Springfield Council chooses E-Verify ballot language, plans to buy back John Q. Hammons land

The proposed E-Verify ordinance goes before voters in February.

November 28, 2011|by Linda Russell, KY3 News | lrussell@ky3.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- In February, Springfield voters will decide if businesses must use the federal E-Verify database to check whether potential employees can work legally in the United States. Now, we know what voters will read on the ballot for the controversial proposed ordinance.

With a deadline of Tuesday to get it on the February ballot, council members voted and passed one version of the ballot language for the E-Verify issue. They had three possible versions of ballot language to consider. The council decided, at the advice of legal counsel, that the first version was not a good choice because of a legal issue with the language involving who would collect fines.

The difference between the second and third versions was that the third version states "the potential cost or savings to the City of Springfield is unknown" where the second version does not. Some council members believe it would be unfair to include the financial note when it isn't done on other ordinances submitted to voters. Others thought it would be wise to make voters aware that the potential cost is unknown. The largest potential cost could be legal fees if the city had to defend the ordinance in court.

Council voted to pass the second version, AMENDED COUNCIL BILL 2011-194. SUBSTITUTE NO. 1 , which does not mention financial impact to the city.

Those who started the initiative petition, the Ozarks Minutemen, are pleased.

"We are happy that the citizens get a chance to speak and we respect whichever way they decide to go on this, but now they get a chance to say what they think," said Jerry Wilson of the Ozarks Minutemen.

Wilson says the group has been working for more than a year to get the initiative petition on the ballot, and they're satisfied with the language voters will read.

"That was the idea behind getting this language correct, so that voters can go to the polls, read this one time and understand what it means," said Wilson.

The E-Verify issue will be on the ballot in Springfield on Feb. 7.

Another ordinance in its first reading at council would transfer the ownership of 1.7 acres of land next to the Expocenter back to the City of Springfield from the John Q, Hammons Revocable Trust.

Hammons intended to build a hotel on the land, and an agreement in 2008 says, if construction didn't start by April 1, 2010, the city has the right to buy back the lot for one dollar. Both parties agree it's best that the city get the land back.

"We didn't want to do this capriciously, and we didn't. We've worked with the Hammons people, and frankly, they've come back to us and said, 'It's appropriate that you take this back.' Now, before we do anything with the property, we'll put out a request for proposals, and Mr. Hammons' group or any other group that wants to can bid and provide us with a proposal on how they're going to develop the property," said Mayor Jim O'Neal.

Council plans to vote on the land transfer at its next meeting on Dec. 12, and the city hopes to have the land transfer done by the end of the year. It's something they've been working on for about 18 months. A study was completed earlier this year on what the best use might be for that property. See a draft of the study here.

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