The Clarksdale Public Utilities Commission filed the complaint on Monday. However, Margarette Meeks (city attorney) announced Tuesday that the board had voted to settle the case after an executive session at City Hall. The terms of settlement were not immediately available. Plaintiffs sought damages and compensation in excess of $500,000 as well as an additional award for legal fees. They also sought a temporary restraining orders to prevent city officials from removing CPU commissioner members and to stop officials interfering with the CPU commission’s management of its personnel. This included a recent investigation into three suspended employees – General manager Mark Johnson, Chief Financial Officer Steve Reed and Public Relations Director Chris Campos. The public utilities commission is composed of five members, each appointed by the Mayor and Board of Commissioners for a five-year staggered term. It oversees the operation of Clarksdale Public Utilities, which provides water and light services to approximately 6,800 homes. The board was established by city officials in 1989. Although the city owns the utility company, they have no authority to appoint members or remove them from the board. They also have the right to receive quarterly reports on the operation of the system, according to the complaint. James Humber, Donald Mitchell and George Miller are the current members of the CPU commission. According to the complaint, the plaintiffs claim that Mayor Chuck Espy and the city commissioners, Ed Seals, Willie Turner, Jr., Ken Murphey, as well as Timothy “Bo” Plunk, made “unauthorized and illegal requests” of them. According to the lawsuit, the CPU commission was asked to: * Transfer $800,000. to the city. * Stop all their meetings. * Stop any investigation into confidential personnel issues. The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court, Greenville, also claimed that the city was interfering with the commission’s authority to control, manage and operate the utility system and personnel. It also stated that city officials threatened to remove the CPU commission members. As the city defends itself in another lawsuit, the settlement was reached. Recently, three former white employees filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging they were fired because of racial discrimination.