After a lengthy debate, the Indianola Board of Aldermen voted 3 to 2 against allowing use of a city-owned building to the Concerned Citizens Committee to conduct its regular monthly meetings.
Alderman Marvin Elder made the motion to allow.
“Let’s not hold them up,” he said. Alderman Ruben Woods seconded and they both voted yes.
However, members Gary Fratesi, Darrell Simpson and Sam Brock voted no.
The grounds for the debate derived from a need for clarification of the nature and purpose of the concerned citizen’s group. In her presentation, group president Barbara McDaniel-Suggs stated, “We are political. We are also concerned about educational issues. We’re concerned about social issues. We are concerned about any issues that directly affect Indianolans, either directly or indirectly.”
With regard to allowing the group to use a city-owned facility without fee, Mayor Steve Rosenthal expressed a concern.
Apparently based on city policy, organizations that are politically or religiously associated are not allowed free use of the government buildings but can rent the facilities for the normal fees.
“Typically we do not participate in religious groups or political groups, so I have a little conflict there, but it’s a board decision,” Rosenthal said.
McDaniel-Suggs proceeded to clarify that they are concerned with political issues as well as other issues because they live here, but politics is not the group’s focus. Elder asserted, “Mayor, the concerned citizens is not a political group, that’s a concerned citizen.”
“Unfortunately Alderman Elder, that proved not to be, from the last election, so we have to consider that fact,” Rosenthal injected.
At that, outbursts erupted from supporters of the group that resulted in Rosenthal having to bang the gavel to regain order.
“We are not politically based, we are not religious based in any manner,” McDaniel-Suggs said. “We consider ourselves a community organization. And we really see ourselves as being able to assist this board in terms of a number of issues. We can see ourselves as working with the board in terms of trying to improve Indianola.”
Rosenthal then thanked them for their efforts and inquired if they had reached out to the school board or other community entities about using its facilities, they had not. He suggested that might be a better avenue for the group.
“Because if we start it, then who are we going to say no to?” he said.
The group is currently meeting in a church but is convinced people feel they are a private organization because of it.
“We are community-based, and we want people to feel free to join us, to attend our meetings and hopefully they will join our organization. We’re here for the betterment of Indianola,” McDaniel-Suggs said.
With regard to fee-free use of the buildings, Rosenthal further explained, “so far we have limited it to people providing services to the community, this will be a little bit different from that,” he said.
He also noted that theirs was not the first request and other organizations had been turned down by the previous administration for political or religious association.
Brock inquired of Attorney Gary Austin whether the board could run into future problems with other organizations if they allowed the concerned citizens group to use the facility.
Austin then asked several questions regarding the classification of the organization, whether it had a charter or guidelines and how it was registered with the state.
Rosenthal asked if the matter could be tabled until Austin had a chance to research it.
Elder said he didn’t think there was anything wrong with the group using the building.
“We don’t need to table this. We need to be friendly and kind to this organization. Let them use this for a hour and a half per month and move on.”
Rosenthal then suggested allowing the group to rent the building and mentioned a $50 fee, since persons who pay to use the city buildings can hold political or religious gatherings without discrimination.
At that point, Elder agreed to accept a $50 per month fee for the group.
“Since you say it’s fifty, there’s nothing wrong with fifty,” he said
He even agreed to remit the amount personally.
“As an elected official, I’ll pay that $50 a month for this organization,” Elder said.
Fratesi then spoke up, “I would rather wait and get the attorney’s opinion to see if they can legally use it without a charge.”
Brock also said he wanted to hear what the attorney had to say before they made a decision.
Elder then made the motion to allow use of the annex building for the fee and then seek an opinion on whether it was legal.
However audience members could be overheard shouting “No” as Elder made his motion and Rosenthal called for the vote. They were still maintaining that the group was not political.
The motion failed.
McDaniel-Suggs later said that she did not come prepared to answer all of the questions that arose because she was not aware they would have to present. She told the board she thought it was just a matter of them looking at the organization and its purpose and simply agreeing or not, to let them use a facility.
She blamed Rosenthal for not making her aware in their earlier email exchange, citing she would have been better prepared. Rosenthal said he had relayed the information to Elder since she had referenced him in her communication.
The group’s request was just added to Monday night’s agenda at the onset of the meeting even though McDaniel-Suggs asserted that she was under the impression that it had been added to the list of items after she emailed Rosenthal earlier.
The group didn’t specify which building, however Rosenthal asserted the annex building would be the only eligible building should they be allowed use. The Alcoholics Anonymous group is the only organization that uses the building on a regular basis. Although other organizations have been granted limited use at times.
McDaniel-Suggs later asserted her disapproval at being seen as only a political organization and not being placed on the agenda. “I think it is an insult to the organization. And I want the record to show that,” she said.
