Attorney General launches investigation into Neosho City Council secrecy

The Ben Baker era as Neosho mayor is coming to a close with the city under investigation for allegedly violating the Missouri Sunshine Law by conducting illegal meeting via text message and charging inflated fees to citizens who file requests for city documents.

Baker, who will become the 160th District state representative in January, was informed of the investigation through an official letter from the Attorney General's office dated Friday.

Assistant Attorney General  Jason Lewis asked for the city to file a written response to the complaints that "thoroughly addresses" the complaints.

Lewis said the investigation may take a few months to complete.

Sunshine Law requests filed by Neosho residents Heather Bowers and Rebecca Williams have uncovered evidence that seems to indicate Baker and City Council members Jon Stephens, William Doubek, Tom Workman and Carmin Allen were conducting city business outside of council meetings.



Allen took the violation one step further by making a practice of deleting his text messages on a daily basis, a Sunshine Law violation.

The materials Williams and Bowers came up with through their requests indicated that part of the process of hiring a city manager took place through text messaging.

In his letter, Lewis asked for copies of all materials, as well as the city's Sunshine Law compliance plan, which is required by state law.

Lewis said the results of the investigation may require the city to work with the attorney general's office to come up with a compliance plan or, at worst, it may bring enforcement action against Baker and the City Council members.