Lead Stories and Pictures

Police discussions dominate meeting

by Rick Peck
rpeck@nwaonline.net

Mike Kell, owner of Goodman Mini-Mart, approached the Goodman City Council Tuesday night with several complaints about the Goodman Police department.

Kell said comments made by Officer Curt Drake about his way of conducting business are leading to problems.

Kell also told the council that Chief Tom West would not allow officers to step foot on his property. Kell said he wondered what would happen if there was a problem at the store and he needed the police. Kell said the situation needed to be addressed by the council.

Mayor Calvin Wilson said that for any official business the police will come onto Kell’s property.

Kell then asked about the city not purchasing fuel at his store.

Wilson said purchasing fuel was official business. West said officers can get gas at the store, but they are not to “hang around” after filling up their patrol cars.

“It’s all about gossip and I wanted to get rid of it,” said Kell. “All I ask for is city officials to stop spreading rumors.”

In other police business, Officer Mark Rice tendered his resignation from the police department. Rice said his decision was based on economic factors, but that he would be available as a part-time officer if the city wished.

Rice said there were also some things he wanted to discuss in a closed session. The council approved holding a closed session May 8 and agreed to wait until then to vote on whether to accept Rice’s resignation.

The council approved an agreement with Anderson to set Splitlog Road on Highway 59/Business 71 as the boundary for the two cities.

Anderson is planning to annex the highway right-of-way to Splitlog Road and needed Goodman’s approval. The Goodman council said they saw no reason to oppose Anderson’s annexation. West said he would like to see Goodman annex south to meet Anderson in the future.

The council approved $400 for repairs to a driveway at the Roger Hensley residence they said were caused by water runoff diverted due to the water project. City Supervisor David Brodie said he had worked on the drainage problem and needs a little more time to finish. He said he has no doubts the problem to the driveway was caused by the water project. The council declined to pay for grading on Henley’s property.
In other business, the council:

• agreed to pay for lunch and mileage for any city official attending a Missouri Municipal League meeting in Monett;
• was told by Brodie he is working on a pump problem at a lift station;
• discussed getting a receipt for a donation to the summer ball program;
• agreed to look at a yard torn up by the water project that still is not fixed; and
• approved bills and transfers in the amount of $64,424.39.