Rotary Club contribution may cost Poplar Bluff taxpayers $40,000

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A $1,400 contribution to the Rotary Club could cost Poplar Bluff taxpayers more than $40,000 this year.

The Daily American Republic obtained city emails that offered all 239 employees one paid day off if they purchased a $6 ticket to the Rotary Club Spaghetti Day on April 7. The emails indicate the offer was made at the direction of city manager Heath Kaplan, who belongs to the Rotary Club. The move appears to have been made without city council approval or discussion.

Messages left for Kaplan were not returned.

Council members say the city manager told them it was an effort to increase employee morale and engage employees in community events.

The cost of the incentive could be as much as the annual salary of 20 of the city's police officers and 17 firefighters, depending on how many employees participate.

City council member Ed DeGaris said the move was not discussed with the council and should have been.

Mayor pro tem Jack Rushin confirmed there was not a council vote and said he did not want to speculate on the matter without firm numbers about participation and cost.

DeGaris said he believes the matter should have been brought to the council. He also questioned whether amending city rules regarding vacation time required a change in city ordinances. The incentive is an unbudgeted expense, he said.

"He's our employee, and the citizens have elected us to do a job. ... We need direct oversight of the money he's spending," DeGaris said. "I told him (Thursday afternoon) it was ridiculous."

The average hourly wage of the city's employees is $21.89, according to a position report released by Kaplan in December.

City salaries range from the city manager's annual pay of nearly $160,000 to street department equipment operators making $13.32 an hour.

At the average hourly wage, tickets would have a $175 value for employees who work eight-hour days.

If all employees participate in the offer, it could cost the city $41,852 in wages alone.

If costs associated with benefits are added, the expense could reach nearly $60,000, or more than the annual salary of about 200 of the city's employees.

The Rotary Club released a statement saying Rotarians are encouraged each year to sell tickets to assist with fundraising for projects that include support for Poplar Bluff schools, the Girl Scout Camp Latonka and the Shop-With-a-Hero program.

"We do not encourage any particular method to accomplish those sales," according to the statement. "As a club, we do not have the information necessary to express an opinion on any Rotarian's actions within their place of employment, nor would we wish to, as this is a matter that should be governed by the rules and requirements of each individual workplace."