The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published July 16, 2014

Maples to stay on as part-time Lake Ozark chief

By Jeff Thompson
LAKE OZARK - Police Chief Mark Maples will be staying with the city at least a while longer thanks to the Board of Aldermen unanimously taking him up on his part-time/consulting offer.

Maples had announced his formal resignation as police chief at the June 24 board meeting, stating his final day would be July 18.

“I have accepted a position is the private sector,” Maples stated in his resignation letter.
“I have enjoyed my nearly eight years as the chief of police for the city of Lake Ozark.”

He added that “I would like to think that I leave the police department in better shape than when I found it in 2007.”

At that time he offered to help the city find a new police chief and expressed a desire to remain a reserve officer.

However, Maples stated at last week’s board meeting (July 8) that he was willing to remain past the July 18 deadline but strictly on a part-time basis until a new chief of police is hired.

“I am willing to remain for an additional period of time to help train the new chief,” Maples said in a report to the board. “In my part-time ... capacity I will be available for calls, take care of time sheets, bills, staff supervision, case management (and) media issues.”

This would eliminate the need for the city to appoint an interim police chief, Maples said. He requested the city compensate him $500 a month for the part-time duties.

The outgoing police chief also expressed a desire to take responsibility to conduct the background investigations for chief applicants and provide written reports to Mayor Johnnie Franzeskos.

Maples was looking toward the future with his offer.

“Considering the time factors involved, it may be helpful with the upcoming Bike Week in September to help the new chief with this special event,” Maples said in his report.

Maples’ actions come in the wake of some negative feedback from the community about the city’s decision to ban the open carry of firearms; the ban had been suggested by the police chief at the board’s May 13 meeting.

The board voted 4-2 to give final approval to the ban at its June 10 Tuesday night meeting.

The ordinance specifically prohibits the open display of firearms “readily capable of lethal use in a public place”.

Maples had said at the May 13 meeting that he had received a number of complaints about people openly carrying firearms specifically on the Bagnell Dam Strip, adding that the combination of firearms and the large amount of drinking establishments along The Strip was not a good idea.

Missouri does give people the right to open carry a firearm in public but local governments can restrict that right.

There are a number of exceptions to the “open carry” ordinance including police officers, prosecuting attorneys, coroner and medical examiners, probation and parole officers and the mayor and members of board of aldermen.

In addition, the ordinance “shall not apply to persons who are engaged in a lawful act of defense” on connection with the “stand your ground” state statute (RSMo 563.031).

Another ordinance prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons in a number of buildings owned or controlled by the city including City Hall and the police station was approved by the board on May 13.

The board gave the open carry ban ordinance first-reading approval at its April 22 meeting.

In other business at the July 8 board meeting:
* An ordinance approving a mutual aid agreement between the city and Miller County for “law enforcement and public safety services” was tabled after much discussion.

Alderman Larry Buschjost made the motion to table to proposal, noting that Aldermen Judith Neels and Tony Otto were absent from the Tuesday night meeting.

* A proposed agreement between the city and the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District (LOFPD) to plan review and building inspection services was approved by the board.

According to City Administrator Dave Van Dee, this is a short-term solution until the city can “get someone on board to resume these duties on a regular basis.”

Building Official Charles Misenheimer had recently resigned his position with the city; his duties included plan review and building inspection services.

“As I reported previously Charlie (Misenheimer) is still providing the plan review services on a part-time basis in his off hours from the (Lake Ozark Fire Protection District) and his focus is on the outstanding projects that were implemented prior to his departure as a full-time employee,” Van Dee stated in a report to the mayor and aldermen.

The agreement sets 30 percent of the permit fee as compensation for each project with a specific term - 90-day increments - as well as a mutual termination clause.

* The board then went into executive session but no action was taken.