BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. — Weeks after city workers walked off the job at Bellefontaine City Hall, Mayor Dinah Tatman announced that workers would be back on the job Friday and both City Hall and the recreation center would open Monday.
Tatman opened Thursday night's Board of Aldermen meeting with the announcement, which was met with applause from residents in attendance. Several board members were not present, which prevented the mayor from conducting city business. The meeting adjourned after about 12 minutes.
According to Bryant Nelson, chair of the Public Safety Committee, all non-essential city workers walked off the job in late October to try to get the Board of Alderman to pass a budget for the first time in two years.
Tatman said without a majority of the board at the meeting, she could not cite what specifically put an end to the walkout.
"Out of all fairness, they are not here... We want to keep things decent and in order and we don't want anyone to feel left out or uninformed," she said. "We know that you love our city and we all do, so with these issues being resolved, the government can now function."
"I'm happy that the staff is going back to work but I do know that their absences are calculated," said neighbor Carla Hudson, referring to the board members who didn't show up. "I want to know why we're not passing the budget. All you have to do is tell us what line item you want to change."
According to emails 5 On Your Side obtained showing the mayor communicating with the aldermen, she wanted to get several important items handled—including hiring more police officers, hiring a CPA so that years-long audits can be completed, and approving raises for city workers.
"We've lost police officers because they haven't been able to get a raise. This is ridiculous. They still get their checks," Hudson added.
"Either you're for the people or you're not," concerned neighbor Tina Wright said. "Either you're going to do the job or not. Surrender and allow someone to do it who is going to be concerned."
At the meeting, the police chief announced two new officers will be joining the city's police department.