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In the Press
03/06/04
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Internet
group seeks answers
By Stephanie Howard - The Examiner
A privately funded organization is gaining interest in Blue Springs.
Abetterbluesprings.org, a Web site dedicated to promoting an
improved quality of life in Blue Springs, announced it's co-chairs
this week.
Former mayor and former Jackson County Executive Dale Baumgardner
and former Chief of Police Howard Brown are the spokesmen for the
organization.
Through the help of the Marvel Group, a local consulting firm, the
organization requested a number of documents from the city of Blue
Springs, using a Freedom of Information request. The letters went
out Feb. 25, and the city responded Thursday saying the cost for the
documents would be $2,961.
Baumgardner said the information will be posted on the Web page as
soon as it's available.
"We just want the people to know, on the elections, a lot of
information before they go to the polls," Baumgardner said.
Although the organization claims not to take sides on issues,
several issues including the relationship the city has with
developers as well as concerns about retail in Blue Springs are
addressed on the site.
"We don't endorse candidates or issues," Baumgardner said. "We just
don't think some information is not getting out."
The requests made to the city included building permits requested
and issued in the last 10 years, annual reports for Adams Pointe
Golf Course, Adams Pointe Conference Center and the Blue Springs Art
Commission, non-governmental contributors to the art commission as
well as expenditures, annual salaries and benefits of all city
department heads for the last 10 years and housing permits requested
and issued.
The request also ask for information from the police department
including annual crime statistics for 10 years, annual reports for
the department, ratio of officers per capita for 10 years, the
number of internal investigations for the past 10 years, number of
qualified officers who left voluntarily or who have been terminated
in the past 10 years; the number of officers who have been
reinstated in 10 years and the number of officers placed on
administrative leave for in 10 years.
The final request was to the municipal court, requesting the number
of cased docketed for past 10 years and the number of traffic
tickets for the past 10 years.
City Administrator Fred Siems anticipates all the information will
be ready in four or five business days.
"As is the case, we will always provide all the information," Siems
said.
Baumgardner said he's not looking for anything in the request, just
an answer to the question outlined in the letter, which is also
posted on the Web site.
"We just want the public to be informed," Baumgardner said. "There's
a lot of information that hasn't been getting out. We felt that by
this Web site, the information will be there."
PRESS RELEASE
A Better Blue Springs
March 4, 2004
A Better Blue Springs announces the launch of
its website,
www.abetterbluesprings.org Our mission is:
To promote an improved
quality of life for citizens of Blue Springs through an education of
the forces affecting that quality of life and an encouragement of
participation in the process.
The purpose of the website is to provide a
perspective that might not otherwise be available to the public
through mainstream media or government-sponsored propaganda. While
many citizens from a variety of walks of life have given input and
support to our goals, most do not want to be recognized for fear of
retribution.
Two prominent individuals have volunteered to
be the face and voice for those who fear payback from government
officials and employees. One is Dale Baumgardner, former Mayor of
Blue Springs and former Jackson County Executive. Mr. Baumgardner
left a legacy of being open and fair-minded, spurring growth in Blue
Springs in the eighties. Mr. Baumgardner’s co-chair is Howard
Brown, former Chief of Police for the Blue Springs Police
Department. Chief Brown retired in November 2001 after 36 years of
service. Chief Brown grew with the police department from when the
city had a population of 2,000 and needed only 2 officers to 2001
when the department boasted over 100 personnel.
Mr. Baumgardner and Mr. Brown, along with many
friends and long-time citizens believe it’s time to work for a
better quality of life in Blue Springs. It’s time to ask questions
and get involved, regardless of the answers to those questions.
Contact Information:
Dale Baumgarder Howard Brown
1401 NW 12th Street 912 NE Lakeside Court
Blue Springs, MO 64015 Blue Springs, MO 64014
(816) 260-2852 (816) 229-3854
Thank you,
A Better Blue Springs
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