The City of Paola is moving forward with big plans to build a new ball park at Wallace Park, but not without a little controversy. A Special Meeting was called for January 20th. Council member, Leanne Shields made an opening statement that she thought the meeting was called illegally. She referenced Kansas Statute 15-106, which states that “Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or acting Mayor, on written request of any three members of the Council, specifying the object and purpose of such meeting.” Shields says she never signed any written request and she doesn’t believe three other Council members should be able to sign a document at the time of the meeting.
New Mayor, Leigh House, said Shields may be right in that the process hasn’t been following the exact State Guidelines, but House said it has been the process the Council has utilized for years and there has never been any intention to deceive the public.
