South Fulton mayor allowed to return to office, some restrictions still in place

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. - Mayor khalid’s (also known as Mayor kobi) access to his office at City Hall has been restored, effective Feb. 18, following consultation with the city attorney, the City of South Fulton announced. However, restrictions remain in place regarding his use of a city-issued vehicle and budget access. 

The backstory:

The restrictions on Mayor khalid’s access to city resources stem from concerns raised by the City Council regarding the alleged unauthorized use of city funds, noncompliance with policies, and conduct deemed unbecoming of a public official. As a result, the council had temporarily limited his access to certain city facilities and resources while an investigation was conducted.

Council members have stated that their priority is to protect taxpayer dollars, uphold ethical leadership, and ensure that city operations remain focused on serving South Fulton residents. 

What they're saying:

The city of South Fulton released the following statement late Tuesday evening:

"We emphasize that the decisions made by the city council that were discussed in the earlier press release were in fact discussed and decided upon collectively in executive session with the entirety of the council present and our city attorney. 

"Second, as to the decisions made today we determined that the Mayor could have normal access to his office at this time. 

"Third, the access restrictions previously imposed upon the Mayor were intended to be temporary in nature to allow for the collection of items that were not pre-approved for purchase. 

"Fourth, the Mayor will not regain access to the city provided vehicle at this time.

"After a forensic audit is complete the council will meet once again and determine next steps."

An earlier press release reads:

"The City of South Fulton City Council announces that, effective Tuesday, February 18, Mayor khalid’s access to the Mayor’s Suite at City Hall will be restored following consultation with the City Attorney. This allows Mayor khalid to resume official duties on the premises. The City Council did not meet collectively to decide. However, they communicated with the City Attorney individually to meet an outcome, confirming the directive.

"These actions follow a series of Council decisions aimed at addressing concerns regarding the unauthorized use of city resources, noncompliance with policies, and
conduct unbecoming of a public official. The Council’s priority has been to safeguard taxpayer dollars, maintain ethical leadership, and ensure city operations remain focused on serving the residents of the City of South Fulton. As a result, specific and temporary restrictions were placed on Mayor khalid’s access to city facilities and resources while an investigation is being conducted.

"The Mayor will not regain access to a city-issued vehicle until an official policy is established regarding mayoral transportation. Budget access remains restricted until the completion of a forensic audit. 

"The City Council remains committed to upholding transparency, accountability, and responsible governance. These measures were not taken lightly but were necessary to protect the integrity of city operations. The Council will continue to evaluate the situation as the investigation progresses and will provide further updates as needed."

FOX 5 is waiting for clarification on the timeline of events.

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What we know:

Here's what we know about the current situation:

• The mayor can now resume official duties at City Hall after previous restrictions on his access to the Mayor’s Suite.
• Mayor khalid remains without access to a city-issued vehicle until an official policy on mayoral transportation is established.
• Budget access is still restricted pending the completion of a forensic audit.

What's next:

The City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability as the investigation continues. Officials have stated that they will continue to assess the situation and provide further updates as needed.