By Tony Brockmeyer
At a special meeting of the St. Charles City Council Tuesday evening, City Administrator Allan Williams, brought forward St. Charles County Sheriff Tim Swope as his choice to be St. Charles Police Chief. The appointment was approved by the Mayor and the City Council and Swope will assume his new duties Monday morning.
St. Charles County voters decided they wanted a new leader in the Sheriff’s Office. In November of 2002 they elected Tim Swope to be that leader. Sheriff Swope took office in January of 2003.
Tim Swope has three children. Sheriff Swope is a 1984 graduate of St. Charles High School and attended college at Central Missouri State University – Warrensburg on a baseball scholarship. He played peewee football at J.F.L. and the Boy’s Club. In 1982-83 he was a member of the St. Charles High School Pirates who won the State Championship in football. He also played baseball and coached for American Legion Post 312 in St. Charles.
Sheriff Swope’s education includes thousands of hours of training with the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration; Cook County Sheriff’s Department; Chicago Police Department; Atlanta, Georgia Metro PD; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; Indianapolis PD; Arkansas State Police; Illinois State Police; Los Angeles PD and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He also attended Lindenwood University.
Sheriff Swope has numerous commendations for exemplary performance in the line of duty, including the Sheriff’s “Award of Excellence”. The Sheriff promoted him in February 1997, to Sergeant over the highly successful Drug Unit, having served as an undercover investigator. He was appointed Team Leader for the St. Charles County SWAT Team and in August of 2000 was appointed acting Lieutenant within the patrol division. He was deputized by the U.S. Department of Treasury and served on a Federal Task Force, which investigated organized crime in the metropolitan area. Sheriff Swope received a meritorious service award for his work on the task force.
In the March 22, 2003 edition of the First Capitol News we published an interview with Sheriff Swope. We have excerpts from that interview that we feel are pertinent and present them here:
First Capitol News (FCN) How did you get involved in law enforcement?
Sheriff Swope (SS) Years ago when I was in college, I was playing baseball on a scholarship. As many young men do who played sports back then, I had delusions of grandeur about becoming a professional athlete. Then I realized that it probably was not going to happen, so I came home from college one summer and one of my friends, Ronnie Lloyd who was an officer at St. Charles City police department, asked me if I would like to ride with him. From the minute I got in that police car with him I was hooked. It was something that I knew I wanted to do. Soon after that, at 20 years old, I went into the academy. A month after my 21st birthday I was a policeman. That’s all I have been doing for the last 16 years.
FCN Have you been with the sheriff’s office the whole 16 years?
SS For about 10 months I was a police officer with the Warrenton Police Department. I learned some aspects of law enforcement that you don’t get in a big department. At a small department you have to kind of do it all. It also gave me a sense of community. I was from St. Charles and St. Charles was not a metropolis by any means, but I had never been in a small town like that and it really gave me a sense of community. I learned that there is a lot more to police work than just writing tickets and arresting people. It is also developing relationships with people that you work with and around. I had a dream of working for the Sheriff’s Department. A very good friend of mine, Tony Bishop, who still works here with me, his father, Pete Bishop, was a deputy with the Sheriff’s Department for years. He worked undercover, worked throughout the department. I knew that as a long-term goal I wanted to be with the Sheriff’s Department. At the time the Sheriff’s Department was mostly hiring people to go to work straight into the jail as opposed to going on the street. I was just lucky enough that at the time I applied they were short some deputies on the street. I didn’t have to go to work in the jail but went straight to the street and have been here ever since.
FCN Throughout your career with the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Office what different assignments or responsibilities have you had?
SS I was a patrolman; I got involved with the SWAT Team after a couple of years. That was something I really enjoyed. Honing my skills tactically. Being part of a unit I took a lot of pride in. After being on the SWAT Team for a couple of years I had to make a big decision. I had an opportunity of going into the drug unit working undercover but I would have to give up the SWAT Team to do that. I did, it was a difficult decision. One I have looked back on and thanked God it worked out for me. The majority of my career has been spent in drug enforcement. Either on the local task force or assigned to a Department of Treasury Task Force in St. Louis where we investigated organized crime and large-scale drug operations. I was also involved in the intelligence division in the Sheriff’s Department and was the Commander of the Sheriff’s Department Drug Unit. Then I came back to patrol and worked as a shift commander and as a team leader on the SWAT Team again. As I found going in and out of the drug unit and back to patrol, it is a good job being a patrolmen in uniform. It is structured but there is a lot of diversity. As in any job there are days when it is slow or fast, but as a policeman, if you are not handling a lot of radio calls you get out there and work hard and catch criminals. That’s what I enjoy.
FCN You have only been the Sheriff for a short time. Have you had any surprises or things that you didn’t expect?
SS My biggest surprise was the amount of administrative work. I knew coming in it was going to be tough. There is a tremendous amount of paper work that I am not efficient at yet but I know in six months I will be able to whip through these things without giving them much thought. But right now I have to read through everything, sometimes two or three times, just to know what I am signing. Soon I will be more efficient, but right now it kind of bogs me down. Because of that I am working 12 – 13 hour days but I enjoy it. I have had a couple of occasions of going to DARE Graduations and that was a part of this department that I had not seen before. I was really taken aback on how fulfilling it was to watch the kids go through the program. I had no idea of what kind of event a DARE graduation was. I though it was just going and handing out a certificate and the kids going home. It’s not! It’s really an event and we are very proud to be a part of that type of program and other ones that I had no idea of.
FCN Besides patrol duties and drug enforcement what other areas is the Sheriff’s Office responsible for?
SS We have a little over 200 employees, approximately 150 sworn deputies. Obviously patrol is one of our functions. Patrol and investigations. We are also involved in court services, court security, civil process, the community education program, and communications, which has 22 employees. We run the county range and the training center. There is forensics and identification, crime scene investigation, records management and personnel. There are many, many different divisions within the Sheriff’s Department. That is a good thing for the people who work here because they have a lot more avenues to pursue for their career. In many departments you don’t have that flexibility. You work the street and that’s all you do. In here our personnel has the opportunity to move around quite a bit more. That’s a good thing for all of us.
FCN You ran against, and won the election over, an opponent who was evidently entrenched with the political system that is in power here in the County. It appears a number of County politicians who have nothing to do with the Sheriff’s Office now think they should be the ones running it. Has that caused you any problems?
SS Change is difficult sometimes. I will give you an example. Changing our cellular phone system from one service to another was more difficult than I would have ever imagined. It’s just a phone but the bottom line is that it is change. Sometime it is hard to see past that. All of that is behind us. We are all on the same page. We are all pushing towards the same goals. Getting more officers on the street. Having a better department. Providing better service to the residents of the County. I know we will all come together and try to meet all the goals we have set. I would also say the charter spells out that the Sheriff is the lead law enforcement officer in the County which is a great responsibility. One I know is on my shoulders now. But one I knew going into this I would have to undertake and I am willing to do that. I am a young guy. I am only 37 years old now but I do have vast experience in law enforcement, specifically this department. I am going to bring some new ideas here and hope ultimately the people will accept those ideas and know in the end they were best for the department and the community.
FCN If the County Council said, “Sheriff, money is no object.” Is there any type of equipment or personnel you would like to have?
SS If money was no object, and I know it always is, I think we could double the amount of officers we have on the street and still find room for more. That is what every department in the country is struggling for and will always struggle for. There is so much more that we can do proactively as opposed to reactively. Proactive law enforcement is now. It’s the future. Getting out and stopping crimes from being committed before they happen. Catching them in the act of committing crimes. That’s proactive law enforcement. I am going to strive to get the whole department involved in a much higher level of proactive policing.
FCN How much of a coverage area are you responsible for?
SS Almost 600 square miles. There are over 300,000 people in this County. That is not only the unincorporated areas. We provide services to the entire County. Services that we are obligated to provide. If a municipality calls us for traffic enforcement or to provide forensic or ID for a homicide. To provide a fugitive unit to go out and arrest some bad guys or to provide a SWAT Team to serve a high-risk search warrant, that’s the obligation of the Sheriff’s Department. It is something that we take great pride in.
FCN What would you say to any young man or woman reading this article that is thinking about a law enforcement career?
SS Understand it is not what you watch on TV. It is really a lot more community oriented. Not just in this community but all over the country we need to make an investment as law enforcement within the community. There is nothing truer than we are public servants. If we drive down the road and see somebody broken down on the side of the highway, it’s our job to help the people out. That’s a basic part of our job that may have been forgotten over the past few years, but one that is very necessary for us to provide for everyone. For a young man or woman coming into this field it is exciting. It is an exhilaration to find a criminal and chase them down. To arrest somebody. It is also self-fulfilling just helping people out. If someone has a question or if they need some help with some family problems we help them. It takes younger officers a little bit of time to learn that, but once they do, I think the job is great. Ninety nine percent of the people we deal with are good people. That one percent is usually bad people and they go to jail. As a police officer you have to realize that most of the contacts you have are with good people and if you are in the mood of constantly thinking that everyone is on the other side, you are not going to last long in this job. Most of the community is behind us. That is not to say that they are in every part of this country but in our area we are lucky enough to have their support. In a metropolitan area if we are lucky enough to have a community that supports us then we are grateful for that and we want to continue that sense of working with the people to make this a better community.
FCN Is there anything you would like to say to our readers I haven’t thought to ask you about?
SS We are committed as a department as we move into the future, to not become stagnant. We have a lot of good men and women here that work their tails off. They should be recognized for the good job they do. We will continue to provide excellent law enforcement services to our residents.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
St. Peters Police Confirm Street Race Led to Fatal Crash
Other vehicle involved in race has been identified
Investigators from the St. Peters Police Department have learned additional information concerning the events that led up to the tragic crash that occurred this past Saturday evening on Highway 94 just south of Jungs Station Road.
It started that evening at a house party in St. Charles. At the party Brad Boss (the driver of the 98 Honda Prelude) had a conversation with another 16 year old boy (driver of a silver Mitsubishi Lancer) that his car was faster. The boys agreed to see who had the faster car. They left the party to race each other.
Brad Boss and Jacob Liscombe were in the Honda and two other 16 year boys were in the Mitsubishi. They turned onto the North Outer Road at Heritage landing and started to speed up as they drove next to each other going south on the North Outer Road. According to the boys in the Mitsubishi they were traveling between 80 and 100 mph on the North Outer Road. The North Outer Road narrows to one lane as the entrance ramp onto Hwy 94 southbound. It is at that location that Mr. Boss lost control of his car skidding across all the lanes of Hwy 94 south and impacting the guard rail.
The Mitsubishi continued down Highway 94 and according to the occupants of the Mitsubishi they were unaware that Mr. Boss had been involved in an accident.
St. Peters police say they will not be releasing the names of the driver and passenger of the Mitsubishi due to the fact that they are juveniles.
Investigators from the St. Peters Police Department have learned additional information concerning the events that led up to the tragic crash that occurred this past Saturday evening on Highway 94 just south of Jungs Station Road.
It started that evening at a house party in St. Charles. At the party Brad Boss (the driver of the 98 Honda Prelude) had a conversation with another 16 year old boy (driver of a silver Mitsubishi Lancer) that his car was faster. The boys agreed to see who had the faster car. They left the party to race each other.
Brad Boss and Jacob Liscombe were in the Honda and two other 16 year boys were in the Mitsubishi. They turned onto the North Outer Road at Heritage landing and started to speed up as they drove next to each other going south on the North Outer Road. According to the boys in the Mitsubishi they were traveling between 80 and 100 mph on the North Outer Road. The North Outer Road narrows to one lane as the entrance ramp onto Hwy 94 southbound. It is at that location that Mr. Boss lost control of his car skidding across all the lanes of Hwy 94 south and impacting the guard rail.
The Mitsubishi continued down Highway 94 and according to the occupants of the Mitsubishi they were unaware that Mr. Boss had been involved in an accident.
St. Peters police say they will not be releasing the names of the driver and passenger of the Mitsubishi due to the fact that they are juveniles.
JAYCEES EASTER EGG HUNT
Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt March 19th
The St. Charles Jaycees are going to hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt at McNair Park on Saturday, March 19, 2005. Registration will begin at 9:30 A.M. and the hunts will begin promptly at 10:00.
The children will be divided up into 3 age groups. The 1-3 year olds will begin at 10:00, the 4-6 year olds at 10:20, and the 7-10 year olds at 10:40. Parents will only be allowed to escort the 1-3 year old age group. The cost for the hunt is $2.00 per child.
This year we will be having visits from the Easter Bunny, clowns, and Ruffie from the Rascals. For more information, please contact Melanie Wetter at 314-494-6421.
The St. Charles Jaycees are going to hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt at McNair Park on Saturday, March 19, 2005. Registration will begin at 9:30 A.M. and the hunts will begin promptly at 10:00.
The children will be divided up into 3 age groups. The 1-3 year olds will begin at 10:00, the 4-6 year olds at 10:20, and the 7-10 year olds at 10:40. Parents will only be allowed to escort the 1-3 year old age group. The cost for the hunt is $2.00 per child.
This year we will be having visits from the Easter Bunny, clowns, and Ruffie from the Rascals. For more information, please contact Melanie Wetter at 314-494-6421.
OUR EDITORIAL OPINION
TIM SWOPE CHIEF OF POLICE - A great choice!
The City Administrator, Mayor and City Council did themselves proud Monday evening when they appointed St. Charles County Sheriff TIM SWOPE as St. Charles Police Chief.
Chief Swope, a St. Charles native, has served as the elected Sheriff of St. Charles County for a little over two years. During that time Chief Swope has shown himself to be an exemplary leader for the men and women of the Sheriff’s Department. A qualified and experienced law enforcement officer, Chief Swope will now bring his talents and leadership ability to the officers of the St.Charles Police Department where it is truly needed.
Chief Swope will begin his duties Monday morning with a full plate. There are 30 to 40 officers who refused to sign the recent letters citing emotional distress. These officers showed courage in holding the line and refusing to be made part of nothing more than a political ploy hatched by other members of their department in an attempt to wrest control from the Administration and City Council. These officers need to be shown that their dedication to duty and to the residents of St. Charles will not go unrewarded. The 73 officers who did claim stress and emotional problems need to be dealt with. They need to receive treatment if it is required or if their claims are found to be unjustified they need to be dealt with in a swift manner.
There are officers in the department who violated the civil rights of Council Members and residents and who broke state and federal laws in their attempts to embarrass the City Council. These law breakers need to be dealt with in the same fashion as any other law breakers. Investigation needs to be conducted, charges filed, a trial held and punishment assessed. These are just a few of the challenges facing incoming Police Chief Tim Swope.
These are items that can no longer be swept under the rug. All too often when problems have been uncovered, the attitude of some city officials has been;, well we discovered it, hopefully it won’t happen again. Rather than take any action against anyone they just move on and expect all to be friends. It is time for that attitude to stop. The citizens of St. Charles are looking for leaders who are not afraid to make decisions no matter who is affected.
There has been a lack of discipline and lack of accountability in this City and this police department for too long. When Swope took over the Sheriff’s office he brought with him accountability, leadership, and responsibility and he didn’t take s_ _ _ from anybody. Everyone knew there was a new Sheriff in town.
The residents of St. Charles who have been without a police chief for more than 18 months will be watching Chief Swope very closely. They want a police chief who will hold the members of his department accountable and responsible for their safety and protection. Chief Swope has accepted their challenge.
Chief Swope has demonstrated he has the capability to overcome obstacles and turn the St. Charles Police Department into a unit all residents can be proud of. We wish Chief Swope well and thank him for taking on a task that will bring him new challenges every day.
Chief Swope has shown that he has the capabilities of overcoming obstacles and turning the St. Charles Police Department into a unit that all residents can be proud of. We wish Chief Swope well and thank him for taking on a task that will bring him new challenges every day.
The City Administrator, Mayor and City Council did themselves proud Monday evening when they appointed St. Charles County Sheriff TIM SWOPE as St. Charles Police Chief.
Chief Swope, a St. Charles native, has served as the elected Sheriff of St. Charles County for a little over two years. During that time Chief Swope has shown himself to be an exemplary leader for the men and women of the Sheriff’s Department. A qualified and experienced law enforcement officer, Chief Swope will now bring his talents and leadership ability to the officers of the St.Charles Police Department where it is truly needed.
Chief Swope will begin his duties Monday morning with a full plate. There are 30 to 40 officers who refused to sign the recent letters citing emotional distress. These officers showed courage in holding the line and refusing to be made part of nothing more than a political ploy hatched by other members of their department in an attempt to wrest control from the Administration and City Council. These officers need to be shown that their dedication to duty and to the residents of St. Charles will not go unrewarded. The 73 officers who did claim stress and emotional problems need to be dealt with. They need to receive treatment if it is required or if their claims are found to be unjustified they need to be dealt with in a swift manner.
There are officers in the department who violated the civil rights of Council Members and residents and who broke state and federal laws in their attempts to embarrass the City Council. These law breakers need to be dealt with in the same fashion as any other law breakers. Investigation needs to be conducted, charges filed, a trial held and punishment assessed. These are just a few of the challenges facing incoming Police Chief Tim Swope.
These are items that can no longer be swept under the rug. All too often when problems have been uncovered, the attitude of some city officials has been;, well we discovered it, hopefully it won’t happen again. Rather than take any action against anyone they just move on and expect all to be friends. It is time for that attitude to stop. The citizens of St. Charles are looking for leaders who are not afraid to make decisions no matter who is affected.
There has been a lack of discipline and lack of accountability in this City and this police department for too long. When Swope took over the Sheriff’s office he brought with him accountability, leadership, and responsibility and he didn’t take s_ _ _ from anybody. Everyone knew there was a new Sheriff in town.
The residents of St. Charles who have been without a police chief for more than 18 months will be watching Chief Swope very closely. They want a police chief who will hold the members of his department accountable and responsible for their safety and protection. Chief Swope has accepted their challenge.
Chief Swope has demonstrated he has the capability to overcome obstacles and turn the St. Charles Police Department into a unit all residents can be proud of. We wish Chief Swope well and thank him for taking on a task that will bring him new challenges every day.
Chief Swope has shown that he has the capabilities of overcoming obstacles and turning the St. Charles Police Department into a unit that all residents can be proud of. We wish Chief Swope well and thank him for taking on a task that will bring him new challenges every day.
THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler City Council President
Swope Selection As Chief
Is Grand Slam For Citizens
You can tell when you’ve hit a home run in baseball, by the loud groan that comes from the fans of the opposing team. When I saw the reaction by a former “sports reporter” for the Post-Dispatch to the City’s selection of Sheriff Tim Swope as Police Chief, I knew we had hit a grand slam.
Sure he was drafted late in the season, but Tim Swope is a hometown favorite. His “come from behind” big victory in the Sheriff’s race (without the use of steroids) was a classic. He already has the endorsement of the citizens of St. Charles who, with their votes, put their faith and confidence in Tim to be their chief law enforcement official in the County.
For the new Chief, this is a homecoming. St. Charles is, and was, Tim’s hometown since he was five years old. He grew up here, graduated from St. Charles High and spent a lot of his free time at the Boys and Girls Club. Did I mention he played baseball in college? His parents still live here. It was that connection to this community that helped Tim make up his mind to take the job when it was offered. His hometown needed him.
It is also a great career move. As Sheriff, Tim earned $69,000. After the next election the salary for Sheriff goes up to around $80,000, but you have to raise and spend that much getting elected. As Police Chief for the City of St. Charles, Tim will start at $110,000. The City also offers better health coverage and retirement benefits.
The departments are about the same size from a manpower standpoint. But as Police Chief, Tim Swope will have more of a free hand than he did working with County Executive Joe Ortwerth. Just as the County is trying to take control of the fire districts, ambulance district and our own fire department (a move that would raise our property taxes significantly), Joe has also had his eye on controlling the Sheriff’s Department. They took away control of the dispatchers, jailers and bailiffs from the elected Sheriff. They moved the Sheriff’s Office, against the will of the Sheriff, to O’Fallon. I’m not even sure that was legal as St. Charles is still the County Seat.
My understanding is the Sheriff tried to explain the inefficiencies of moving the department miles away from the site of the County Jail, but his advice fell on deaf ears. The new building in O’Fallon has three sets of County Seals on it, but not the Sheriff’s Department seal. Sounds like Ortwerth doesn’t even want anyone to know the County Sheriff is an independently elected office.
The idea of asking Tim Swope to consider serving as Police Chief began with a chance meeting on North Main Street. I had the opportunity to introduce City Administrator Allan Williams to the Sheriff for the first time outside of Tony’s Restaurant. Allan Williams gets the credit for following up and offering the job to Swope.
A few weeks later he floated the idea by the Mayor and me. We each had the opportunity to personally interview Swope. I already knew the Sheriff, but was anxious to hear his vision for law enforcement in our community. I was impressed. So were other Council members who spoke with him.
Of course, I was disappointed that another local resident, Major Robert Lowery, could not be our Police Chief because of the inexplicable opposition to his appointment by the Mayor. In the meantime, we avoided hiring a few other applicants, each with their own share of baggage. That gave lots of fodder to one local gossip columnist, who no doubt would have hired the first stranger with a sheepskin and a badge, so long as he was from out of town. But the City Council held out for someone with local roots, someone who knows and cares about the City of St. Charles.
I believe the Council will give Chief Swope the support and backing he needs to address our crime problems, meth labs, domestic violence, vandalism, speeding, etc. I believe Tim Swope will provide the leadership the department has needed for so long. He will help us get the most from our dedicated professionals and be fair, fast and firm in dealing with any personnel problems.
Swope has also shown himself to be creative in getting the most out of limited resources as Sheriff. He was able to get the cooperation of cities across the County to be part of a collective SWAT Team. After some initial resistance to change, I believe five of our officers are now trying out for the team. Swope also established a Meth Task Force and secured voluntary sites for Sheriff’s Substations when the County wouldn’t fund them.
The voters won’t be allowed to fill the vacancy in the Sheriff’s Office in a special election. While the County Charter provides for County Councilmen to be selected in special elections, vacancies in countywide offices are appointed by the County Executive. The appointee must also be approved by the County Council from someone of the same political party as the prior officeholder. That person will then serve till January 1st 2007.
Fortunately, voters only have to wait till August 2006 for the next primary elections for Sheriff and the General Election in November of next year. Word on the street is Major Lowery is being approached by both Democrats and Republicans to toss his hat in the ring. Being elected Sheriff would certainly be a nice outcome for the citizens and for a man of great personal character and talent.
I know the other dugout is solemn. They certainly didn’t want the City Council to be so decisive or swift in approving the City Administrator’s recommendation. This wasn’t the outcome they wanted. They would have preferred the debate over a Police Chief go on forever. I’ve already heard a few of them complain that Tim Swope doesn’t have the kind of degree “they” would have liked. But he has something they lack…humility. He’s the real deal and now he’s our Chief of Police.
Tuesday night you could hear the crack of the bat. The cheers for the hometown team…the groans from the visitors.
And that’s a winner!
Is Grand Slam For Citizens
You can tell when you’ve hit a home run in baseball, by the loud groan that comes from the fans of the opposing team. When I saw the reaction by a former “sports reporter” for the Post-Dispatch to the City’s selection of Sheriff Tim Swope as Police Chief, I knew we had hit a grand slam.
Sure he was drafted late in the season, but Tim Swope is a hometown favorite. His “come from behind” big victory in the Sheriff’s race (without the use of steroids) was a classic. He already has the endorsement of the citizens of St. Charles who, with their votes, put their faith and confidence in Tim to be their chief law enforcement official in the County.
For the new Chief, this is a homecoming. St. Charles is, and was, Tim’s hometown since he was five years old. He grew up here, graduated from St. Charles High and spent a lot of his free time at the Boys and Girls Club. Did I mention he played baseball in college? His parents still live here. It was that connection to this community that helped Tim make up his mind to take the job when it was offered. His hometown needed him.
It is also a great career move. As Sheriff, Tim earned $69,000. After the next election the salary for Sheriff goes up to around $80,000, but you have to raise and spend that much getting elected. As Police Chief for the City of St. Charles, Tim will start at $110,000. The City also offers better health coverage and retirement benefits.
The departments are about the same size from a manpower standpoint. But as Police Chief, Tim Swope will have more of a free hand than he did working with County Executive Joe Ortwerth. Just as the County is trying to take control of the fire districts, ambulance district and our own fire department (a move that would raise our property taxes significantly), Joe has also had his eye on controlling the Sheriff’s Department. They took away control of the dispatchers, jailers and bailiffs from the elected Sheriff. They moved the Sheriff’s Office, against the will of the Sheriff, to O’Fallon. I’m not even sure that was legal as St. Charles is still the County Seat.
My understanding is the Sheriff tried to explain the inefficiencies of moving the department miles away from the site of the County Jail, but his advice fell on deaf ears. The new building in O’Fallon has three sets of County Seals on it, but not the Sheriff’s Department seal. Sounds like Ortwerth doesn’t even want anyone to know the County Sheriff is an independently elected office.
The idea of asking Tim Swope to consider serving as Police Chief began with a chance meeting on North Main Street. I had the opportunity to introduce City Administrator Allan Williams to the Sheriff for the first time outside of Tony’s Restaurant. Allan Williams gets the credit for following up and offering the job to Swope.
A few weeks later he floated the idea by the Mayor and me. We each had the opportunity to personally interview Swope. I already knew the Sheriff, but was anxious to hear his vision for law enforcement in our community. I was impressed. So were other Council members who spoke with him.
Of course, I was disappointed that another local resident, Major Robert Lowery, could not be our Police Chief because of the inexplicable opposition to his appointment by the Mayor. In the meantime, we avoided hiring a few other applicants, each with their own share of baggage. That gave lots of fodder to one local gossip columnist, who no doubt would have hired the first stranger with a sheepskin and a badge, so long as he was from out of town. But the City Council held out for someone with local roots, someone who knows and cares about the City of St. Charles.
I believe the Council will give Chief Swope the support and backing he needs to address our crime problems, meth labs, domestic violence, vandalism, speeding, etc. I believe Tim Swope will provide the leadership the department has needed for so long. He will help us get the most from our dedicated professionals and be fair, fast and firm in dealing with any personnel problems.
Swope has also shown himself to be creative in getting the most out of limited resources as Sheriff. He was able to get the cooperation of cities across the County to be part of a collective SWAT Team. After some initial resistance to change, I believe five of our officers are now trying out for the team. Swope also established a Meth Task Force and secured voluntary sites for Sheriff’s Substations when the County wouldn’t fund them.
The voters won’t be allowed to fill the vacancy in the Sheriff’s Office in a special election. While the County Charter provides for County Councilmen to be selected in special elections, vacancies in countywide offices are appointed by the County Executive. The appointee must also be approved by the County Council from someone of the same political party as the prior officeholder. That person will then serve till January 1st 2007.
Fortunately, voters only have to wait till August 2006 for the next primary elections for Sheriff and the General Election in November of next year. Word on the street is Major Lowery is being approached by both Democrats and Republicans to toss his hat in the ring. Being elected Sheriff would certainly be a nice outcome for the citizens and for a man of great personal character and talent.
I know the other dugout is solemn. They certainly didn’t want the City Council to be so decisive or swift in approving the City Administrator’s recommendation. This wasn’t the outcome they wanted. They would have preferred the debate over a Police Chief go on forever. I’ve already heard a few of them complain that Tim Swope doesn’t have the kind of degree “they” would have liked. But he has something they lack…humility. He’s the real deal and now he’s our Chief of Police.
Tuesday night you could hear the crack of the bat. The cheers for the hometown team…the groans from the visitors.
And that’s a winner!
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
IT CAME BACK!
Just when I thought I had recovered from the flu I got hit again. I was concerned until I begin hearing stories from other people who had also suffered two consecutive bouts of the flu.
If I have not yet responded to your phone call or e-mail, my intention is to do so within the next couple of days. Wednesday was my first full day of work in a couple of weeks.
One of our delivery drivers had a death in his family and had to leave town. This caused some of our deliveries to be late and we discovered one or two areas may have been missed. We believe all of those problems will be history by this weekend.
CHECK OUR WEB LOG
If you do miss your copy of the First Capitol News you can find us on the net. We publish a web log that can be found at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
The current issue of the First Capitol News is usually posted on the web log by Saturday afternoon each week. In the event of breaking news we try to post it as soon as we learn of it.
NO CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEEK
The regular meeting of the St. Charles City Council will not be held Tuesday evening. It has been rescheduled to be held on Tuesday, March 22nd.
ST. PETER FISH FRY
St. Peter Parish on First Capitol across from the h ospital will hold their last Fish Fry on Friday March 18th.
They begin serving at 4pm and the fish is delicious. You can choose between Cod, Catfish and Shrimp. Complete dinners are available to eat-in or for carry out. While you are waiting in line you can avail yourself of a refreshing beverage or peel and eat shrimp.
Having grown up in St. Ferdinand Parish in Florissant where the Fish Fry is held on a year round basis, we thought there could be none better until we had the opportunity to experience St. Peters’.
Just when I thought I had recovered from the flu I got hit again. I was concerned until I begin hearing stories from other people who had also suffered two consecutive bouts of the flu.
If I have not yet responded to your phone call or e-mail, my intention is to do so within the next couple of days. Wednesday was my first full day of work in a couple of weeks.
One of our delivery drivers had a death in his family and had to leave town. This caused some of our deliveries to be late and we discovered one or two areas may have been missed. We believe all of those problems will be history by this weekend.
CHECK OUR WEB LOG
If you do miss your copy of the First Capitol News you can find us on the net. We publish a web log that can be found at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
The current issue of the First Capitol News is usually posted on the web log by Saturday afternoon each week. In the event of breaking news we try to post it as soon as we learn of it.
NO CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEEK
The regular meeting of the St. Charles City Council will not be held Tuesday evening. It has been rescheduled to be held on Tuesday, March 22nd.
ST. PETER FISH FRY
St. Peter Parish on First Capitol across from the h ospital will hold their last Fish Fry on Friday March 18th.
They begin serving at 4pm and the fish is delicious. You can choose between Cod, Catfish and Shrimp. Complete dinners are available to eat-in or for carry out. While you are waiting in line you can avail yourself of a refreshing beverage or peel and eat shrimp.
Having grown up in St. Ferdinand Parish in Florissant where the Fish Fry is held on a year round basis, we thought there could be none better until we had the opportunity to experience St. Peters’.
COMMENTS & COMMERTARY By Charles Hill
What did the City and the Convention and Sports Authority Sell us?
At a recent convention center meeting the committee was presented an operating budget for the first year of operation that shows a loss of over $900,000. What does that mean to you and me? The convention center business has to bring in over $90,000,000 in spending for us to begin to have the tax revenue necessary to pay the shortfall. Over $246,000 in daily spending, spurred by those attending the conventions, has to take place to pay for the operating loss. That figure uses the 1 percent sales tax charged by the businesses that are supposed to be the big winners of conventions.
The Mayor and those who supported the convention center have sold us down the river. Stop and think. What the money we are wasting on the convention center could do for the City of St. Charles. If we had invested the $6 million the City paid for the land the convention centers sits on, in the city’s failing infrastructure, the Council’s concern about sewer capacity would be mute. The $6 million over the next ten years would have paid for improvements on our City streets without the need of outside help. In general an investment should make you money. The convention center is hardly an investment.
Sure it is a pretty building, yes they built it. This is not a field of dreams where “if you build it they will come.” The convention business is highly competitive and the larger markets are adding on. Not to attract more large conventions. They are adding on to get the smaller conventions. Those are the conventions we built our center for. Now we have to compete with Chicago, Vegas and Atlanta.
The “SMERF” market that comprises social, military, educational, religious and fraternal markets brings in cost conscience attendees that do not spend money. So where are we going to get the money to support this center? Simple. They will take it from the City’s coffers. Once again you and I take a back seat to those from out of town.
In St. Charles under York the focus has moved away from the residents to her and those who visit. The fact is, the money we spend to try to get people to visit could actually be used to increase our quality of life. The residents have taken a back seat to the tourism industry. Priorities need to change and that won’t happen as long as York and her crowd control politics.
Recently The Brookings Institution released a study titled “Space Available: The Realities of Convention Centers as Economic Development Strategy.” The author, Haywood Sanders, is a professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Using historical data and actual numbers Sanders paints a picture that looks to place the residents of St. Charles holding the bag on a dream of success in the convention center business. The executive summary states, “The overall convention marketplace is declining in a manner that suggest that a recovery or turnaround is unlikely to yield much increased business for any given community, contrary to repeated industry predictions. Localities sometimes with state assistance have continued a type of arms race with competing cities to host these events, investing massive amounts of capitol in new convention center construction and expansion of existing facilities. Faced with increased competition, many cities spend more money on additional convention amenities, like publicly financed hotels to serve as convention headquarters.” The study can be found at www.brookings.edu/metro and is very informative.
Just think. The doors are not open and already they are projecting a $900,000 loss to the St. Charles taxpayers in the first year.
At a recent convention center meeting the committee was presented an operating budget for the first year of operation that shows a loss of over $900,000. What does that mean to you and me? The convention center business has to bring in over $90,000,000 in spending for us to begin to have the tax revenue necessary to pay the shortfall. Over $246,000 in daily spending, spurred by those attending the conventions, has to take place to pay for the operating loss. That figure uses the 1 percent sales tax charged by the businesses that are supposed to be the big winners of conventions.
The Mayor and those who supported the convention center have sold us down the river. Stop and think. What the money we are wasting on the convention center could do for the City of St. Charles. If we had invested the $6 million the City paid for the land the convention centers sits on, in the city’s failing infrastructure, the Council’s concern about sewer capacity would be mute. The $6 million over the next ten years would have paid for improvements on our City streets without the need of outside help. In general an investment should make you money. The convention center is hardly an investment.
Sure it is a pretty building, yes they built it. This is not a field of dreams where “if you build it they will come.” The convention business is highly competitive and the larger markets are adding on. Not to attract more large conventions. They are adding on to get the smaller conventions. Those are the conventions we built our center for. Now we have to compete with Chicago, Vegas and Atlanta.
The “SMERF” market that comprises social, military, educational, religious and fraternal markets brings in cost conscience attendees that do not spend money. So where are we going to get the money to support this center? Simple. They will take it from the City’s coffers. Once again you and I take a back seat to those from out of town.
In St. Charles under York the focus has moved away from the residents to her and those who visit. The fact is, the money we spend to try to get people to visit could actually be used to increase our quality of life. The residents have taken a back seat to the tourism industry. Priorities need to change and that won’t happen as long as York and her crowd control politics.
Recently The Brookings Institution released a study titled “Space Available: The Realities of Convention Centers as Economic Development Strategy.” The author, Haywood Sanders, is a professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Using historical data and actual numbers Sanders paints a picture that looks to place the residents of St. Charles holding the bag on a dream of success in the convention center business. The executive summary states, “The overall convention marketplace is declining in a manner that suggest that a recovery or turnaround is unlikely to yield much increased business for any given community, contrary to repeated industry predictions. Localities sometimes with state assistance have continued a type of arms race with competing cities to host these events, investing massive amounts of capitol in new convention center construction and expansion of existing facilities. Faced with increased competition, many cities spend more money on additional convention amenities, like publicly financed hotels to serve as convention headquarters.” The study can be found at www.brookings.edu/metro and is very informative.
Just think. The doors are not open and already they are projecting a $900,000 loss to the St. Charles taxpayers in the first year.
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
To The Editor of The First Capitol News
“All this turmoil, this downright meanness is distressing to me,” he said. (Kevin Kast article in Sunday 2/27/05 in another publication. It’s a good thing to have a balance of power, but the balance of power should not limit the Mayor’s ability to act in the best interest of the community. I fear the Council members can be myopic. They think in terms of what is in the best interest of their ward instead of the community as a whole. I favor a stronger Mayor rather than a stronger City Council.”
This is a direct quote by Mr. Kevin Kast. I very much disagree with Kevin’s way of thinking. The Mayor does have the power right now and the ability to act in the best interest of the community. She just chooses not to. Let’s look at her two years so far of her second term.
* Mayor, last Council & City Administrator cheated the taxpayers out of a large sum of money by the unethical way the sale of the old police station was handled and by giving take home cars to police who choose not to live in our City and 200 hours of comp time for her “Top Cop” to work on union business.
* The Mayor tried to get the Veterans Memorial in McNair Park over objections of the residents and park board. Her tactics failed.
* Tried to get taxpayers money for the ShowMe Aquatic Center.
* The issuance of fraudulent Executive orders which she was not authorized to issue.
* Secret meetings she and her husband had with Major Lowery in her attempts to get him to withdraw his name from consideration as police chief.
* Remember her lawsuit against a city board member. Also the $104 million lawsuit against the city by her “Top Cop.”
* Remember her transferring large sums of money from one department to another without Council approval.
* Remember the meeting of St. Chuck watch at the police station with her, police officers, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Jamboretz.
* Let’s get recent and talk about Mayor Patti’s signing of a contract with Express Scripts. If this is illegal the Council should start the necessary proceedings.
* A cool $500,000 for parties for the opening of the Convention Center. Patti and Steve Powell are at it again as well as Ken Kielty, Roger Pryor and the County Sports Authority who are also spending our money (taxpayers) for this tribute to Steve and Patti parties.
Mr. Kast, I could go on and on about the Mayor of this town and debate you forever about her needing more power and her ability to act in the best interest of our community. You raise a good question. Do we really need a full time Mayor? The Charter Amendment for a full time Mayor only passed by 302 votes. Look at what is going on now. Let’s be cautious. Maybe we need to vote gain before 2007 to see if we really want a full time Mayor. Apparently you are confused as to the real reason for what you call TURMOIL & MEANNESS in our City government.
As to our City Council, I would suggest at least seven of them have a great deal of understanding and foresight when it comes to doing what is best for the City contrary to your fear of them to be myopic.
Mr. Kast, after reading the article about your life and professional career, I believe you to be at the top of our profession and I applaud you. After reading the resume of Mr. Robert Lowery, Jr. and meeting him and his wife two times I believe him to be right at the top of his profession. Eight Council members voted for him, the City Administrator wanted him, he received the highest score of all by the City Board charged with saying yea or nea about him for the job of police chief. And the Mayor says he doesn’t fit.
Yes, Mr. Kast, she does need more power but not as Mayor of this town. Maybe you could get her a job in the Health Care Industry as a Jr. Executive and see how private corporations react when you sign contracts you are not supposed to, or keep a well qualified individual from employment because he’s more intelligent than you. Yes, she needs more Power! I suggest she apply at Express Scripts. She apparently already knows someone working there and you, Mr. Kast, could give her a good foot in the door with some of your connections since you think so highly of her.
Respectfully
Bob Bredensteiner
“All this turmoil, this downright meanness is distressing to me,” he said. (Kevin Kast article in Sunday 2/27/05 in another publication. It’s a good thing to have a balance of power, but the balance of power should not limit the Mayor’s ability to act in the best interest of the community. I fear the Council members can be myopic. They think in terms of what is in the best interest of their ward instead of the community as a whole. I favor a stronger Mayor rather than a stronger City Council.”
This is a direct quote by Mr. Kevin Kast. I very much disagree with Kevin’s way of thinking. The Mayor does have the power right now and the ability to act in the best interest of the community. She just chooses not to. Let’s look at her two years so far of her second term.
* Mayor, last Council & City Administrator cheated the taxpayers out of a large sum of money by the unethical way the sale of the old police station was handled and by giving take home cars to police who choose not to live in our City and 200 hours of comp time for her “Top Cop” to work on union business.
* The Mayor tried to get the Veterans Memorial in McNair Park over objections of the residents and park board. Her tactics failed.
* Tried to get taxpayers money for the ShowMe Aquatic Center.
* The issuance of fraudulent Executive orders which she was not authorized to issue.
* Secret meetings she and her husband had with Major Lowery in her attempts to get him to withdraw his name from consideration as police chief.
* Remember her lawsuit against a city board member. Also the $104 million lawsuit against the city by her “Top Cop.”
* Remember her transferring large sums of money from one department to another without Council approval.
* Remember the meeting of St. Chuck watch at the police station with her, police officers, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Jamboretz.
* Let’s get recent and talk about Mayor Patti’s signing of a contract with Express Scripts. If this is illegal the Council should start the necessary proceedings.
* A cool $500,000 for parties for the opening of the Convention Center. Patti and Steve Powell are at it again as well as Ken Kielty, Roger Pryor and the County Sports Authority who are also spending our money (taxpayers) for this tribute to Steve and Patti parties.
Mr. Kast, I could go on and on about the Mayor of this town and debate you forever about her needing more power and her ability to act in the best interest of our community. You raise a good question. Do we really need a full time Mayor? The Charter Amendment for a full time Mayor only passed by 302 votes. Look at what is going on now. Let’s be cautious. Maybe we need to vote gain before 2007 to see if we really want a full time Mayor. Apparently you are confused as to the real reason for what you call TURMOIL & MEANNESS in our City government.
As to our City Council, I would suggest at least seven of them have a great deal of understanding and foresight when it comes to doing what is best for the City contrary to your fear of them to be myopic.
Mr. Kast, after reading the article about your life and professional career, I believe you to be at the top of our profession and I applaud you. After reading the resume of Mr. Robert Lowery, Jr. and meeting him and his wife two times I believe him to be right at the top of his profession. Eight Council members voted for him, the City Administrator wanted him, he received the highest score of all by the City Board charged with saying yea or nea about him for the job of police chief. And the Mayor says he doesn’t fit.
Yes, Mr. Kast, she does need more power but not as Mayor of this town. Maybe you could get her a job in the Health Care Industry as a Jr. Executive and see how private corporations react when you sign contracts you are not supposed to, or keep a well qualified individual from employment because he’s more intelligent than you. Yes, she needs more Power! I suggest she apply at Express Scripts. She apparently already knows someone working there and you, Mr. Kast, could give her a good foot in the door with some of your connections since you think so highly of her.
Respectfully
Bob Bredensteiner
AN OPEN LETTER FROM JOHN GIESEKE Councilman Ward 8
Open Letter to the Residents of St. Charles
From JOHN GIESEKE
City Councilman Ward 8
I am writing this in response to the hiring of a new chief but I also want to apologize for the action and comments attributed to the previous acting Chief. Acting Chief White was quoted as saying that the crowd at a recent multiple ward meeting was “unruly.” To the 100 residents who attended; you know the truth. I hope you now understand the backbiting and unprofessionalism of some of the City’s upper level staff, we, your elected representatives, have to put up with.
Everyday the decisions and actions of the duly elected body of this City go untouched by many of the department heads in this City. Am I pushy when it comes to those who do their job? No. When someone is not doing their job and acting in a way I believe is detrimental to St. Charles, absolutely. I don’t shy away from an issue because it might be politically tough. My job is to represent the residents of Ward 8. I am not here to represent and stand up for the department heads; they work for us, the residents of this City. The problem is, too often they are working against us, not for us. There are some who believe the tax dollars flow in, and are free for then to waste. You and I work too hard to allow this wasteful spending to occur. I have made it a point to expand our tax base to spread the cost of doing business, yet some in the City only look at one side of the equation.
This is why I am so pleased and honored to say Tim Swope is the new Chief of Police of St. Charles. Chief Swope grew up in St. Charles and I have observed in him many of the same values I possess and want to see instilled in our City. I am confident Chief Swope will bring a new and fresh outlook to a department in need of some fine-tuning.
With the addition of Chief Swope, I can say public safety in St. Charles is no longer a place to send those waiting to retire. With Chief Rhodes of the Fire Department and Chief Swope at the helm of our Police Department St. Charles has two very dynamic leaders. I am confident the residents of St. Charles will be served for years to come by these two, and our public safety is in good hands.
Thank you,
John Gieseke
City Councilman Ward 8
From JOHN GIESEKE
City Councilman Ward 8
I am writing this in response to the hiring of a new chief but I also want to apologize for the action and comments attributed to the previous acting Chief. Acting Chief White was quoted as saying that the crowd at a recent multiple ward meeting was “unruly.” To the 100 residents who attended; you know the truth. I hope you now understand the backbiting and unprofessionalism of some of the City’s upper level staff, we, your elected representatives, have to put up with.
Everyday the decisions and actions of the duly elected body of this City go untouched by many of the department heads in this City. Am I pushy when it comes to those who do their job? No. When someone is not doing their job and acting in a way I believe is detrimental to St. Charles, absolutely. I don’t shy away from an issue because it might be politically tough. My job is to represent the residents of Ward 8. I am not here to represent and stand up for the department heads; they work for us, the residents of this City. The problem is, too often they are working against us, not for us. There are some who believe the tax dollars flow in, and are free for then to waste. You and I work too hard to allow this wasteful spending to occur. I have made it a point to expand our tax base to spread the cost of doing business, yet some in the City only look at one side of the equation.
This is why I am so pleased and honored to say Tim Swope is the new Chief of Police of St. Charles. Chief Swope grew up in St. Charles and I have observed in him many of the same values I possess and want to see instilled in our City. I am confident Chief Swope will bring a new and fresh outlook to a department in need of some fine-tuning.
With the addition of Chief Swope, I can say public safety in St. Charles is no longer a place to send those waiting to retire. With Chief Rhodes of the Fire Department and Chief Swope at the helm of our Police Department St. Charles has two very dynamic leaders. I am confident the residents of St. Charles will be served for years to come by these two, and our public safety is in good hands.
Thank you,
John Gieseke
City Councilman Ward 8
PUT ST. CHARLES FIRST
By Jerry Haferkamp
I’ll have to start this column with an apology to our new Chief of Police. Although we haven’t had a meeting of PSCF since Tim Swope was approved for the position, I’m sure we all approve of Chief Swope. I’m apologizing since I know the endorsement of PSCF, the First Capitol News or any of its writers will make his job more difficult. The small group currently in charge at the Criminal Justice Center will have their hackles raised by any sign of approval from any of the above. They are already upset that he is bringing a couple of his most trusted with him. He apparently is going into the job ready to roll. It’s good to see one of our own “home grown” citizens get the nod.
Now all we need to calm the waters is the resolution of the lawsuit that resulting from the City Council’s decision to stop paying one of the policemen for work not being done for our City. Let’s get this done with too. Let’s hope it goes in front of a competent judge around 11:30 a.m. It should be tossed in time to get the noon special at one of the Main Street eateries. It is no wonder there are so many “lawyer” jokes.
Several of the citizens at the multi-ward meeting wanted an update on what was being done in reference to the police officers that have put us all in jeopardy of a lawsuit. They didn’t get one due to secrecy of “personnel issues”. Are closed sessions really in our best interest?
Speaking of the multi-ward meeting, our local gadabout (for those of you over at stchuckwatch, a gadabout is a social person who flits from party to party), John S., published an astoundingly one-sided column the other day telling what happened at a meeting he didn’t attend. His column was a study in hearsay. For any of you who read his misrepresentation of what happened, let me point out a few things. The questions asked of Larry White, as well as other department heads and elected officials, were written by the residents attending. They were then given to their Council representative to ask of the officials and department heads. If Larry White was “set up”, it was because he put himself in front of a public irate over what transpires out on Zumbehl and Greystone, not to mention what occurs behind the Mayor’s closed doors. When Mr. White referred to Mr. Gieseke as an a__ ___e, he was calling the resident who gave the question to Gieseke an a__ __e. That was not a nice way to treat the public. Mr. White should follow Harry Truman’s advice, “If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.”
John S. also wrote that Mr. White claimed Joe Koester said St. Charles is a “police state”. That isn’t true. While Mr. Koester did use the phrase, it was used to describe the result if a police department runs a city. It was kind of an “if the shoe fits” type of situation. Apparently Mr. White, and only Mr. White, felt that the shoe fit.
I kept my question mild. I just wanted to know if the storm sewers on West Clay would ever be brought up to the level they should have been three years ago when the street was resurfaced. I didn’t think street resurfacing should include built-in potholes in the form of storm grates.
For those of you who are upset over John S.’s column, remember it is an “op-ed” column and doesn’t require any factual information. Sure, he’s biased against the Council, but cut him some slack. There wasn’t a “Patti party” to report on this week and he has to “publish or perish”.
The audit should be finished some time this month. Our meeting will be late this month in hopes the audit is made public by then. Linnemann Library, Thursday, March 24 @ 7:15 p.m.
Flood out your resume, Steve. The fat chick is about to belt out an aria.
I’ll have to start this column with an apology to our new Chief of Police. Although we haven’t had a meeting of PSCF since Tim Swope was approved for the position, I’m sure we all approve of Chief Swope. I’m apologizing since I know the endorsement of PSCF, the First Capitol News or any of its writers will make his job more difficult. The small group currently in charge at the Criminal Justice Center will have their hackles raised by any sign of approval from any of the above. They are already upset that he is bringing a couple of his most trusted with him. He apparently is going into the job ready to roll. It’s good to see one of our own “home grown” citizens get the nod.
Now all we need to calm the waters is the resolution of the lawsuit that resulting from the City Council’s decision to stop paying one of the policemen for work not being done for our City. Let’s get this done with too. Let’s hope it goes in front of a competent judge around 11:30 a.m. It should be tossed in time to get the noon special at one of the Main Street eateries. It is no wonder there are so many “lawyer” jokes.
Several of the citizens at the multi-ward meeting wanted an update on what was being done in reference to the police officers that have put us all in jeopardy of a lawsuit. They didn’t get one due to secrecy of “personnel issues”. Are closed sessions really in our best interest?
Speaking of the multi-ward meeting, our local gadabout (for those of you over at stchuckwatch, a gadabout is a social person who flits from party to party), John S., published an astoundingly one-sided column the other day telling what happened at a meeting he didn’t attend. His column was a study in hearsay. For any of you who read his misrepresentation of what happened, let me point out a few things. The questions asked of Larry White, as well as other department heads and elected officials, were written by the residents attending. They were then given to their Council representative to ask of the officials and department heads. If Larry White was “set up”, it was because he put himself in front of a public irate over what transpires out on Zumbehl and Greystone, not to mention what occurs behind the Mayor’s closed doors. When Mr. White referred to Mr. Gieseke as an a__ ___e, he was calling the resident who gave the question to Gieseke an a__ __e. That was not a nice way to treat the public. Mr. White should follow Harry Truman’s advice, “If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.”
John S. also wrote that Mr. White claimed Joe Koester said St. Charles is a “police state”. That isn’t true. While Mr. Koester did use the phrase, it was used to describe the result if a police department runs a city. It was kind of an “if the shoe fits” type of situation. Apparently Mr. White, and only Mr. White, felt that the shoe fit.
I kept my question mild. I just wanted to know if the storm sewers on West Clay would ever be brought up to the level they should have been three years ago when the street was resurfaced. I didn’t think street resurfacing should include built-in potholes in the form of storm grates.
For those of you who are upset over John S.’s column, remember it is an “op-ed” column and doesn’t require any factual information. Sure, he’s biased against the Council, but cut him some slack. There wasn’t a “Patti party” to report on this week and he has to “publish or perish”.
The audit should be finished some time this month. Our meeting will be late this month in hopes the audit is made public by then. Linnemann Library, Thursday, March 24 @ 7:15 p.m.
Flood out your resume, Steve. The fat chick is about to belt out an aria.
The Conservative Factor - ALex Spencer
By a unanimous vote, the St. Charles City Council and the Mayor have appointed former Sheriff Tim Swope to be the City Chief of Police. Mr. Swope has the ability and opportunity to remove the politics from our Police Department while applying a firm, even hand.
There was guarded enthusiasm for the appointment because it was assumed the Mayor received some sort of guarantee from Mr. Swope to keep the “hands off Tommy Mayer,” or she would not have approved the appointment. Swope has been a strong, innovative Sheriff and appears to have had no difficulty in standing up to County Executive Joe Ortwerth. We trust this appointment will bring to a close the ugly business of the Fraternal Order of Police and Mayor York using our police force for political and/or personal agendas. We wish Chief Swope the very best.
For more than 18 months, our Mayor has demonstrated to us repeatedly how it takes five people, shaking the stove while Patti holds the pan, to pop the corn! It was no surprise her “interim chief” White was there to praise the department and please Tommy Mayer. We should never forget that Mayer has leveled a multi-million dollar lawsuit against our City. After White was dismissed from a public meeting for calling a Councilman a profane name, he then misrepresented the meeting to the media as “unruly.” I always thought the one cussing was the one that was unruly!
Time will tell whether Mr. White will be a useful tool for Mr. Mayer in the upcoming lawsuit. It is highly unlikely his brief tenure as “interim chief,” at Patti’s request for the sum of $20,000, will prove beneficial to this City in any way.
There are still a number of issues facing our Mayor which pertain to possible illegal activity and/or misconduct. Her actions regarding our City’s insurance are currently under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Insurance. Our County Council is also investigating and will be deposing Carrie Caskey and others to get to the bottom of things. It appears the Mayor has willfully violated our City Charter.
There has been much public pressure exerted upon the Council members to suspend the Mayor while the investigations are pending. The Council will make their decision after receiving more information from these investigations.
While the Mayor still holds her office, she would do well to start attempting to bring unity to the City, make an effort at leadership, not permissive weakness toward department heads, and start telling the truth. The public effort to “recall the Mayor” has intensified since learning of the Mayor illegally signing contracts, executive orders, and the questionable transferring of monies from one account to another.
Always lurking out there, to put the mayor’s proper spin on events, is Chubby Chucky, the ace reporter from that other newspaper who continues to bore us with his perpetual namedropping. He has sat in his chair for so long, taking calls from his movers and shakers, it has been speculated he is actually stuck to the chair and can no longer stand up. We always knew he couldn’t stand up; we just didn’t know why. When Chucky attacks our editor, Tony Brockmeyer, on behalf of his Mayor, we think he is just real jealous because Tony is a stand-up guy and Chucky is not.
There was guarded enthusiasm for the appointment because it was assumed the Mayor received some sort of guarantee from Mr. Swope to keep the “hands off Tommy Mayer,” or she would not have approved the appointment. Swope has been a strong, innovative Sheriff and appears to have had no difficulty in standing up to County Executive Joe Ortwerth. We trust this appointment will bring to a close the ugly business of the Fraternal Order of Police and Mayor York using our police force for political and/or personal agendas. We wish Chief Swope the very best.
For more than 18 months, our Mayor has demonstrated to us repeatedly how it takes five people, shaking the stove while Patti holds the pan, to pop the corn! It was no surprise her “interim chief” White was there to praise the department and please Tommy Mayer. We should never forget that Mayer has leveled a multi-million dollar lawsuit against our City. After White was dismissed from a public meeting for calling a Councilman a profane name, he then misrepresented the meeting to the media as “unruly.” I always thought the one cussing was the one that was unruly!
Time will tell whether Mr. White will be a useful tool for Mr. Mayer in the upcoming lawsuit. It is highly unlikely his brief tenure as “interim chief,” at Patti’s request for the sum of $20,000, will prove beneficial to this City in any way.
There are still a number of issues facing our Mayor which pertain to possible illegal activity and/or misconduct. Her actions regarding our City’s insurance are currently under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Insurance. Our County Council is also investigating and will be deposing Carrie Caskey and others to get to the bottom of things. It appears the Mayor has willfully violated our City Charter.
There has been much public pressure exerted upon the Council members to suspend the Mayor while the investigations are pending. The Council will make their decision after receiving more information from these investigations.
While the Mayor still holds her office, she would do well to start attempting to bring unity to the City, make an effort at leadership, not permissive weakness toward department heads, and start telling the truth. The public effort to “recall the Mayor” has intensified since learning of the Mayor illegally signing contracts, executive orders, and the questionable transferring of monies from one account to another.
Always lurking out there, to put the mayor’s proper spin on events, is Chubby Chucky, the ace reporter from that other newspaper who continues to bore us with his perpetual namedropping. He has sat in his chair for so long, taking calls from his movers and shakers, it has been speculated he is actually stuck to the chair and can no longer stand up. We always knew he couldn’t stand up; we just didn’t know why. When Chucky attacks our editor, Tony Brockmeyer, on behalf of his Mayor, we think he is just real jealous because Tony is a stand-up guy and Chucky is not.
A Little Bit of History
A Little Bit of History
By Clara E. Scott
St. Charles Woolen Mills, located at 920 South Main Street, will be the topic of this “little bit of history”.
Louis Blanchette first identified this site as an ideal site for a gristmill in 1769 and was the first woolen mill to be erected in St. Charles. Pierre Choteau, who was granted one of the first land grants here, later made improvements on the old Blanchette grist mill, but a flood of 1788 carried most of the structure (including Choteau’s dual water wheel) away. The considerable volume of water that rushed through the Blanchette Creek into the Missouri River drove the wheel for the mill. The mill specialized in making woolen blankets and mittens.
Choteau was the younger brother of one co-founder of St. Louis and a stepson to the other. He made the earliest surviving survey of St. Charles in 1789. President Thomas Jefferson later appointed him “Indian Agent for Upper Louisiana” in 1804.
It has been ascertained through remodeling efforts that there have been five separate additions to this building over the years. (Note the unusual number of windows for a “mill”). Frankin S. Newbill enlarged the mill and increased production capacity tenfold, but went bust in 1840. In 1848, this was a site of a German School for children affiliated with Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
On July 2, 1851, future Mayor William P. Gibbs and Charles H. Broadwater converted the mill site into the town’s first woolen mill. Blanchette Creek (later called Factory Branch) powered the mill wheel. For many years, elderly women supplemented their income by coming here to piecemeal sewing work back when the heels of stockings had to be finished by hand.
During the War Between the States, the mill building was temporarily occupied by Yankee troops and used to imprison local citizens who refused to take the Oath of Loyalty to the Union. Gibbs reopened the mill after the war with Edward C. Cunningham but soon sold out to Robert A. Walton. Gibbs was back with new partners from 1872-1882, but finally gave up the ghost after this third attempt. It was later used briefly as a corncob pipe factory.
In 1922, Sarah Frasier, who established the first Christian Scientist Church in St. Charles County, operated a tomato canning business here.
In 1966, the building was badly damaged by fire, but it has been restored to its earlier appearances is now part of the South Main Commercial District.
(My Notes: I have lived here in St. Charles since 1949 and seem to remember that this site once was a brewery, then Broadwaters Restaurant, now the notable TRAILHEAD BREWERY. If anyone can help me out with more history on this site, please contact me at the First Capitol News and I will add additional information to this “little bit of history”.
(Information for this article obtained from McElhiney’s Guidebook to Historic St. Charles, Missouri, Richard G. Sperandio. Editor, with his permission).
By Clara E. Scott
St. Charles Woolen Mills, located at 920 South Main Street, will be the topic of this “little bit of history”.
Louis Blanchette first identified this site as an ideal site for a gristmill in 1769 and was the first woolen mill to be erected in St. Charles. Pierre Choteau, who was granted one of the first land grants here, later made improvements on the old Blanchette grist mill, but a flood of 1788 carried most of the structure (including Choteau’s dual water wheel) away. The considerable volume of water that rushed through the Blanchette Creek into the Missouri River drove the wheel for the mill. The mill specialized in making woolen blankets and mittens.
Choteau was the younger brother of one co-founder of St. Louis and a stepson to the other. He made the earliest surviving survey of St. Charles in 1789. President Thomas Jefferson later appointed him “Indian Agent for Upper Louisiana” in 1804.
It has been ascertained through remodeling efforts that there have been five separate additions to this building over the years. (Note the unusual number of windows for a “mill”). Frankin S. Newbill enlarged the mill and increased production capacity tenfold, but went bust in 1840. In 1848, this was a site of a German School for children affiliated with Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
On July 2, 1851, future Mayor William P. Gibbs and Charles H. Broadwater converted the mill site into the town’s first woolen mill. Blanchette Creek (later called Factory Branch) powered the mill wheel. For many years, elderly women supplemented their income by coming here to piecemeal sewing work back when the heels of stockings had to be finished by hand.
During the War Between the States, the mill building was temporarily occupied by Yankee troops and used to imprison local citizens who refused to take the Oath of Loyalty to the Union. Gibbs reopened the mill after the war with Edward C. Cunningham but soon sold out to Robert A. Walton. Gibbs was back with new partners from 1872-1882, but finally gave up the ghost after this third attempt. It was later used briefly as a corncob pipe factory.
In 1922, Sarah Frasier, who established the first Christian Scientist Church in St. Charles County, operated a tomato canning business here.
In 1966, the building was badly damaged by fire, but it has been restored to its earlier appearances is now part of the South Main Commercial District.
(My Notes: I have lived here in St. Charles since 1949 and seem to remember that this site once was a brewery, then Broadwaters Restaurant, now the notable TRAILHEAD BREWERY. If anyone can help me out with more history on this site, please contact me at the First Capitol News and I will add additional information to this “little bit of history”.
(Information for this article obtained from McElhiney’s Guidebook to Historic St. Charles, Missouri, Richard G. Sperandio. Editor, with his permission).
Straight Talk Councilman Bob Hoepfner
I am introducing a bill about dog control. It is aimed at the owner of the person in possession of the dog and not at the dog itself. There have been several instances of dog attacks in the city and it is time that we held the owners responsible and put some teeth, pardon the pun into the ordinance of dog control.
The outlook of Senator Chuck Gross’s bill to help out on the property taxes via the casino money does not look promising for this year. Maybe we can get it through next year.
Call Senator Gross and let him know you support his bill.
On another issue, that being the consolidation of the fire districts and the City of St. Charles fire department and the county fire districts, just want you to know that I support the County Council and Executive Orthwerth in this endeavor. It is time we get back to supporting the taxpayers and not employees.
Well the convention center is going to open soon. It is my understanding that the couty sports authority is going to spend $500,000 on parties. That is a disservice to the taxpayers because that extra money should come to the city to help pay down the bond debt that the City spent to build this. Why would I say that,? You know we are not interested in paying off any debts. We are just interested in going into deeper debt. What a joke. This Councilman is against going further in debt and we don’t need to be making loan payments on projects but keep the faith and we will talk to you next week.
The outlook of Senator Chuck Gross’s bill to help out on the property taxes via the casino money does not look promising for this year. Maybe we can get it through next year.
Call Senator Gross and let him know you support his bill.
On another issue, that being the consolidation of the fire districts and the City of St. Charles fire department and the county fire districts, just want you to know that I support the County Council and Executive Orthwerth in this endeavor. It is time we get back to supporting the taxpayers and not employees.
Well the convention center is going to open soon. It is my understanding that the couty sports authority is going to spend $500,000 on parties. That is a disservice to the taxpayers because that extra money should come to the city to help pay down the bond debt that the City spent to build this. Why would I say that,? You know we are not interested in paying off any debts. We are just interested in going into deeper debt. What a joke. This Councilman is against going further in debt and we don’t need to be making loan payments on projects but keep the faith and we will talk to you next week.
Mike McMurran - Sports Editor
Webster’s Pocket Dictionary defines the word character as “A quality or trait that distinguishes an individual or group.” As the old joke goes, next to the definition is a picture Saint Charles West coach Terry Hollander and his entire 2004-05 basketball squad.
Hollander’s Warriors could have, and many in attendance would say should have, blamed their 50-47 loss to Westminster Christian Academy on the officials. The fact is the Warriors were whistled for 21 personal fouls to Westminster’s 12. The fact is the most fouls any Westminster player had was 3. The fact is the Warrior’s defensive specialist, senior Eric Crider fouled out with five, while the team’s leading scorer and floor leader Jeff Coffey finished with 4. The fact is Westminster hit 16 of 25 free throws while West hit 3 of 6. The fact is the Warriors failed to attempt a single free throw in the second half, not one!
Regular readers of this column know all to well I subscribe to the Oelklaus philosophy of officiating; officials never determine the outcome of a contest. Philosophies are very much like religions, and Saturday’s contest certainly toyed with my faith, almost to the point of turning me into a convert.
Hollander would have no part of it. Rather than focus on the officiating, he wanted to discuss his team’s character. Rather than make mention of the questionable “moving screen” call on Crider that negated freshman phenom Kramer Soderberg’s three pointer, he wanted to praise his team’s effort. “I have always wondered what it would be like to coach the perfect team; perfect in that they do everything a coach asks of them. A team that was limited in their athletic ability, but made up for it with desire and work ethic. I now know just what it would be like, because those boys in the locker room are just such a team.” Was that a bead of sweat or tear on his cheek?
When told his team did not get a free throw in the second half, St. Hollander acted as if he were unaware of such, “Is that right,” he said, “well maybe we didn’t deserve one.” Bad breaks, he called it,.“We had a couple of bad breaks that cost us 5 points. Those 5 points changed the outcome of the game.”
The Warriors finished the season with a 23-7 record. In addition to their second district title in the past three years, and their sectional victory over St. Francis Borgia, they earned the Gateway Athletic Conference North division title. Not bad, not bad at all for a group of young men with “limited athletic ability.”
Congratulations men, you not only represented your school, you represented your families and the entire St. Charles community very proudly.
Hollander’s Warriors could have, and many in attendance would say should have, blamed their 50-47 loss to Westminster Christian Academy on the officials. The fact is the Warriors were whistled for 21 personal fouls to Westminster’s 12. The fact is the most fouls any Westminster player had was 3. The fact is the Warrior’s defensive specialist, senior Eric Crider fouled out with five, while the team’s leading scorer and floor leader Jeff Coffey finished with 4. The fact is Westminster hit 16 of 25 free throws while West hit 3 of 6. The fact is the Warriors failed to attempt a single free throw in the second half, not one!
Regular readers of this column know all to well I subscribe to the Oelklaus philosophy of officiating; officials never determine the outcome of a contest. Philosophies are very much like religions, and Saturday’s contest certainly toyed with my faith, almost to the point of turning me into a convert.
Hollander would have no part of it. Rather than focus on the officiating, he wanted to discuss his team’s character. Rather than make mention of the questionable “moving screen” call on Crider that negated freshman phenom Kramer Soderberg’s three pointer, he wanted to praise his team’s effort. “I have always wondered what it would be like to coach the perfect team; perfect in that they do everything a coach asks of them. A team that was limited in their athletic ability, but made up for it with desire and work ethic. I now know just what it would be like, because those boys in the locker room are just such a team.” Was that a bead of sweat or tear on his cheek?
When told his team did not get a free throw in the second half, St. Hollander acted as if he were unaware of such, “Is that right,” he said, “well maybe we didn’t deserve one.” Bad breaks, he called it,.“We had a couple of bad breaks that cost us 5 points. Those 5 points changed the outcome of the game.”
The Warriors finished the season with a 23-7 record. In addition to their second district title in the past three years, and their sectional victory over St. Francis Borgia, they earned the Gateway Athletic Conference North division title. Not bad, not bad at all for a group of young men with “limited athletic ability.”
Congratulations men, you not only represented your school, you represented your families and the entire St. Charles community very proudly.
The Thrill of Victory; The Agony of Defeat
Saint Charles West’s dream
season comes up short
Warriors fail to take a free throw in the second half
By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
It is hard to defend a 6’7” forward when your tallest forward is some 3 inches shorter. Saint Charles West found this out the hard way when they ran into Westminster’s senior forward Andrew Wiele Saturday afternoon at the new Hazelwood Central Field house. Wiele not only was a force to deal with on the low post, he was perfect from the 3 point arc going 3 for 3.
In what can only be described as ironic, West senior forward Eric Crider opened the day’s scoring with a 3 pointer, the old fashion way, by being fouled whiled shooting, hitting his shot and making the bonus shot. Ironic because it took West all of 1:13 to take their first free throw of the game; they would take only 5 more free throws the remainder of the contest, all in the first half.
Head coach Terry Hollander’s Warriors battled Westminster point for point for the first half. Senior guard Mike Ford put the Warriors on top 26-22 at half time when he buried at 3-pointer at the buzzer. “We took some momentum into halftime, but we weren’t able to build on it the way we would’ve liked,” Hollander offered. “Obviously we would’ve preferred to play with the lead, and we talk a lot about getting control in those first three minutes after halftime. But today Westminster came out strong, hit a couple of shots and hung right with us.”
West did its best to try and stop the taller Wildcats. Foul trouble (Coffey and Crider both playing with 4) forced the Warriors to play a zone defense. Westminster’s 6’3” guard Jeffrey Ehrhardt, who was held scoreless in the first three quarters of the contest, scored 10 points in the closing quarter, including 7 straight free throws to nail the coffin closed for West.
West had one last chance with 6 seconds remaining. Freshman guard Kramer Soderberg (9 pts) took a three pointer under heavy defensive pressure from the Wildcats, ending the Warriors’ dream season.
“I have always wondered what it would be like to coach the perfect team; perfect in that they do everything a coach asks of them,” said Hollander. “A team that was limited in their athletic ability, but made up for it with desire and work ethic. I now know just what it would be like, because those boys in the locker room are just such a team.” He said following the game.
season comes up short
Warriors fail to take a free throw in the second half
By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
It is hard to defend a 6’7” forward when your tallest forward is some 3 inches shorter. Saint Charles West found this out the hard way when they ran into Westminster’s senior forward Andrew Wiele Saturday afternoon at the new Hazelwood Central Field house. Wiele not only was a force to deal with on the low post, he was perfect from the 3 point arc going 3 for 3.
In what can only be described as ironic, West senior forward Eric Crider opened the day’s scoring with a 3 pointer, the old fashion way, by being fouled whiled shooting, hitting his shot and making the bonus shot. Ironic because it took West all of 1:13 to take their first free throw of the game; they would take only 5 more free throws the remainder of the contest, all in the first half.
Head coach Terry Hollander’s Warriors battled Westminster point for point for the first half. Senior guard Mike Ford put the Warriors on top 26-22 at half time when he buried at 3-pointer at the buzzer. “We took some momentum into halftime, but we weren’t able to build on it the way we would’ve liked,” Hollander offered. “Obviously we would’ve preferred to play with the lead, and we talk a lot about getting control in those first three minutes after halftime. But today Westminster came out strong, hit a couple of shots and hung right with us.”
West did its best to try and stop the taller Wildcats. Foul trouble (Coffey and Crider both playing with 4) forced the Warriors to play a zone defense. Westminster’s 6’3” guard Jeffrey Ehrhardt, who was held scoreless in the first three quarters of the contest, scored 10 points in the closing quarter, including 7 straight free throws to nail the coffin closed for West.
West had one last chance with 6 seconds remaining. Freshman guard Kramer Soderberg (9 pts) took a three pointer under heavy defensive pressure from the Wildcats, ending the Warriors’ dream season.
“I have always wondered what it would be like to coach the perfect team; perfect in that they do everything a coach asks of them,” said Hollander. “A team that was limited in their athletic ability, but made up for it with desire and work ethic. I now know just what it would be like, because those boys in the locker room are just such a team.” He said following the game.
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