Marble Hill aldermen still unable to agree on appointment of mayor

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Former Ward 2 Alderman James Sear arrived with his wife Sharon at city hall last week expecting to be sworn in as mayor of Marble Hill.

The meeting was called especially to appoint a mayor, but when Sear left about an hour later, he still was a former alderman and the city still did not have a mayor.

The board needed a unanimous vote to approve a mayor to fill the year left in the position formerly held by Michael Sowers, who the board ousted a few months ago. Alderwomen Beverly Johnson and Debra Acup, acting as mayor pro tem, supported appointing Sear.

"He's been an alderman on two different occasions and has served as mayor twice," Acup said. "He knows the city's business and that makes him the logical choice."

Newly-elected first-ward alderman Kenneth Trentham told Sear he had nothing personal against him, but he could not vote for him.

"We need to have changes," Trentham said. "If we keep going down the same road we're not going to have changes."

Trentham put forth the name of Loyd Ivey to serve as mayor. Ivey had run a year ago as a write-in candidate and lost to Sowers 128-49.

"I feel we have a lot of issues to face," Trentham said. "We can't keep passing them off. From what I understand, it appears people before us kept passing things off saying let someone else deal with it. I am reminded of John F. Kennedy who said 'if not now, when, and if not us, who?'"

Trentham said he has never met Ivey and does not know him, but added "why not give him a chance?"

He mentioned Ivey's business success over the years and suggested that if Ivey couldn't make a difference in a year, then the voters could vote him out.

Johnson and Acup again stated their support of Sear and his experience on the board, and questioned what qualifications Ivey might have that would make him a better choice. Sear also questioned Ivey's commitment, especially with the day-to-day items that need a mayor's attention.

"I've never seen him come to meetings," Sear said. "He has shown no interest."

Complicating the situation is a message former alderman Clint Lacy said he sent to Johnson on April 2, the night of the election: "It seems as if Kenny has won the alderman's position. If the Board is still looking for a Mayor I am throwing my hat in the ring."

Lacy said the message was time-stamped on his computer as 9:57 p.m. April 2.

Johnson said she had not seen the message in her email inbox, and added that if Lacy had contacted her through Facebook, then it's possible the message remains there unread.

"I gave up Facebook for Lent," she said after the meeting adjourned. She added she would search her Facebook account for the message and would contact Lacy and advise him to submit his interest in the position to the city clerk.

Lacy had earlier said he could not attend last week's meeting, because of his work schedule.

He added, "I am tired of this circus. And you can quote me on that."

Unable to reach an agreement, and with three interested individuals instead of just Sear, the board adjourned until a date to be announced later.

"We're no better off today than we were yesterday," Acup said. "I had hoped tonight Mr. Sear would have this and we would be down to [replacing] one alderman and the city could get down to business."

Pertinent address:

Marble Hill, Mo.