New Bloomfield mayor resigns

New Bloomfield's now-former mayor Greg Rehagen, left, resigned Wednesday night. He cited health reasons related to a a series of surgeries.
New Bloomfield's now-former mayor Greg Rehagen, left, resigned Wednesday night. He cited health reasons related to a a series of surgeries.

NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - New Bloomfield Mayor Greg Rehagen announced his resignation Wednesday night, effective immediately.

The announcement followed another contentious public comment session where attending residents questioned how the town can afford to pay for Holts Summit police officers to patrol the town and continued calling for transparency.

"I had surgery over three months ago," Rehagen said. "I tried to work as good as I could with the town, plus hold down my normal job. My health and my healing is being affected, and I'm having additional surgery and probably more lengthy rehab I am asking for my resignation from mayor of the city of New Bloomfield."

The council accepted his resignation. Alderwoman Martha Siegel will serve as interim mayor and someone will be appointed to fill her seat, Rehagen said.

"There is no election," he added. "I think whoever's appointed goes until the next municipal election happens."

Earlier this month, Holts Summit and New Bloomfield officials met to discuss a deal that would entail the Holts Summit police force patrolling New Bloomfield, responding to calls and enforcing city ordinances. The deal would run through the end of this year, with New Bloomfield paying Holts Summit $20,000 for the service, and then could be considered for continuation.

Holts Summit's Board of Aldermen will vote on the topic May 24. Siegel has previously voiced support for the idea.

"I feel positive about it," Siegel said on May 10. "We were hoping it would all be taken care of tonight, but I'm confident that it's going to happen, and it'll be the best thing for our town."

At the beginning of the year, New Bloomfield officials had budgeted $14,580 to pay for a total of 90 hours per month for two officers. In early February, aldermen decided to dissolve one position and pay the remaining officer, Chief Greg Mooney, for 30 hours per month, or about $4,860 per year, assuming the same hourly rate.

Mooney was later asked to resign and has not been replaced.

Rehagen has previously said the police force was pruned for budgetary issues, stating that police salaries came out of the general fund, which was too tight to pay the budgeted $14,580.

On Wednesday, Rehagen did not respond to residents' questions about how the city can afford Holts Summit's $20,000 bill.

Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism attended Wednesday's meeting and said that regardless of whether New Bloomfield decides to contract with Holts Summit, the sheriff's office will continue to provide support.

"As sheriff, I support whatever you as the citizens and the board and the mayor are doing," he said. "We have always been here in town to provide police service. There has never been a full-time police department. We're happy to do that, even if the city decides to contract with (the police) in Holts Summit."

Rehagen's resignation marks the second since the city's budget scandal began. On April 5, City Clerk Cassidy Knierim resigned, though she did not state a reason in her resignation letter.