What Really Happened To The Macon Mo. Wading Pools ?

Disclaimer: Chat GPT can make mistakes. All information should be verified. This article is part #1 in a series of posts addressing the closure of wading pools in Macon Mo.

The citizens of Macon, Mo were blindsided by the abrupt closure of both wading pools without any warning. Can this action be reversed? Can the citizens of Macon work together to reinstate funding for the wading pools? Can the pools be repaired, made ADA compliant, meet DNR requirements, obtain insurance & pay for the pools to be staffed?

What actually took place to close down the wading pools...

What the evidence tells us

Based on:

• Mayor’s statement (“not budgeted for 2025”)

• No later standalone vote on closure or demolition

• Standard Missouri municipal procedure

👉 The actual decision happened during adoption of the 2025 city budget, not in a labeled “pool closure” meeting.

🏛️ Likely Meeting Structure

Budget Workshop(s) (Oct–Nov 2024)

• Informal sessions (sometimes still public, sometimes poorly documented)

• Parks department presents:

  • Cost to repair pools

  • ADA compliance issues

  • Maintenance burden

👉 This is where the real decision discussion likely occurred

Budget Ordinance Meeting (Nov–Dec 2024) ✅ Critical Moment

• Council formally adopts the FY2025 budget ordinance

• Inside that document:

  • ❌ No line item for:

    • Wading pool repairs

    • Staffing

    • Operations

• Funds instead directed to:

  • New aquatic facility

👉 This is the functional “kill switch”

• No funding = no operation = closure = eventual removal

  
  

What’s missing (and matters)

You would normally expect at least one of these:

• “Motion to permanently close wading pools” ❌ not found

• “Resolution authorizing removal/demolition” ❌ not found

• “Capital improvement plan listing removal” ❓ unknown / hidden

⚖️ Why This Matters

This creates a procedural gray zone:

• ✔ Legal: Budget adoption was public (likely compliant)

• ❗ Questionable:

  • No clear, transparent vote on eliminating a public asset

  • No explicit demolition authorization on record

👉 In plain terms:The outcome was decided—but never clearly voted on in plain sight.

📑 Sunshine Law Request

To: City ClerkCity of Macon, Missouri

Re: Missouri Sunshine Law Request – Wading Pool Closure and Scheduled Removal Records

Pursuant to the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610 RSMo), I am requesting access to and copies of all public records related to the closure, defunding, and planned removal of the Jackson Street and Rubey Street wading pools.

Specifically, please provide the following records:

1. All agendas, minutes, and recordings from City Council meetings, budget workshops, and committee meetings from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025 where the wading pools, aquatic facilities, or parks funding were discussed.

2. The full adopted FY2025 city budget, including all drafts, amendments, and supporting documents showing allocation or removal of funding related to the wading pools.

3. Any ordinances, resolutions, motions, or votes concerning:

   • Closure of the wading pools

   • Defunding of maintenance or operations

   • Demolition, removal, or decommissioning of the pools

4. All communications (including emails, memoranda, and internal correspondence) between city officials, council members, and staff referencing:

   • Wading pool closure

   • Condition assessments

   • Decisions to remove or demolish the pools

5. Any contracts, work orders, bids, or authorizations for demolition, removal, or site modification of the wading pools.

6. Any engineering reports, inspections, or cost analyses related to the condition or repair of the pools.

If any of these records are withheld, please cite the specific statutory exemption under Missouri law justifying the denial.

I request that any fees be itemized in advance if they exceed $50. I also request that records be provided in electronic format where available.

If portions of records are exempt, please provide the non-exempt portions.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.

Sincerely,

XXXXXXX

🔍 What This Request Will Expose

If there’s a gap, this will reveal it:

• 📌 Whether a real vote ever occurred

• 📌 Whether demolition has been explicitly authorized

• 📌 Whether discussions happened outside properly noticed meetings

  
  

We will be submitting The attached Sunshine Law request on 4/02/26. Once we receive the requested data we will post part #2 of our investigation. We may not receive the data requested until after our local election on 4/07/26. REMEMBER When you vote that our city council representatives quietly approved the 2025 budget that defunded the wading pools.