Respect the Sunshine Law

I spoke with a reporter yesterday and was told that I make excessive demands for information from the city. After perusing my emails from the date of my election I am curious as to what excessive demands the City is referring to on my part? I have asked for Mr. Sweeney's bill, which I will be asking for again, since it has inched back up to exceed $18,000 per month which will put his yearly take back up to over $200,000 per year for a part time gig. I'd like to have specifics, so I might be able to answer accordingly.

I have asked on behalf of citizens that building/code violations be corrected, high grass to be cut, etc. For some reason violators were being told who complained instead of letting them remain anonymous. Now I try to make a list and send it to Mr. Unrein that way my name is on the complaints and not an aggrieved citizen. I also try to follow up with the people who call on a regular basis.

Recently a business opened that looked questionable and had inadequate parking, I along with others wanted clarification on that. They were open for business and had no inspection from the Fire Department. I thought that to be odd.

It seems that few can answer a question I ask without consulting the City Attorney, if someone cannot do their job without consulting the attorney, maybe that is a problem. I told the Community Development Director that a few people who received citations asking them to pave their gravel driveways, were grandfathered in as they have lived there since before the city was formed and their propery had not changed hands. She had to consult the City Attorney.

Previously I pointed out three properties that had changed hands and were given occupancy permits that had not paved their gravel driveways. Is it unreasonable to expect one to know the rules in the department they are supposed to be in charge of and enforcing?

I also pointed out that there is nothing in our building ordinances requiring a building be erected on land for a business. I realize that a particular business was urged into an agreement on the assumption that is the case. Now according to the last Planning and Zoning minutes, they are drafting an ordinance to make it a requirement. Do we really need more ordinances to restrict land, business and homeowners? Can you think of a reason a landscaper would need a building that has no retail customers that would possibly visit his site?

A gentleman has been trying to purchase a small piece of property from the city and they have been working on it for two years and seven months. A title company can close a transaction in two weeks or less.

I've asked the finance department to segregate the cost of labor/overtime for the community building project and to provide a total cost of the project, which is a capital improvement, so taxpayers can know how we are spending their money. In other words, I have asked them to be accountable.

I have pointed out that per our ordinance, the Community Development Engineer shall be an engineer registered with the State of Missouri. That is not the case. State law says in order to be registered as an engineer in the State of Missouri you must be a licensed professional engineer an engineer intern does not count. The State Board of Professional Engineers instructed that the title of engineer cannot be used in this case, I have paperwork to that effect. The title engineer is still being used, I have paperwork to that effect also. Then the city was going to change the ordinance to accommodate the lack of a license. What's wrong with just following our ordinances?

At a recent meeting, when I asked why we could use one of our sewer guys to install the electric in the Community Building project and everyone else is required to use a licensed electrician, Mr. Unrein said because we don't have to, we are not required to follow our own ordinances. I asked what happened to leading by example? I never questioned the quality of the work or said it cost too much, just wanted to know why we can do it and no one else can and frankly I don't agree that we should. 

In the case of the visitor log that I have requested, they made the rule that I could not have it after my first request and before my second request, does that tell you something?

Business is business, right is right and wrong is wrong. All I want is for things to be done the right way, evidently that is burdensome and too much to ask.