MAYOR CLAIMS COUNCILMAN TRIED TO EMBARRASS HIM; BARKLAGE: RHODES IS DIVERTING ATTENTION FROM CONFLICT ISSUE

Mayor Gene Rhodes accused a city councilman Monday of plotting to publicly humiliate him after the mayor failed to disclose a financial interest in an asphalt company that was awarded a city paving contract last month.

The councilman, David Barklage, denied the accusation, saying the mayor is trying to divert attention away from the real issue.

Rhodes said in a written statement that Barklage "has no concern for the council and he has been successful in embarrassing me."

Barklage responded: "There is no truth to his statements. The issue is that there is a conflict of interest and he has made it a personal attack."

The statement and subsequent responses are a continuation of council discussions last week about the propriety of Rhodes not revealing his financial interest in ASA Asphalt Inc., which received a city contract in June for paving work on several streets.

Rhodes abstained from voting on awarding the contract but he did not disclose to the council members his ownership interest in the Advance-based asphalt company. The city charter mandates such disclosure.

Most council members spoke against Rhodes' omission. In his Monday statement, the mayor singled out Barklage for criticism. No other council member was named.

Rhodes said Barklage knew of his financial interest in the asphalt company "long before" the council voted on the contract but waited until it had been approved to publicly reveal Rhodes' interest in the company.

The statement reads: "If Mr. Barklage really wanted to avoid the `embarrassment' he says has now occurred to the council ... all he would have needed to do was inform the council himself of my financial interest in the firm."

Rhodes said that Barklage let the matter go through the council voting process and then contacted news media in an attempt to publicly embarrass the mayor.

Barklage said he was not the council member to raise the issue at a closed session on July 1. He declined to reveal which council member had brought up the subject.

"The thrust of the (Rhodes) statement is to divert his own wrongful acts," said Barklage. "I have not discussed this any more in the press than any other member."

Rhodes claimed that following the June 17 council vote on the contract on which Rhodes abstained Barklage "immediately contacted the media, attempting to get the matter publicized."

In fact, it was two weeks later on July 1 that the Southeast Missourian began inquiring into the story. Barklage, who also is an owner of a media outlet, KTXI Radio, did not approach the Southeast Missourian with the story.

According to city records, the city council awarded the contract to ASA Asphalt Inc for the Section I resurfacing project on June 17.

But it wasn't until the next council meeting - July 1 - that the dispute surfaced. It was then that Rhodes asked that the council minutes be amended to reflect that he abstained from the June 17 paving contract vote because he had a financial interest in the company.

The mayor reportedly owns 40 percent of the stock in ASA Asphalt and is a member of its board of directors.

City records also show that the mayor voted on two "resolutions declaring it necessary" to improve these street projects. The mayor voted for a resolution on April 1 for Section I, which included Stoddard and several other streets. The mayor also spoke in favor of doubling the city's overlay program, city records show.

That was the contract which was awarded by the city on June 17, in which Rhodes abstained. The contract was awarded to ASA Asphalt, which also had the bid in 1988 and 1990.

The mayor voted again May 6 in favor of a "resolution declaring it necessary" to improve part of Ozark Street and other streets. The city is currently accepting bids for that project.

Rhodes said he was not aware of the precise wording of the city charter, which requires that city officials not only abstain from voting on such contracts but that they divulge any financial interests they may have in a company the city potentially could do business with.

Rhodes called his actions a "mistake" and said it is "difficult, if not impossible, to separate politics from personal lives."

Rhodes went on to accuse Barklage of approaching the news media about his interest in the company "on the very day when I opened a gas-convenience store operation within 300 yards of one of (Barklage's) convenience stores."

Rhodes called Barklage's actions "somewhat suspicious." Rhodes said, "I feel that the people should also be told when there is gross hypocrisy afoot and this is a prime example."

Barklage said Rhodes is not the owner of the store he referred to; though it bears the Rhodes name, it is owned by Jim Maurer and Paul Dirnberger. "I have a fairly good rapport (with Maurer and Dirnberger) and I would not undercut that relationship," Barklage said.

Rhodes stated he has approached the council and offered to have the contract nullified, but the offer was refused.