen Monday, the Grantville Police Department initiated an internal investigation of allegations made against Starnes.

As a result of information gathered in the course of the investigation, the Grantville police requested that the Coweta County Sheriff's Office get involved, because of Starnes' position with the city.

According to a separate press release issued by the sheriff's office, the CCSO and GPD were "advised by a confidential informant" that Starnes "was wanting to purchase marijuana."

"Investigators with the Crime Suppression Unit and Grantville Police met with the informant, who made a controlled delivery of marijuana to Mr. Starnes. Scott Starnes was immediately placed under arrest," according to the sheriff's office release.

The delivery, and arrest, were made in the city's Post Street Park.

Starnes was charged with possession of marijuana and party to the crime of sale of marijuana. Bond was set at $5,050, and Starnes was released on bond late Friday night, according to the release.

The Grantville City Council has scheduled a called meeting for tonight to discuss the issue.

The council will go into executive session to discuss personnel matters, Houston said. Houston said the meeting will be to make sure all council members have all the information.

In the meantime, Houston said, she is checking Starnes' calendars to determine "what appointments I need to attend" and which ones can be canceled or rescheduled.

Also, "my department heads are pitching in and helping to take care of things," Houston said, until a new city manager can be hired.

Starnes was hired in early October 2008 and began working in mid-October. He had previously been convicted of falsifying a government document, charges related to his embellishment of his resume when he worked in Texas. Starnes had been forthcoming about the embellishment when he was applying for the Grantville job.