Eagle Lake Commissioner Resigns After Casting Lone Vote Against Forensic Audit
Eagle Lake City Commissioner Steve Williams announced his resignation at the close of Monday’s meeting, the same night he cast the only vote against a forensic audit of city finances covering 2021 through 2026.
Williams addressed the audience directly, opening by asking them to hold their applause until the end.
“I joined this seat for the city to move forward,” he said.
He told the room he had been placed on the commission to run the new city hall project and had spent hundreds of hours on it over the past year, including regular conference calls. He said he stayed to help the city grow but did not believe that was what residents in the room wanted.
The audit motion, which passed 4 to 1, directs the city to assemble a scope of work covering a deeper look into city financial transactions from 2021 through 2026. Commissioners also unanimously approved an outside attorney-led investigation into the disposition of a city truck, a matter Williams referred to from the dais as “truck-gate.” A third motion, directing City Attorney Heather Maxwell to draft an ordinance for a 12-month moratorium on plans to build a new city hall complex, also passed with Williams as the lone no vote.
How It Started
The commission originally voted 5 to 0 on Aug. 3 to order a forensic audit, a review of city assets, and an investigation into the truck, after weeks of public comment in which residents brought documents obtained through public records requests.
At that meeting, Melinda Thomas, a former city commissioner and current Vice President of the Eagle Lake Historical Society, presented the commission with a packet of documentation. Her comments, as recorded in the approved minutes, covered city manager and department head conduct, emails and group chats, alleged violations of city codes, COVID grant funds, city employee credit card expenses, code enforcement, and public trust. Linda Weldon raised concerns involving the Sheriff’s Office and COVID grant funds.
Eagle Lake resident Ed Cheney, who is married to Commissioner Pamela Cheney, addressed the commission regarding photographs in a group chat with a member of the commission, the city manager, and at least one other city employee. The text message thread was acquired through a public records request of city cell phones and shared to the board at the meeting.
Thomas told The Citrus Tea News the concerns were initially raised following her inspection of city records obtained under Florida’s Public Records Act, Chapter 119.
During public comment, she recommended the audit reach back to at least 2021 so it would cover the city’s COVID spending. The approved scope does that.
“Truck-Gate?”
During the regular commissioner meeting on Aug. 3, Resolution R-26-10 appeared on the agenda concerning an approximately 14-year-old inoperable city truck approved as surplus property in July 2025.
Documents obtained by The Citrus Tea News show a city employee requested the 2011 Ford F-150 be placed on the agenda for surplus due to high mileage and a bad transmission. The board approved the item on July 7, 2025. Three days later, the same employee purchased $296.59 in parts from Bartow Ford, and the city was billed $247.50 by David Gessel’s Auto Service for repairs to the identified 2011 truck, an invoice noting parts would be customer-supplied. Both invoices were paid by city check. On Aug. 5, 2025, a title transfer to the employee’s own name was initiated.
Commissioner Williams went on the record at the Aug. 17 meeting, stating that the city employee had title signature authority for city business.
According to the resolution, a title transfer was initiated to a city employee that August under what the document calls uncodified practice, though the vehicle never left municipal property and remained registered to the city.
Commissioner Cheney previously stated that the city manager told her that it was titled to the employee.
Another document obtained by Thomas included the auction slip for the truck stated it was a running vehicle.
The resolution would have voided the transfer, directed the truck’s disposal, ordered the city manager to suspend all informal asset disposal practices, and directed Maxwell to draft a formal surplus property ordinance. Because it failed, none of that took effect. Monday’s vote allow a third party attorney to lead the investigation of the vehicle issue.
The Citrus Tea News is not naming the employee referenced during the meeting. No charges have been filed and no criminal investigation has been confirmed as of the date of publishing.
Thomas asked whether the city manager had contacted the Sheriff’s Office, and has said any referral to the law should come from the city rather than a resident.
The Citrus Tea News spoke with City Manager Tom Ernharth about whether the city has referred anything to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which Eagle Lake contracts with for police services. He stated he has spoken informally to the sheriff about this issue, but until an investigation is completed, they can’t make any determination about formal charges.
Ernharth confirmed another 2005 vehicle went to the auction and sold for $461, stating that the vehicle was inoperable. He also confirmed the 2011 was brought back from auction and remains on city property at this time.
The Cost Debate
Four firms were contacted regarding a forensic audit. Two responded to the city’s inquiry ahead of Monday’s meeting. One quoted the city approximately $90,000. The second did not have an accounting auditor on staff.
Coler said neither proposal reflected the commission’s fiscal concerns, and that both had a very limited scope. Rather than use a procurement exception that would have allowed the city to skip competitive bidding, commissioners agreed to write a scope of work and put it out for bid.
Williams argued against the expense, saying he did not believe spending almost $100,000 on matters that had already occurred was in the city’s best interest.
Mayor Coler said the volume of concerns made a full audit necessary to protect the city.
A Heated Exchange
Williams characterized the concerns residents have raised as accusations of theft against the city and a city employee. Thomas responded that she had never used that word and had not accused anyone, and said she had raised factual questions based on public records.
Later, after Williams listed items in need of repair at city hall and audience members called for the city to fix them, he addressed Thomas by name, said it was the 15th time, stated her address, and laughed aloud. Thomas said he was making a joke about the city and that she did not find it funny.
Maxwell advised the board a second time during the meeting against discussing the substance of matters that could result in criminal charges, warning it exposes the city to significant liability.
Mayor Coler requested a 15-minute recess to confer with the city attorney, and the meeting reconvened following the break.
What Comes Next
The commission must finalize the audit’s scope before issuing a request for bids. Maxwell was asked to consult with the city’s CPA to provide direction on appropriate scope and bring the moratorium ordinance back at the next meeting. The commission said existing contracts will have to be considered. The board will also need to appoint a new commissioner to fill the vacant seat. According Article III, Sec. 3.04. – Vacancies, forfeiture of office, filling of vacancies.to the city’s statute on vacancies, the commission must appoint a qualified person to fill the seat until the next regularly scheduled election.
Agendas and meeting details are posted at eaglelakefl.gov.
Editor's note: The Citrus Tea News Editor, Becky McLachlan, has spoken during public comment at Eagle Lake City Commission meetings on unrelated matters and is named in the official minutes.
Election coverage disclosure: The Citrus Tea News does not endorse candidates and reports on all races without partisan preference. We accept paid political advertising, which is clearly labeled and offered to every candidate in a race at the same rates. Advertising has no influence on our coverage.
Sources: Eagle Lake City Commission meeting, Aug. 17, 2026; Regular City Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Eagle Lake, Aug. 3, 2026; Regular City Commission Meeting Agendas and Minutes, City of Eagle Lake, July 7, 2025; Aug. 3 and Aug. 17, 2026; Resolution No. R-26-10, City of Eagle Lake; City of Eagle Lake Code of Ordinances, Section 2-137; Florida Statutes Chapter 119; interview with Melinda Thomas, August 2026; interview with City Clerk Dawn Wright, August 2026; Parts invoice No. 157036, Bartow Ford, obtained through public records request, July 10, 2025; repair invoice, David Gessel’s Auto Service LLC, obtained through public records request, July 10, 2025; check register records, City of Eagle Lake, obtained through public records request, July 17, 2025, and August 12, 2025
