A storm is brewing in City Hall.

Rather than just another late spring thunderstorm, Aldermen Michael Mayfield and Willis Thompson and Mayor George Flaggs Jr. are at odds over proposed changes to the city charter that would shift the power of municipal appointments.

While the residents of Vicksburg know there is no more devastating natural disaster here than a tornado, this political twisting and turning of power is whipping up into a funnel cloud of its own.

Flagg’s proposal includes a plan to split department head appointments. Mayfield and Thompson have previously said they oppose the plan, which gives Flaggs authority to appoint the city attorney, city clerk, finance and administration, police chief and fire chief.

The North Ward alderman would be responsible for appointing the public works director and community development director, while the South Ward alderman would take the parks and recreation director, human resources director and information technology head.

Alderman Michael Mayfield says the proposed changes have been unpopular.

“I’ve had a whole lot of calls from people wanting to know what we’re going to do about changing the charter. I think the people have gotten an opportunity to read the charter as a whole, and they are overwhelmingly uncomfortable with the (proposed) duties of the board as a whole,” Mayfield said. “Our public works, parks and recreation, those things are public service and citywide. They’re concerned somebody might get greedy and leave someone out.”

Mayfield’s concerns and those of the constitutions who have called him are valid, especially in this city where men once fought and died by the thousands over political beliefs.

But we think the change wouldn’t be that drastic. Two votes would still be required to appoint any department head.

Flaggs believes the residents and the aldermen misunderstand his appointment proposal.

“The appointment process works just like the president appoints the cabinet and just like the governor appoints agency heads,” he said. “The way it should work is the mayor makes the appointment that he’s given the authority to appoint, and if in fact the mayor can’t get his second vote, then the person in that position stays there until the mayor gets the second vote. It still allows for due process.”

In this powerful surge of political stormy weather, it’s easy to forget that the ultimate power lies with the people.

Even if the board amends the charter, it has to be approved by the Attorney General’s Office and Gov. Phil Bryant before it can take hold.

If just 1 out of 10 of the city’s voters protest against the change, “the Governor shall not approve the ones protested against until they shall be submitted to and ratified by a majority of the electors of the municipality voting in a special election,” the portion of the state code governing municipal charters reads.

The storm might be raging, but we all have an umbrella.