An audio recording and accompanying YouTube video between Meridian Ward 5 Councilman Weston Lindemann and former Community Development Director Bunky Partridge has exposed a rift between the council member and city administration.

At a news conference Friday afternoon, Lindemann said he had recorded the conversation using a recorder from Allen Shute, an outspoken council critic.

Lindemann said he returned the recorder to Shute after transferring the audio file.

The Meridian Star and others in the city received an MP3 file from Shute saying that Ward 4 representative Kim Houston was “full of s**t.” The audio, with accompanying video, was later posted on YouTube.

The recording alleges Richie McAlister, the city chief administrative officer, intimidates others in the city administration, such as Partridge and former City Clerk David Whitaker, and called the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality on Buck Roberts, the former director of Public Safety.

Lindemann said the recorded conversation occurred in March. He has clashed with McAlister publicly in recent City Council meetings over planting flowerbeds and the claims docket.

Lindemann added that Partridge was unaware the call would be recorded, which Lindemann said he did for “informational purposes.”

“I don’t make a habit of recording phone calls,” Lindemann said. “But we’ve got a lot of people who feel that they can’t speak up… maybe in some ways it’s good that it’s out.”

Lindemann said that he hoped the State Attorney General’s Office of State Auditor’s Office would conduct their own investigations, especially into some “discrepancies” in cash reserves.

“It’s not a surprise to most people familiar with City Hall,” Lindemann said.

Lindemann said that in 2006 the state legislature took away the power for council to take sworn statements, which might discourage city employees from testifying before the council.

Lindemann said he hadn’t investigated all of the claims himself, such as a claim from Partridge that Anthony Clayton, the former Meridian Fire Chief, went $600,000 over budget.

“There’s been a lot going on so it’s been difficult to look at it all,” Lindemann said.

When asked about what motivation McAlister would have, Lindemann said he didn’t know why anyone would feel the need to use intimidation tactics.

“I can’t imagine why anybody would be so combative,” Lindemann said. “I don’t know if any personal gain is involved.”

McAlister said he would respond to the allegations for the city. He released a typed statement, saying he had forwarded the video to the state auditor for investigation.

“They will be investigating all of the allegations made and I will cooperate with them to the fullest extent,” McAlister said. “I am confident that any investigation will prove all allegations false.”

One comment from the audio specifically struck a chord with Tyrone Johnson, the representative of Ward 2.

Johnson couldn’t attend the Friday press conference but had previously addressed Lindemann’s comment about Ward 2’s “low voter IQ” at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

“Our city is divided. (The audio) exposed how people really feel about this city,” Johnson said Tuesday. “I’ve been called ignorant and stupid because I’m sitting here… I’m not going to hold it against you but I’m moving forward.”

On Friday, Johnson clarified that he felt he had to say something during Tuesday’s meeting as a representative of Ward 2.

“It was offensive to me and it was offensive to the constituents of Ward 2,” Johnson said. “I don’t know where we go from here.”

Lindemann placed the onus of educating voters on the council, saying it wasn’t tactful of him to say that.

“But with no real effort in Meridian or Lauderdale County being made to inform voters… they feel that their vote doesn’t count,” Lindemann said, citing low voter turnout. “That opens up the door for political corruption at the highest level.”

He said he had been naive in his office, saying that approving McAlister was a mistake.

“These aren’t mistakes that I’ll be making again,” Lindemann said.