President Riddler Gavels
V’Anne Mydler To Stop Her Outburst
V’Anne Mydler, a resident residing on Boone's Lick was gaveled out of order and told to be quiet and sit down by City Council President Rory Riddler at Tuesday’s Council Meeting. Mydler, who spoke to the Council during a public hearing regarding a Community Improvement District sought by Ameristar Casino objected to the word ‘blight’ used in the description. She also complained she had no knowledge of the proposal even though she had spoken about it at other meetings of the City Council. When Council President Riddler started to explain to her it had been on several agendas and published in several newspapers she interrupted him and started shouting at him. Council President Riddler told her her time to talk had expired and asked her to be quiet. She continued her outburst until Riddler gaveled her.
BODINE BROWN
REST IN PEACE
As a father you go through life worrying and hoping your kids will have a better life. That is what makes me as a father tic. I hope my kids won’t make the mistakes I have made. They have learned a lesson or two. The reason I am writing this is one of our friends has lost his Dad. Councilman Mark Brown’s dad passed away this week after a lengthy illness. Watching Councilman Brown during this time strengthened my belief that his father left us a person of integrity, honesty, who understands what being a friend is. You see Mark’s best friend was his dad. His dad began to take a turn for the worse and Mark didn’t send him to a nursing home to wither away. Mark took care of his family because that is what his dad taught him. He taught him the importance of friendship by being not only a strict father but also a tremendous friend.
When you speak with Mark about his dad it becomes evident how much his Dad meant to him. You learn that his dad taught him life lessons that make Mark unique. Bodine Brown worked as a police officer and at the brewery. Mark watched a dad that could be labeled a workaholic and he has taken on that same work ethic. When I was growing up my dad told me if you could leave this earth with one best friend your life would be a success. Think about a man like Bodine who leaves us not only with a great friend but a son that considered him his best friend. That is something all fathers would love to be able to say when we meet our maker.
Mark we send you our sympathies. They are sent with thanks to your Dad for teaching and instilling the values that have made you what you are. Those who have not met you can’t appreciate what your friendship means and can’t understand your passion for public service. These qualities have been learned from your Dad and he left the world with pride in his heart and the knowledge he was a success because he left behind a family that takes care of others.
COUNCIL SAYS NO TO MAYOR
At a recent executive session of the City Council the Mayor requested they approve an expenditure for an 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 with out 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.
HEARING DATES TO BE SET
The First Capitol News has learned at the City Council meeting on Tuesday evening the Council will set the dates for the upcoming hearing on the alleged illegal signing of a contract with Express Scripts by the Mayor. It is expected the hearing will be rather lengthy and will probably take more than one setting.
We have also been told the office of the Missouri Attorney General and the Department of Insurance for the state of Missouri are conducting investigations into the previous companies who carried the insurance coverage for the City and the handling of the insurance program by the city. The investigations were requested by some of the members of the Council.
DON’T BE SURPRISED
Don’t be surprised if you hear of some personnel changes in the City of St. Charles in the next couple of days. We don’t have any specific information but it appears meetings are being held and planning is in the works for some changes.
NEER APPOINTED SHERIFF
Tom Neer has been appointed Sheriff of St. Charles County. He will finish serving the term of former Sheriff Tim Swope who was recently appointed Chief of Police in St. Charles. Neer has indicated he plans to run for re-election when his term expires.
Neer was appointed by County executive Joe Orthwerth and approved by the St. Charles County Council at its meeting last Monday evening.
Neer is taking command just in time to be the host for the opening of the new Sheriff’s Office at 101 Crossing Industrial Court in O’Fallon.
BOARDED UP BUILDINGS
Shortly after we ran our photo essay on boarded up buildings a couple of editions ago, Councilman Bob Kneemiller had a motion passed on the Council floor. The motion was for the City Administrator to direct the Community Development Department to start issuing tickets daily to the property owners who did not remove the plywood. The owners of the former Jack-In-The-Box on West Clay have removed the plywood. Below is a photo of a building owned by the Mayor and her husband at 218 N. Main St. The plywood has been in the window for about a year. I wonder if they are getting a ticket every day? Hmmmmm What do you think?
