Nepotism allegation made against Jasper mayor

The war between Jasper Mayor John Rodebush and former mayor Jim McCorkle continues and once again, law enforcement is being asked to intervene.
McCorkle has leveled nepotism charges against Rodebush and has turned over documents to the Jasper County prosecuting attorney's office indicating the mayor hired his brother, Bill Rodebush, to work on the city's water and sewer system, paying him $81 or $18 per hour for 4.5 hours of work. The following letter was sent to the prosecuting attorney's office by McCorkle:

"TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
"Attached you will find a blatant example of the Jasper mayor's belief that he can do what he wants without respect for state laws. Nepotism is a serious infraction for an elected official. Mayor John Rodebush hired his brother, Bill Rodebush, to work on Jasper water/sewer, according to the attached city of Jasper bills for January 2006.
"As a citizen of the city of Jasper, I request that the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney take whatever action is appropriate with respect to the Missouri Constitution or Missouri Statutes. Bill Rodebush is related to an elected official, the mayor of Jasper, within the third degree by consanguinity."

The letter was signed by McCorkle and copies were sent to The Joplin Globe and The Carthage Press.

The nepotism charge is the latest in a series of actions taken by Rodebush and McCorkle that have Jasper residents wondering when it is all going to end.
The Turner Report was the first to reveal that Rodebush filed for a restraining order, which was later granted, against McCorkle.
Rodebush, who was elected earlier this year, has been a lightning rod for controversy, with more than 30 city workers leaving their positions during the past few months, either on their own or at the request of the city council, usually by 2-2 votes, with the mayor casting the deciding vote.
McCorkle, who served as mayor between 1999 and 2001, has been outspoken in his criticism of Rodebush. According to reporter Derek Spellman's article in the June 2 Joplin Globe, McCorkle was removed from two city council meetings after trying to address the council and mayor.
"For those of you who do not go to the council meetings, you missed a good lesson in dictatorship," McCorkle wrote in one of the letters that he has distributed through Jasper, according to the Globe article.
The two men could both be representing the city of Jasper at council meetings after April if McCorkle is successful in his write-in bid for the East Ward council seat.