WILL JUDGE HOUSE JAIl THE COUNCIL MEMBERS?
We reported in the last edition (still found at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com) the attorney representing developer Mike Sellenschuetter had filed a motion asking the Judge to jail the members of the City Council who voted not to allow his client to hook up to the City water and sewer system. On Monday, March 27, Judge House issued an order that Rory Riddler, City Council President is hereby ordered to direct the appropriate staff members of the City to complete their ministerial duties associated with issuing and delivering the water and sewer permits to MJ Developers. He also ordered that should Riddler fail, recuse, abstain or refuse to comply with the Court order then Bob Hoepfner as Vice President of the Council shall so direct the appropriate staff members. Should Hoepfner fail, recuse, abstain or refuse to comply with the Court order then the Council as a whole shall so direct the appropriate staff members.. They were to provide documentation to the Court by 12 noon of April 7, which demonstrates full compliance with his order.
Riddler, who has done work for a sister company owned by Sellenschuetter abstained and did not issue the order. He also told the First capitol News that to make such direction to City staff would be in direct violation of the City Charter.
Council Vice President, who has done plumbing work in one of Sellenschuetter’s developments and who has refused to abstain from voting on the matter, then issued the order on March 28., in apparent violation of the City Charter. Also on March 28, City Administrator Allan Williams directed City staff to issue water and sewer connection permits to Sellenschuetter.
On March 30, attorney Chet Pleban, representing Councilmen Mark Brown, Joe Koester and Dottie Greer filed a motion with the Court to stay enforcement of and to reconsider the court’s March 10, 2006 order, judgment and writ in mandamus and the Court’s March 28, 2006 supplemental order and to recall or cancel any sewer or water connection permits issued to Sellenschuetter’s MJ Developers.
Pleban also filed a counter claim for Councilman Mark Brown who had been sued individually by Schellenschuetter in Federal Court and then in Circuit Court for more than $25,000 in damages and $1 million in punitive damages and attorney fees. The next scheduled Court hearing is Scheduled for Monday, April 3, 2006 at 9:00 am in front of Judge House, Division 1 of St. Charles County Circuit Court. For more information please go to our web log
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WARD 7 VOTERS
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE ON APRIL 7th.
VOTE NO to recall
Dorothy Dottie Greer
