Ex-City Manager ‘Paul Dyal Severance Fiasco’ Back From the Dead - On the City Docket Tonight
February 2, 2026 2:00 pm | 5 min read
Paul Dyal appearing at a joint City-County
meeting. (Columbia County Observer
photo)
LAKE CITY, FL – The ‘Paul Dyal Severance Fiasco’ is back from the dead – tonight. This time, in the hands of Florida’s only elected County Attorney, Joel Foreman, who Ex City Manager Dyal engaged to represent him. When this happened is unknown. Mr. Foreman wasn’t talking.
Despite previous questions from the public, the City Manager, its newly minted staff attorney, Clay Martin, and the City Council never revealed what was going on since they passed a motion to file a judgment against Mr. Dyal on May 19, 2025.
On
January 15, 2026, Mr. Foreman sent a letter to
Guy Norris, who somehow was hired by some
unknown person in the City government to
represent Lake City. It appears that the City
Council did not approve Mr. Norris’ contract.
May 19, 2025
On May 19, 2025, the City Council passed a motion (by Councilman James Carter) to pursue a judgment against Mr. Dyal for the severance payout. Councilwoman Tammy Harris seconded the motion.
However, before the motion to pursue the judgment against Mr. Dyal, Michael Cavendish, the City’s expert outside legal counsel, made his second appearance before the Council; nothing had changed between his first appearance and this one [his second appearance]. Mr. Cavendish opined that the City was on good legal ground to pursue the repayment of the Dyal severance.
Mayor Walker summarized Mr. Cavendish’s opinion: “You last presented that we were on good legal ground to pursue this issue, if we so chose to. Then we sent you for a second opinion based on the action in November, and it has, it changes nothing, correct?
“We are of the opinion that a reviewing court would not find that Resolution 2024-131 created a retroactive approval of, or ratified, the 16-week sum paid to Mr. Dyal, post-employment, or the Separation Agreement that included the payment and a ‘release of claims’ as contract terms.”
Michael Cavendish
Mr. Cavendish replied, “That’s right.”
Councilman James Carter clarified his motion, “The money paid inappropriately to Mr. Dyal, former city manager.”
Mayor Walker seconded the motion.
The first motion was not withdrawn. Parliamentary procedure is problematic in Lake City.
Councilwoman Chevella Young said, “I don't, I don't really disagree with the pursuing legal action, but my concern is – how much is it gonna cost the city to pursue this?”
Councilwoman Harris said, “At the end of the day, we have to take accountability for what we do. I stand by what I said as far as us going after the money… If the bank make [sic] a mistake and put the money in mine, now of course I can kick my heels up, but at the end of the day, when they come back for that money, they want their money 'cause it wasn't mine. And no matter how much it costs the City, I think this would set a precedent for anybody else if they want to try it.”
Michael Cavendish, the City’s outside counsel, clarified, “One of the problems with the Dyal post-employment payments is they never came to the council for approval.”
Councilman Ricky Jernigan said, “That's exactly right. I just wanna make sure I clarify that.
The motion to pursue a judgment against Mr. Dyal passed with Mr. Jernigan voting against.
Mayor Walker said, “We can look to Mr. Rosenthal, our city manager, to engage, uh, legal representation in order to do so.”
Mr. Jernigan wanted to use City Attorney Clay Martin.
Mayor Walker said, not the City Attorney, ”because there is a conflict there.”
City Attorney Martin said, “I don’t have a conflict of interest in pursuing an action against Mr. Dyal.”
City Attorney Clay Walker, then of Folds & Walker, added, he did not have a conflict pursuing a judgment "directly against" Mr. Dyal.
See links and timeline to the 'Dyal Severance Fiasco"
See links and timeline to the 'Dyal
Fiasco. (Columbia County Observer graphic and photos)
As of this morning, February 2, 2026, eight months after the City authorized a judgment to be filed against Mr. Dyal, a search of the Court records shows no action on the part of Lake City in pursuing the judgment. The Court is where judgments are filed and litigated.
RKK Attorney Todd Kennon prepared Mr. Dyal’s contract. RKK was a partner with Folds & Walker as the City Attorney. Clay Martin was “of counsel” to Fold & Walker.
In typical Columbia County “good ole’ boy” fashion, the City didn’t go after City Attorney Todd Kennon, who approved the severance agreement; Mayor Stephen Witt, who said he never read the agreement, or Folds & Walker, who were partners with RKK.
In case you missed it
Before Resigning, Mr. Dyal Was Hired In Alaska
Click the photo for background and links.
Photo: Mckayla Crump via Unsplash | Columbia
County Observer graphic
The Foreman Letter: Misleading, not accurate, missing stuff
As usual, the City Manager, the Assistant City Manager, the City Attorney, and others cannot provide information timely to the Clerk’s office so that City agendas can be provided before the last minute to the Council and the public. Tonight’s agenda was posted late Friday afternoon.
Mr.
Foreman’s letter is to Attorney Guy Norris, who
was hired to represent the City, a fact that was
never divulged to the public during the City
Manager, City Attorney, Mayor, or Council member
updates.
Unlike Mr. Foreman, City Attorney Clay Martin doesn’t like to write legal memos to the Council that are presented at public meetings and doesn’t, preferring back-room advisement and what he claims are extemporaneous public updates.
This evening, it is important to pay attention to City Attorney Clay Martin, as it is questionable whether he has “unclean hands” in tonight’s Paul Dyal proceedings at the Council.
Attorney Guy Norris, the Attorney for Florida Crown during the Florida Crown debacle, and before, has provided nothing for tonight’s meeting, which has been divulged. Mr. Norris is also on the agenda for the City.
Tonight’s meeting is supposed to result in some sort of action, which has not been identified. Mayor Noah Walker approved the agenda. However, the City Council is not obliged to decided anything tonight.
Epilogue
Trust in politicians, highly placed public officials, and politics is at an all-time low.
Can’t make it to tonight’s meeting?
Tune in and watch your local politicians in action.
You be the judge.
