City Mgr says mold in City Hall clouded his decisions

December 16, 2009

" ,,city manager suggested his decision-making had been clouded by mold

spores that made him ill. "

Budget problems, mold equal mess in Neosho, Mo.

The Associated Press

NEOSHO, Mo. -- Budget problems are brewing in the southwest Missouri town

of Neosho, where angry residents showed up this week to a city council

meeting wearing flu masks after the city manager suggested his decision-making

had been clouded by mold spores that made him ill.

The city of about 10,000 people has faced questions about its financial

condition since city manager Jan Blase acknowledged in November that he used a

state loan earmarked for new airplane hangars to pay city bills and make

payroll.

Blase said the move was ethical and necessary to meet the city's financial

obligations, but an internal review quotes Blase as suggesting his judgment

had been affected by mold at City Hall, The Neosho Daily News and Joplin

Globe newspapers reported Wednesday.

" I believe that excessive mold spore levels ... affected overall

performance, " he said, according to the report.

Blase has been under fire since confirming his use of the airport loan for

other city finances. After word spread about his mold comments, some

residents arrived at Tuesday night's city council meeting wearing flu masks

over

their mouths.

The city has suffered in the sour economy, chiefly through big drops in

sales tax revenue. The city has also been hurt by unexpected costs tied to

past projects, including an overpass whose expenses topped original estimates

about $700,000.

More trouble may be ahead. Councilmember Bowers is gathering

signatures on a petition seeking a state audit.

Mayor Jeff Werneke said residents will get answers about how the city has

spent its money, and he signed the audit petition during Tuesday's meeting.

" Now we must proceed with action to protect this great community, " he said.

" There will always be a time for scrutiny and analysis, but we can never

cease to exist because of fear of the adversity. If that ever happens, we

have all lost. "

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