PINE LAWN, Mo. – Pine Lawn’s alderpersons have had enough, claiming they’ve been denied access to their own city’s finances.

Now, they’re suing to find out where the money is going.

Six of Pine Lawn’s eight alderpersons filed a 12-page lawsuit this month, alleging that “when someone acts like they have something to hide, it’s usually because they do.”

Alderwoman Dionne Peeples-Jones (Ward 1) started pushing the issue after FOX 2 reported in September 2022 that Pine Lawn was failing to pay their outside contracted police force on time.

Also in 2022, Alderwoman Regina Gathright (Ward 2) expressed frustration about being denied access to the books.

“I’ve been trying to get information for two years,” Gathright said. “This is my second term, and for me to do my job and for the residents to come to me and ask certain things about finances, I can’t give them no information because I don’t get it.”

Six alderpersons total have joined in the lawsuit against Pine Lawn’s mayor, city administrator and treasurer. Their petition claims, “The Board voted that the city include all bank account statements, invoices, statements of bills, and credit card statements in the board packet for each meeting.”

Eventually, Alderwoman Peeples-Jones filed a Sunshine Law request for the documents to no avail.

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The petition continues with the allegation, “The city did not provide the public records requested by Jones under the Sunshine Law, even after the city attorney requested that the mayor and (city administrator) make this information available.”

Pine Lawn’s Mayor Terry Epps declined to comment and said the city’s response would be heard in court. In a hearing that concluded around 2 p.m. Thursday, attorneys for Pine Lawn said they hope the city will be able to comply by the next board meeting, which is scheduled for next month.

Alderman Gerald Metts (Ward 3) said he is skeptical.

“They’ve been hiding information this long; they’re going to continue to hide information,” Metts said.

Alderwoman Peeples-Jones said she’s hopeful, adding that the citizens must know where their money is going.

“I work for them,” she said. “That’s the thing, is that I work for the residents of Pine Lawn, and they want to know where the money is, and I want to be able to tell them with confidence that I know exactly where your taxpayer money went.”

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