MEMORIAL DAY
Memorial Day is next week so therefore we will not have a publication on May 28th. Our next publication will be on June 4th. Any breaking news in the meantime may be found on our web log on the internet: firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
DAN GOULD ON HOLD
A request by former City Councilman Dan Gould for a liquor license for his Oliver’s Restaurant on North Main Street was postponed to the next City Council meeting.
The motion, made at Tuesday’s meeting, was made by City Councilwoman Dottie Greer. Greer, prior to being elected to the City Council, appeared at a City Council meeting complaining that her representative, Councilman Gould, was not helping with problems in the ward. At that meeting Gould admonished Greer and told her, “If you think you can do a better job why don’t you run for the Council?” Greer accepted the challenge and was the winner in a five person race in which Gould finished last.
Gould then became involved in a recall campaign in an attempt to remove Greer from office led by the wives of St. Charles police officers and supporters of the Mayor. Gould is a member of the committee that had to sign an affidavit to start the recall campaign.
Gould, a paramedic with the Maryland Heights Fire Department, was arrested by the St. Charles Police for DWI while serving on the Council. He was coming from the Mayor’s Charity Ball when the incident occurred. It was reported that he was belligerent and obnoxious to the arresting officer. It was also reported that while confined, he threatened and cursed the officers and then offered to give them a take home police car. Gould later plead guilty to the charges.
One Council member told the First Capitol News that he had grave concerns about issuing a liquor license to someone who had been charged with a DWI and who shows aggression and rage towards police officers.
Local restaurant operators are also angry. They told the FCN that it appears Gould and his partner(s) are operating the restaurant without a liquor license or occupancy permit. They told the FCN they believed it was against the law for Gould and partner(s) to be using the liquor license of the previous owner. They also told us the previous owner was allowed to operate the restaurant without a hood in the kitchen. They believe that the kitchen is in the basement and that the hood is a safety item that has been ignored in the past. According to them, a hood is required by city and county codes and that if Gould is allowed to operate without one they are planning on taking action and demanding that the restaurant be brought up to code.
Police Chief Tim Swope and Gould are or were good friends. They grew up together and attended the same schools.
The First Capitol News was told that after the Council meeting on Tuesday evening the Mayor and Councilman Kneemiller met with Gould and gave him the news that his license request had been placed on hold. Gould allegedly told them that Chief Swope had told him he should consider dropping his name from the committee that was formed to recall Councilwoman Greer. Allegedly Swope told Gould he did not think it was wise to apply for a liquor license while attempting to recall a Council member. Gould allegedly told the Mayor and Kneemiller he believed Chief Swope was encouraged by Councilman John Gieseke to make those comments. Gieseke also grew up and went to school with Swope and Gould. A source also told us that Gould was talking to Councilman Muench, a supporter of his, and told Muench he was going to the newspapers and dish dirt on everyone on the council and he didn’t care if it was true or not.
We were told that Gould went into one of the angry rants he is famous for and threatened to get even with everyone involved.
Evidently the Mayor and Kneemiller went running to City Administrator, Dr. Allan Williams, who is considering what action to take if any against the Chief.
In the meantime the restaurant is open and other restaurant operators believe it is being operated by Gould and they want the city or state liquor control to take action to stop these apparent violations of law.
It appears the Mayor and Kneemiller are pushing hard to help Gould get a liquor license. Because of their efforts, by running to the City Administrator, they are making overtures and threats about Chief Swope’s job.
Swope has been a friend of Gould’s and was only trying to help a friend understand life. It is a shame Gould would place his friend’s job in jeapordy in a fit of rage. It is obvious the Mayor is trying to grasp for anything to get the focus off her own shortcomings.
We spoke to several Council members who said they do not believe this will cause any trouble for Chief Swope or affect his job. One member said this is just another rant by Gould and that Gould is always chasing uniforms.
THIS JUST IN
POWELL TO PEORIA?
At press time a source told us Steve Powell, former CEO of the CVB will be going to work in Peoria, Illinois.
