By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
Despite numerous attempts by City Administrator Allan Williams and Councilman Mike Weller, Ward 5, the Pearl Ridge Subdivision flooding problem received a 8 – 1 vote of the City Council to proceed with a contract to install a storm water drain, Weller being the only dissenting vote. This project has been in the news for over three years due to the enormous safety hazard it poses to the children of nearby Harvest Ridge Elementary School.
After a storm the fast rising water raises quickly to levels, which sometimes submerge the subdivision’s electric station during heavy rain and floods, several new homes in the subdivision along with the City streets. The Pearl Ridge Subdivision backs up to the Harvest Ridge Elementary Schools Playground/Baseball field and neighbors have taken photos of the children often times playing and swimming in the storm water which can take up to two days to drain. The subdivision’s development was accepted by the City of St. Charles several years ago, despite the fact it did not provide a storm water drain required by City ordinance. This issue was further complicated because in 2000, the city staff not only allowed the developer to violate the city ordinance, but allowed the developer to disregard a Missouri State Statute, which prohibits developments from using sinkholes to drain storm water. The Department of Natural Resources has recently cited the City of St Charles, informing them that this matter needs to be corrected.
Councilman Brown of Ward 3 lives in the Pearl Ridge subdivision and has been a strong advocate for the residents he represents. Brown recently voted not to renew City Administrator Williams’ contract with the City of St. Charles and has challenged Williams for his close ties with developers doing business in St. Charles. This subject led to a debate, which lasted almost an hour as City Administrator Allan Williams attempted to block the Council’s affirmative vote to repari the Pearl Ridge flooding problem.
On October 18, 2005, the Mayor received the final approval from the Council on a budget amendment, in which she allocated and transferred funds to repair the storm water flooding project. Allan Williams informed the Council he had removed the funds, which they had already approved, from the new 2006 operating budget. Council President Riddler took Allan Williams to task concerning the lack of authority to remove the money. Riddler told Williams the money, which was approved by the Council, could not be transferred after the contract had been authorized and construction started. Williams left the Council chambers several times to get answers from someone in the hallway to reply to Council President Riddler’s questioning. Williams, after returning from one of his short sessions in the hallway came back in and said the City attorney had told him the Mayor should veto this bill because the city failed to have the money budgeted before passing the bill.
In the end, Councilman Bob Kneemiller of Ward 4 indicated that despite the fact that many of his allies would be mad at him for moving ahead with this project, he would vote in favor of it because it was the right thing to do. Kneemiller went on to say that he was not on the Council when this project was approved, and he felt the developer was the one responsible for the situation and urged the Council to fight the developer vigorously to recoup the taxpayers’ money and to fix the problem.
Councilman Weller begged and pleaded and admonished his allies on the board to join him in voting against resolving the problem. Weller said he would rather buy the homes that were affected than to fix a problem even though he acknowledged its affect was far reaching beyond the Pearl Ridge Subdivision. Weller said he knew it wasn’t a popular stance, but he indicated he felt he should protect the County residents before helping residents who live in the City. The Council discussed the fact that other neighborhoods were affected because they could not tie in to the City’s sewer system due to flooding caused by this project.
Councilman Brown told the First Capitol News, “In every city government you have politics and in some, political fighting. The residents of St. Charles can be proud their Council, with the exception of Weller, put the safety of the children and our community before petty politics. I could not believe Weller, earlier he had publicly announced his support for this project and took the time to write the residents. He told them he was a strong supporter of the project. Weller gave his word to the Council he would support the project. Instead, he turned around and voted no because of a big money developer he has become closely associated with.
On the other hand, I have great admiration for Councilman Kneemiller who said I am not going to let politics stand in the way of doing what’s right for the residents of St. Charles. I know he and Councilman Muench will receive a lot of pressure for their support, but they will sleep much easier at night. I want to assure every resident in our great city, that I, too, will always put the health and safety of our community before politics. I want to apologize to the residents for Councilman Weller’s childish, unprofessional, and hateful behavior.”
Williams informed the Council that this issue was not over yet and that he would urge the Mayor not to sign the contract until the proper monies were retransferred to the budget and this would take the Council’s approval. Williams said that until this matter is addressed, “We will not proceed with any construction.” Williams and Weller also discussed getting St. Charles County Executive Joe Ortwerth to intercede with this project. Williams has placed this budget item for discussion on the next regularly scheduled meeting’s agenda.
