Thanks to a judge's ruling earlier today, it will not be long before we learn exactly what is in the nine missing pages of investigator Tom Loraine's report- the nine pages that include the evidence that led five Joplin City Council members to vote to fire City Manager Mark Rohr.
Rohr's firing was the subject of a question from Joplin Globe reporter Wally Kennedy a few minutes ago during the candidate forum in the Corley Auditorium at Missouri Southern State University. Kennedy asked if the firing of Mark Rohr would discourage developers from coming to Joplin. The division on the council was mirrored in the candidates' answers with former mayor Mike Woolston, who voted for Rohr, saying his contacts in real estate tell him developers are steering clear of Joplin, while Councilwoman Trisha Raney, who voted to fire Rohr, saying the city has 500 excellent city employees and 50,000 citizens and "we don't rise and fall on one man."
Candidate responses:
Mike Seibert- Seibert said that things went well after the tornado. "There was confidence, but that confidence has greatly eroded. This is a critical election."
Gary Shaw- "I am embarrassed by the actions of the Joplin City Council the last few weeks. I got on the council to support the people we hired to run our city."
Ryan Stanley- " I am concerned turmoil is creating unnecessary problems. This is redeemable. We need to put this matter and personal agendas to bed."
Jim West- "It is time to move forward. I haven't heard of any business that is refusing to come to Joplin because of what is happening. Joplin is on the move."
Mike Woolston- "My contacts in the developing tell me are losing developers. We need to get this behind us."
Jack Golden- Golden criticized the comments of his fellow councilmen who were saying the Rohr decision was scaring away developers. "The Chamber of Commerce people are reporting just the opposite.
Harvey Hutchinson- Hutchinson said if Joplin has something great to offer a developer, that developer "is going to come no matter what fuss is going on at City Hall.
Miranda Lewis- "It is an understatement to say that I am concerned. We need to focus on moving Joplin into the future."
Trisha Raney- Ms. Raney said she had heard from local businessmen who thought the removal was not a bad thing and may offer an "opportunity for growth. We will all continue to move forward. We do not rise and fall on one man."
The Rohr melodrama is ridiculous. The man had already applied for, and was near receiving, a job in Texas when he was fired. Obviously, he knew it would be to his advantage to get out of town quickly, which is a recurring theme in the perceived tornado heroes and visionaries in this town. That he is just miles away from the Wallace Bajjalli headquarters should be a hint about the problem, and if Woolston's developers are truly leaving, it's probably because he's directing them to Texas where the money handler and his project managers are now residing.
ReplyDelete6:46 Anonymous - Well put.
ReplyDeleteThe globe and 4 council members are not going to be happy that the judge released the 9 pages.
ReplyDeleteTheir request was a bluff that has now been called and everyone is going to know the truth about their hero.
To the reader who sent a comment a few moments ago, you can scan the article and e-mail it to me at rturner229@hotmail.com or make a copy of it and send it to me at 2306 E. 8th, Apt. G, Joplin, MO 64801
ReplyDeleteHutchinson hit this one on the head, if someone can make some money, they're going to be here regardless if the politics and circumstance. If anything, a developer can use it to their advantage.
ReplyDeleteI hate it to admit she's ever right about anything, but Raney was correct when she said so much does not lie with only one person.
To pay off investors and get out of bankruptcy, SWB Heritage Square sold the development rights to the remainder of the block, said David Wallace of Sugar Land, who heads SWB Heritage Square. SWB Heritage Square lost its status as master developer when it missed city-imposed deadlines to develop the two lots on the southern block as well as the entire northern block, which remains undeveloped.
ReplyDeleteDavid Wallace lost his status as Master Developer?
ReplyDelete