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A city manager facing multiple felony theft charges is apparently on "vacation" while city staff scramble to block public records requests about his controversial employment. Jerry Eubanks, who serves as Pawhuska's city manager despite pending criminal cases, was nowhere to be found when a journalist arrived seeking answers at city hall.
The timing raises serious questions about whether taxpayers are funding Eubanks' time off while he faces charges for allegedly stealing from other municipalities where he previously worked.
The Criminal Cases That Should Have Disqualified Him
Court records show Eubanks faces felony charges related to theft from his previous position in Blackwell, Oklahoma. The case is set for plea proceedings in November. Despite these serious allegations, Pawhuska's city council not only allowed him to resign once but brought him back again.
Local sources suggest the council rehired Eubanks specifically because he agreed to fire the female police chief, Lori. This allegation, if true, would represent a troubling abuse of the hiring process to settle personal vendettas.
Training That Apparently Failed Miserably
City employees claimed they had received "communication training" after a previous confrontation with the journalist went poorly. That training appears to have been money wasted. When asked basic questions about their embattled city manager, staff either fled or became hostile.
One employee admitted she had "no comment" about whether the city needed new leadership, clearly afraid for her job security. The atmosphere of fear and intimidation pervading city hall speaks volumes about the current administration's management style.
Assistant City Manager's Unprofessional Behavior Caught on Camera
Assistant City Manager Carol Jones provided perhaps the most shocking display of unprofessional conduct. Found wearing jeans and a t-shirt while apparently listening to music in her office, Jones immediately became hostile when asked simple questions about public records.
When the journalist attempted to inspect publicly available documents, Jones repeatedly refused access and slammed doors. Her conduct violated basic open records laws and demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of her obligations to the public she serves.
Police Officer Creates Unauthorized Restrictions
A police officer, apparently acting without proper authority, placed "No Unauthorized Personnel" signs on office doors in an apparent attempt to restrict public access. The officer had no legal authority to create such restrictions without city council approval.
When confronted about this obvious overreach, the officer became evasive and hostile. He asked about the journalist's "criminal charges" despite being told the previous day that no warrants existed. The exchange revealed a police department either poorly trained in constitutional rights or willfully ignoring them.
The Parade Where Truth Couldn't Hide
While Eubanks remained mysteriously absent, the journalist attended Pawhuska's homecoming parade hoping to catch the controversial city manager. Instead, the event highlighted the stark contrast between the town's welcoming residents and their dysfunctional city government.
Multiple locals approached with information about ongoing problems with city leadership, suggesting widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration. The community clearly deserves better than officials who hide from accountability and waste taxpayer money on questionable personnel decisions.
What Happens When the Lawsuit Hits
The journalist's final promise before leaving town was clear: a lawsuit would be filed Monday for the city's violations of open records laws. With Eubanks on his taxpayer-funded "vacation" and staff openly violating transparency requirements, Pawhuska appears headed for expensive legal consequences.
But the real question remains unanswered: how long will this city council allow a criminally charged city manager to draw salary and benefits while avoiding public accountability? The full confrontation at city hall, including Jones's door-slamming tantrum and the officer's constitutional violations, reveals a government in crisis.
Watch the complete footage to see exactly how Pawhuska's city officials behave when citizens demand basic transparency and accountability.
