CPA questions Poplar Bluff city government's 'direction'

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff certified public accountant Dan Coffman questioned Mayor Angela Pearson on Monday night about leading the city in "a new direction."

"We are including everyone. In the past, that has not happened," Pearson said. "People have felt left out. People were pushed aside. Neighborhoods were neglected."

Pearson added that she and the new council members want to include "people who don't agree with us and people who support us."

Coffman also questioned Pearson about her statement that no other personnel will be fired.

"How do you know?" Coffman asked.

"From my perspective, I don't know of anyone else," Pearson said.

Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rushin said it was "made clear" to Mark Massingham, the interim city manager, that he would not be in the position to fire any department heads.

"They all came up in the community. We don't want any of them to lose city jobs," Rushin said.

He hopes to see improvements in how the city operates with a new city manager.

"We hope to tweak things with a new city manager. We want the city to be more cost effective and more efficient," Rushin said. "The new city manager will only fire someone if they are totally inept."

Coffman also reviewed the "unprecedented growth" in the city during the past 10 years, including making 50 miles of U.S. 67 north of Poplar Bluff four lanes, widening of Oak Grove Road, construction of Shelby Road, its planned extension to Highway 53, the new Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, restoration of Mansion Mall and Valley Plaza, construction of the Industrial Park Bypass and the opening of new businesses with others to be announced.

"We have a great city," Coffman said. "We want to keep it moving."

In response to Coffman's question, each council member said they would honor the contracts companies already have with the city.

Rushin and Pearson added "as long as they are within the law."

Coffman asked about the new coalition of five council members not informing Betty Absheer and Ed DeGaris before a May 5 closed session about wanting to terminate city manager Doug Bagby's contract.

"I have been the person left out in the past," Pearson said.

Coffman also asked about councilman David Johnson's comment that the five council members allegedly met privately in groups of three during the two weeks before Bagby was fired.

"The quote was taken out of context. It was false information," Pearson said.

Rushin said there were discussions after the April 8 city election, but "there was never an organized meeting called after we were sworn in [April 21] for the termination of Mr. Bagby."

Johnson, who made the comments by phone, did not offer an explanation for what he said.