It was not police officers and firefighters, according to an e-mail sent today to City Manager Sam Anselm and City Council members and obtained by the Turner Report.
"(Haase) stated the things I had suggested to the City Council on August 20, 2018 were unrealistic because the City has no money. She went on to say that she feels like the 'bad guy' in reference to Police and Fire Department raises," Tracy Nielson says in her letter.
The letter leaves the impression Haase does not have much sympathy with the police and firefighters.
"Mrs. Haase then indicated that police officers know what salary they come to work for and money is not everything, further stating that even my husband knew what he was coming to work for."
The confrontation took place in the city parking lot after the Council's August 27 budget work session, according to the e-mail.
During her August 20 presentation, Nielson made three recommendations to the Council:
-Implement 12-hour shifts at Police Chief Matthew Stewart's discretion
-Increase efforts in recruiting, safety and retention of officers and firefighters
-Submit a half-cent increase to a current tax to voters. If the proposal passes, the money would go completely to the police and fire departments, "no pet projects," and "no discretionary funds." All money would go toward "police and fire department pay, compensation and benefits only."
In the e-mail, Nielson said she received numerous e-mails from Haase's husband, Carl Junction Police Chief Delmar Haase later that evening.
While I can certainly appreciate that Mrs. Haase may be in a difficult position and tensions are likely running high, it was extremely inappropriate for the City Finance Director to approach me in the parking lot regarding my address to Council. Her statements, coupled with the immediate follow up emails from her husband, who is also the Police Chief of Carl Junction, felt intimidating and intended to change the course of my work in advocating for the Police and Fire Departments.
Nielson began receiving more unwanted attention when news of the parking lot confrontation reached KOAM investigative reporter Jordan Aubey. Nielson received messages from Delmar Haase and the City of Joplin's public information officer Lynn Onstott, apparently trying to discourage Nielson from talking to the media.
Onstott, in a conversation which was recorded and which the Turner Report has obtained, appears to be trying to convince Nielson to meet with Haase to resolve the situation, meet with her and Haase or to meet with Anselm and Haase.
(Onstott) stated that after watching me, she didn’t think I was the type of person who would go to the media. She went on to defend Ms. Haase’s actions, and stated that she is not going to comment to the media because “it’s not really a City story. It’s a personal story on Leslie and Leslie is pretty upset about it…. She’s kind of tired of it…. She truly is just doing her job.” I again asked for recourse in order to address the issue. Ms. Onstott said the media has its place and as a city employee, she has to protect the integrity of the city. She then stated that “it’s not the employee that’s at fault. It’s just that the system has failed. It’s been a comedy of errors throughout the years.”Patrolman Timothy Andrew Nielson died 14 years ago today.
***
The text of Tracy Nielson's e-mail to City Manager Sam Anselm and the Joplin City Council is printed below:
Mr. Anselm and members of City Council,
I hope this letter finds you all well. There are several recent incidents that I feel need to be brought to your attention.
On Monday, August 27, 2018 immediately following the City Council’s work session, I was approached in the parking lot by the City Finance Director, Leslie Haase. She stated the things I had suggested to the City Council on August 20, 2018 were unrealistic because the City has no money. She went on to say that she feels like the “bad guy” in reference to Police and Fire Department raises, and I reminded her that my address to the Council made no mention of her.
Mrs. Haase then indicated that police officers know what salary they come to work for and money is not everything, further stating that even my husband knew what he was coming to work for.
She reminded me that in my address to the Council, I discussed my husband’s belief in the character and integrity of the City government, council, and police and fire departments. She stated that it is no longer the City he believed it to be, and that she should know because she has been around for a long time.
The clear implication was that these agencies are no longer credible. I again reminded Mrs. Haase that my address was to the Council and not intended to be a personal affront to her. I respectfully listened to Mrs. Haase and did not confront her with my thoughts, as I was very uncomfortable and caught off guard.
Later that evening, I received multiple emails from Delmar Haase, Leslie’s husband, indicating that Leslie wishes we had more time to talk, and that she recognizes the parking lot was the wrong time and place for that discussion.
While I can certainly appreciate that Mrs. Haase may be in a difficult position and tensions are likely running high, it was extremely inappropriate for the City Finance Director to approach me in the parking lot regarding my address to Council.
Her statements, coupled with the immediate follow up emails from her husband, who is also the Police Chief of Carl Junction, felt intimidating and intended to change the course of my work in advocating for the Police and Fire Departments.
On September 12, 2018 at 4:50 p.m., I received a voicemail from a private number from Lynn Onstott. She presented herself as the City Public Information Officer and I asked if I would engage in a private phone call that did not pertain to city business. I texted Ms. Onstott later yesterday evening, but she would not give me the subject matter she wished to addressed.
I returned her call at 8:00 p.m. yesterday. She again presented herself as the Public Information Officer. She alleged that she received an email from a news media professional about the incident with Ms. Haase and asked if I had approached anyone about it. I indicated that I had not spoken to anyone in the news media. She went on to say that she and Leslie had discussed the incident, that Leslie “felt bad for kind of unloading on [me]” and then Ms. Onstott brought up the death of my husband.
She then stated that Ms. Haase asked her husband to email me and apologize, which he did not do, but he reportedly contends that his emails were not retaliatory or hurtful. She asked if I felt the conversation between myself and Ms. Haase was hurtful or intimidating. I did not feel comfortable answering that question.
Ms. Onstott then encouraged me to speak directly to Ms. Haase. I asked for other alternatives, and she suggested talking with Ms. Haase and Mr. Anselm together, or with Ms. Haase and Ms. Onstott together.
She stated that after watching me, she didn’t think I was the type of person who would go to the media. She went on to defend Ms. Haase’s actions, and stated that she is not going to comment to the media because “it’s not really a City story. It’s a personal story on Leslie and Leslie is pretty upset about it…. She’s kind of tired of it…. She truly is just doing her job.”
I again asked for recourse in order to address the issue. Ms. Onstott said the media has its place and as a city employee, she has to protect the integrity of the city. She then stated that “it’s not the employee that’s at fault. It’s just that the system has failed. It’s been a comedy of errors throughout the years.” She indicated that she would wait to respond to the inquiring news media until after I have had a chance to speak with Ms. Haase or Mr. Anselm.
She then stated that Mr. Haase protects his wife and people want to take care of people who are getting hurt. She suggested that I reach out to Mr. or Ms. Haase directly or speak with Mr. Anselm. She again stated that she didn’t think I would go to the media and couldn’t imagine I would go to the media. After reiterating that I had not spoken with anyone in media, she asked if I had spoken to anyone in the fire department.
Please note that conversation was recorded and is available upon your request.
Mr. Haase then emailed me this morning stating that he got “hit with a bombshell” and he denied that Ms. Haase was aware he had messaged me previously. I have attached all of the messages from Mr. Haase to this email for your reference.
I am a citizen of this community and I stated my opinions to council, which were grounded in research and potential solutions. I have no idea why these individuals are approaching me, but their contact is extremely inappropriate. I had no contact with any media outlets, yet was asked multiple times if I had. Even if I had, I have a right to express my opinion or speak to the media, and City Officials attempting to harass or intimidate me is a clear infringement upon the Constitutional rights given to us all.
We need to speak up and demand more integrity from our City government when see an issue. We need to advocate and be a voice for change. Any citizen of Joplin should be allowed to address the Council without fear of being approached by a City Director, a neighboring Chief of Police, and a City Public Information Officer, who notably made their comments while acting in the capacity of their official positions and not as private citizens.
I am appalled and brokenhearted that our City appears more concerned with its image than honoring their duty to protect and preserve the rights of its citizens. It is truly a sad day for Joplin, Missouri.
Aside from the fact that these individuals continue to draw my deceased spouse into these conversations, that these conversations are happening so close to the anniversary of his death and the blatant disrespect this shows, there is a clear misuse of power here that was intended to keep me quiet.
Please be aware that my address to Council and my ongoing efforts to advocate for the Police and Fire Departments are not personal in nature. There is an obvious public safety issue, and it will take all of us working together in order to solve it. My intention is to help find solutions, not create more problems.
That said, I will not sit quietly by while my husband’s memory is diminished, nor will I be bullied by the City Officials or their spouses. Though the message from all of them was clear, I stand down for no one.
Thank you for prompt attention in this matter.
Tracy Nielson
29 comments:
Harasse needs to go she has gotten to big in her job....she lacks depth for her job,another part of residue from former City Manager and some lazy Councillors
Abhorrent behavior on the part of the city representatives. They should have left the matter at the City Council level instead of making personal contact with you. It sounds as if you handled this matter professionally with good intentions and they had no right to approach you and make comments regarding your husband.
I want to thank you for addressing the Council, for your interest in the city and being a crusader for our law enforcement officers and fire personnel.
I want to thank your husband for his service and sacrifice, protecting our community. Thank you and your family, I am so sorry for your loss. May God bless you.
Maybe if the City Finance Director, Haase spent as much time calling out the City Council’s irresponsibility in hiring Wallace-Bajjali, spending millions on a defunct baseball team, buying properties for the JRC at inflated prices because she couldn’t say no to Woolston, then the city might not be in as dire financial straights, that they cannot even pay the true heroes of the city in the first responders. Leslie is overpaid and incompetent, now she attempts bullying a widow, and engages her husband to do the dirty work. She’s cut from he same cloth as Rohr.
I will say it again. Get rid of finance director haaasse
Good for you, This is Joplin, It's been this way forever.
Good for you not letting them bully you. You are inspiring to stand up for what is right.
How fricking heartless..
Fed up with the BS
Most of those people sitting downtown behind desks make more than those risking their lives each and every day and night. I don't think I would feel okay with myself if I needed to call for an officer or firefighter to come help me after the crap talking.
5:57 you are right. Something very cynical about all the bad financial decisions that are made by Joplin, Rohr was an idiot, the CHART members had no idea of what they were doing. So, many people just don’t speak up about these idiotically made decisions
The city is not in "dire financial straits", it's following a tried and true formula for raising taxes by deliberately starving the police and fire departments. If they get any new money "earmarked" for public safety, after a suitable interval they'll just withhold most of the sum from the General Fund money the police and fire departments are currently getting.
The people that are left from all the Wallace-Bajjali stuff need to be carefully examined and probably dismissed. That includes the council members. They're all suspect.
Does anyone else want to know what happened with that half cent safety tax we voted for? I thought it was supposed to be for police and fire salaries, etc. Did they do something else with it? If so, that needs to stop.
How did they suddenly have 'some' money to make the new salary scale?
These people have forgotten that they are city employees which means they work for the taxpayers. They need to stop being so full of themselves and remember who pays them.
Haase is controlling to the point that others in the department are unable to do anything without her personal permission. If she goes on vacation or is out sick, nothing can be done. Paperwork that should be turned in so the city receives money from the feds and from the grants isn't completed on time. How much money do you suppose the city has lost due to the incompetence and arrogance of these people?
Mrs. Neilson is a very knowledgable, kind and compassionate person. She certainly didn't deserve to be treated that way. Those people should all be reprimanded (I really thought better of Lynn Onstot) and reminded that whether they agree or disagree with comments from council meetings, harassing citizens is extremely inappropriate.
It's way past time for city hall to be cleaned up and out.
Thank you Mrs. Nielson for getting involved and your letter was direct and professional. Leslie Haase's actions were completely inappropriate and she should be instructed to apologize to her and, frankly, to the citizens of Joplin. As to her husband's involvement, it's none of his business. This involves the city of Joplin, not Carl Junction. If Leslie is not mature enough to accept responsibility for the high level position she holds and needs to run home to her husband to fight her battles, she should be replaced. And if it's not always about money, why doesn't Leslie take a pay cut.
I think Mrs. Nielson made good points and I would be willing to pay an increase in taxes for police officer and firefighter salaries and retirement funding. But I would also want an ironclad agreement our tax money would go for that and nothing else. Not one penny for petty projects such as golf course improvement, golf carts, etc. No more TIFs, no more increasing sales tax at the Mall so the developers can have taxpayers pay for their necessary property maintenance. I value our Police and Firefighters and they should be paid in accordance with the duties we expect them to do and given the respect they are entitled to.
Anonymous @7:25am
The people that are left from all the Wallace-Bajjali stuff need to be carefully examined and probably dismissed. That includes the council members. They're all suspect.
The state auditor referred some of them to the county prosecutor, who claimed to have never received anything. The voters awarded him a position as a judge for his fine services.
Does anyone else want to know what happened with that half cent safety tax we voted for? I thought it was supposed to be for police and fire salaries, etc. Did they do something else with it?
At least 2 million was spend shoring up the pension fund after we'd been promised it wouldn't be used for that, and this after the city pocketed a $2.47 million settlement of cellphone franchise fees, of course immediately spending $400,000 of that on the golf course.
Anonymous @8:11 AM:
As to her husband's involvement, it's none of his business. This involves the city of Joplin, not Carl Junction.
I've had occasion to observe her husband in a non-law enforcement, more of a social setting, and he's a creepy, perhaps even thuggish sort of guy. No surprise at what he's doing now to "support" his apparently incompetent wife. Is what I read about their failing to pay the police and firefighters overtime in a recent payment period correct?
I would be willing to pay an increase in taxes for police officer and firefighter salaries and retirement funding. But I would also want an ironclad agreement our tax money would go for that and nothing else.
With the current city leadership, there's no such thing. With the current funding arrangement, where significant money for public safety comes from the general fund, it's not even possible.
They can, and if past behavior is any guide, will withdraw general fund money from public safety to eat up a lot of the new money "earmarked" for it. This is a common ruse, see how the state's "earmarked" for education lottery money hasn't made a significant difference, and how this had already happened with the original public safety tax.
All of this is a ruse, the city officially can't find cuts to any of many programs that get funded by the general fund, and starving police and firefighters is a very common way to justify new taxes a government wouldn't otherwise dare ask for.
Get rid of Sour Sam...he protects her Hasee
In a recent Joplin Globe article - it was mentioned that a firefighter with 22 years of service costs $75,000 yearly (with benefits) and a police officer with 22 years of service costs $77,000 yearly (with benefits). I know that not all police and fire service workers have 22 years of service - just for the sake of calculation: Average police & fireman ($76,000) x 300 = $22,800,000 per year. With raises this cost will continue to escalate. It was mentioned that safety money ($2,000,000) was used to shore up the police and fire pensions. The question is how are these costs sustainable?
City Council requested a complete audit of how the safety sales tax has been spent (since 2006) and has NOT received the data. In the 12 years the safety tax has been in existence - at about 5.5 million a year = 66 million dollars. Where has ALL that money gone. Before any safety tax increase is proposed - we need to know where the 66 million has gone.
Ms. Haase was asked to find some potential cost savings - and amoung these where that a total of 57 police cars are taken home each day. Also, a million dollars can be saved if the police/fire were switched to a different pension plan - which police/fire have bulked at.
The Globe also mentioned that Joplin wages are about 70% of surrounding communities. So Joplin people making 70% of surrounding communities are asked to pay police and fire - the 100% that surrounding communities make.
In my own situation - I have a 401K plan (no pension) - why don't we switch police and fireman to a 401K plan. Also, in my situation - if I am not satisfied with my salary - I can leave to find a higher salary or switch occupations to find a higher salary. If the police and fireman are not satisfied with there salaries - go somewhere else or change occupations (no one if forcing you to be a policeman or fireman). We are taxed way too much - I will NOT support a tax increase for safety workers.
@ 3:53
You seem to imply that all police and fire members are 22 year veterans, then cipher the math at 300 persons at supervisors wages. You assert this as fact because you read it in the freaking Joplin Globe? The average starting wage for a Joplin officer is $ 32,907, which is about 30% below the national average of ALL communities. So not only is your math flawed, your reasoning for a 401k program for the pensions representing both unions is ridiculous. Does your 401k pay your disability should you be shot or burned to death performing your job. These unions were accepted by the city, then grossly underfunded, while the freaking incompetent Finance Director, Haas, sat on the Pension Board. She is directly responsible for its underfunding! Police officers and firefighters lost their homes in the tornado in 2011, but went directly to work for the public’s safety! Comparing your job to men that risk their lives on a daily basis is absolutely preposterous, as is your refusal to pay a pittance of taxes to protect your own sorry butt should you ever need the assistance of these professionals. You are fortunate to have never lost your home in a tornado or fire and stood in awe of these fine men performing valiantly while you were still in shock. I hope you never have to experience a catastrophe where you realize how uninformed your rant sounds. I have had both happen in my life, and was amazed both times by these heroes efforts. Fortunately, most of the citizens of Joplin and commenters herein agree that these men are indispensible heroes, and worth even the amount you incorrectly ciphered there, Jethro.
I always thought Delmar was her Dad. Ol' Dirty Delmar. Judd's employee. "The mother has been cleared of any wrongdoing". Delmar needs to worry about covering up crime in Carl and keep his dirty old nose out of Joplin business.
Fire Haase, Onstott, and Sudden Sam.......today.
353pm....public safety should/must be highest priority of government...statistics,etc. Overlook the creeping costs of other governmental employees. Yes,on 401 for all..
Engaged Citizen @7:27 PM:
Does your 401k pay your disability should you be shot or burned to death performing your job.
At the same time a disability insurance policy could be funded. The big advantage of a 401(k) plan would be that the city can't raid it for money, or conveniently underfund it (ditto for LAGERS and the state). The big disadvantage is that the Federal government will raid 401(k) plans when it starts running out of money, as we've seen in many foreign example like Argentina, and politicians in D.C. are already talking about this.
These unions were accepted by the city, then grossly underfunded, while the freaking incompetent Finance Director, Haas, sat on the Pension Board. She is directly responsible for its underfunding!
It can't be her fault when she has no authority to direct more money to it, only the city council can do that. She could make a big fuss about the underfunding, but that would just cost her her job without make a real change. She deserves a lot of criticism, and I'm getting the strong impression the loss of her job anyway, but not for this reason.
as is your refusal to pay a pittance of taxes
If we could have any faith that new taxes would actually be spent on public safety, instead of allowing more General Fund money to be withdrawn from it for the city's usual obsessions, you're have a point. But as long demonstrated, the city's word is no good. Further demonstrated by their not trying to find any savings, cuts, or eliminations from the city's other programs that draw from the General Fund, they've betrayed the game they're playing by only trying to re-arrange the deck chairs on the public safety ship.
@ anonymous 7:49 am
The city agreed to the terms of the Police & Fire Departments union agreement, which called for a pension to be funded. The collective bargaining agreement does not allow the city to change terms or conditions. I have a pension, I also have a IRA, as can any member of a union that so chooses can do so as well. My pensions pays me until I die, my retirement account does not. These men do not want your disability insurance, Workman Comp provides a meager attempt at that which would be far superior to anything the City of Joplin could negotiate. Why can the city not honor it’s obligations?
The city finance manager has a fiduciary duty to manage the city money properly. If you think you’re going to be fired for it, then you have a claim for retaliatory termination. There was not word from her, advising Council against hiring a fraudulent master developer, spending over $4 million dollars on a baseball field for a defunct inferior baseball team, spending over $600k on properties for the JRC, more TIF tax free zones in this city than any other in Mo., and you want to excuse a CPA from questioning poor financial decisions on her watch?! Then the incompetent person for financial oversight of the city’s funds wants to get in the face of a hero’s widow for advocating for competitive pay for others? Leslie Haas is incompetent, competent CPAs advocate for their clients, not encourage them to spend money recklessly.
As to the city not utilizing the money for its intended purpose, the city has an attorney on staff, do you really believe that he could not put language into the tax that requires it be spent only at that use? You know full well that such could be attended to prior to any vote, and if not, then it fails the vote. If the City of Joplin doesn’t wish to have professional police and fire departments, then they are doomed to mediocrity, and offer zero reasons to live in this community. There is a lot about the city that needs change, from the council members electing the mayor, to the citizens doing so, you can terminate unsatisfactory performers immediately.
Engaged Citizen @7:49 AM:
Why can the city not honor it’s obligations?
Because the city has better things to spend it money on than funding the pension plan, like the golf course. This is a very common phenomena with government funded pension plans, including Social Security, the temptation to raid them is beyond the self-discipline of politicians.
If Leslie Haas had anything negative to say about all these bad things, it would have obviously fallen on deaf ears. I'm pretty sure her only option would have been to resign when the disaster money started flowing in. But of course she didn't (actually, when did she assume this position?)
As to the city not utilizing the money for its intended purpose, the city has an attorney on staff, do you really believe that he could not put language into the tax that requires it be spent only at that use?
The state has regulations about what you can say and do with such taxes, and here the problem is not what is done with the new tax money, but how that money can replace General Fund money. That would violate the "one thing only" general rule for such measures, don't know if it applies here, but it would be a separate thing. And why on earth would the city lawyer, working for the council, do that when this is such a sweet swindle?
There is a lot about the city that needs change, from the council members electing the mayor, to the citizens doing so, you can terminate unsatisfactory performers immediately.
In the city manager form of government we have, the mayor is just the first among equals, he has no executive authority, and Jon Tupper, for example, was removed from the city council in part for attempting to order city employees around. Instead, executive authority is exercised by the city manager following the directives and orders of the city council. A fine detail, I agree, but I don't see how moving to an executive mayor would change things, because I presume the usual suspects would still be getting elected to that position and the council.
For a relevant example of this at the other end of city sizes, see how Giuliani was elected mayor of NYC for a while to clean up the extreme messes created by former Democrats, but in the long term did not change the way the city was run.
This is why we have elections, I am currently and temporarily away from the area. If the members on council aren't making the changes that need to be made than they must be voted out. STOP re-electing people who aren't doing the job you elected them to do. I'm dumbfounded how all across America people complain about the person (at whatever level of government) that is in office, yet they keep getting re-elected. There is a reason behind the phrase "we the people". This is our country! we vote them in... Vote wisely!
"Haase is controlling to the point that others in the department are unable to do anything without her personal permission."... Couldn't agree more. Her actions and way of doing business have long left me with the belief she has been hiding things for years. If the city is failing financially year-over-year then perhaps they should look inward at "the man behind the curtain".
@ 1:39 PM
You sound cynical stating the city cares more about a golf course than public safety, which should be the primary focus. Haas was absent from class when they taught fiduciary duty, and is remarkably like another CPA, that failed the Joplin Public School system, that described spending money we didn’t have for sports fields, as “might as well” spending, lol. Professional CPAs, I think not. At least the one from the school system had to decency to resign, Haas requires termination.
Therein lies the rub to the City Manager system in the city, when you have a city manager so incompetent, he is running as fast as he can covering his own butt, he is without a clue as to the other departments failures or shortcomings as well. The junior cadet to Rohr, was thrust into a position that he was grossly unqualified for and now learning on the job, reversing his own decisions made 6 months prior. What we have isn’t working, and hasn’t since Rosenberg, Scearce, et.al. terminated Rohr. Rohr has since returned, pulled in front of an innocent motorcycle operator, and caused his death. Roar made Tupper seem like a Boy Scout.
Engaged Citizen @1:39 PM:
Not so much that they care more about the golf course than public safety, but that they know they can't get more money from the taxpayers for the course, so they starve public safety to get more money diverted from the General Fund for it and their other eternal obsessions like Main Street "revitalization". A trick that many a city has pulled for decades.
with all due respect, blaming any one person for the gross under pay of the police or the firefighters is ridiculous. and when brought to their attention? for them to not be interested in coming up with a solution is unacceptable. whoever hired the city manager should be fired for not making sure that the city manager was doing the job they were hired to do. I believe when you put faith in a persons application without person knowledge of their qualifications there should be a probation period. if they aren't living up to expectations you go with plan B. Plan B being the second choice to fill said position. if its that obvious they should have kept looking (taking applications) in the event the decision to hire was a bad one. Its not that complicated.
City Manager needs fired and all the incompetents he oversees. The City Council-everyone of them need to be replaced in the next election.
Our law enforcement officers need to go on strike-led by their Chief.
They are making our City look bad and we the citizens are the fools by allowing this to continue.
We NEED our law enforcement personnel and Firefighters. All the others can be(and many should be) replaced.
@ 1:39
If you want to be cynical about something, here you go: Haas says the best way to fund the departments would be to move the PD & FD to state sponsored pensions if the city can get a revenue source to pay off the benefits currently owed. Well the city is due to buy the library property where they built a $20 million dollar building. After the first five years of leading the property at $13,500 per month, the city has the option to buy the property for $5 million for 2 acres, but there is nothing in the lease that offers a buyback after that for any amount. The lease rate increase 10% each year after that. In other words, the city will be perpetually leasing that property from the Jennings family, if allowed. Now, if they pay off the pensions and move them to the state, where the hell are they going to get another $5 million to pay off the Jennings. We have financial wizards running the city, with more TIF-zones than councilmen. Property taxes are most definitely going up.
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