Three out, including city administrator, at Scott City; two resigned, one fired

Scott City administrator Ron Eskew has resigned amid investigation into what Scott City Mayor Ron Cummins called "suspected improprieties" in a statement issued Wednesday.

When reached by phone, Cummins declined to specify to what the investigation pertained.

"At this time, I can't really just say," he said.

Two other employees, city clerk Cindy Uhrhan and Scott City Police Lt. Casey Dodd, also are no longer employed by the city. Cummins confirmed Wednesday one resigned, and the other was fired, but he declined to specify which or provide further details.

"We're dealing with personnel issues and things like that, and I don't want to get the city in any liability," Cummins said via telephone.

"As mayor, the interests of the people of Scott City are my highest priority," he said later in a written statement drafted with the help of the city attorney. "This office takes any issues of suspected impropriety very seriously and will thoroughly investigate same. However, in keeping with official policy, we will make no comment as to specific personnel as those matters are strictly confidential."

Cummins did not respond to subsequent requests for copies of the resignation letters or related documentation. He also did not respond to further inquiries asking who is conducting the investigation.

As of Wednesday afternoon, online court records showed no charges had been filed this year against Eskew, Urhahn or Dodd.

Reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, former Scott City mayor Tim Porch, who worked with Eskew for more than a decade, declined to comment on the record about the current situation at city hall but defended Eskew's character.

"I would trust anything I had with [Eskew], whether personal, business or city," Porch said. "If he's done anything wrong, I'll be flabbergasted."

He said he had not contacted Eskew regarding the current situation.

The Scott City Police Department public-information officer was out of town Wednesday and not available for comment, according to a person who answered the phone at the police station.

Scott City Ward 2 City Councilman Pat Brazel declined to comment when reached by phone.

A listed number for Eskew in the phone book was out of service, and he did not respond immediately to messages sent via social media.

Attempts to reach other council members were unsuccessful.

Eskew has served as Scott City administrator since December 2001.

Before that, he was city administrator for Chaffee, Missouri, for more than five years.

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Pertinent address:

215 Chester Ave., Scott City, Mo.