BELLE — Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman on Dec. 9 submitted a letter to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office alleging more than 10 Sunshine Law violations over the last five months by Belle Mayor Daryl White, Jr., and city aldermen.

“We feel the city of Belle has made multiple Sunshine Law violations over the last couple of months due to a lack of knowledge about how city government works, and in part, an unwillingness to listen to guidance from the Maries County Sheriff’s Office or the local newspaper, The Maries County Advocate,” Heitman said at the conclusion of his three-page letter to the Attorney General’s Office.

The letter was shared with the Maries County Advocate at the same time it was submitted.

Heitman listed several meetings over the last five months, including a more recent Dec. 7 special session where he alleged line items were not properly posted, reasons for closing the meeting were not adequately listed under Sunshine Law, and an agenda was unavailable. 

According to Heitman, failure to properly announce the special sessions over the last five months prevented his officers from attending both open and closed-session meetings which affected his department.

“The sheriff’s office was informed of the city’s decision the following afternoon by the Maries County Advocate,” Heitman said about a Sept. 21 meeting where the city canceled its contract with the sheriff’s department during an open meeting categorized as a budget workshop. “The mayor later scheduled a meeting with the sheriff’s office and informed the newspaper The Maries County Advocate. By the following morning, the mayor had uninvited the newspaper and demanded to know why they received minutes from an open meeting within 72 hours of the meeting.”

Heitman also alleged that his office has received complaints from citizens and former city of Belle employees.

“Several citizens have voiced concerns that officials have voted for items not on the agenda in open and closed sessions,” Heitman said. “There is evidence the board of aldermen is discussing items that is not on the open session agenda.” 

The letter had 45 bullet points marking background information, allegations and concerns that Missouri Sunshine Law is being consistently violated by Belle city officials.

“Additionally, it is widely believed city officials are discussing more than the posted closed-session items which are announced with the meeting notices,” Heitman said, citing seven meetings over the past five months. “We are asking the Attorney General’s Office to review the situation and request that the city officials be required to receive education on how to conduct city business in accordance with the Sunshine Law. I would hate to see the city fined in any way, but the mayor has to start obeying the laws and should be held accountable.”