By Tony Brockmeyer
This past Monday five Councilmembers brought City Hall to the people. City Councilmembers Rory Riddler, Mark Brown, Dottie Greer, John Gieseke and Joe Koester hosted a town hall meeting at Our Savior Lutheran Church on Elm Street. Each of the City’s departments had representation to answer questions about the City.
The meeting began with brief introductions of the Council and department heads and then a question and answer session. The audience was anxious to hear from City Administrator Alan Williams. They wanted to know when the City is going to have a permanent police chief. The crowd applauded when Major Robert Lowery’s name was mentioned. Williams explained he made every effort to convince Mayor Patti York to compromise on his candidate for Chief but was not successful. “I called Major Lowery to let him know the Mayor refused to approve him. He then asked to have his name removed,” Williams told the audience. This was an agreement Williams said he had made with Lowery to insure Lowery would not once again become a political football.
Councilman Joe Koester was critical of Williams for not keeping his word to bring Lowery’s name forward, no matter how the Mayor felt. Koester was more critical of York stating, “We were swindled.” This was in response to the comments made by York about her giving some Councilmembers her word to appoint Lowery if his name was brought forward by Williams. Koester made it perfectly clear he was not impressed by either York or Williams. The crowd applauded loudly with those statements showing support for Koester.
Councilwoman Greer hosted the meeting and arranged the use of the facilities with church officials. Greer made it a point to thank the church in her opening statements. Greer had the opportunity to speak of one of her projects; litter. Mrs. Donna Poeling asked why the City was not going after those who litter the streets and poles on the City right away with signs? Greer told the group, “ I have taken down over 3000 signs and the code enforcement department has fined those habitual offenders. One owner has been fined $200, $400 and if he continues to advertise his vacancies he will face another fine. The goal is to make sure those who think they can litter realize it will cost them.”
At one point in the meeting an open and frank discussion took place regarding the 73 police officers who signed hostile work environment complaints with language that had some in the audience wondering if these officers were fit for duty. The discussion began with audience members voicing their opinion that these officers need to be taken off the street. Williams told the crowd, “We have hired a lawyer to interview the officers and determine who needed help and those who did not. Those who did received it.”
Acting Police Chief Larry White was asked by Councilman John Gieseke, “There are 30 officers who did not sign the complaints and they are looking to the administration for leadership. What is the City going to do to demonstrate to those officers that this will not be tolerated?” White stood and told the crowd since this was an ongoing investigation he was unable to comment. As he sat down he used an (expletive deleted) to describe Gieseke. It was audible to some in the audience. One member of the audience told the First Capitol News they were disappointed to hear the acting Chief say such a thing when asked a simple leadership question.
Questions ranged from the police to littering. With over 100 residents in attendance some of the questions were not addressed. One question addressed by Councilman Mark Brown was, why the City Council needed Eric Tolen as their special counsel? Brown told the audience, “The council needed to have the ability to get legal opinions without the interference of the Mayor and the administration’s agenda.”
The meeting closed with Council President Riddler giving a brief overview of the personalities of those Councilpersons present.
