Text messages indicate Neosho mayor, city council violated Sunshine Law

Text messages obtained by a Neosho citizen through a Sunshine Law request indicate Neosho City Council members violated that law by conducting a business through text conversations in which sometimes all five members participated.

After having to pay more than $50 to have her Sunshine Law request filled, Rebecca Williams received copies of the messages, which show the council members- Mayor Ben Baker, currently a candidate for the House of Representatives, Jon Stephens, William Doubek, Tom Workman and Carmin Allen, discussed the pay of the assistant city manager and street work.

Williams received messages from Baker and all other City Council members except for Allen, which was explained by City Clerk Rachel Holcomb:

Carmin Allen said he doesn't have any texts as he deletes his texts every evening.

That would also appear to be a Sunshine Law violation.

From the messages, it appears that the conversations between the council members were not uncommon. One such conversation was stopped by City Attorney Steve Hays, who obviously was familiar with the law:

Gentlemen, we need to end this conversation. Technically, this was a meeting and it was not noticed. Please cease conversation as a quorum is present. If you want to talk to one other person other than yourself (individually) that is permissible. Thank you.

Williams filed a complaint against the Neosho City Council members with the Attorney General Josh Hawley's office.