"I was set up for failure": Now-former Joplin councilman Brian Cowles details resignation

Former Joplin City Councilman Brian Cowles says he felt pressured into resigning.

Now, he tells Newstalk KZRG that he plans to organize a grassroots movement to change the council's direction.

On the KZRG Morning Newswatch, Cowles expanded on the circumstances surrounding his resignation on Wednesday, which came just six months after he was elected.

Cowles said he learned Monday that a recall petition had been filed against him.

He also said he was presented with tax liens dating to 2011 and 2012 involving his deceased former spouse, obligations he maintains he had never seen before.

Cowles claims the city attorney advised him that the county prosecutor could pursue legal action to remove him from office because of the liens, even if he paid or disputed them.

"I feel that it was a targeted situation against me," Cowles said Friday morning.

He said an unidentified citizen provided the documents to the city attorney. Cowles also claimed he has since learned who obtained the records and is having legal counsel investigate how they were acquired.

Cowles directed much of his criticism toward the city manager.

"The city manager runs the day-to-day operations within the city," he said. "He should be taking orders from the council. The council should not be taking orders from him."

He also criticized the city attorney and council leadership, alleging that he was discouraged from questioning decisions and that city employees privately approached him because they feared raising concerns with top brass.

He also revisited disagreements over the city's police and fire sales tax and employee compensation plan.

Cowles questioned shifting 37 existing public safety positions from the general fund to dedicated sales tax funding, freeing general fund revenue for other expenses, including raises for employees outside police and fire.

Cowles said he supports competitive wages for city workers but believes residents deserve a clearer explanation of how the funding is being allocated.

The former councilman also raised questions about how the city handled an investigation into alleged intimidation involving council members after the April 13 swearing-in ceremony.

He claimed some investigative materials were redacted and that council members were discouraged from asking additional questions.

Despite leaving office, Cowles said his involvement in city politics is far from over.

"I'm going to be a 10th council member without a vote," Cowles said.

He plans to monitor council agendas, research city decisions, organize residents and recruit candidates to challenge council members he believes are too closely aligned with city administration.

"We are going to fix this city together, and it's going to take a grassroots effort," Cowles said.

The City Council is scheduled to discuss the process for filling his vacant seat on November 16. The remaining council members will appoint a replacement to serve until the next general municipal election.