Commission puts off motion for Sunshine Law training

The Cape Girardeau County Commission on Monday put off requesting Sunshine Law training for elected officials and members of county boards and commissions.

District 2 Commissioner Jay Purcell, who is seeking a commission vote to formally request the training from the Missouri Attorney General's office, was unable to convince District 1 Commissioner Larry Bock to go along with the idea. Bock, who was presiding Monday in the absence of Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones, told Purcell he needed time to find out how many people would be signed up for the training.

Purcell, persisting, offered a motion to move ahead with the request. "I didn't recognize your motion," Bock said, ending the discussion.

After the meeting, Bock said he was not opposed to requesting the training but needed more information about the number of people serving on county-appointed boards and commissions. The issue can be addressed next week, Bock said.

Questions about Sunshine Law compliance have been prominent in county business this year. Purcell is suing the commission, alleging that an April 17 meeting to discuss a road easement and the Internet habits of county auditor David Ludwig were improperly closed.

And at least two county boards, the Board of Park Commissioners and the E-911 Advisory Board, have taken actions that appear to run counter to the intent of the Sunshine Law. Joe Sherinski, chairman of the park board, reported to the commission recently that he had talked to the members by telephone and they were 6-to-1 in favor of the sale of a parcel of county park land.

And the E-911 board wrote a letter to the commission stating it had reviewed objections to a new dispatch system for Cape Girardeau and rejected them. However, the decision was made by Emergency Operations Center director Richard Knaup calling each member and asking them their opinion rather than in a formal meeting.

The attorney general's office wrote to Purcell, in reply to his request, saying that the training would take 60 to 90 minutes but must be requested formally by the commission.

For updates, check back at semissourian.com or read Thursday's Southeast Missourian.