Sunshine Law training request delayed

The Cape Girardeau County Commission on Monday put off requesting Sunshine Law training for elected officials and members of county boards and commissions.

District 2 Commissioner Jay Purcell, who is seeking a commission vote to formally request the training from the Missouri Attorney General's office, was unable to convince District 1 Commissioner Larry Bock to go along with the idea. Bock, who was presiding Monday in the absence of Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones, told Purcell he needed time to find out how many people would be signed up for the training.

Purcell, persisting, offered a motion to move ahead with the request. "I didn't recognize your motion," Bock said, ending the discussion.

After the meeting, Bock said he was not opposed to requesting the training but needed more information about the number of people serving on county-appointed boards and commissions. The issue can be addressed next week when the information will be available, Bock said.

Questions about Sunshine Law compliance have been prominent in county business this year. Purcell is suing the commission, alleging that an April 17 meeting to discuss a road easement and the Internet habits of county auditor David Ludwig was improperly closed.

And at least two county boards, the Board of Park Commissioners and the E-911 Advisory Board, have taken actions that appear to run counter to the intent of the Sunshine Law. Joe Sherinski, chairman of the park board, reported to the commission recently that he had talked to the members by telephone and they were 6-to-1 in favor of the sale of a parcel of county park land.

And the E-911 board wrote a letter to the commission stating it had reviewed objections to a new dispatch system for Cape Girardeau and rejected them. However, the decision was made by EOC director Richard Knaup calling each member and asking them their opinion rather than in a formal meeting.

The attorney general's office wrote to Purcell, in reply to his request, saying that the training would take 60 to 90 minutes but must be requested formally by the commission.

Those two most recent incidents were cited by Purcell as reason enough to request the training. "What could it possibly hurt?" Purcell asked. "It sets the standard that the Sunshine Law is important in Cape Girardeau County."

In a written response to Purcell's request for training, assistant attorney general James Klahr wrote that the office regularly provides the training. He warned Purcell that the training sessions would not address any issues raised by his lawsuit. "Those issues, as I am sure you understand, are for a court to decide," Klahr wrote.

Purcell told Bock that he didn't intend to use a training session to prove he is right. "I just felt we ought to act in a proactive way," he said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

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