Accusations of family ties heat up the Public Water District race in Grandview

By Don Bradley

Moving on now to the big election at the water district.

(Quite possible the previous sentence has never before appeared in print.)

But this year’s director race for Jackson County Public Water District No. 1, which serves 24,500 customers in the Grandview area, is causing quite the splash.

That’s because, as the story goes, one family, the Hartman family, is attempting to gain full control of the district’s governing body, and another group is trying to stop it.

The Hartman side rejects the family label. If blood is the basis. They do acknowledge family ties through marriage.

The other side talks like the Hartman’s would have a quorum at Thanksgiving dinner.

On the April 7 ballot are candidates Dan Hartman, the district’s former longtime manager, and James Kent Bruce, who was married to Hartman’s wife’s sister.

Hartman’s son, Sonny Hartman, is already on the board. As is Lynda Larimer, whose son is married to Dan Hartman’s daughter.

Running against Dan Hartman and Bruce are current members Mark Bybee and Michael Lundeen.

“It’s amazing that we already have two members from a family on the board and now they want two more,” Lundeen said.

“I think the family thing just gives us a bad look and we’re trying to stop them.

“I hate that this is happening.”

Dan Hartman, who was with the district more than 40 years, says the family thing is way overblown and he says the other candidate on his side is not even family.

“Well, he was my brother-in-law, but his wife died so he’s nothing to me now,” Hartman said.

He said he wants on the board because his experience would be an asset to the water district.

“My priorities would be to keep rates as low as possible for customers and to make sure the district stays in good financial shape,” Hartman said.

Bruce, who was on the water board 20 years ago and also a longtime Grandview police officer, said the family empire talk is ridiculous.

“First off, it don’t pay anything,” Bruce said. “I just think that the ones there now have been there a long time. But the family talk is just crazy.”

His opponent, Lundeen, doesn’t think so. He said the current board works well because of varied opinions the members bring and that a family bloc could stifle that diversity.

He rattled off a list of recent advancements at the water district such as improved sign-up and payment methods for customers, infrastructure improvements and new equipment and trucks.

Current board member Lynda Larimer says the challengers bring experience.

“No one knows the history of the water district better than Dan,” she said. “Questions come up all the time and Dan would know those answers better than anyone.”

She said she doesn’t understand all the hoopla with this election.

Others say she played a role in bringing it.

During the most recent search for a district manager, Larimer pushed the board to hire a candidate who was not ultimately hired. That candidate was at the time, and still is, dating Dan Hartman’s daughter.

Hartman acknowledged recommending the man for the job. 

Some worry that if Hartman and Bruce win the election, the board will find a reason to fire current manager Mark Schaufler, who came to the district after 40 of public service, including 21 years as head of Lee’s Summit water utilities.

“He’s (Schaufler) the most qualified director we’ve ever had,” said longtime board member Joe Kump. “But they’ll fire him if they get in there. Because they threw a hissy. This ain’t nothing but a grudge.”

Bybee said firing Schaufler was a real possibility.

“They were hurt when the other guy didn’t get the job,” Bybee said.

Larimer said she didn’t know of any plan to fire anyone. Her opinion of Schaufler falls somewhat short of glowing praise.

“He’s okay,” she said.

And now here comes the splash of a heated election at the water district. But it’s not particularly ugly. The two sides call each other friends.

As one said, “I fish with them.”