City Manager Placed on Administrative Leave

By John Earp

Jal City Manager Wes Hooper was recently placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of complaints filed against him by other staff. Hooper was not present at the March City Council meeting this past Monday. Mayor Little, when asked about the status of the investigation, said that it was supposed to be finished up last week, but for reasons he was not free to share, the investigation is ongoing at the moment. An unnamed source who works for the City shared anonymously that the complaints had to do with a power struggle between Hooper and other staff, including the City Clerk. No other details are known at this time.