Donation Confrontation

A generous private donation evoked an emotional response from the public, but not for the reason you might expect. A new business item at the special meeting of the Mountain View City Council on January 31 read, “Alderwoman Wagner to discuss private donation to the city.” In the final 40 minutes of the meeting, Alderwoman Laura Wagner and City Attorney Deedra Nicholson confronted Mayor Donnie Pruett about the legal procedure for accepting and spending large sums from private donors.

During an address at the “State of the Chamber” on January 25, Mayor Pruett announced a “nice donation” the city received from a private citizen. 

“We’ve decided to give Veterans Park a complete facelift,” Pruett announced that day, commenting further that a local individual was “contracted” to do the work. 

The problem Wagner laid out in the January 31 meeting was that no one on the City Council except Alderwoman Judi Colter knew anything about the donation. 

Mayor Pruett insisted the Council was made aware of the donation because the sum was divulged in the packet of information provided to aldermen at the regular December meeting. However, even Alderwoman Colter confirmed deposits on the financial reports are not labeled.

Aldermen John Krasuski and Punkie Stevenson confirmed in the open session that they were previously unaware of the donation or any plans to spend it. 

According to Missouri law, any significant changes to public funds require an action from the City Council to determine how the funds should be spent, Attorney Nicholson explained. A budget amendment is also required before spending the money or contracting for services.

According to financial records obtained from the City of Mountain View, the donation check is dated December 1, and the city deposited the funds into a municipal account on December 3. 

The donation amount was $20,000. It is clear that no City Council action or budget amendment took place prior to the January 31 meeting.

Wagner insisted that she was “thrilled” about the donation itself, but was unhappy with the disregard for laws and procedure shown by the mayor.

Pruett and Colter pushed back on Wagner’s criticisms, commenting that the city “could give it back” and “wouldn’t have to worry about any more donations.”

"I think it's shameful that we've got this donor and he's upset at all the houpla," commented Alderwoman Colter. 

Raised voices from the crowd took offense at the suggestion that bringing the donation and proper procedures to light would prevent future donations. 

"You don't have the option of giving it back," said Nicholson. "You don't have the authority without the action of the council to spend this. That's not something a mayor has the authority to deal with."

“I was going about it the wrong way,” conceded Pruett. 

Wagner questioned Pruett on money spent on lights at Veterans Park. Despite announcing in the Chamber address that the city planned to use the donated funds to “light it up” at Veterans Park, Pruett argued the light work was “maintenance.”

“I don't see an issue. What's a mayor’s job if I can't change a light?” he demanded.

The donor had a specific vision for the renovations at Veterans Park and requested a local contractor to be hired so the money would stay in Mountain View, said Pruett in the meeting. Pruett said he met with the donor at the park to discuss plans. He could not give a date for this meeting, instead responding “I don’t remember. Maybe a week.” to this reporter’s question about timing.

The Council is empowered to earmark the funds as the donor wishes, explained Nicholson, but the mayor cannot legally make decisions about or spend the money without Council action.

The City Attorney requested a motion from the Council for placement of the donation in a specific municipal fund. A motion to place the funds in the parks account, per the donor’s request, was passed unanimously.

A motion to move forward with Justin Miller, the contractor requested by the donor, failed unanimously pending Miller’s submission of a bid and scope of work. 

An ordinance amending the city budget and a draft contract for the work at Veterans Park are expected to be up for consideration at the February 14 city council meeting.