Poteet Indicted By Grand Jury

The former general manager of Combined Consumers Special Utility District (CCSUD) surrendered Friday to the Hunt County Sheriff after a grand jury indicted her Thursday.

Sheriff Randy Meeks told The News that Jackie Poteet, 56, Greenville, turned herself in to him after a Hunt County Grand Jury indicted her on a charge of Theft of Property Over $20,000 and Less Than $100,000.

Meeks said Poteet was charged in connection with incidents that occurred in Sept. 2007. "The claim is that she made several unauthorized bank drafts to her personal account from the company," Meeks said.

The sheriff said Poteet was charged with transferring amounts ranging from "a little over $2,300" up to the largest in the amount of $16,000. He said all of the drafts were dated within a two-week period during the month of Sept. 2007.

Meeks said Poteet was released from jail on a $10,000 bond.

He said Poteet claimed the drafts were made for authorized vacation time.

The CCSUD board accepted Poteet’s letter of resignation at its Sept. 24, 2007, meeting.

In a letter of resignation, dated Sept. 17 to board President Wayne Johnson, she stated, "I want to thank you for the opportunities and challenges experienced as the general manager of the district for the past eight years. The position has certainly caused me to reevaluate my life and priorities. It has come the time to close this chapter of my life for other opportunities. Therefore, I offer this letter of resignation to be effective Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, and would like to accept the board’s offer of four weeks of pay upon resignation as well as accumulated vacation. I wish the very best for you, the Board of Directors, employees and customers of Combined Consumers Special Utility District."

The resignation came after her employment was reviewed by a committee of the board. The review was made after several citizens complained to the board. After the study, the board took multiple actions including stern reprimands of her job performance. A motion to fire Poteet failed by a tie vote 2-2.

The board hired Larry Olson as interim manager who had recently resigned from the City of Greenville for which he had worked for 26 and a half years. Heath McGee was later hired as her permanent replacement.