Greenwood Mo’s newly elected officials pledge cooperation and hard work

Apr

Greenwood Mo’s newly elected officials pledge cooperation and hard work

Posted by jennW in by Jennifer Warren, GSD Online

A large crowd gathers for Monday, April 19, 2010 Board of Alderman Meeting

It was a rare night Monday, April 19^th – all three former Aldermen were present for the scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting. Also the assembled crowd was large enough that the meeting was held in Greenwood Elementary’s gym. Mayor DeCourcy started with a motion to approve the minutes of the past eight meetings, going all the way back to December 10, 2009. There were corrections made to some of the minutes and in the end not all of those minutes were approved – a last demonstration of the stalemate the former Board of Aldermen battled for the past year. DeCourcy’s last act as Mayor of Greenwood was to congratulate the newly elected officials of Greenwood. He also gave Alderman Ring and Alderman Payne a final opportunity to address the audience.

Alderman Ring, Alderman Payne, Mayor DeCourcy and Alderman VanAcker assemble for their last meeting

Alderman Ring’s final statement to Greenwood was highly critical of Greenwood’s management for the past four years saying they have been a “huge disappointment.” Ring went on to say that “it is time to be good neighbors, it is time to develop friends, rather than create enemies… it is time for new leadership, selected by the voters, to roll up their sleeves and clean up our city.” She also repeated Mayor Megee’s campaign slogan saying that “it’s time to put the green back in Greenwood.”

Alderman Payne was obviously frustrated; simply stating “the sad fact that we had to go over the last five months minutes says it all.”

Mayor DeCourcy also addressed the crowd “it’s been a wild ride for the past four years” he said, “we got a lot accomplished in the three, the last year, nothing.” He went on to say that he “hopes and prays that the new board does not fall into the same pitfalls that this board did… you are elected, and you need to represent the community as a whole.”

Newly elected officials are sworn in - Alderman Seagraves, Alderman Reynolds, Alderman Cover and Mayor Megee

The city’s newly elected officials – Marvin Megee, Mayor; Nic Cover, Alderman Ward 1; Al Reynolds, Alderman Ward 1; and Chris Seagraves, Alderman Ward 2 were all sworn in by acting City Clerk, Glenda Smith, stating that they would “uphold the constitution of the United States and the state of Missouri” and would “demean myself faithfully” while serving Greenwood.

The first orders of business the new board conducted were to elect Nic Cover to be the Mayor Pro Tem and then to change the signatories on the city’s bank accounts.

Public Works Director, Cliff McDonald

Alderman Van Acker asked for an update from Public Works Director Cliff McDonald about the status of the Allendale Lake Meadows subdivision. The subdivision has been vacant for three years because of insufficient flow to the subdivisions fire hydrants. As of January the fire hydrants had sufficient flow. Now there is a list of infrastructure items that the developer is working on that need to be signed off on by the Board of Aldermen. The builder is currently waiting for the approval of his construction easement for a sanitary sewer line. That easement will be submitted for approval at the next Board of Aldermen meeting.

Dana McIntire, City Financial Specialist

Mayor Megee then asked Dana McIntire, the city’s financial specialist for an overview of the city’s current financial situation. She said that the city usually spends around $124,000 a month. Of that amount, payroll and payroll taxes make up about $60,000 a month. McIntire also mentioned the fire and ambulance bill, the invoice was $390,000, the city has collected approximately $368,000 in property taxes for that invoice. Half of the invoice has been paid; the balance is due on August 31, 2010. The city needs to set aside approximately $30,000 a month to be prepared for that payment. She also recommended looking at payroll and payroll taxes and the benefits provided to the city employees as a place to make necessary cuts. McIntire also said that any capital spending had to be looked at as well as meeting with department heads for suggestions of things that can be cut to help with budget cuts. McIntire also said that ticket revenues are down this year and increasing those revenues is a potential source for additional revenue for the city.

Mayor Megee asked for Alderman reports, mentioning that it was a bit early for those since this was the new Board’s first meeting. Alderman VanAcker had prepared to give a report and congratulated all of the new Board members and their opponents on running, good, clean campaigns and stating that he was looking forward to working with the new Aldermen. He said that he was going to “continue to champion infrastructure projects.” VanAcker said “we need everybody to get involved in our community” and asked for Greenwood’s citizens to sign up for the current vacancies on the Planning and Zoning and Park Boards. Alderman Seagraves garnered a laugh from the audience simply saying, “if you want to run for office, pay your property taxes.” Alderman Cover said, “We have a lot to learn… I’m looking forward to this Board being able to work together as a unit, be more understanding… focus on the problems and not on each other so much.” Alderman Reynolds thanked his supporters and said he is hoping to help “move the city forward.” Mayor Megee recognized his opponent in the election, Leah Foster and then he said, “We have got a lot of work to do”

Mayor Megee recognizes former Alderman Sara Ring

Mayor Megee ended the meeting by recognizing, Gracie and Madison, a couple of girls from the Willow Subdivision. Gracie and Madison were presented with Citizenship Awards, recognizing them for their “attitudes and actions, for being great citizens in Greenwood.” He also presented them with sidewalk chalk, because his attention was first called to the girls because of “big flags” the girls had drawn on their driveways with sidewalk chalk. Mayor Megee asked the wives of the candidates to come forward – Brooke Cover, Diane Reynolds and Ruthie Megee were all present. Alderman Seagraves’ wife, Sherry was unable to attend the meeting. Finally Mayor Megee asked former Alderman Sara Ring to come forward saying “I think some people think that Sara is going to retire now, I see no evidence of that” he recognized her for 40 years of service to a variety of organizations, presenting her with a Certificate of Service, a key to the city of Greenwood and a large bouquet of flowers saying that “for over 30 years the city of Greenwood has benefited from her service.”

The open meeting was then adjourned and the new Board of Aldermen met with the city staff in a closed meeting.

tagged: BOA, greenwood, politics

Phil Kloster

“it is time to be good neighbors, it is time to develop friends, rather than create enemies…”

Gladly. Best quote I’ve heard attributed to Mrs. Ring. I’ll definitely do my part.
Phil Kloster

“it is time to be good neighbors, it is time to develop friends, rather than create enemies…”

Gladly. Best quote I’ve heard attributed to Mrs. Ring. I’ll definitely do my part.
Marty

Phil, you continue to provide humor. Thank you. Previously you stated you don’t go where you are not welcome…well, of course you do. Thank you again. Apparently you have forgotten two locations you recently showed up at without invitation. Where you clearly were not welcome. And there was no reason for you being there except to create turmoil. Statements like that you make remind me of socially inept teenagers with their odd behavior, outgoing and assertive. What they consider comedy is derived from their utter lack of conventional values. They are extremely obnoxious, misogynistic, and rude to most others. They don’t seem to realize this however and seem to function on an instinctual level. They survive their misadventures without serious consequences; and they provide humorous and bizarre commentary. Thank you again.
Marty

Phil, you continue to provide humor. Thank you. Previously you stated you don’t go where you are not welcome…well, of course you do. Thank you again. Apparently you have forgotten two locations you recently showed up at without invitation. Where you clearly were not welcome. And there was no reason for you being there except to create turmoil. Statements like that you make remind me of socially inept teenagers with their odd behavior, outgoing and assertive. What they consider comedy is derived from their utter lack of conventional values. They are extremely obnoxious, misogynistic, and rude to most others. They don’t seem to realize this however and seem to function on an instinctual level. They survive their misadventures without serious consequences; and they provide humorous and bizarre commentary. Thank you again.
Phil Kloster

I don’t want to continue this kind of dialog with somebody who is so utterly misinformed. I presume you’re talking about the picnic in Hitt Park with regard to one instance. No idea about the second. However, I was invited by Norman Ring so I stopped by. Additionally, I’m the publisher for the local paper. Sometimes I am bound by public duty to go places I wouldn’t otherwise particularly enjoy. Still no clue where I may have gone uninvited the second time. It would be nice if you’d clue me in there.
Phil Kloster

I don’t want to continue this kind of dialog with somebody who is so utterly misinformed. I presume you’re talking about the picnic in Hitt Park with regard to one instance. No idea about the second. However, I was invited by Norman Ring so I stopped by. Additionally, I’m the publisher for the local paper. Sometimes I am bound by public duty to go places I wouldn’t otherwise particularly enjoy. Still no clue where I may have gone uninvited the second time. It would be nice if you’d clue me in there.
Darrell

Marty please lighten up it is time to move on we cant move forward when people are so bitter I can honestly say I dont know who you are so please dont take this wrong I just think we as a community need to come together and work together we would all be amazed at how much we could get done.

Thanks Darrell
Darrell

Marty please lighten up it is time to move on we cant move forward when people are so bitter I can honestly say I dont know who you are so please dont take this wrong I just think we as a community need to come together and work together we would all be amazed at how much we could get done.

Thanks Darrell
GENE D

I have been criticized for being negative and looking to the history of Greenwood for problems that we must avoid. Therefore, because I have been chastised, I was going to refrain from writing comments to the Dispatch, that is until today when I read comments made by Sara Ring. I must respond to Sara Ring who has criticized the actions of the board for the last four years. She has written to the Lee’s Summit Tribune to brag on her own record and even criticized Mayor Decourcy who she said acted like Hitler. Again, she wrote to the Lee’s Summit Journal to brag on her own service while criticizing others. She was on the board when Kevin Adey was Mayor. She fought with him and yelled at him so loudly in closed sessions, behind a closed door, that she could be heard inside the council chambers. Kevin Adey was horrible Mayor and voters responded with an overwhelming defeat in his re-election bid in 2006. Apparently, Sara Ring does not remember his spending sprees, the White Elephant, sometimes known as the new public works building and other wasteful spending done without board authorization. She has also apparently forgotten that the new board brought the budget back under control until the quarry sued the city and the city and, in turn, the city sued the quarry. I supported Sara Ring for re-election in 2006 and have regretted that decision ever since. She has been the most divisive member of the BOA and was the main reason that nothing was accomplished in the last year.
GENE D

I have been criticized for being negative and looking to the history of Greenwood for problems that we must avoid. Therefore, because I have been chastised, I was going to refrain from writing comments to the Dispatch, that is until today when I read comments made by Sara Ring. I must respond to Sara Ring who has criticized the actions of the board for the last four years. She has written to the Lee’s Summit Tribune to brag on her own record and even criticized Mayor Decourcy who she said acted like Hitler. Again, she wrote to the Lee’s Summit Journal to brag on her own service while criticizing others. She was on the board when Kevin Adey was Mayor. She fought with him and yelled at him so loudly in closed sessions, behind a closed door, that she could be heard inside the council chambers. Kevin Adey was horrible Mayor and voters responded with an overwhelming defeat in his re-election bid in 2006. Apparently, Sara Ring does not remember his spending sprees, the White Elephant, sometimes known as the new public works building and other wasteful spending done without board authorization. She has also apparently forgotten that the new board brought the budget back under control until the quarry sued the city and the city and, in turn, the city sued the quarry. I supported Sara Ring for re-election in 2006 and have regretted that decision ever since. She has been the most divisive member of the BOA and was the main reason that nothing was accomplished in the last year.
GENE D

Back to Sara Ring’s remarks:
She has been the most divisive member of the BOA and was the main reason that nothing was accomplished in the last year. When the board should have been united to oppose the lawsuits brought by the quarry, she refused to vote to pay to bills related to legal fees. She worked behind the scene with non-resident allies to disrupt city government. When she had two allies on the BOA, she voted to fire Ryan Hunt, a very valuable employee. With his firing, the city lost oversight that would have prevented the loss of money that occurred last year. She and quarry employee, Jim Van Acker, worked against appointing a member to replace Denise Simpson who had resigned shortly after she voted with Sara to fire Ryan Hunt. Mrs. Ring started the Greenwood Economic Development Corporation that took city money but gave no accounting for its use. She refused to tell other BOA members how the money was used, declaring that it was “secret.” She has been a member of the board of that corporation since its beginning while she was also a member of the BOA. Mrs. Ring is a negative force in Greenwood and has no right to criticize the performance of the last BOA without accepting her share of blame for what has gone wrong. I have no doubt that she will attempt to control the new board from the outside. The last board was able to prevent sewage flooding by building the Southeast Sewer interceptor line. That board also provided walkers on Allendale lake road with a sidewalk that was long overdue. The BOA would have moved forward on storm water problems if she had given her support to that. The BOA was able to adjust sewer use bills to reflect actual household water usage, a recommendation that was made in the 1988 state audit. After another state audit done in 2002, the recommendations of that audit were ignored by the BOA that she joined in 2004. Spending controls were put in place by the new BOA in 2006, no longer could the Mayor order engineering studies and other spending without approval of the BOA. With Hunt’s firing, many of those controls were lost thanks to Mrs. Ring.
GENE D

Back to Sara Ring’s remarks:
She has been the most divisive member of the BOA and was the main reason that nothing was accomplished in the last year. When the board should have been united to oppose the lawsuits brought by the quarry, she refused to vote to pay to bills related to legal fees. She worked behind the scene with non-resident allies to disrupt city government. When she had two allies on the BOA, she voted to fire Ryan Hunt, a very valuable employee. With his firing, the city lost oversight that would have prevented the loss of money that occurred last year. She and quarry employee, Jim Van Acker, worked against appointing a member to replace Denise Simpson who had resigned shortly after she voted with Sara to fire Ryan Hunt. Mrs. Ring started the Greenwood Economic Development Corporation that took city money but gave no accounting for its use. She refused to tell other BOA members how the money was used, declaring that it was “secret.” She has been a member of the board of that corporation since its beginning while she was also a member of the BOA. Mrs. Ring is a negative force in Greenwood and has no right to criticize the performance of the last BOA without accepting her share of blame for what has gone wrong. I have no doubt that she will attempt to control the new board from the outside. The last board was able to prevent sewage flooding by building the Southeast Sewer interceptor line. That board also provided walkers on Allendale lake road with a sidewalk that was long overdue. The BOA would have moved forward on storm water problems if she had given her support to that. The BOA was able to adjust sewer use bills to reflect actual household water usage, a recommendation that was made in the 1988 state audit. After another state audit done in 2002, the recommendations of that audit were ignored by the BOA that she joined in 2004. Spending controls were put in place by the new BOA in 2006, no longer could the Mayor order engineering studies and other spending without approval of the BOA. With Hunt’s firing, many of those controls were lost thanks to Mrs. Ring.
Db Cooper

It was real nice to see the city at ease on Monday night. The swear in was full of smiles and standing O’s. It was a real feeling of community. I thought Marvin & CO. did a nice job giving out awards to citizens.. It really set a nice tone. Nice job, and good-luck to all. D.B.
Db Cooper

It was real nice to see the city at ease on Monday night. The swear in was full of smiles and standing O’s. It was a real feeling of community. I thought Marvin & CO. did a nice job giving out awards to citizens.. It really set a nice tone. Nice job, and good-luck to all. D.B.
Phil Kloster

Agreed.
Phil Kloster

Agreed.
Phil Kloster

You are negative Gene. Surely you know that by now. You’re a cantankerous old man and that’s no secret either. But you’re our cantankerous old man and you’re still welcome to participate. I’m not mad at you and I hope you’re not mad at me. I’d like to see you use some of your energies dwelling on the positive.
Phil Kloster

You are negative Gene. Surely you know that by now. You’re a cantankerous old man and that’s no secret either. But you’re our cantankerous old man and you’re still welcome to participate. I’m not mad at you and I hope you’re not mad at me. I’d like to see you use some of your energies dwelling on the positive.
Darrell

hey DB the next time you are at a meeting come up and say hello Im sure you dont look like Fidel or maybe you do still would like to talk cabinets. When I get to that ten million mark we need to talk (Im almost there) just one cabinet job short.
Darrell

hey DB the next time you are at a meeting come up and say hello Im sure you dont look like Fidel or maybe you do still would like to talk cabinets. When I get to that ten million mark we need to talk (Im almost there) just one cabinet job short.
Marty

Gene, respectively stated, Sir, the lack of (correct) knowledge, combined with the unqualified and ill-equipped remarks are easy targets to refute. However, it will be more fun to watch as that famous black bird is BBQ’d and devoured as the misinformation and subterfuge continue in writings of disinformation -( you know, It is where manipulators attempt to take over the public’s good sense and judgment, and murder the truth for their own purpose.)
Marty

Gene, respectively stated, Sir, the lack of (correct) knowledge, combined with the unqualified and ill-equipped remarks are easy targets to refute. However, it will be more fun to watch as that famous black bird is BBQ’d and devoured as the misinformation and subterfuge continue in writings of disinformation -( you know, It is where manipulators attempt to take over the public’s good sense and judgment, and murder the truth for their own purpose.)

Greenwood Mo’s newly elected officials pledge cooperation and hard work

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