A Clay County meeting took an ugly turn about two weeks ago.
Commissioner Gene Owen threatened Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte saying, “Next time you call me a coward I’m going to know you on you’re a**.”
Eastern Commissioner LuAnn Ridgeway then tried to get the clerk to delete the comments from public record.
“There is something on here that was said, and, it should be removed,” Ridgeway said.
Ridgeway told 41 Action News she requested the deletion because the comments occurred after the meeting was adjourned.
This incident happened in the November 7 meeting and it's one example of the contention happening in Clay County.
Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte told 41 Action News he is concerned.
“When you have an election, there is always an added tension in the air,” Nolte explained. “ But I had felt after the election is over, which is why I made those remarks on the 7th, I wanted to say, now let’s sit down and seriously discuss the issues we have to discuss."
In a letter obtained by 41 Action News, Commissioner Gene Owen writes:
“Last week at the end of the meeting I addressed Mr. Nolte calling me a coward behind my back, in a public meeting of the Commission. The facts are that you called me a coward, because I would not concede to his political demands. Today I want to clarify my reaction. How dare you call me a coward because I didn’t go along with your political demands.”
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Commissioners Owen and Ridgeway were recently re-elected. Nolte still has two years left on his term and he vows to help the group get back on track.
"We have a lot of big issues out there on the table and we need to discuss those fully and we need to discuss those in good faith and to cooperate for the good of Clay County citizens,” Nolte said.
Commissioner Owner did not return our calls or emails for comment.
Commissioner Ridgeway declined our request to go on camera.
The three will meet again for a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday.
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Lexi Sutter can be reached at lexi.sutter@kshb.com.
