SCOTT CITY REVISES OLD LAW TO SATISFY NEW CIRCUMSTANCES

SCOTT CITY -- When three police officers suddenly were subtracted from the Scott City Police Department, city council members agreed that they needed to take emergency action.

But some council members resisted Mayor Larry Forhan's proposal that two Ste. Genevieve officers be hired by Scott City on a part-time basis.

One reason for the opposition was that one of the Ste. Genevieve officers -- Brian Clubb -- is the son of Scott City police officer Danny Clubb.

A city law, passed more than 10 years ago by the council in reaction to demands made by the city's public works departments, prohibits relatives from working in the same city department.

So on Monday, members of the Scott City Council unanimously amended the old law to negate the relative-rule for people hired on an emergency basis, for seasonal help and in other special situations.

At least one councilman, Ron Oller -- who opposed the recent firing of Lt. Bobby Wooten -- wanted the old law invoked to bar the hiring of a temporary replacement for Wooten.

But Oller said he didn't want other city departments -- where relatives already work together -- to suffer by enforcing the law.

If enforced, the old law would have ousted at least one volunteer firefighter and paramedic -- Bill Crump -- who is the son of Scott City Fire Chief Les Crump.

The amendment approved Monday will allow allow relatives to work for Scott City's Volunteer Fire Department.

The part-time police officers from other jurisdictions -- including Brian Clubb -- will continue to help Scott City, until new officers can be hired.

At Monday's council meeting, Police Chief Rob Elledge told the council that the department had received 35 applications from people wanting to work in the police department. The police committee will begin its review of the applications at its next regular meeting.

Forhan announced late Monday that Senior Patrolman Danny Clubb would be promoted to police chief, replacing Elledge, who will remain with the department as a patrolman.

"We really appreciate the wonderful job Rob Elledge has done for the city over the past few years," said Forhan. "And the time that all the officers left in the department have put in over the past couple of weeks is remarkable. We owe them all a great debt."

Richard Brawley, a resident and Scott City businessman, told the council Monday that he believes the mayor owes the city something too: an explanation.

Brawley and a group of residents who support the officers who recently left the police department, protested the mayor outside the council chambers at a special council meeting on May 26.

At that meeting, when the group came inside the building to confront the city's police committee -- upon which the mayor sits -- voices raised and accusations flew. The committee adjourned prematurely to avert the situation.

At Monday's council meeting, Brawley asked the mayor to submit to a polygraph, or lie detector test. Brawley wanted the mayor to submit to the test to answer allegations that he has, among other things, embezzled city money and lied.

"If you are innocent, you have nothing to hide," said Brawley, who paid $500 for a polygraph test last week for himself. "All doubt would be erased if you take the test."

The mayor sat listening quietly until Brawley finished his speech, then said, "That has absolutely nothing to do with the operation of the council. You're reading more into this situation than there is."