By Tony Brockmeyer
At the St. Peter’s Board of Aldermen’s meeting on July 28th Mayor Shawn Brown called for St. Peter’s Prosecuting Attorney, Jeff Morrison to be removed from office. Morrison also served as a St. Charles County Councilman.
Brown said citizens have been contacting him asking for Morrison’s removal. “I think we should hire a new prosecuting attorney,” Brown said.
The First Capitol News has learned Morrison wrote to St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas asking that an investigation be started of Mayor Shawn Brown and his dealings with home developers in St. Peters.
Four days after the letter was sent Mayor Shawn was calling for Morrison’s removal.
The letter Morrison sent to Banas reports Aldermanic President Terry Hawkins told Morrison, Rich Kipper of Esteem Homes complained Brown had threatened to stop Esteem Homes’ project in St. Peters if Kipper did not buy electrical supplies from Brown.
Hawkins also told Morrison he thought St. Peters City Administrator Bill Charnisky had additional information. Morrison in his letter said Charnisky indicated there have been several similar allegations.
At the Board meeting Brown denied the allegations and said, “This letter is worth nothing. I hope Jack is investigating.”
Alderman David Hayes on July 29th wrote a letter to Banas. In his letter Hayes indicated to Banas he has also heard multiple rumors and inappropriate innuendo regarding the business dealings between Mayor Shawn Brown, representing his electrical supply company and vendors within the City of St. Peters. He told Banas in his letter he was personally present during a meeting of the City of St. Peters Planning and Zoning Commission during which a presentation was given by Esteem Homes and he also heard the Mayor explicitly suggest (during the televised meeting) that Esteem Homes should purchase the electrical supplies for this project from him.
Hayes also wrote Banas, I respectfully request that your office commence this investigation as soon as possible, if you have not already done so, including an examination of the factors leading to Mayor Brown’s call for the removal of our City Prosecutor.
Banas was not available for comment.
