The Honorable Jeremy Dawson

117 S. Main Street

Fayette, Missouri    65248

Mr. Mayor,

Our community knows Benji Conrow as a man of impeccable character and integrity, who has served residents of Fayette and Howard County in many roles over many decades. His recent resignation as Chair of Fayette Park Commission was precipitated by the way you, the Park Commission, and City Council forced me out as the informal but established manager of the Fayette City Park Disc Golf Course and installed your hand- picked crony, Matt Klusmeyer.   Benji and I have worked together serving the community for over two decades; call us “Team Community”.   You, Mr. Klusmeyer, and all who were complicit in appointing him manager of the disc golf course might best be called “ Team Cronies”.   Let’s share the background, events, and facts with our community. 

With the knowledge of the Park Commission, Park Supervisor, and city of Fayette I served as manager of the Fayette City Park Disc Golf Course from 2013 ( when I installed baskets moved there from D. C. Rogers) until my position was usurped by Team Cronies (unofficially one year ago, officially this month).   Professor Kristin Cherry of CMU and I designed the course.  With the Howard County Health and Wellness Council I oversaw youth and community promotion 2013-2014  ( demo by PDGA players, discs provided to Glasgow and Fayette schools and bags of loaner discs to Glasgow and Fayette public libraries).  In 2014 I organized the first of four disc golf tournaments benefitting the Fayette Area Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry: with over $4000 donated. In 2015 I organized a campaign for major course improvements and found the financing to install 9 new baskets, pour 18 concrete pads, and erect updated signage.  In the fall of 2015 I worked with Glasgow to design a course in Kimmel Park, assisted in course installation, and personally funded all signage.  In August 2020 I worked with volunteers developing alternate basket locations; giving the course 36 possible holes.  Since I first planted baskets in city park in 2013 I have provided course management and maintenance, designed and installed basket toppers, added signage as needed, and performed course grooming as needed. Over ten years of volunteer  service not once did I hear concerns voiced by city workers/government nor the disc golf community. Enter Team Cronies one year ago. 

It seems you and your buddies wanted to have run of the course last June; you sent Public Works Director Dougherty to get basket lock keys from a volunteer who assisted me; neither he nor you contacted me; neither he nor you informed Park Supervisor Daniels or Park Commission Chair Conrow.  Sometime last summer a basket was hit by a city mower, the basket undamaged but ground sleeve damaged. Mr. Klusmeyer told me he moved the basket ( lost the lock, never replaced)  and “tried to fix the sleeve but never got around to finishing  it”. He failed to assure the sleeve was properly covered, creating a significant park hazard. 

Tony Cook