By Tony Brockmeyer
The Heritage Residents Association will hold their annual meeting on Monday, April 18th. A number of residents have contacted the First Capitol News regarding what they see as an attempt, by former president Cark Maus and the Citizens for Responsible Community, to takeover the HRA. Maus, who is the president of CFRC, also served at one time as the president of HRA.
A letter has been distributed to Heritage residents by Frank Rosner, current president of the HRA who is also running for reelection. “This is an attempt by Maus and the CFRC, a Political Action Committee to takeover our Association and we will fight it,” Rosner told the First Capitol News. “In addition to Maus, Rick Blalock the treasurer of CFRC, is also running. Blalock was defeated for the board in the 2004 elections.
In the letter Rosner points out: Beginning in May, 2004 the association began an in-depth study of the financial activities taken by previous boards. Finding evidence that disturbed the majority of the current board, we asked the HRA lawyer, Joel Brett, for advice. Mr. Brett’s letter states his view of the financial dealings of the previous HRA president. There are two points of concern.
On March 22, 2000 the HRA Board, comprised of Maus, Blalock, Ferguson and former board members Gallie, Funderburk and Shortal arranged to sell to Pat Gallie the HRA-owned A-FRAME BUILDING, including the 2700 square foot underground garage, offices, and storage room. The property, sitting on 1.49 acres of ground with utilities already setup, was sold for a sum of $59,000. Purchased in 1990 by HRA, the A Frame was appraised in 1985 by the County Assessor at a valuation of $219,000. In my opinion the A Frame property was worth $250,000 at the time we sold it to Pat Gallie for $59,000. The HRA residents did vote to sell the property, but it was never listed on the open realty market, and the residents were never informed of the assessor’s valuation.
At the January 27, 2004 board meeting Maus announced he had received a $10,000 check from the developer of the Heritage Trails subdivision, which we wanted to use for installing a new sprinkler system in the medians on Heritage landing at the Heritage station entrance. Maus then told us the developer had changed his mind and that HRA was to write a check for $5000 to his other organization, Citizens for Responsible Community (CFRC). The majority of board members present refused to agree with this request and I later discovered Maus had already written the $5,000 check to the CFRC organization. We asked that he return the money to HRA.
THAT MONEY HAS NEVER BEEN RETURNED TO HRA.
The First Capitol News reported on November 6, 2004 that the HRA board, at the suggestion of their attorney, send his letter to the Missouri Ethics Commission as he felt the money transfer could be considered as money laundering. Rosner said that the board has received a complaint form from the Missouri Ethics Commission with a request it be signed and notarizeD so they can investigate the allegations of “laundering contributions”.
Rosner is running for election along with board member Carl Phillips. Rosner said the accomplishments for his term as president include: The first year in five years with positive cash flow. Bank reserve is up $8429. A $4000 net savings for Admin fees for new Management Company, local with St. Charles office. Additional $3500 savings for office expenses. No raise in 2005 assessments.Changed reserve account to Pulaski Bank ($3300 extra interest). Saved $1000 from meeting expenses. Budget policy is changeD - no new projects overran budget. President supplies own cell phone resulting iN a savings of $835. All work projects turned over to Resident Volunteers to cut costs for entire association. A quarterly news letter for the first time in 5 years. New street signs project completed by Carl Phillips. Planted 4000 bulbs, Tulip, Daffodils, Irises. Added 338 mums in addition to other flowers. Tree planting completed and dead trees replaced. Cancelled metal shed building for Heritage Trails.
Since their inception, CFRC members have become involved in St Charles City politics even though none of them reside in St. Charles. They have also become involved in O’Fallon and St. Peters and claim to be responsible for the election of Shawn Brown as Mayor of St. Peters and Donna Morrow as Mayor of O’Fallon. They have also aligned themselves with Adolphus Busch IV and Glennon Jamboretz of the Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, the group fighting a planned commercial development on 1,600 acres owned by the City of St. Peters. It has been reported members of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance have given many thousands of dollars to CFRC. That money was used to defeat candidates in O’Fallon and St. Peters. Their attempt to defeat City Council members in St. Charles was unsuccessful. Maus and other members of CFRC are confidants to the Mayor of St. Charles.
