City worker use cited in Jackson probe

More details emerged Tuesday about the criminal investigation of Jackson Mayor Paul Sander, with his attorney and investigators confirming it involved more than just two 1998 real estate transactions.

The use of city employees and equipment outside the city limits, the purchase of what is now a 60-acre industrial park tract and multiple committee appointments are being reviewed, said Lt. David James of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

"I'm on a fact-finding mission," James said. "We'll find out the facts and let the attorney general's office determine if a crime was committed."

Sander's attorney, Al Spradling III, called the allegations that Sander influenced the purchase of the industrial park property, manipulated annexations and zoning changes and picked friends for city committees "ridiculous."

"We believe that nothing was done to violate any law," he said. "The matters are causing significant strained relations between the city of Jackson, the county and the sheriff's office."

The perception that Sander, who became mayor in 1993, rules the board of aldermen is baseless, Spradling said.

"The mayor doesn't get a vote, the mayor gets a veto," he said. "It's somewhat strange they think the mayor controls everything when the mayor doesn't control anything."

At a news conference at Jackson City Hall, city attorney Tom Ludwig pledged the city's full cooperation with the investigation launched in April. All documents and records requested by law enforcement have been provided to investigators, he said.

54 records sought

So far, the sheriff's department has requested records for 54 items dating as far back as 1996. They include rezoning ordinances, interoffice memos, invoices, contracts, minutes and agendas from various aldermen's meetings and committee appointments.

Sander did not attend the press conference. Spradling said his client will not comment at this time, but he may hold a press conference of his own soon.

Spradling said Sander offered to let investigators interview him, but they have declined for now.

Investigators subpoenaed sales records last week from three local real estate brokers involved in the two 1998 real estate transactions that involved Sander as an agent with Heartland Realty. James is reviewing whether Sander benefited from the transactions illegally.

Sander was the listing agent for the home at 134 Ora Lee Drive in the Seabaugh Acres subdivision, located outside the city limits, where city workers spent about two hours locating a sewer line with a router. One of the closing requirements of the sale was to locate the line. Sander was present at the property when the router was used, Spradling said.

Afterward, the owner sold the house May 1, 1998, and bought another home from Sander within the city limits at 756 Pecan Lane on the same day.

Spradling said it wasn't his client who requested the use of the equipment, but Sander did offer to reimburse the city for it. However, the city administrators declined to accept any payment.

Ludwig said the city has never charged anyone for the use of the sewer line locator.

"The city is not in the equipment-rental business," he said.

Ludwig said the city sometimes loans both workers and the device, which is mounted on a city truck, because it's a scarce item locally. The employees are part of that loan to make sure the equipment is operated correctly.

"Obviously, when you loan out a piece of equipment like that, you'd want one of our people to run it," Ludwig said.

He called the arrangement a "good neighbor" gesture. The device has been loaned to find a sewer line at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park in Cape Girardeau, Ludwig said.

However, similar sewer location services are offered by local businesses like Dutch Enterprises, which charges about $150 to use a camera to locate and inspect lines, according to a spokesman.

Election-year allegations

Allegations about the sewer line surfaced during a 1999 election from mayoral candidate Scott Lipke, now a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, and alderman candidate Chris Bowen, Spradling said.

"David Beeson, who was city attorney at the time, conducted an internal investigation into these allegations," he said. "But it revealed no improprieties, and he interviewed many people."

Chris Bowenof Jacksondenied making allegations and refused to comment further. Attempts to reach Lipke were unsuccessful.

It was Paul Fisher of Jackson who ultimately took the allegations to law enforcement, Ludwig said. Fisher also refused to comment Tuesday.

Spradling said Fisher originally went to the U.S. Attorney's office in Cape Girardeau, but federal prosecutors declined to pursue it. That's when Fisher went to the sheriff's department.

Cape Girardeau County's prosecuting attorney, Morley Swingle, removed himself from the investigation. Assistant state attorney general Robert L. Sanders of Jefferson City was appointed as special prosecutor. He requested the subpoenas.

Spradling said his client views the recent publicity as a positive thing.

"It's good that it's out," he said. "There have been so many rumors floating around."

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160