County board president, v.p. re-elected

The Marshall County Board of Supervisors settled a dispute over whether the president and vice-president of the board should be reappointed for year 2026 at the January 5 meeting.

The situation arose after District 4 supervisor George Zinn III, who was elected as vice-president in 2025 moved into the president’s slot in July 2025 following the resignation of Charles Terry, who was serving as president in June 2025. Terry’s slot was vacated and Zinn moved into the president’s spot and District 5 supervisor Ronnie O’Neil Bennett rotated into the vice-president’s seat after Terry took office as mayor of Holly Springs.

Zinn argued at the last board meeting in December 2025, that his seat as president should be extended for a full year of service.

Zinn expressed concern at the December 15, 2025 meeting.

He said District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor was elected to serve a four-year term, breaking with tradition that the president’s term rotates every year. He said after Taylor’s resignation, the board of supervisors looked at the appointment process and decided to go back to rotating the position yearly.

The board of supervisors historically has voted the first board meeting in January each year on the president and vice president and also votes at that meeting on reappointments.

Zinn asked chancery clerk Nicole Phelps to read the minutes of the January 6, 2025 minutes to that effect.

“My understanding is my service begins next year and Bennett will be vice-president,” he said.

“That’s what they did at that time,” said board attorney Amanda Whaley Smith. “You have to vote on it in January.”

District 2 supervisor Johnny Walker questioned that Zinn should get “a whole other year.” “We’ll vote on it in January,” he said. Zinn alleged that it was the board’s attempt to “ambush everything.” He said he wanted it resolved now. “You can’t change the minutes,” Smith said. “The order (in rotation) is in place,” Zinn said. “I don’t know what the issue is,” said Walker.

District 3 supervisor Terry Rodgers said two board members haven’t had a chance to be president.

The discussion at the December 15 meeting was a prelude to the January 5, 2026 meeting.

January 5, 2026 meeting

Zinn made a statement at the January 5 meeting prior to a board vote by secret ballot as customary.

“My position about reappointments, that has already been appointed. Was there was a unanimous vote to go (rotate) in that particular manner?” Zinn asked.

Smith read from a sheet provided by chancery clerk Nicole Phelps on the procedure.

“What kind of clarification do you need?” Smith asked Zinn.

“I thought the board order would stand,” Zinn said.

She said the board has the right to appoint the president each year and that the board minutes showed that the board voted to appoint someone to serve out the term of Charles Terry in 2025.

“Out of an abundance of caution, I would rescind the motion part,” she said.

“I don’t know if its necessary (to rescind),” Bennett said.

“It was predetermined that I would serve as president and Bennett would serve as vice president,” Zinn said.

“So, you get a year and a half,” Walker said.

Bennett said he was “totally fine.”

“Life is too short to fuss about something like this,” he said.

“The president really does not matter,” Zinn said.

He said the president conducts the board meetings and signs off on paperwork.

“I think it is ridiculous,” Zinn said. “Whatever is the wish of this board, let it be known, I think it is lowdown, dirty and corrupt. If you vote, exclude me.”

Smith said the next in line is just a gentlemen’s agreement.

“It was discussed in that manner,” Zinn said. “It skipped the minutes and fell out. We’re holding up the meeting. I will not vote.”

District 1 supervisor Gaston Glover said he agrees with Zinn on the issue.

District 3 supervisor Terry Rodgers said he didn’t think it is right.

“He has been president for some time,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers said he thinks others have a right to be president, if they want to be.

“I motion we vote on it,” Glover said.

“You need a second,” Smith said.

“I’ll second,” said Zinn.

Smith handed out the ballot sheets. Bennett and Zinn did not accept a ballot.

“Whatever is required by law,” said Glover.

“Nothing by law dictates that,” Smith said.”It just says to rotate on an annual basis. Today’s vote would be the annual basis. Today’s vote sticks with the annual basis, based upon the minutes. A vote today would be on an annual basis.”

“From January to January,” Bennett said.

“Based upon that, we need to redo,” Smith said.

Bennett said if the board wants to back it up to the August 2025 appointments and go a year forward to the next August, he was okay with it.

County administrator Tim Powell said a lot of paperwork would have to change if it went from August to August.

“What would simplify the whole matter?” Zinn asked. “It appears to be a concern about me. I don’t need to serve another day.”

“I vote for you to get it,” Glover told Zinn. “It’s the right thing to do.” Phelps said Zinn should serve for the entire year 2026 as president, otherwise the board would be changing the paperwork over and over.

“It don’t make sense,” Smith said.

“You have an agreement Zinn will serve this year,” Smith said.

“Bennett will serve (in 2027),” Zinn said.

“Next will be Mr. Walker,” Smith said.