DEPUTY Mayor Brett Peterson said that as council representative on the Mount Isa Water Board he should have met with Minister for Energy and Water Supply, Mark Bailey.
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Mayor Tony McGrady chose the chair of finance, Councillor Joyce McCulloch, to meet with the Minister when he visited Mount Isa on Friday instead.
Cr McGrady also questioned whether the deputy mayor would remain in his position.
In response to this article, Cr Peterson said; “I have met with Mark on three separate occasions and it would have been great to keep the relationship going as deputy mayor for the benefit of this city.
“I spoke to Mark Bailey’s office and they told me that he had a meeting with the acting mayor Joyce McCulloch and chief executive officer Emilio Cianetti.”
Mayor Tony McGrady also said that Cr Peterson had not been to his office for meetings except on one occasion within three months.
Cr Peterson said he had no emails or phone calls from Cr McGrady requesting him to attend any meeting.
He also had attended every budget workshop this year except the mayor’s budget speech, which he could not attend because he missed a flight from Brisbane.
Cr Peterson said he was voted in as deputy mayor unanimously by all councillors.
“I have been voted in by the community of Mount Isa to do a job.
“I was then voted in by the five councillors and the mayor to take on the role as deputy mayor, which I have accepted, and constantly pushed the community forward in front of business and family.”
Mr Bailey’s office was sought for comment to confirm they would meet with "acting mayor" Joyce McCulloch.
A spokesman said; "wherever we travel we do not play into the skirmishes of local government."
However, the office was not under the impression Cr McCulloch was the acting mayor.
The office also met with Cloncurry council, which is led currently by acting mayor Jane McMillan.
