Friday, April 22, 2005

Mayor’s “Top Cop” Fired

Sgt. Tommy Mayer, State President of Fraternal Order of Police Fired After Internal Investigation

By Tony Brockmeyer

A long time source of controversy for the St. Charles police department was fired on April 21st after a month long investigation under the direction of Police Chief Tim Swope.

The First Capitol News has learned St. Charles Police Sergeant Tommy Mayer, state president of the Fraternal Order of Police has been fired.

St. Charles Police Chief Tim Swope when asked if Mayer was fired or if he resigned said, “This is a personnel matter and I do not believe it would be proper for me to comment on it.”

Sources at police headquarters told the First Capitol News after a lengthy meeting with Chief Swope and several other high ranking officers of the police department, Mayer left and upon leaving the building told a group of officers and civilian employees that he had been fired.

Mayer was under investigation for a variety of charges including an incident involving St. Charles City Administrator. Dr. Allan Williams.

The First Capitol News reported earlier, shortly after Midnight March 24th, City Administrator Dr. Allan Williams, was ordered out of his vehicle at gun point and forced to lie face down on the ground in the parking lot of St. Charles Police Headquarters by Police Sgt. Tommy Mayer.

Dr. Williams, who has been St. Charles City Administrator since the end of December, had been investigating numerous complaints Sgt. Mayer was visiting the home of a female acquaintance while he was supposed to be on duty. Our sources told us Mayer had been told earlier not to visit at the home while on duty.

After receiving the complaints, Dr. Williams contacted the Police Chief who was unavailable so he drove by the residence on Sibley and caught Mayer there.

As Williams left the area he observed a police vehicle aggressively chasing him. The vehicle came quickly up on his bumper and stayed there for several blocks. At the stop light at Duchesne and Droste, the pursuing police officer turned on his flashing lights. Fearful and afraid to stop, Dr. Williams used his cell phone to contact Chief Tim Swope at home. Swope told Dr. Williams he was caring for his children and could not leave. Swope advised Dr. Williams to drive to the parking lot of Police Headquarters, on Zumbehl and Greystone, at the posted speed limit. Williams heard Chief Swope tell the dispatcher to advise the pursuing police car Dr. Williams would meet him in the parking lot of headquarters. He also heard the dispatcher notify the officer, who was later determined to be Sgt. Mayer, of what the Chief had said.We were told by our sources Mayer did not stand down but continued to aggressively pursue Williams with his lights flashing and siren sounding. Our source said Chief Swope also called Mayer on his cell phone to tell him to stand down but Mayer informed the Chief he was in a pursuit, put the phone down and never picked it back up. Dr. Williams continued driving towards police headquarters at a speed estimated to be approximately 25 miles per hour, now with three police cars in pursuit.

Upon exiting his vehicle on the parking lot at police headquarters, Dr. Williams was ordered at gun point by Sgt. Mayer, to lie face down on the ground. Williams was released with no charges.

When contacted by the First Capitol News Dr. Williams said, “This is a personnel matter and is under investigation. I do not think it would be proper for me to make any comments regarding it at this time.”

The police department is making no comment due to the ongoing investigation. No estimates were made as to how long the investigation will take.

Allegations have been made recently that Mayer and other officers close to Sgt. Mayer have been following City Councilmen and illegally using police computers and facilities to do background investigations on City Council members, newspaper people, and others thought to be enemies of the Mayor. Inquiries are being conducted and it is expected several law suits and charges will be filed regarding the illegal actions of those officers.

Sgt. Mayer is the State President of the Fraternal Order of Police and is closely associated with St. Charles Mayor Patti York. York, during City Council meetings, has called Mayer, “The Top Cop In Missouri.” She has traveled the state promoting Sgt. Mayer and the FOP. During her last reelection campaign she was endorsed and supported by Sgt. Mayer and the FOP.

Mayer had earlier filed a $104 million law suit against the Council members and former acting City Administrator Mike Valenti claiming harassment. York was not named in the suit. The Council members and Valenti have filed a suit against Mayer. Depositions are being taken and that lawsuit is pending in Federal Court.

The First Capitol News called Dr. Williams for comment but our calls were not returned.

The First Capitol News made several attempts to contact Mayor York for her comments but she did not return our phone calls.

The City of St. Charles is being defended against Mayer’s lawsuit by Attorney Chet Pleban. We contacted Pleban’s office for a comment and were told that he was out of town and not available.

When we made requests to City Council members for comments regarding Mayer they referred us to Pleban.

City Hall sources told us during one of his depositions, Sgt. Mayer made allegations about other officers and activities the other officers were involved in while on duty. We were told those allegations are under investigation.

Racial Intolerance May Have Begun Organized Attack On Special Counsel To the City Council

By Phyllis Schaltenbrand

City Counselor Eric Tollen is the first African American to attain a position of authority in the City of St. Charles. No person of color has ever been a department director or held a high profile job such as Special Counsel to the City Council. “It means so much to me that the City of St. Charles is willing to look beyond the color of a person’s skin and make equal opportunity more than just the politically correct thing to say”, said Tollen in an interview with the First Capitol News.

Tollen replaced a full-time assistant City Attorney whose salary and benefits cost approximately $100,000 per year. “The City Council retained Mr. Tollen for less than half of what we were paying this individual,” explained City Councilman Mark Brown. The City was spending approximately $80,000 each year for outside legal counsel over and above the costs of the Legal Department. By comparison, St. Peters exclusively uses outside legal counsel and spends approximately $600,000 per year for legal work.

What surprised City officials is the reaction of a few individuals in the community to Tollen’s selection and what appears to be an organized effort by a small group of individuals to run Eric Tollen out of town. “There was a meeting called by a group calling itself St. Chuck Watch. I was told by several witnesses who were at that meeting, that a gentleman said ‘we have to hold up pictures of the new City Counselor at meetings and show people what he is’. I had only been on the job for a few weeks so this individual had no basis for judging me. I think some people just didn’t understand what the man was really saying. But I’ve run into racial prejudice before and when someone says they need to hold up a picture of you to show people what you are, it’s the color of your skin they’re really talking about,” stated Tollen. St. Chuck Watch has also posted attacks on Mr. Tollen on its web site.

Right afterwards, the father-in-law of a current member of the City Council, wrote a rather scathing letter against Mr. Tollen. That Councilman recently questioned a section of Mr. Tollen’s contract. “The Councilman had a right to ask the question and raise his point. I would no more judge him on the basis of what a relative may have said, than I would hope people would judge me. I am, however, very concerned with the activities of any organized group that puts out false or misleading accusations,” explained Tollen.

Some Council members also report having received anonymous letters attacking Mr. Tollen over the past several months. “We get envelopes with no return address and in them will be these attacks on Mr. Tollen unsigned. With all the anthrax scares and hate groups out there, you get to the point of not wanting to open your mail at home,” said one Councilman on background.

This past week, a self proclaimed religious editor in his publication, being inserted in the St. Charles Journal, ran an article viciously attacking Eric Tollen. Two people then sent e-mails, on the same day, to all the members of the City Council asking that Mr. Tollen be fired. “I thought it was a bit strange they would single out just the contract with Mr. Tollen and not any of the other legal contracts with private attorneys,” explained Councilman Brown. “I asked people who have been here a lot longer than me if we’ve ever had any average citizen question any of the dozens of outside legal contracts issued over the past several years and they told me no. They did tell me, however, that some other attorneys with firms that had received contracts in the past might not be happy that their revenues have decreased.”

As for Eric Tollen, he hasn’t let the incidents make him bitter. “This is a great community with many wonderful people of faith who don’t judge people superficially. I am taking the organized effort more seriously, especially what was written in the one newspaper, but I won’t condemn the vast majority of people for the actions of a few. However, The bible teaches us to live in accordance of the example set by Jesus. It bewilders me how a man who claims to follow Christ can write such ungodly statements knowing his articles are not true and not taking the time to find the truth before publishing untrue statements”.

Tollen continued, “If Ed Watkins was a considerate man he would have given me the opportunity to speak with him before he went ahead and printed all those untruths in his so called religious publication.

Mayor Under Investigation, Hearing Set for May 5th

Mayor Under Investigation, Hearing Set for May 5th

The First capitol News reported several editions ago that the Mayor signed a contract with Express Scripts which could obligate the City up to $200,000 without Council approval as required by law.

The City Council will begin holding investigative hearings regarding the alleged illegal signing of the contract on May 5th.

The City Council without knowledge of this entered into a contract with GHP which will provide the same service.

In June of 2004 Carrie Caskey, who was then the Human Resources Director for the City, brought a contract to the Mayor renewing an agreement with Express Scripts who provided prescription drugs to City employees. The contract was not due to be renewed and the legal department had not reviewed it nor had it been approved by the City Council as required by City ordinance. The Mayor went ahead and signed the contract. At the time of the signing the Council was working on a new insurance plan that would not have included Express Scripts. After the Council approved the new insurance plan Express Scripts informed the City they were going to hold the city to the terms of the Express Scripts contract signed by the Mayor ( alledged illegally).

When an attempt was made to cancel the contract alledgedly illegally signed by the Mayor, Express Scripts advised the City Administration it would take approximately $200,000 to buy out of the contract. A search of City Hall failed to locate any such contract. The City Clerk, who is the keeper of records for the City never received a copy of any such contract. No such contract had been approved by the City Council as required by ordinance.

By a vote of 10-0 during an Executive session of the City Council, the members agreed to start an investigation into the activities of the Mayor. The City Charter gives the City Council authority to conduct investigations and to subpoena witnesses and to bring action against elected officials or remove them from office.

The Council members are submitting a list of witnesses who will be called to testify during the hearing. The Council has the authority to subpoena witnesses who fail to respond to their request for testimony.

It is expected the hearing may extend over several nights. According to Councilman Mark Brown, representatives from the office of the Missouri Attorney General and the Division of Insurance may also be attending the hearing. Both agencies are looking into the insurance practices of the companies handling the insurance for the City of St. Charles.

If the Council determines the Mayor violated the City Charter or any Ordinances of the City they have the authority to bring charges against her and remove her from office if they find her guilty.

Community Living Dedication Ceremony Set for May 12th

Community Living Dedication Ceremony Set for May 12th

Room to be named in memory of local businessman
William “Bill” E. Hoffman

Community Living, Inc., a St. Charles County-based not-for-profit agency, announced plans to name an area of its administrative office in memory of William “Bill” E. Hoffman.  Before his untimely death in January 2005, Mr. Hoffman was an active and generous supporter of Community Living’s programs and services for people with disabilities. 
In 2003, Community Living, Inc., used the services of Bill Hoffman and the Hoffman Construction Company to build its new headquarters building.  The building would house the administration offices, Recreation Services and Employment Services programs, and much-needed meeting and training rooms.  Through Mr. Hoffman’s expertise and generosity, CLI’s long-time dream of owning a fully accessible headquarters became a reality.

In addition to his work on the headquarters building, Bill Hoffman was an active participant in a variety of special events to help raise funds to support Community Living’s programs.  Whenever and wherever he was needed, Bill Hoffman was always ready to help.

“If you would ask for help, he was there.  He never knew the word “no”, and always had good things to say about everyone.  Bill was one special person”, said Jerry Scheidegger, long-time friend and speaker at the Hoffman dedication.

In recognition of Mr. Hoffman’s many significant contributions to the agency, Community Living is proud to remember him as the namesake of the primary meeting room in the building he constructed.  The Dedication Ceremony is set to take place on Thursday, May 12, 2005, at 6:45 p.m., at the Community Living, Inc., headquarters building.  The building is located at 1040 St. Peters-Howell Road, St. Peters.

EDITORIAL

Editorial
Gross’ attention on City needs to be redirected to State
where we elected him to serve

The headline says it all. The State of Missouri is broke. They have chosen to slash tens of millions from critical health care programs for the working poor. They can’t seem to scrape together enough money to fully fund the school foundation formula. They don’t have the money we need to fix our roads and bridges in a timely manner.

So with that stellar record behind them, the Missouri State Senate approved a bill sponsored by State Senator Chuck Gross to tell the City of St. Charles how it could spend its share of taxes from the casino. Given the terrible financial condition of the State of Missouri, you wouldn’t think they would be going around giving out advice on how to run anything.

We suspect that the motivation of the State Senator might be his rumored race for Mayor of St. Charles in 2007. He wants to be able to criticize the current Mayor for using too much gaming money for ongoing expenses. We don’t disagree. But Senator Gross appears to be abusing the legislative process to further his own political ambitions when he limits legislation to only the City of St. Charles. Gross would be better off spending his time trying to solve the State of Missouri’s myriad problems.

Senator Gross also (perhaps inadvertently) tied the hands of some Council members who had been working to offer relief on trash bills or further reduce the utility tax. The City Council was already lessening the amount of gaming going to recurring expenses, having imposed a salary freeze this year and reducing the amount the Administration had originally asked for from gaming revenues to balance the General Fund. If most gaming money is now mandated to be spent for capital items, then Senator Gross just crippled the efforts to reduce these other fees.

The Senator will claim that his bill will reduce property taxes. Don’t hold your breath. It is based on more money coming in for gaming than the City gets now. Increased competition from Harrah’s and a new casino planned for Lemay will most likely eat into the market share now enjoyed by Ameristar. Without an increase, there is no tax cut.

Meanwhile the St. Charles School District (like Francis Howell did last year) will probably come back wanting a tax increase because they aren’t getting their fair share of the gaming money being collected by the State of Missouri. The largest portion of our local property tax bills (over 60%) goes to schools. If Senator Gross wants to help reduce local property taxes, he could start by fully funding our local school districts.

RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer

STATE AUDIT

Representatives from the office of State Auditor Claire McCaskill will be meeting Tuesday with the City Administration and members of the City Council. They will be going over preliminary findings of the recent state audit of the City of St. Charles.

Sometime after that meeting, perhaps a week or two, the findings will then be released to the citizens of St. Charles.

STARBUCKS

In our last edition we had a photo of the intersection of Fifth Street and Boones Lick incorrectly identified as being Fifth and First Capitol. At the Landmarks meeting this week, Commissioners sent local architect Steve Hollander, representing Starbucks, back to the drawing board. They do not like the overall look of the proposed building and they have concerns about the drive-up as currently planned. Local preservationist Archie Scott, and Bill Goellner, President of the South Main Preservation Society, made comments and suggestions. They will be appearing Monday before the Planning and Zoning Commission for site plan approval.

FIREWORKS

A bill is pending before the City Council that would allow the setting off of fireworks in the City for only three days, July 3rd, 4th and 5th. It was introduced by Councilwoman Dottie Greer. The bill also calls for some of the fees received from permits for the sale of fireworks to be used to put extra police officers on the street to strictly enforce the ordinance.

NO SEVERANCE PAY WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL

The City had two full time City Attorneys. Inaddition, a lot of legal work was sent to outside counsel. The City Council recently made one of those positions part time. The attorney who was holding a full time position, Bob Hoenck resigned rather than accept the part time position. The administration, without the knowledge or consent of the Council, then paid Hoenck approximately $40,000 in severance pay.

The City Council has since passed a motion that no severance pay can be given to any individual without approval of the Council.

When told some department heads had severance pay in their contracts, several of the council members replied if they were fired for cause then let them go ahead and file suit because they did not feel the courts would uphold the clause.

Without Growth, Taxes Will Rise

Councilman Mike Weller demonstrated a tremendous lack of understanding of city finance. It could be the fact he never took college courses in government or it could be he believes his own company, Citicorp, was wrong to use governments abiltiy to use tax funds to relocate their offices in O’Fallon. Weller doesn’t beleieve New Town will be a benefit to the residents of St. Charles. It is our beleif all new residents are a benefit to the City of St. Charles. Weller’s Citicorp can’t say that. Citicorp has taken hundreds of millions of tax dollars from taxpayers to their benefit. According to a CATO Institute study, Citicorp, a billion dollar corporation has recieved millions to relocate in different cities. In O’Fallon they recieved tax dollars from the State, City and even took from the Schools districts. (Which affects every taxpayer in the state of Missouri and money away from your children’s education.)

I bring this up to remind everyone Weller’s words don’t follow his actions. He speaks of trying to protect taxpayers as he draws a salary from a company that uses public tax dollars to build builidngs. Weller was part of the management that built the buildings. Weller didn’t mind using our tax dollars to construct his company’s buildings but does mind the fact the city mgiht lock in 2005 sewer rates for New Town. Now remember, New Town is not taking money from every resident in the State, the City or the Schools.

Those taxing districts will recieve the benefits of New Town, unlike Citicorp who recieves tax breaks for a period of years. Weller’s lack of understandig could be detrimental to our city’s health. How? Small minds believe growth is bad, without growth all our taxes are sure to rise. The City’s fixed cost are not going down. Wouldn’t you rather spread the cost out over more residents?

We have learned at press time that the City Administrator is putting pressure on Director of Public Works, Mike Pratt to resign. More next edition

THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler City Council President

State Does Citizens A
Gross Injustice
When Law Applies
To Just One City

Every day it seems State and Federal officials dream up new ways to limit our freedom. Their actions are based on a false premise that you, the local voter and taxpayer, can’t be trusted. They believe they are in some way superior to make decisions whether a hundred miles away in Jefferson City or eight hundred miles away in Washington D. C.

I believe the most responsive form of government is the one closest to the people. You elect a Mayor every four years and City Council every three. Local elections tend to be pedestrian, with candidates going door-to-door, shaking hands and asking for your vote. State and Federal elections have become ludicrously expensive rounds of dueling thirty-second television ads paid for by mass amounts of special interest money. They just held a special election in Jefferson County that was the most expensive State Senate campaign in Missouri history. Each side spent over $600,000 dollars! Where that money came from will influence decision making at the State level more than you or I.

So any time I’m told officials in Washington or Jefferson City know best how to run a city, a county or local school district, I tend to have severe reservations. It gets worse in Missouri, where the General Assembly has a history of passing laws that apply to only one city at a time! Talk about being micro-managed! Here is a recent case in point.

There are nine casinos in the State of Missouri. They are all in communities where local residents voted to allow gaming. A bill sponsored this year by State Senator Chuck Gross singled out St. Charles as the “only” community in Missouri whose local tax revenues from the casino would be capped. Further, it dictates how the money can be spent.

Now if this is such great legislation, why shouldn’t it apply to the other eight casino communities you might ask? The original draft of the bill by Senator Gross would have applied to the entire State, but apparently not a single other State Senator wanted these restrictions to apply to communities in their districts.

So to pass the bill in the Senate, our State Senator stripped out of his bill all other communities and made the bill apply “exclusively” to the City of St. Charles. That is when the legislative process breaks down. Instead of debating the merits of a bill, Senators have an unwritten rule to vote for anything proposed by a colleague provided that legislation “only” effects that Senator’s home district and doesn’t cost the State much if anything.

This practice is turning Missouri from a State, into 34 separate fiefdoms, each ruled over by a State Senator.

On the question of whether or not less gaming money should be used for recurring expenses, I agree with Senator Gross. But this City Council has already started to move in that direction. We froze salaries this year and made cuts to reduce our dependence on gaming funds.

But the bill by Senator Gross would force us to spend the money on all capital items. City Administrator Allan Williams and the City Finance Director both studied the legislation and its fiscal impact. They both concluded it would force us to lay off twenty employees immediately and up to another forty over the next few years.

Currently, gaming funds are used to pay for D.A.R.E. Officers and School Resource Officers (SROs). The City of St. Charles is spending this money to make sure our kids were safe in school and to fight drugs. After what happened at Columbine, that seemed like a pretty good idea. So a logical question for our State Senator is whether the State of Missouri is now going to pick up those costs for the school districts?

It also makes no sense to totally restrict this funding source to capital items. What this in effect says is you can use gaming funds to build a Community Center, but you can’t use the money to keep the lights on. You can build more roads, but don’t hire anyone to fill potholes or sweep the streets.

To his credit, Senator Gross has listened and perhaps the bill will be further amended in the House to lessen its impact. But what we really need is to convince our lawmakers that it is simply not fair to single out St. Charles. Maryland Heights uses a portion of their casino money for public safety and most for capital expenditures just like we do. Are they saying that on one side of the Missouri River that’s just fine, but on the other side of the river it isn’t? Is it too much to ask for fairness and consistency in our State laws?

The original concerns about a gaming boat just “floating” away have pretty much died when the State said they could be put in concrete moats. Missouri has rightly been very conservative about giving out licenses, forcing competing casinos to invest in their current sites. Does it make sense any more to believe a casino would abandon $200 million of land based development? When the economy went bad, gaming revenues went up. We don’t have to get into a debate about whether casinos are good or bad, to agree they are pretty darn resilient and aren’t going away anytime soon.

In fact, the Missouri General Assembly is getting ready to take the loss limits off. I know that sounds fantastic. After all, the new Governor is devoutly fundamentalist and both the House and Senate have Republican majorities which popular wisdom would say have greater allegiance to a more conservative religious base. But if you thought that meant gambling would be restricted…think again. The State of Missouri is broke and they don’t have a choice. I think we are about to see just how resilient the gaming industry has become in Missouri. Besides, who do you think pays for those thirty-second television ads?

THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor

Dear Editor,
I am quite upset about the half-truths that Mr. Bob Hoepfner had written last week.
Seems like everyone’s memory is a little short. Let’s go back to the early 80’s when I was on the Council, and St. Charles didn’t have the funds to keep our Police & Fire Fighters because Chesterfield was enticing our professional force away because we could not match their starting salaries. We would train our force and then they would go to other municipalities that could pay better starting wages. Now we are in a lot better position to pay and keep our trained professional officers and fire fighters.
Mr. Hoepfner says they only work 9 days a month, but he forgets to tell these are 24 hour days. So 9 days x 24 hours = 216 hours. a month divide 216 hours by 40 hours = 5.4 weeks a month. When Mr. Hoepfner went to work did he have some one trying to shoot him or set his desk on fire? If Mr. Hoepfner is called would he be able to respond in four minutes or less?
These men are trained Paramedics and well worth the money they earn. Maybe we can have Dr. Bob give someone mouth to mouth.
Now we have Senator Gross trying to corral our Casino money. What do you think that would do to our social services? Just look at what the Governor has done!
Thank you,
Darrell Fuse

Tony,
It is the “pen” that paints the truest pictures, and one that carries on when the spoken word is but an echo.
All talents are given - they are gifts of God - we give them back when we use them for our fellowmen. If it be his will, you can be sure that no human will stop it.
A friend & Fellowman

THE CONSERVATIVE FACTOR - Alex Spencer

The Fraternal Order of Police has successfully politicked to gain their primary goal over The St. Louis Police Department. The force is under state supervision in Jefferson City. Now the St. Louis police officers will no longer be required to live in the city.

Mayor Slay has expressed great ire and frustration over the action. Will Mayor Slay and Mayor York still remain good friends? Since politics make strange bedfellows, that is anybody’s guess.

Mayor York was harshly criticized by Republicans for hosting a fundraiser at Bogey Hills Country Club for Democrat Mayor Slay. York also campaigned with St. Charles Police Officer and FOP president, Tommy Mayer, to do away with the residency requirements for St. Louis Police officers. While Governor Blunt was Secretary of State, York sought his assistance on several occasions such as the dedication of the new St. Charles Justice Center

In the same time frame York was lobbying in Jefferson City on behalf of Tommy Mayer and the FOP, Secretary of State Blunt, wrote a letter endorsing the St. Charles City Council to pay Tom Mayer for 200 hours per year to do FOP work. The rescinding of those 200 hours by the current city council is rooted in the $100 million lawsuit filed against our city and all our elected officials, except for Mayor York.

In the 2004 governor’s race, Tommy Mayer and the FOP endorsed Matt Blunt for governor. Now that Blunt is in charge of the state, is it surprising our state body would satisfy the FOP and rescind the residency requirement?

If Mayer has the governor of the state helping and protecting him, is that why city officials have dragged their feet in taking any action against Tommy Mayer for pursuing our city administrator and putting him face-down on the concrete at gunpoint?

If Mayer had previously been warned and told not to visit his friend on duty and he was again caught doing just that, why was he not immediately terminated? Is the Chief of Police afraid of him? Does he have the mayor beholden to him or could she fear him? What role does the governor play in all this?

Since assuming office in January, Governor Blunt has been chewed on and chewed up in news publications and on talk radio for what is perceived as radical cuts aimed at the handicapped and the needy. With a Republican majority to carry out the legislation, it appears he is doing as much as he can as fast as he can. He does not appear to be concerned many Republican legislators may lose their seats next year due to his “radical, ruthless and self-serving” actions.

The Governor’s appointments are also creating a good deal of alarm. It seems the appointments are directly tied to the amount of the donations to his campaign, rather than who is truly qualified to run the business for our state. An ethics violation has been filed against him for using a Jefferson City car dealer’s van, painted with his name, but never disclosed as an in-kind donation. That car dealer also received a plum appointment from the governor.

Many are reminded of former Attorney General Bill Webster as we watch Blunt’s rapid political rise. Former Senator Dick Webster, Bill’s father, was considered the most powerful man in the state of Missouri. Bill Webster rose rapidly also, was very young, and had the way paved for him without earning his stripes and struggling. During his tenure as attorney general, the state’s Workman’s Compensation Fund was exposed for being riddled with corruption. Amidst this scandal, Bill Webster was a candidate for governor. His father was deceased and could not make this go away.

This scandal which involved many attorneys who were “friends of Bill” resulted in the Republicans losing and Carnahan being elected Governor. Webster then served some prison time for using state employees for personal service.

Blunt’s father is Congressman Roy Blunt, who was a former Secretary of State for Missouri. Congressman Hulshoff was to be the candidate for governor in 2004. Hulshoff is experienced, seasoned and well-respected in Washington, as well as Missouri. Most republicans preferred Hulshoff, but allowed big money to choose their candidate, rather than common sense. Blunt was put on the fast track, elected governor, and the republicans may suffer great losses for the next 12 years—just as they did by endorsing Webster in the middle of a scandal. Webster’s primary opponent was none other than Secretary of State Roy Blunt. The republican’s hung in there with Webster and Blunt lost. Even if many republicans have forgotten that episode, it should still be fresh in Roy Blunt’s mind. Did it ever occur to him he was moving his son too fast and too high and that he was too young and inexperienced?

The webs we weave as we pass trespass and transgress while traveling through life can impact all far and wide; sometimes with devastating consequences.

STRAIGHT TALK - Bob Hoepfner, City Councilman

Well folks the City has survived for another week. With all the turmoil in City politics. It seems like the firefighters have backed off their demands for a pay raise. In a heated conservation I had with the firefighters representative Tuesday night I learned he doesn’t like my talking about City spending in my articles. Doesn’t think it is fair I let you the taxpayer know how much they cost us. But honestly, he is a man standing there with a loaf of bread in each hand. It is a little hard to understand much or feel sympathy for his whining. I seem to be getting criticized for my constant stand in favor of the resident taxpayer. That shows we are doing the right thing and those who feed at the public trough are not concerned about the burden placed on the resident taxpayers.

On another subject. It looks like the council is rethinking their position on funding of educational materials for our children. That is a good sign. We must take care of our children.

As far as us older citizens go, we need to stick together because the only breaks we are going to get are the ones we, you and I, force upon those who stand in our way when it comes to us being taxed.

I for one support Mr. Gross’s efforts to mandate how we spend gaming money. We should take the gaming money and fix the city’s infrastructure. Cut out some of our high priced city employees. I personally do not oppose anyone making a good salary. However, there is only so much honey in the jar. When you loose sight of who lives in the community and who is burdened with the taxes then you have lost your ability to work in government.

Remember, government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. You and I as senior citizens have paid and paid. We will continue to carry our part of the burden but why should we be penalized because we have reached this point in life.

So I say to you my fellow tax payers, let them know we have had enough. Hang in there with me. We will get something back in the form of tax cuts and better service for the seniors. We paid for it and we damn well deserve it.

Call me anytime, 949-0956, God love you, God bless you, we will talk to you next time.

Mayor's Request For Reconsideration Denied

By Tony Brockmeyer

At the St. Charles City Council meeting Tuesday evening Mayor York requested that the City Council members reconsider their vote against hiring an outside attorney to represent her in hearings before the Council on May 5th. The Council had already rejected an earlier request.

At a recent executive session of the City Council the Mayor requested they approve an expenditure for an outside attorney to represent her at hearings that are going to be held regarding the alleged illegal signing of a contract with Express Scripts which could result in a loss of $200,000 to the taxpayers. The contract, which had not expired, was signed by the Mayor without City Council approval as required by ordinance. The contract had not been approved by the legal department and no copies of it could be found anywhere in City Hall. The alleged illegal signing of the contract by the Mayor was discovered during the process being conducted by the Council in an attempt to provide insurance to City employees at a savings over previous carriers. Even though the Mayor admitted signing the contract without Council approval a hearing must still be held. The City Charter gives the Council authorization to hold the hearing, subpoena witnesses and remove the Mayor from office if she is found guilty.

On a vote of 6 to 4 the Council denied the request of the Mayor. Councilmen Muench, Kneemiller, Weller and Reese voted to provide the attorney at taxpayer expense, Council members Riddler, Gieseke, Koester, Hoepfner, Brown and Greer voted no.

For the Council to be able to reconsider their action a member who voted on the prevailing side must make a motion to reconsider. That would be a member who had voted no on the earlier request. None of the members who voted no were willing to move for reconsideration.

Councilman Kneemiller, who had made the original motion at the earlier meeting to provide the attorney, said he would move to reconsider had he been on the prevailing side. Because of Council rules he could not.

Kneemiller asked the Mayor how much money she wanted. She said she would estimate it would be a couple of hours at the prevailing rate. Kneemiller estimated it would be less than $1,000.

Council President Rory Riddler said, “I do not think this matter has reached the level where legal counsel was necessary.”

The hearings begin on May 5th at 6pm in the City Council chambers. They are open to the public and according to Council President Riddler, will be televised. The hearings are expected to take more than one evening.

PUT ST. CHARLES FIRST

By Jerry Haferkamp

“Stop and smell the roses”. We’ve all heard the saying, but do we really stop? With the great weather the past few weeks, my wife and I stopped at a local sub shop, picked up a couple of sub combos and set off to Riverfront Park. Sometimes we forget that we have one of the most beautiful riverfronts in the country. I think Harrahs missed the “boat” when they didn’t (or couldn’t) build directly across from St. Charles’ Riverfront Park. Imagine a restaurant whose patrons can enjoy the view of our park while dining.

I hope everyone in town takes a little time to go to Riverfront Park for an impromptu lunch while the weather holds. If you only go during festivals, tents and crowds hide the beauty of the park. Unlike during the festivals, there is plenty of parking available. The cool breezes, warm sunshine and the flow of the river will recharge your batteries.

If you can’t meet your spouse for lunch, arrange to pick up a couple of subs on the way home and meet them after work.

Boarded up buildings are causes for concern in St. Charles. We don’t like seeing them, but what are the options? In cases where the buildings are for sale, leaving them un-boarded leaves them more vulnerable to vandalism from both the breaking of the windows and the looting and vandalism inside. The owners of these properties are presently being threatened with fines, but I would like to see the city give these owners an option. Punishing owners for protecting their property is easy, but unfair. Helping them find a solution is a tad bit harder. If I were the owner, would the city benefit if I removed the boards and the windows (to prevent breakage) and let the building become a vandalized eyesore? The choice is in the hands of our city leaders. We need to work with these property owners to find an agreeable solution, not just start fining them.

We hope that residents who insist on violating ordinances by continuing to put their “yard sale” signs on our stop signs, light poles and rights of way would stop making our city look like “Podunk”. There were three on the stop sign on Droste and Norwich last weekend, and one is still there. While legitimate businesses have to deal with monument signage, the illegal signs on our rights-of-way that have been constantly in violation of our ordinances continue to show me where I can buy insurance, get my hair styled, loose weight, sell my ugly home, and (if my wife doesn’t get suspicious) buy Viagra. Could you possibly show a little pride in your city? Even a dog doesn’t dump where he sleeps.

Well, I’m breaking a promise to keep asking the question. You know the question. There has been plenty of time to “get ‘er done”. If this city can’t or won’t fire him, they can’t or won’t fire anyone. But I will start a new question:

Since our City Administrator isn’t safe on our streets after midnight, is anyone?

New Town Family

St. Charles City Councilman John Gieseke welcomes the Hennessys to New Town. Erica and Bruce Hennessy were moving in Saturday and are one of the first residents of the Whittaker Development. Pictured above are Debbie Hennessy, their mother, Erica Hennessy with arms around her cousin Madlyn, Bruce Hennessy holding cousin Blaine, Councilman John Gieseke with his son Jack.

Erica said, “We are so happy to be moving into New Town. We moved here from O’Fallon. New Town at St. Charles is so exciting we couldn’t wait for the home to be finished. We will be making our purchases from merchants in St. Charles and believe the New Town development will bring an economic boom to this fine city.”
Gieseke told the FCN’s, “This is true economic impact. This family had lived in O’Fallon and spent their money in O’Fallon. Now they are going to spend it in St. Charles. This spending is part of the study that was done, this is only the start.” Gieseke went on to say, “The number of construction jobs that this project is employing is tremendous. Everyone went nuts over the convention center and the jobs that it was creating. New Town is like building two convention centers every year for the next 15 years. Keeping hammers swinging is one reason our city and county continue to grow and prosper. Being part of a growing community is better than being part of a community that is declining or is stagnant. Many of the residents of St. Charles left areas like that in North County. We don’t want to return to the days of decreasing property values.”

New Town Community Block Party

A Little Bit of History
THE NEW TOWN AT SAINT CHARLES AND A NEW COMMUNITY CHURCH MAKING ‘COMMUNITY’ MATTER
COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY, SUNDAY, APRIL 24 AT 1:00

Why has The New Town at St. Charles sold so many homes and attracted such a diverse group of people? Why do people flock there on weekends to walk around with their families, their dogs, and their strollers? Because people are ready to get back to the traditional neighborhoods! Where people actually know their neighbors’ names and so does the owner of the local farmer’s market, where more bicycles are used than cars, and where community actually matters.

This is what attracted Pastor Tom Simmons and Lakeshore Community Church to New
Town. Lakeshore is a new church that will begin holding services in New Town’s chapel later this year. “Our family would go out to New Town on weekends to look at our little plot of dirt and would see a hundred people walking around doing the same thing. NewTown is all about knowing your neighbors, so we figured ‘Why wait till we’ve actually moved in? Let’s meet our future neighbors now!” says Pastor Tom. So the small group of people who have banded together to start Lakeshore Community Church planned the first ever block party at New Town. Sunday, April 24, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at The New Town at St. Charles amphitheater there will be free food, a clown, face painting, games for the kids, but most of all a chance for people to meet their future neighbors! We hope that you can make it, too!

New Town is located off 370, taking the New Town Blvd. exit and going about 2 miles north. New Town will be on your right.

SHERIFF"S NEW FACILITY

A Little Bit of History

By Clara E. Scott

On the South Side of Madison and Third Street was the site of the old “Blue Church,” Presbyterian, that was built in 1833. The church derived its name from the beautiful windows, which were made of sky blue glass (Siegel). This made the old hand-made bricks reflect a blue cast. Rev. W. W. Hall was its pastor. A huge bell could have been seen through the tree mounted in the church tower. This bell was called the “Talking Bell.” It was tolled when death came to a citizen. It rang with glee at the birth of a new baby. It sounded whenever there was a call to volunteer fireman. In fact, it was the town’s “Crier.” It was at this Presbyterian Church that Elijah P. Lovejoy gave two sermons on October 1, 1837 in his crusade against slavery. These fiery sermons caused an unruly crowd to gather outside the home where he and his family were staying. They were spirited out of the building and quietly rowed across the river to safety. Five weeks later, on November 7, 1837, Lovejoy was murdered in Alton, Illinois and his press was demolished and thrown into the Mississippi River.
Today, buildings of Saint Joseph’s Health Center occupy this site.

(Information, in part reprinted, from Historical St. Charles, Missouri (Blue Book) dated 1967 by Edna McElhiney Olson with permission of the St. Charles County Historical Society and Richard G. Spernadio, her grandson)

A Little Bit of History - Clara Scott

A Little Bit of History

By Clara E. Scott

On the South Side of Madison and Third Street was the site of the old “Blue Church,” Presbyterian, that was built in 1833. The church derived its name from the beautiful windows, which were made of sky blue glass (Siegel). This made the old hand-made bricks reflect a blue cast. Rev. W. W. Hall was its pastor. A huge bell could have been seen through the tree mounted in the church tower. This bell was called the “Talking Bell.” It was tolled when death came to a citizen. It rang with glee at the birth of a new baby. It sounded whenever there was a call to volunteer fireman. In fact, it was the town’s “Crier.” It was at this Presbyterian Church that Elijah P. Lovejoy gave two sermons on October 1, 1837 in his crusade against slavery. These fiery sermons caused an unruly crowd to gather outside the home where he and his family were staying. They were spirited out of the building and quietly rowed across the river to safety. Five weeks later, on November 7, 1837, Lovejoy was murdered in Alton, Illinois and his press was demolished and thrown into the Mississippi River.
Today, buildings of Saint Joseph’s Health Center occupy this site.

(Information, in part reprinted, from Historical St. Charles, Missouri (Blue Book) dated 1967 by Edna McElhiney Olson with permission of the St. Charles County Historical Society and Richard G. Spernadio, her grandson)

My Column - Mike McMurran, Sports Editor

“It doesn’t mean that much to me to mean that much to you.”

There have been a handful of people contact me and ask how I could possibly associate myself with such a “rag” as the First Capitol News. They asked me if I was worried about my reputation being tarnished and people thinking lowly of me. Some even went so far as to call this fine weekly “a communist publication.” Let’s see, where do I begin. First of all I fancy myself as a “rock ‘n roll” philosopher. Sure, I could quote Socrates or Plato; I have even studied more modern philosophers such as John Paul Sartre. In the end I have found most questions are answered in some rock song somewhere. For example, am I worried about my reputation? “It doesn’t mean that much to me to mean that much to you.” It has taken me over 50 years to develop into the person I am; granted I have my faults, and for the most part I am aware of them, yet I am relatively confident in most avenues of my life.

“Communist publication?” Come on now! Granted, I am far from being “apolitical,” and my views differ from the majority of St. Charles, but I believe in them just the same. Most of my friends try to convince me government should be run like a business. I couldn’t disagree more. Government should be run like a family. Sometimes there are those who need more help than others – history shows us that. Sometimes my daughter Maggie needs more help with her spelling; Joe, well Joe is just Joe, and anyone who knows him knows exactly what I mean. Daniel needs help with staying off the phone (do you know 93 “411” calls result in an additional $73 on you phone bill?). My wife and I both strongly believe in programs that help people improve the quality of their lives.

Me thinks those who throw labels around, such as “communist” and “liberals” have lost the argument before it starts. That’s just me.

As far as call the paper a “rag,” such can be a good thing. My research has shown that this publication really does report “news” that is not reported elsewhere. Take for example the debacle between the police sergeant and the city administrator. The only reporting of the incident in St. Charles second most read paper was a satirical piece by the former sports writer. It led me to wonder if it really happened, and if it did why was it not reported? (Pay close attention here, this is where I “spin” this into a sports related article) Unlike other columnists who enjoy dropping “big names,” I like only to drop the names of those of whom I come in contact with; what big named person would be seen with me? Yet my source in this situation is very reliable. If you are a regular reader of this column, you know who “reader # 19” is (First Capitol News, February 12 edition). Reader #19 told me first hand that the story, as reported by the FCN, was accurate. My point is the First Capitol News “scooped the story.” Not bad for a weekly.

No, I am proud to be associated with this paper. And plan to do so as long as they will have me. Heck, I have been offered at least three high school assistant coaching jobs for next fall, and have turned them all down to continue doing this.

Keep the comments coming folks, both positive and negative – they let me know you are reading the words. And, if I might put a plug in for those who have the courage to advertise here – without them there would be no paper. Without the paper we really wouldn’t know what was going on, would we?

Lions Golf Tournament

First Capitol Lions Annual Charity Golf Tournament April 30th
The First Capitol Lions Club will hold their annual charity golf tournament on Saturday, April 30th at Warrenton Golf Course.   In addition to 18 holes of golf, each participant will receive lunch, refreshments, a commemorative T-shirt, and a steak dinner catered by Ron’s Steakhouse.  The tournament begins with a shot gun start at 1:00 p.m. and will include a skins game, mulligans, a closest to the pin contest and longest drive contest.   The cost per foursome is $320 and team money is due by April 23rd.   Hole sponsorships are also available for $100 per hole.   To sign up, contact Ed Klenc at 636-949-0632.
 First Capitol Lions Club, formed in 2001, is a part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization.  The Club raises money for sight-related charities and local community organizations.
 

First Capitol News Athlete of the Week

First Capitol News Athlete of the Week

“Never take anything for granted, in sports or in life. If you let up things can change very quickly.”

Danny Hopkins, Senior, Orchard Farm High School

By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor

For generations parents have been telling their children to enjoy high school. “They’re the best times of your life,” is usually how it goes. When you think about it, what a sick thing to say to your child. To paraphrase, you are saying “its all downhill from here kid.”

For Orchard Farm senior Danny Hopkins, not only will life most likely get better, it should most certainly get significantly easier. All Danny does is play football from August until November, basketball from November till March, and baseball from March until June. Oh, did I mention in the mean time he managed to maintain good enough grades to earn an academic scholarship to Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL.

Danny is certainly my kind of guy; of all three sports he likes football the best, which is what he will be playing at the next level. “I love football. Don’t get me wrong, I give everything I have to basketball and baseball, but football, well, football is life,” says the senior, obviously mature beyond his years.

It is baseball that earned Danny “First Capitol News” Athlete of the Week honors though. Danny is presently sitting on an impressive 1.75 earned run average, while maintaining one of the leading strikeout to walks ratio in the entire region. “We’re 5-7 right now,” explained Hopkins, “but 4 of them games we lost in extra innings. So we are really looking forward to district play. I think we can make some noise this year,” he boasts. “I don’t want to look too far ahead, but I can see us playing Whitfield for the district title.”

The Eagles are presently sitting on a two game winning streak, with victories over Elsberry (5-2) and Brentwood (11-2). Danny is making contributions with his bat, hitting right at .300, his glove, as he patrols centerfield, and his arm, as he serves as the closer – he is sitting on 2 saves.

Danny lives with his mom and dad, Jane and David Hopkins, and 4 year old little sister Jamie in the Stable Ridge subdivision in north St. Charles City. Both Jane and David attended St. Charles High, where David was a member of the 1983 state championship football team. Danny gets his athletic ability from both sides of the gene pool, “my mom was a pretty good softball player in high school,” he shares.

He not only inherited his parents’ athletic ability, both serve as his role models in life. “Never take anything for granted, in sports or in life. If you let up, things can change very quickly. My parents have stressed that to me my entire life. The older I get the more I realize how much my parents have done for me.”

Danny knew what the last question was to be, and he grinned from ear to ear as he shared his favorite eating establishment and entrée: “T.G.I.F.’s is where I would go, and Sesame Jack Chicken Strips is what I would order. “

To nominate an athlete contact Mike McMurran at mcmurran@charter.net or 314.280.9189

SISTER CITIES' MEETING April 25th

St. Charles Sister Cities’ Meeting April 25th

The next St. Charles Sister Cities’ Membership meeting will be Monday, April 25, 2005, 7:00 PM at Culpepper’s Restaurant on West Clay. The meeting, as always, is free and the public is invited.
The St. Charles Sister Cities organization is pleased to welcome, for this Evening’s program, students from Lutheran High, St. Charles High and St.
Charles West High with a presentation on the Sister Cities Student Exchange Program. In addition, the winner of St. Charles involvement with Sister Cities International Young Artists Competition will be on hand to collect her Prize.

The Sister Cities Programs between St. Charles and Ludwigsburg, Germany, have passed the one thousand students milestone between these 2 Cities. The four St. Charles schools participating in the Exchange are Francis Howell North High, Lutheran of St. Charles, St. Charles High and St. Charles West High.