Simmering tensions between the three factions of Pevely government – Mayor John Knobloch, City Adminstrator Terry Thomas, and the board of aldermen – came to a head Monday night as the board voted – with a tiebreaker from the mayor – not to renew the contract of Thomas, who had been in the job for a year. Board members Debbie Hurley, Marlin Hahn and Ilda Kennon voted no, and Steve Markus, Don Menkus and Russ Shackelford wanted to keep Thomas.
I’m surprised to see Hurley vote no. From what I’ve seen of Hahn, he seems to be a mayoral ally. It is no surprise that Knobloch voted as he did. The tension between the two was obvious. I’m sure that Knobloch didn’t like to have his phone bill malfeasance exposed, and blamed Thomas for that.
While I thought Thomas was too eager to look for new revenue instead of spending cuts, he did do some positive things. He unwound some bad past practices – commingling of bank accounts, non-collection of approved taxes, poor oversight (which occurred under the watch of the two previous administrators, who now have the same jobs in Festus and Crystal City – residents there beware). Thomas helped Pevely begin to dig out of its financial hole, which was dug under the watch of Knobloch, who has been around for 20 years. Knobloch says “he is doing the best he can to take over the duties of city administrator.” That has to cause residents to shudder. I see no reason to believe Knobloch will improve things, especially as it pertains to bringing needed development to Highway Z east of the interstate. The council needs to hire an administrator.
Erin Kasten’s Pevely 20/20 group is also not happy. A petition from the group to rehire Thomas had 52 signatures as of 9:30 last night.
Jefferson County Penknife 
it seems funny that only one person on Erin petition is from Pevely. Also the truth is Jeff Eftink is the one who found the uncollected taxes NOT Terry Thomas. If you remember Terry quit his job three times in the past also. I’m one of many that is very glad to see him go.
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You have no clue wether there from or live in Pevely…. who knows some of them may work there. And Terry is a good man he was only there a year. Honestly how much could he have done he may have had awesome changes in mind to save Pevely from the mayor!
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That is because that petition uses the location of where the person posted from as their city and state. If you knew the people of Pevely, you would recognize the names.
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I heard that there is a petition that is going around in support of the Mayor and the three Aldermen that voted not to renew his contract.I will be the first to sign it, I’m tired of all the closed meetings they were having. They went against what Tom Durkins with the Attorney Generals office told them to do. He said having all the closed to the public meetings only brings mistrust from the public. What was it he was hiding,he was undermining the Mayor all the time, that is the same thing Menkus/Markus is doing. GOD have mercy on the citizens if Markus becomes Mayor
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Erin is pushing this only because Menkus has promised her his alderman seat if they can remove the Mayor. If he (Markus) was not mayor pro-tem I do not think he would be doing this. Remember the Mayor appointed Menkus, Shackelford to there aldermen seats. He also worked hard to get Markus in office,this is a slap in the face to him. They are really some up standing men.
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That is absolutely untrue. I have not lived in the city for a year and I have zero interest in being on the board of aldermen in Pevely. Not everyone is as shady as John Knobloch. Some people just want the best for the town they live in, not the town they think they rule.
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I will be Happy to see the Mayor go.See ya! When did this town stop looking to the community on what they want? Its been so long I cant remember. I am tired of all the B.S. John is bully and its his way or the highway. Enough is enough.
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terry is a cop not head of a city really
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If Markus becomes Mayor look out Businesses, Industries and citizens.They meaning Thomas,Markus,Menkus will continue to tax all three. The Gross receipts tax should of went before the people for a vote. Taht will be the normal practice if they succeed.Another thing I’m tired of hearing about the Mayors four year term.If you would do some resear4ch you would find out that on 3-19-09 the board of aldermen changed the term to 4 yrs. Then on 8-28-09 the missouri state changed the statuate in chapter 79 for fourth class cities to say that from the date on that it would take a vote of the people to change term limits. What really surprised me was the new city attorneys that Markus pushed for did not know that.
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Happy,Happy,Happy
Bye,Bye Mr. tt
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John was a donut truck driver, and obviously not a qualified mayor. Terry has a Masters degree, John has a high school education. Next…
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Pevely needs an administrator and it should be someone from outside the city. No one on staff has any experience being an administrator and it’s clear the issues are serious enough to require Pevely needs someone outside who can offer unbiased advice and not take sides.
Terry was doing a fine job but if he’s gone a minion of the mayor shouldn’t replace him
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The only people that would sign a petition in support of they Mayor and his thugs are either bought off or uninformed. All of the law suits and controversy in the City of Pevely can be directly laid at the feet of the Mayor. I do not know how people can not see that? Wake up….and speak up!
Terry Thomas is awesome and in my opinion has not been terminated…..his contract as City Administrator was not renewed by the first reading not passing. To terminate an employee it has to be a 2/3 rds vote by the City Council. The Mayor does not get a vote. So he really should still be employed in some capacity for the city. It is a total mess because it was orchestrated by the Mayor and just like everything else he touches he screwed it up. Just ask anyone that works there ….if they are not afraid to loose their jobs they will tell you that Terry Thomas is great to work with and for, while the Mayor is not!
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I agree we need someone with a financial background,not an ex-cop, are any one that works for the city now.
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Well now you have an uneducated tomato farmer running and ruining your city. Terry Thomas has a Masters Degree……he is the most educated City leader in several surrounding Counties. He was doing a great job. In my opinion he is still employed at the City. All they did was not renew his contract. They did not vote to terminate him and if and when they do the Mayor does not get to vote. Termination has to be 2/3rds of the City Council or in other words for you not so bright JK followers four Council members. It is a mess in the City and the Mayor is the cause of all of it. Just ask any City employee!
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May I share this comment?
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You’re only partly right. The administrators term is indefinite per the ordinance. The contract simply set pay, leave, etc.
I think there’s a strong case Terry is still employed as the process for dismissal is referenced to rsmo 79.240. That law stipulates that appointed city officers may be removed by the mayor with a majority vote of the council. 2/3 is required to remove if the mayor is opposed. As the mayor votes in the case of a tie, his vote would count toward termination.
As terry was not terminated by motion id suggest he’s still there but unpaid. HOWEVER not knowing the language of his contract, it’s possible that there is language in there saying that a failure to renew is the same as a termination. But I doubt it.
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Well no surprise that the first forum you are able to post as anonymous, the John Knobloch coward crew would sure share their opinions. Uneducated, uninformed opinions. These 6 or 7 individuals who stand up during public comments every meeting with nothing intelligent to say, rather to just stir up drama, sadly are running our city. Why you ask, because they want to halt all progress of the city, and the ring leader is the Mayor himself John Knobloch. And now with three brainless pawns, Hurley, Hahn, and Kennon, John will personally see to it the city falls back into financial decline with zero progression or avenues of revenue. I would also like to add that Kennon has made a mockery of the board of alderman, the city of Pevely, and anyone who voted for her. She was elected to represent her constituents. Voting “NO” on EVERY SINGLE ISSUE voted on is not a fair representation of her ward, and should be addressed by said individuals next elections. It is more than obvious she is a puppet, who’s strings are being pulled by Knobloch and company. As far as Terry Thomas goes, he has done nothing but try to move the city in the right direction since taking over as city administrator, yet the entire time John has held him back and personally squashed any improvement plans Terry was putting into place (Including the Highway Z project with MODOT). Terry like the rest of us was sick of sitting around and watching this city stay COMPLETELY STAGNANT under Mayor John Knobloch. All the surrounding cities in Jefferson County are flourishing. Including Arnold, Festus, and even little old Herculaneum, our sister city. However Pevely has remained the same, with no new business, and Mayor Knobloch is completely content with this. As a Mayor you should want your city to thrive and prosper, and John just wants it to look like 1985 when he takes a drive in his beat up old van. The time for change is NOW! Its time to put a stop to what is going on with Pevely Politics and get John Knobloch impeached. If he is to stubborn to step down, he needs impeached before he can bring any more embarrassment to the city. Stand up residents, standing by and letting John kick Terry to the curb makes you just ask guilty for the state of the city of John himself. We need change and Terry is the only man with the testicular fortitude not to cower down to John, and instead do what is in the best interest of the city.
– An “ANONYMOUS” opinion from a city employee who actually has repercussions for voicing my opinion publicly. Whats your excuse you cowards.
PS: ERIN, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!! It’s nice to see their are still people that have the cities best interest at heart and are willing to fight for it!!!!
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Thank you! Your comment was spot-on. Way to represent the sane, intelligent people in this community! Can I please share this?
As you see, I am not a coward. I am not under John’s rule so I can speak freely. They might not want to post their names because then we can look them up and discover who does and does not pay their real estate taxes. There are several people in the “circus crew” who have not paid their real estate taxes since 2010. Glass houses, people.
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Feel free to share!
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All Terry is doing is spending money that he can not say were is going to get the funds from. Such as the new Dump truck he proposed last meeting, when he was asked he could not say were the funds would come from. He has done this at several meetings. Also him taking credit for uncovering uncollected taxes is a LIE it was Jeff Eftink the city auditor who discovered it. I’m not a fan of the Mayor but I’ll take him over Terry anytime,Terry can out lie Knobloch.
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The real truth why Mr. Thomas hates leaving the city is that he won’t be with Stephanie every day. I know this because I am an insider.
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It’s pretty easy to spread lies when you don’t have to use your name. It is no surprise to me that the John Knobloch posse won’t leave their names. Maybe I should start calling out by name and address the people who don’t pay their taxes or those who have been sued five times for not paying their credit card bills. Or maybe those who have been banned from the school for repeatedly causing disturbances. This is all a matter of public record. Obviously, I attend the meetings and have to hear the John and Ilda worshippers ignorance twice a month. These people don’t understand basic local government functions. They can’t get over Dave Shelley being turned in to his job for holding a board seat against his company policy. They owe Terry and the board an apology for accusing them of this. If you were really tuned in to the truth you would know that it was a CITIZEN who turned him in. NOT ONE of you had anything to say about John taking city money to pay his wife’s cell phone bill or about Ilda not even wanting to see the bills. Nor did they moan and groan about transparency when Ilda voted against having the mayor turn in his cell phone bills and would not give a reason why. Here is a woman who never votes yes to pay the bills, questions miniscule expenditures, and yet doesn’t even want to see a bill that is specifically being questioned for discrepancies. She is not accountable to her constituents or other citizens as to why she votes the way she does. I know this because I asked her, both privately and in open session. None of the three board members will give even one reason why they voted not to renew Terry’s contract. Why all the secrecy?
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SECRECY? Do you realize what you just said.Mr. Thomas,Menkus an Markus called for closed meetings before are after every regular meeting to keep it away from the public.This is what the problem is, you people want it your way are no way. Grow up Erin and stop riding on Daddy’s coat tail. I’m sure Bud if he was alive would not be happy with the fool you are making of yourself
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Oh no! I lost a spineless coward as a friend What ever will I do?
PS…Because I just can’t help myself, I copied your comment and fixed all the errors.
SECRECY? Do you realize what you just said? Mr.Thomas, Menkhus and Markus called for closed meetings before or after every regular meeting to keep it away from the public. This is what the problem is, you people want it your way or no way. Grow up, Erin, and stop riding on Daddy’s coattail. I’m sure Bud if he was alive would not be happy with the fool you are making of yourself.
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You have proved my point GROW UP.
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Ex-friend = Another troll. A real friend would have called and said, “I don’t agree with you due to ABC. Please consider what you are doing because of XYZ”
Doesn’t seem like much of a friend or a loss anyway.
Anyone that is satisfied with what has gone in Pevely the last 15+ years is oblivious to reality.
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This story will end with JK and his ring of fools getting CREAMED. Seriously. They will have to move. They won’t be able to show their faces around here again.
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It should be noted that comments from ex-friend, insider, the truth, jealous, concerned, elated, resident2, and anonymous (but not all ‘anonymous’ comments) came from the same IP address.
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