Bland Board of Aldermen on April 10 officially notified its Police Chief Dwayne Goodridge with a letter stating as of April 1 his insurance, accrued vacation and sick benefits are canceled and his work schedule decreased from 32 to 20 hours a week.

The letter justified the late notice by explaining they read the board’s Feb. 27 decision in a March 13 open meeting.

Goodridge said he is disappointed.

“At this point in time I am not sure what I am going to do, but I will continue to work as long as I can,” Goodridge said. “But I need to have benefits. I feel like the city of Bland is backing out of its agreement with me. I do understand it is a previous administration so maybe they feel the word of the previous administration is null and void now that they are there.”

Goodridge said he also spoke with Gasconade County Sheriff Scott Eiler, who was disappointed that the city decreased its police department hours from 62 hours a week to 50 hours a week to avoid paying benefits to its police chief.

One resident at the Monday night meeting was vocal about his disapproval of the decision.”

“When I bought my house in this town five years ago it was like the wild west,” Michael Anderson said.

The Bland resident cursed while stating his opinion to the board. Newly appointed Mayor Ron Schafferkoetter threatened to have Anderson removed from the meeting if he continued to use foul language.

According to the letter from the board to Goodridge, the city is trying to save money by canceling the chief’s benefits. Mayor Pro Tem Merrilee Spurgeon told the residents in attendance that the city is not disbanding the police department, they plan to bring it back better than before.

The letter to Goodridge said, “The city of Bland Board of Aldermen held a closed session meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at the Bland City Hall. After some discussion and reviewing the financials, a motion was made and approved by the board of aldermen 3-0 that the Bland Police Department will change the hours of work to 20 hours per week and discontinue benefits such as insurance and the accrual of vacation and sick benefits. The motion was read at the board of aldermen meeting on March 13, 3023. The board of aldermen met in closed session on March 27, 2023, and re-entered the Bland police department hours and benefits. A motion was made and approved by the board of aldermen with a 3-0 vote. Bland Police Department will work 20 hours per week and discontinue benefits such as insurance and accrual of vacation and sick benefits effective April 1, 2023.

This decision did not come about lightly. The board of aldermen reviewed the financials and the hours worked by the police chief and decided it does not justify the city’s expense in benefits.”

It was signed by Merrilee Spurgeon as acting mayor, Matt Dittman, Ron Schafferkoetter and Jim Carpenter.