The website promoting the “Southside Dream” vision is no longer online after the Southside Economic Development District (SEDD) board voted 7-3 on Tuesday to discontinue its current website and hire a Texas firm, EVObrand, to build a new one.
The decision has sparked heated debate among commissioners, community members, and public officials. Commissioner Roosevelt Wright, Jr., who oversaw the building of the existing site, questioned the need to replace it.
“The current site works well, is fully paid for, and has been praised by Mr. Little for its transparency and ease of use,” Wright said during the meeting.
The board’s decision means SEDD will pay $8,500 to EVObrand to develop a new site—more than double the $3,200 cost of the original site. Wright also raised concerns about the firm’s ties to board member Herb Guillory.
“Court records show EVObrand is a business associate of Mr. Guillory,” Wright noted. Mr. Guillory denied the claim and challenged Wright to show the paperwork.
Guillory defended the choice, arguing that EVObrand has provided services for the City of Monroe and other clients. He also pointed out that the current website is being paid for through Wright’s personal credit card.
Wright has never sought reimbursement for charges to his card for the site.
Guillory said the site’s IT contractor in Houston, Texas, locked him and Little out of the site when SEDD didn’t pay its bill after four months. He said the organization should not be held hostage to a third party that can lock them out.
Critics of the decision, including community activist Marie Brown, highlighted past complaints against Guillory and EVObrand. Brown cited a 2023 lawsuit filed by businessman Robert Jordan in Monroe City Court, in which Jordan said he paid Guillory $1,200 for a website that was never delivered.
Jordan alleged Guillory subcontracted the work to EVObrand, which billed Guillory only $399. A letter included in the lawsuit from EVObrand at the time described Guillory as someone they “occasionally work with to assist low budget clients.”
Jordan attempted to share his experience at the meeting, but SEDD board president Tony Little blocked Wright’s effort to call him as a speaker.
Little’s actions drew sharp rebukes from City Council Vice Chairman Rev. Rodney McFarland and State Rep. Pat Moore, who both expressed disappointment that Wright was not allowed to make motions or amendments during the proceedings. Unlike other commissioners, Little only allowed Wright one minute to address an issue.
“I appointed Rev. Roosevelt Wright to represent me on this board and it is disturbing to hear that he is not allowed to make a motion or amend a motion.” Rep. Moore said.
State ethics laws require officials to disclose potential conflicts and recuse themselves from decisions where potential conflicts exist. Despite Wright’s calls for transparency and suggestions that SEDD obtain its own credit card to manage its web presence independently, the board proceeded with the vote.
Voting in favor of EVObrand were: Tony Little, Herb Guillory, Bishop Michael Douglas, Kenneth Hall, Jessica Detiege, and Attorney Sarah Smith. Opposed were: Wright, Mrs. Anna Reed, and Rev. T.J. Stevenson.
Following the vote, Wright removed his credentials and personal credit card from the site’s account, leading to the immediate shutdown of the website.
The move follows an earlier statement by Little during a Facebook Live broadcast in which he expressed his belief that the “Southside Dream” concept should be destroyed.
City Attorney Brandon Creekbaum noted that while professional services like web development are not required to go through a formal bid process, seeking competitive proposals is generally considered best practice.
The controversy has left some community members questioning the board’s priorities and transparency as SEDD moves forward.
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