We got word that we far surpassed the 1,970 signatures required to trigger an audit on the Joplin City Government! In fact, we not only got the required number of signatures from registered Joplin voters, but we surpassed it with 2,170 so far, and still counting!

Therefore, like I said before, we could not have done this without the support and help of so many citizens and business owners throughout this incredible city!

It is for these reasons that I would like to thank the businesses and citizens of our local community… some like Mary Hays-Price who have spent hundreds to thousands of hours, as well as, thousands of their own personal dollars to sunshine city documents, analyze and interpret both electronic and physical documents, including the financials of every department… in every component unit of this city… in every crack and hole that this city spends taxpayers dollars! Additionally, I would like to thank the city employees who supported this effort and were willing to come forward and voice their concerns, as I know they were afraid to step forward for fear of retribution! Additionally, I would also like to thank the thousands of citizens who signed our petition, because every signature truly is a voice for change! In fact, because of the dedication of each and everyone involved in this process, our citizens will soon be gaining a better understanding and perspective of our city’s financial situation, they will more clearly understand why we have had such grave concerns, as well as, why we have reported those concerns to the State Auditor’s office!

In fact, the concerns that we uncovered are exactly why dozens of our local citizens have gone throughout this community, spending their weekends, week nights, and their summer, many times away from their families… and sometimes going door to door as a family, collecting the necessary signatures to do what the Joplin City Government, and the Joplin City Council have fought so hard against and clearly refused to do, which is to ensure our tax dollars are not only well-managed, but safeguarded from any sort of waste, fraud, and/or abuse!

Now that we have exceeded the number of required petition signatures, we can get to the bottom of what is truly going on behind the curtain, and create transparency and accountability of our tax dollars! Accountability that will finally give our taxpayers a greater understanding of how those dollars are being managed and spent. In fact, I predict that once the state performance audit is implemented and completed, this city will be forced to explain and answer a great many questions and concerns that our citizens will be wanting answers to!

Sadly, last time we had a state audit, we failed it… excuse me, our Council says we can’t fail an audit unless someone goes to jail… Therefore, let me rephrase that statement… Last time we had a State Audit in 2015, we got the lowest possible score that any municipality could possibly receive on a state audit! Then, to make matters worse, Joplin leadership never had a true follow up… due to the chaos that followed, the triggering of the audit, which included the suicide of our Missouri State Auditor Schweich approximately six months after the audit was triggered, and then a month later, the suicide of the State Auditor’s spokesman! Then, amid all the chaos, Governor Jay Nixon appointed Nicole Galloway! All this happened in the middle of the Joplin audit, which led to the auditors not coming to Joplin to verify compliance with the major concerns they uncovered! In fact, our finance director simply had to respond to the state auditor’s office in writing, by telling them whether the issues and concerns were resolved, with no follow up, and no verification by authorities!

As the Missouri State Auditor stated last month on NewsTalk KZRG, “an audit is never a bad thing”, adding that… “sunshine is the best disinfectant”! I completely agree with him, which is why our team has worked so hard to shine a bright light on what is truly going on behind the curtains at city hall. As a result, good or bad, our primary objective is to ensure that the government is working in the best interests of the people, following through on their promises, as well as being honest, transparent, and responsible with the money that truly belongs to ‘We the People’… the hardworking taxpayers of #JoplinMissouri!

Thank you citizens of Joplin!