To the Editor:

As I searched for words to respond or answers to give for recent events, I was patient and prayed for the correct responses. The following quote on Facebook caught my attention. “Don’t let other people decide who you are.”    

Whistleblower, impeachment, appeal.

As news articles do depict truths and facts, they unfortunately do not include the entire story when it comes to situations. I do so appreciate and thank the Fayette and Glasgow, MO newspapers for publishing articles regarding the impeachment that took place on November 2nd, 2023. That article is factual. It was the beginning.

In my opinion… the City of Glasgow has a list of important issues that should be focused on. There is a huge bridge project that is underway with deadlines, infrastructure, housing both for resale and rentals/duplexes, roads, ditches, developing better relationships with the businesses in town, the civic organizations and the citizens. All issues that are important to me and reasons I ran for City Council plus keeping a police department in Glasgow, MO.  

The cost to the City of Glasgow for this impeachment could easily exceed a few to several thousand dollars in attorney fees. Those dollars could have been spent on water meters, sidewalks, repairing city hall, repairs to the building that houses the Senior Center, the list goes on and on.

But instead, we are paying an attorney, huge fees with tax dollars. Why? If I am not mistaken our current city attorney charges $150.00 per hour and her assistant $75.00 per hour. This includes drive time. So an estimate of the November 2nd court date and hearing in my opinion and rough calculation could easily cost you the Citizens of Glasgow up to  $2,000 or more? How many water meters would that $2,000 purchase? Possibly fix a sidewalk? Purchase gutters for the Senior Center which are badly needed. That is just for the one day.  

As I appeal this decision in a court of law there will be additional attorney fees and possibly court costs for the City of Glasgow. Why? The term is up in April of 2024. Easily someone could run against me. Possibly I decide not to re-seek the office. In my opinion, I can’t understand what I did that was so horrible, against the law, against ordinance or state statute to warrant an impeachment process.    

The impeachment documentation included 4 counts. 

three of which were not acted upon, voted down by the Glasgow City Council. The 4th one which was acted upon in impeachment included -  creating a hostile work environment for the current city clerk by accusing her of fraud and stealing by increasing salaries without authorization. (straight from the bill of impeachment document).

This did not happen. My attorney polled each city council member present and the current city clerk on November 2nd, 2023; when asked if they ever heard me accuse or witness me accuse the city clerk of fraud or stealing, all answered no including the city clerk. Repeat all answered no including the city clerk that they had never heard me accuse the current city clerk of fraud or stealing. No evidence was presented, or witnesses testified that they had heard or witnessed me stating that the city clerk had committed fraud or that I accused her of stealing. The vote then was to impeach me of what? Making her cry? (This was mentioned in the hearing that I made her cry).

As a city council alderwoman I felt it was my job to protect the tax dollars of the citizens of Glasgow, MO. It is/was my job to ask questions each and every month on pay ordinances, billing invoices, minutes, reports from the Police Department and Public works and to work towards a balanced budget. If it is not our job to protect the city we represent then why did we seek office? It is not against the law, against city ordinance or state statute to ask questions, request documentation or give reports to the city council.

I encourage each of you to attend city council meetings and if you can’t attend, ask questions. Each of you have 2 council members for your ward as well as a Mayor. ASK questions! Why, where, when, all questions we were all taught in school. Why was Renna Bean impeached? Where is the evidence that supports what she was impeached for? When was it decided that her actions as a city council member warranted impeachment by 5 city council members and a Mayor?

Request city council minutes and documentation. Go in and read for free city council minutes and documentation. Ask to listen to the recording on the impeachment hearing. All of this is public information.    

Ask questions!

I will continue to fight to retain my office on the Glasgow City Council. Why? Because this is wrong! Please follow the court case on case.net. (Case # 23HD-CC00125)  As of now, there is a granted request for a change of judge and venue. I will present evidence of fact and continue to attend meetings and ask questions. In my opinion I have done nothing wrong in the eyes of the law, City Ordinances or state statues. In my opinion, making someone cry in a city council meeting is not a reason to impeach. In my opinion I did not make her cry.

My contact information is:  beanrenna@gmail.com and 660.415.7424. Come visit me at 806 Commerce Street. There is so much work to be done. I am not a vindictive or petty person. I can and will sit on the city council right beside and across from those that impeached me and represent you the citizens of Glasgow, MO, if this appeal is granted in my favor. I will smile and move on!  

Glasgow is a great town. We should all be concentrating on that statement instead of spending tax dollars wastefully, in my opinion. Please ask that the impeachment process stop and that I’m reinstated as a Central Ward Alderman for the remaining few months of my term. I will work for you!

Thank you to the many family members and friends that have supported me through this process and those I barely know that have reached out.  

Sincerely,

Renna Bean, 

former Central Ward Alderwoman

Glasgow, MO