New KC Parks Director Chris Cotten has a history of controversial workplace behavior

New Kansas City Parks Director Chris Cotten declined to tell us why he once tried to fire the animal services director in Salina, Kansas, for doing her job — rescuing animals from their abusive owners. He also ignored inquiries about a lawsuit accusing him of discrimination at a previous stop in Joplin. And there’s more.

A supervisor reprimanded Cotten years ago in the southwest Missouri town for going outside the standard operating procedure to bring an independent professional baseball team to Joplin. The Joplin Blasters played only two seasons in Joe Becker Stadium. The city sued the owners for fraud. That case was settled in 2017.

When Cotten was hired, the parks board could have appointed the first African American to lead the agency. Instead, it placed a bet on someone with a documented history of controversial workplace behavior. People should be asking why.

The parks board passed over Roosevelt Lyons, the highest-ranking minority employee in the Parks and Recreation Department, in the process. The deputy director quietly left the department on Nov. 1. His departure is a blow to community relations.

Lyons and former parks board commissioner Chris Goode led the effort to establish the Quality of Life Investment District, a special initiative to spruce up 38 parks in some of the city’s more neglected neighborhoods.

Goode resigned after it became apparent that Lyons would not be considered for the job. The pair pushed for the renaming of J.C.Nichols Parkway and fountain near the Country Club Plaza and paved the way to properly honor Dr. Martin Luther King by renaming three Kansas City streets after the slain civil rights leader

The decision to leave the parks department wasn’t easy but necessary, Lyons said.

“At this time, I’ve chosen to seek opportunities that more align with my values,” he wrote in a text message.

The board was happy with its final choice, Jack Holland, president of the parks commissioners, told us.

Cotten’s first day on the job in Kansas City is Monday. We have to question whether he learned anything from past behavior that cost taxpayers in Joplin and Salina untold sums of money to cover the cost of litigation and secret settlements.

Cotten was accused in 2015 of discriminating against 55-year-old Dickie Gray, a facilities maintenance supervisor in Joplin. Gray sought $150,000 in damages. Both sides reached an agreement for an undisclosed amount, an attorney for Gray said.

In Salina, Cotten accused Cowie of exceeding her authority by helping the Saline County Sheriff’s Office rescue neglected animals from their abusive owners. Per state statute, Cowie had the right to recoup the costs associated with boarding the animals from the city. Cotten didn’t agree and suspended Cowie indefinitely and recommended that she be fired.

The parties reached a voluntary separation agreement in 2018. Cowie and her attorney declined to comment.

Cotten does have extensive experience in parks and recreation, having spent 16 years as director in Salina; Normal, Illinois; Joplin and Harrisonville.

But all the controversies are troubling. If Cotten hasn’t addressed those issues, bringing him to Kansas City could prove disastrous. We certainly hope that is not the case.

This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 5:00 AM.