Mike Evans to Doris Borgelt: Knock. It. Off.

Mike Evans, an Arnold resident who was serving as president of the Arnold Historical Society, stood up at last week's Arnold City Council meeting and told Ward 1 Councilwoman Doris Borgelt to stop harassing him.

"There's politics, and there's below-the-belt politics," Evans said to Borgelt at the meeting. "You can keep bringing the punches, and I'll roll with them. But when you go for my family, and you want to denigrate me and go for my finances. That's a little bit below the belt. I think it needs to stop."

Evans also told Borgelt she needed to review the city's ordinances as they pertain to stalking, following people and harassment.

"This kind of nonsense gives our city a bad reputation, it gives them a bad taste in their month, and I'm not going to take it," he said at the meeting. "So I'm publicly calling you out: Knock. It. Off."

Borgelt, who is running for the mayoral seat in the April 2 election, did not respond to Evans at the meeting.

In an interview Monday, Evans said Borgelt allegedly started harassing him after he submitted a Sunshine Law Request to the society to find out who was making the mortgage payments on its building.

"I asked members of the society, and I was told it was none of my business who was mysteriously making the payments," he said. "I didn't want to be in a position years from now where someone would say, 'Something was going on. Why didn't you do anything about it?'"

Additionally, Evans told Patch:

• Borgelt and "her associates" have been following/stalking him;  
• In emails and comments to her supporters and some members of the society, Borgelt has tried to ruin his reputation by actively promoting his bankruptcy and spreading rumors that his family (the owners of Just Pools) is bankrupt;
• and that Borgelt tried to get him in trouble with his employer - the Fox School District - for sending a personal email supporting Ron Counts while Evans was at work.

Updated at 11:30 a.m.: Roy Evans, owner of Just Pools, told Patch the rumor about his company is not even close to being true. He said it has no financial difficulties whatsoever. 

"I have no 'associates,'" Borgelt said in an email response to Patch. "I have not followed or stalked him, and I have made no contact via email with him since Dec. 28. After his shenanigans in the past couple of months, I have steered clear of him..."

Borgelt also said she has made no statements in regard to the financial situation of Just Pools, but noted that a legal publication listed Evans' bankruptcy a couple months ago.

Borgelt told Patch that she received an email from Evans at 7:41 a.m. on Feb. 26 promoting Ron Counts for mayor. She said classes start at 7:30 a.m., and she wondered why a teacher was sending emails supporting a candidate 11 minutes after school started. She said she then called the district and forwarded officials there the email.

"Mr. Evans is a teacher," Borgelt said in the email. "He knows the rules regarding using school time, materials and equipment to promote political candidates or ballot issues. It is not allowed. As far as I can tell, his actions seem politically motivated, and for him to expect me to stand idly by and just take it is wishful thinking on his part."

In mid-February, Evans submitted a letter of resignation to the Arnold Historical Society that was effective May 1 due to a conflict with his doctorate courses. . 

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article stated that Evans submitted his letter of resignation on Monday. It has been updated to reflect the fact the letter was emailed in mid-February.