Business survey reveals disassatisfaction in Poplar Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- In a survey released Wednesday, members of the Poplar Bluff business community questioned whether city officials value their wallets more than their talent.

The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce asked members to weigh in on two topics: local government and schools spending money with qualified, local companies, rather than outside of town, and what other concerns local government should address.

The survey received a resounding response, said chamber president Steve Halter.

More than 99 percent of participants support an existing city ordinance that encourages local government and education entities to spend locally, Halter said.

More than one-third of those who provided a written response to the second question spoke about city officials and actions, according to documents provided by the chamber. Only three of those comments were positive. A handful of additional comments referenced "local government."

City manager Heath Kaplan received a copy of the survey responses Tuesday night, Halter said. Chamber members received the document Wednesday morning.

Kaplan and council members are being contacted for their comments on the survey.

"I think what we saw out of this is there are a lot of people out there with messages they want to convey to the city council," he said. "Overwhelmingly, the message is, there are some concerns with the decisions being made at city hall."

Many responses focus on the qualifications of some of the people making decisions for the city, excessive spending and good leadership, Halter said.

"I hope and pray the city manger and council read it," he said.

Also telling, Halter said, is that more than 60 percent of those who read the emailed survey responded. That's nearly twice the typical participation rate for an internal survey in the business community, he said.

Early in her tenure, the mayor talked about doing things differently, one respondent wrote. The city has made a 180 degree turn, the business owner said, in the un-edited and anonymous response provided by the chamber.

"It represents no more than the mayor, council and this new city [manager] TURNING THEIR BACKS on the very resource that provides the funding for this city -- The Business Community," the statement reads.

Local businesses are the ones who spend money on taxes, tuition and local organizations, another added.

"Firms from out of town are not going to sponsor little league teams, softball teams, etc., and fund all of the benefit fundraisers," the response reads, written in all caps. "The local businesses are the backbone of PB and should be given this business."

Price and quality of services must be a consideration, many chamber members said. About half of the written responses to the first question included sentiments such as buy local "whenever possible," and "when local options present the best buy AND the best products and services."

"If the services and expertise is equivalent and the price is within reason, the locally collected tax dollars should be spent locally," one respondent wrote.

More benefits are seen when city dollars are kept in Poplar Bluff, according to several responses.

"I feel that any time the city, county governments and citizens of Poplar Bluff can spend their money local and invest it back into the community, they should," one individual said. "I am a firm believer that for a community to [thrive], it needs a strong backbone. We trust that backbone with our city officials, who do not live up to the same belief."

Spending local increases job stability, job growth and population, creating a vibrant local economy, another said.

These responses come from a variety of people in the community, across all walks of life, Halter said. They include health, retail and financial institutions, he said.

Respondents questioned the city's hiring of a London firm over a local insurance company and city manager Heath Kaplan's choices in hiring a Texas grant writer, without advertising the new positions.

One respondent questions those decisions, as well as the work of one city council member, Peter Tinsley, for the Semo Times publication. The publication is owned by a former chamber president who was convicted of stealing and a man who owes the city $200,000, the comment reads.

Of the comments supporting city leaders, one respondent wrote the city manager has made some missteps, but his mission is sound.

"When I have heard our new city manager talk about his vision for improvements to Poplar Bluff and the direction he would like to see us go as a community with lots of potential, I am in agreement," the person wrote.

The city manager should be given a chance to take reasonable steps to improve government functions, another said.

"I would like to see the volume of criticism turned down a bit," the comment began.

Another person wrote, "tell the dar to move on."

One of the chamber's responsibilities is to advocate for its members and the community, Halter said.

Some of the survey participants believe the chamber should turn its attention to the current direction of the city.

"Every time the city or school needs a sales tax increase or bond issue passed, [members of the business community] are the people they come to," reads a comment written in all caps. "It is wrong for our city council to treat our business community the way it is being treated. *... The chamber needs to take a strong stand on this."

Not all of the responses supported local spending.

One credited Wal-Mmart with doing more good for Poplar Bluff than any local business.

"Their market growth through efficiencies and economies of scale are strengths developed through fair market competition," the comment continued. "Buying the best product for the best price should be 99% of the criteria to spend my tax dollars in Poplar Bluff!"

Other responses asked the city to divide tax money evenly to all areas of the community, saying the downtown is in shambles and former city leaders would not help with projects like the depot step renovations.

"Poplar Bluff on the outside looks very appealing, but to those who live here and are being ridiculed over race, status, and obvious qualifications that don't meet the City Manager's liking, it is discouraging to not only live here, but to call Poplar Bluff home," another individual wrote.

One chamber member said current city officials need to conduct themselves in a more diplomatic way.

"I feel there have been far too many instances involving social media posts and print articles, no matter what the source, that have come across as childlike banter and personal bias between certain individuals and/or parties," according to the comment.

Comments also focused on the importance of education and local training programs, bringing in new retail businesses and manufacturers and community support of traveling ball teams.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.