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Resident B.J. Lawrence had drafted the petition, based on a similar document that the city of Arnold sent to the MML.
Speaking at the Aug. 18 board meeting, Lawrence asked aldermen to discuss her proposed resolution.
"You had said that you would discuss it, but I don't see it on the agenda," Lawrence said. "Carol (Johnson, Ward 2) said that you would discuss it."
Johnson said she understood that she had to wait for the mayor to call her about whether or not it would be on the agenda.
But Adams said he had waited for one of the aldermen to call him to ask that the issue be placed on the agenda.
"I've always been straight with you about my position on this issue and on the issue of eminent domain," Adams told Lawrence. "When I was campaigning you asked me about eminent domain and I told you then that I was for it. I think the aldermen have not been straight with you."
The mayor said when he wanted support from aldermen on a measure he wanted to put forward, he telephoned them one at a time.
"If I don't get the support I'm looking for, I go on to the next one," Adams said. "And that's what you have to do. In order to get this on the agenda, you have to find an alderman who will ask to put it on the agenda."
Adams said he's always willing on tough issues to "stand on the dime" and tell the truth even when it hurts. He said Lawrence needs to get aldermen to stand on the dime and tell her where they stand on the resolution.
"You've been misled," he said. "You need to get them stand on the dime."
Lawrence, who is circulating a petition that would make it illegal to charge property taxes in the state, learned that the MML is opposing a citizen petition limiting state powers to take property using eminent domain.
She asked the city at a previous meeting to pull out of the MML as a protest.
"I'm no longer asking you to withdraw from the MML," Lawrence said. "I'm asking you to consider sending them this resolution supporting citizens' right to file an initiative petition. I'm at least asking you to discuss it."
Alderman Mike Bates said he had been absent during the meeting when the resolution was discussed.
"I just received a copy (of Lawrence's proposed resolution) this evening, but I certainly think it's worth discussing," he said.
Bates made a motion to put the item on the agenda of the next meeting, which Johnson seconded. Alderman Dave Monroe joined the pair in a yes vote to consider the resolution. Aldermen Walter Arnette, Jerry Eversmeyer and Mike Pigg voted no.
"That's a tie and I vote no," Adams said. "That puts an end to the matter."
Lawrence responded that refusing to consider the proposed resolution did not conclude her efforts.
"This does not put an end to the matter," she said. "This is far from over."
Lawrence is coordinating efforts in the 22-county Ninth Congressional District to gain signatures on the petition to eliminate property taxes.
