Belle mayor responds to AG’s request for response on Sunshine Law violations

Posted 7/21/23

“Any violations that the city may have committed were done with lack of knowledge or misunderstanding, never with ill intent and we have taken steps to correct those errors,” wrote Belle …

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Belle mayor responds to AG’s request for response on Sunshine Law violations

Posted Friday, July 21, 2023 2:00 am

“Any violations that the city may have committed were done with lack of knowledge or misunderstanding, never with ill intent and we have taken steps to correct those errors,” wrote Belle Mayor Daryl White, Jr., to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s Office in response to allegations of Sunshine Law violations made by the Maries County Sheriff in December 2022.

White responded on his own behalf. Aside from mentioning “unanimous votes” made by the Belle Board of Aldermen, board members were not mentioned.

The page-and-a-half letter was written on city letterhead and signed by White. The document was due to originally on July 6. White requested a 10-day extension until July 17, which was granted. He then asked for and received another day to share the finished letter with the aldermen. The document was submitted on July 18 and The Maries County Advocate received a copy on July 20 in response to a Sunshine Law request for the document.

A copy of the White’s response to the sheriff’s Sunshine Law allegations will be available in the July 26 edition of the Advocate.