|
|
Just after I had finished writing last week's newsletter, News Channel 4 broke a major story on Kirkwood's misappropriation of funds gained in a opioid lawsuit settlement. The lede of that story reads: "The City of Kirkwood spent $30,000 in funds meant to remediate the deadly overdose epidemic on a snowplow truck used for inclement weather." It's a devastating story made all the more devastating by quotes from Kirkwood resident Angela Buckner who lost her son, De'Andre Buckner to an opioid overdose and wants the funds put to their original intended use.
|
Local government gets money from all kinds of sources with all kinds of different rules attached to it. It's understandable that sometimes well meaning people make some bad mistakes. What's not acceptable is refusing to take responsibility for those mistakes. Mayor Gibbons is quoted as saying the state "has not disapproved the expenditure for an all purpose vehicle,” and no one on the Council could remember appropriating the funds. The simple fact, however, is that they did. Part 'h' of the May 16th Council meeting's consent agenda clearly lists: Resolution 79-2024, accepting the bid of Joe Machens Ford in the amount of $60,167 (pursuant to State of Missouri Cooperative Contract) for the purchase of a 2024 Ford F-350 for the Fire Department and authorizing and directing the Director of Procurement to issue a Purchase Order
|
If you go back and watch at 28:30 of the stream of that council meeting, Mayor Gibbons asks for a motion and a second on the consent agenda, gets them, and then asks if anyone has any questions or comments, pauses for about 30 seconds, no one answers, and the council unanimously approves the consent agenda voice vote (besides Council Member Jaksetic, who was absent).
|
|
As you all know, I have, occasionally, made factual mistakes while writing this blog. It happens. But I've also taken responsibility and corrected those mistakes as soon as I've been mad aware of them. I don't think it's too much to ask the Council to do the same. Transparency and accountability are the bear minimum of good local governance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
- A look back at last week's Webster-Kirkwood Times:
- On pg 4-A, there are three good Kirkwood stories:
- A look at the Council Member Jaksetic's move to increase the overtime budget line item for the Fire Department.
- A closer look at the fight for the rezoning of 1120 Earl Ave
- News that City Attorney John Hessel will finally be retiring after a long struggle to find his replacement. Part of the issue was that the city previously had a residency requirement for the position that voters repealed back in November. In an ironic twist, Hessel's replacement, Jaqueline Graves, recently moved to Kirkwood anyway. Welcome aboard Jaqueline!
- The only notable item on tonight's City Council agenda is notice that there will be a public hearing at the April 4th meeting on a "zoning code tex amendment on the applicability of architectural review." That sounds like a way to add more regulation and red tape, not eliminate it, but I guess we'll have to wait and see what the specific language is.
|
|
|
|
That's it for this week! Enjoy March Madness (go Cyclones!), go to a fish fry tomorrow, and have a great weekend everyone!
|
|
|
|
|
