Just Ignore the Law

Missouri’s Open Records (Sunshine) Law’s intent is very simple. The public has the right to view public business. This includes meetings and documents. There are some exceptions to protect personal information and a few financial things, but for the most part, that’s it.The Mehlville Fire Board does not attempt to comply with the law’s spirit and intent whatsoever. No meetings for this year are currently posted. Only last year’s are posted on their website. There’s something funny about the postings from last year. If they posted them ahead of time, usually they didn’t happen. Normally, their meetings are posted just over the 24 hours required by the law. Even though they are well aware they intend to meet, they withhold posting. Their last meeting was held on December 27th at 7pm and it was posted on Dec. 26th at 4pm. Could a reasonable person think this met the spirit of law? As I write this, the Lemay Fire board has their January meetings posted, so does the City of Crestwood, etc., etc. Looking through some Suburban Journals, I see last year’s meetings posted for many of our public entities such as the Lemay and Fenton Fire Boards but never the Mehlville Fire Board. Would the Call Newspaper allow such blatant disregard for the law for the other entities they cover? Their favoritism is quite apparent. The hypocrisy continues with your weakly newspaper!