By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
During an Executive Session of the City Council the members of the Council by a vote of 10 - 0 agreed to start an investigation into the apparent unauthorized signing of a contract by the Mayor. The City Charter gives the Council authority to conduct investigations and to subpoena witnesses.
Section 3.13 of the Charter reads; Investigations. The council may make investigations into the affairs of the city and the conduct of any city department, office or agency and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require the production of evidence. Any person who fails or refuses to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise of these powers by the council shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as may be prescribed by ordinance.
City Hall sources say the Council will conduct hearings and take depositions from witnesses called to testify. If the investigation determines the Mayor violated the charter in signing a contract illegally, impeachment proceedings could be commenced.
As reported on February 5, 2005, we were told by our source that Express Scripts, the company the Mayor signed the contract with, was expected to ask for damages in excess of $200,000.
On February 5, 2005, the First Capitol News reported; ..... Recently the St. Charles City Council asked the City Administration to bid the City’s health insurance. Since the polices were due for renewal, the Administration informed the City Council that there were out clauses and the policies in force would be renewed. The companies would be told the Council was taking bids and would exercise the out clauses provided for in the policies if they were able to obtain better rates.
After appointing a new broker of record and obtaining quotes from several companies, the Council members determined the City could save between $700,000 and $1 million in insurance premiums by changing companies. The City Council members told the administration to notify the insurance companies the City was exercising their right to cancel the policies.
After the companies were notified, the City was contacted by Express Scripts, who provided prescription drugs to the employees. The City was told there was no out clause in their contract. In fact, their contract had been renewed in June of 2004 and had been signed by Mayor York.
A search of City Hall failed to locate any such contract. The City Clerk, who by state law is the keeper of all city records, could not locate a contract with Express Scripts and claimed no knowledge of it. The City legal department was not aware the contract existed and could not locate a copy. Express Scripts provided the City a copy of the contract, which was signed by Mayor York.
Sources say on June 22, 2004, Carrie Caskey, former St. Charles City Human Resources Director, requested and received Mayor Patti York’s signature on a contract with Express Scripts Inc. (ESI). The contract was for a three-year period and was part of the City’s prescription drug benefit plan.
Seabury Smith and Marsh Advantage, who were previously handling the insurance for the City, both recommended this program and documents show Seabury would be paid .35 cents to $1 for each prescription filled by Express Scripts. ESI also promised numerous rebates that would be paid for special prescriptions.
The contract with ESI was signed and dated, yet no record of the contract existed at City Hall. Council President Rory Riddler told the First Capitol News, “It is highly unusual for no one in City Hall to be in possession of the City’s copy of a signed contract. Our City Clerk’s office and City Attorney’s office are both extremely careful about how records are kept and would have a copy on file if it had gone through proper channels.” State Law requires the City Clerk to be the keeper of all records and this contract was never submitted to her office.
Sources within City Hall tell us Caskey did not follow the proper protocol which requires the City’s legal department to review the contract before passing it on to the Mayor. Also, it appears York violated a City Ordinance by executing the contract without the approval of the City Council.
Section 40.23 of the City’s code of ordinances states “No contract for the provision of any services, materials, supplies, or equipment shall be extended for a period in excess of one year without an opportunity for public bidding or a request for proposals, unless the extension is by the Mayor and City Council by ordinances.”
This section also provides for a penalty if any violation occurs, 10.99 of the code of ordinances says, (A) “Whenever in this code or in any ordinance of the city, any act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense, or the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful or a misdemeanor, except where a specific statutory penalty is provided for, the violation of any such provision shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both such fine and imprisonment, as may be just for any offense, recoverable with cost of suit: provided, however, that, where the city and the state both prescribe the same offense, the penalty for violating the city provision shall be the same. (B) Each act of violation and every day upon which a violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense. (C) The failure of any officer or employee of the city to perform any official duty imposed by this code shall not subject such officer or employee to the penalty imposed by this section unless a penalty is specifically provided.” The ordinance provides the above penalty. City Hall sources said both Mayor York and Caskey could be prosecuted under this section.
Marsh Advantage was the broker of record, Seabury and Smith the Third Party administrator and Mercer the insurance consultant for the City of St. Charles. These companies are all subsidiaries of Marsh and McLennan who recently settled with the Attorney General of New York for $850 million. The settlement might include money for St. Charles if it is determined Marsh violated the law in dealing with the City.
On July 13, 2004, Marsh representatives gave a presentation reviewing the City’s health insurance plan and the cost associated with the plan. During the meeting, the City Council was told that using benchmarks provided by Mercer, the City is just below the average increase.
Councilman Mark Brown told the FCN, “Of course we will appear to be paying comparable rates when we are being compared to only Marsh plans by the Marsh consulting company, Mercer. When you get down to it, if you are charging everyone higher rates, then ours will naturally look normal.” Brown’s comments appear to have merit. The new Broker of Record quickly pointed out every bid the City received for insurance was lower than the bid Marsh claimed was the best the City could hope for. Brown went on to say, “Anytime you meet with the resistance this Council met regarding the insurance, you know something is wrong.”
During the presentation the Marsh representative explained her close relationship with the City and Caskey’s department. Some on the Council believe this close relationship may be the reason for the blatant disregard for policy, procedure and ordinances when dealing with contracts that obligate the taxpayer’s money. Caskey left the City’s employment during the bid process and after it became apparent the City would no longer use the services of Marsh.
Councilman John Gieseke was very outspoken about Marsh, “This Company has violated the trust of the people they claim to represent, and their motive was profit. I argued in the past that having one company as the only source of information was dangerous, but Caskey fought for Marsh all the way. The cost savings we were able to achieve, and now the backroom deal with this contract demonstrates bad things can happen when you deal in this manner.”
Since the Council took office, they have complained about city staff directing and entering into contracts and then presenting them to the Council after the contract had been executed. It appears this happened with this contract. ESI told the City they are not willing to release the City from their obligation. The City might incur costs upwards of $200,000. This has many on the Council questioning why York and Caskey would enter into a contract knowing the council had not been informed and knowing they did not have the authority to do so.
Friday, March 04, 2005
By 10-0 Vote City Council Initiates An Investigation Into The Unauthorized Signing of Insurance Contract By Mayor
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
During an Executive Session of the City Council the members of the Council by a vote of 10 - 0 agreed to start an investigation into the apparent unauthorized signing of a contract by the Mayor. The City Charter gives the Council authority to conduct investigations and to subpoena witnesses.
Section 3.13 of the Charter reads; Investigations. The council may make investigations into the affairs of the city and the conduct of any city department, office or agency and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require the production of evidence. Any person who fails or refuses to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise of these powers by the council shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as may be prescribed by ordinance.
City Hall sources say the Council will conduct hearings and take depositions from witnesses called to testify. If the investigation determines the Mayor violated the charter in signing a contract illegally, impeachment proceedings could be commenced.
As reported on February 5, 2005, we were told by our source that Express Scripts, the company the Mayor signed the contract with, was expected to ask for damages in excess of $200,000.
On February 5, 2005, the First Capitol News reported; ..... Recently the St. Charles City Council asked the City Administration to bid the City’s health insurance. Since the polices were due for renewal, the Administration informed the City Council that there were out clauses and the policies in force would be renewed. The companies would be told the Council was taking bids and would exercise the out clauses provided for in the policies if they were able to obtain better rates.
After appointing a new broker of record and obtaining quotes from several companies, the Council members determined the City could save between $700,000 and $1 million in insurance premiums by changing companies. The City Council members told the administration to notify the insurance companies the City was exercising their right to cancel the policies.
After the companies were notified, the City was contacted by Express Scripts, who provided prescription drugs to the employees. The City was told there was no out clause in their contract. In fact, their contract had been renewed in June of 2004 and had been signed by Mayor York.
A search of City Hall failed to locate any such contract. The City Clerk, who by state law is the keeper of all city records, could not locate a contract with Express Scripts and claimed no knowledge of it. The City legal department was not aware the contract existed and could not locate a copy. Express Scripts provided the City a copy of the contract, which was signed by Mayor York.
Sources say on June 22, 2004, Carrie Caskey, former St. Charles City Human Resources Director, requested and received Mayor Patti York’s signature on a contract with Express Scripts Inc. (ESI). The contract was for a three-year period and was part of the City’s prescription drug benefit plan.
Seabury Smith and Marsh Advantage, who were previously handling the insurance for the City, both recommended this program and documents show Seabury would be paid .35 cents to $1 for each prescription filled by Express Scripts. ESI also promised numerous rebates that would be paid for special prescriptions.
The contract with ESI was signed and dated, yet no record of the contract existed at City Hall. Council President Rory Riddler told the First Capitol News, “It is highly unusual for no one in City Hall to be in possession of the City’s copy of a signed contract. Our City Clerk’s office and City Attorney’s office are both extremely careful about how records are kept and would have a copy on file if it had gone through proper channels.” State Law requires the City Clerk to be the keeper of all records and this contract was never submitted to her office.
Sources within City Hall tell us Caskey did not follow the proper protocol which requires the City’s legal department to review the contract before passing it on to the Mayor. Also, it appears York violated a City Ordinance by executing the contract without the approval of the City Council.
Section 40.23 of the City’s code of ordinances states “No contract for the provision of any services, materials, supplies, or equipment shall be extended for a period in excess of one year without an opportunity for public bidding or a request for proposals, unless the extension is by the Mayor and City Council by ordinances.”
This section also provides for a penalty if any violation occurs, 10.99 of the code of ordinances says, (A) “Whenever in this code or in any ordinance of the city, any act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense, or the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful or a misdemeanor, except where a specific statutory penalty is provided for, the violation of any such provision shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both such fine and imprisonment, as may be just for any offense, recoverable with cost of suit: provided, however, that, where the city and the state both prescribe the same offense, the penalty for violating the city provision shall be the same. (B) Each act of violation and every day upon which a violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense. (C) The failure of any officer or employee of the city to perform any official duty imposed by this code shall not subject such officer or employee to the penalty imposed by this section unless a penalty is specifically provided.” The ordinance provides the above penalty. City Hall sources said both Mayor York and Caskey could be prosecuted under this section.
Marsh Advantage was the broker of record, Seabury and Smith the Third Party administrator and Mercer the insurance consultant for the City of St. Charles. These companies are all subsidiaries of Marsh and McLennan who recently settled with the Attorney General of New York for $850 million. The settlement might include money for St. Charles if it is determined Marsh violated the law in dealing with the City.
On July 13, 2004, Marsh representatives gave a presentation reviewing the City’s health insurance plan and the cost associated with the plan. During the meeting, the City Council was told that using benchmarks provided by Mercer, the City is just below the average increase.
Councilman Mark Brown told the FCN, “Of course we will appear to be paying comparable rates when we are being compared to only Marsh plans by the Marsh consulting company, Mercer. When you get down to it, if you are charging everyone higher rates, then ours will naturally look normal.” Brown’s comments appear to have merit. The new Broker of Record quickly pointed out every bid the City received for insurance was lower than the bid Marsh claimed was the best the City could hope for. Brown went on to say, “Anytime you meet with the resistance this Council met regarding the insurance, you know something is wrong.”
During the presentation the Marsh representative explained her close relationship with the City and Caskey’s department. Some on the Council believe this close relationship may be the reason for the blatant disregard for policy, procedure and ordinances when dealing with contracts that obligate the taxpayer’s money. Caskey left the City’s employment during the bid process and after it became apparent the City would no longer use the services of Marsh.
Councilman John Gieseke was very outspoken about Marsh, “This Company has violated the trust of the people they claim to represent, and their motive was profit. I argued in the past that having one company as the only source of information was dangerous, but Caskey fought for Marsh all the way. The cost savings we were able to achieve, and now the backroom deal with this contract demonstrates bad things can happen when you deal in this manner.”
Since the Council took office, they have complained about city staff directing and entering into contracts and then presenting them to the Council after the contract had been executed. It appears this happened with this contract. ESI told the City they are not willing to release the City from their obligation. The City might incur costs upwards of $200,000. This has many on the Council questioning why York and Caskey would enter into a contract knowing the council had not been informed and knowing they did not have the authority to do so.
During an Executive Session of the City Council the members of the Council by a vote of 10 - 0 agreed to start an investigation into the apparent unauthorized signing of a contract by the Mayor. The City Charter gives the Council authority to conduct investigations and to subpoena witnesses.
Section 3.13 of the Charter reads; Investigations. The council may make investigations into the affairs of the city and the conduct of any city department, office or agency and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require the production of evidence. Any person who fails or refuses to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise of these powers by the council shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as may be prescribed by ordinance.
City Hall sources say the Council will conduct hearings and take depositions from witnesses called to testify. If the investigation determines the Mayor violated the charter in signing a contract illegally, impeachment proceedings could be commenced.
As reported on February 5, 2005, we were told by our source that Express Scripts, the company the Mayor signed the contract with, was expected to ask for damages in excess of $200,000.
On February 5, 2005, the First Capitol News reported; ..... Recently the St. Charles City Council asked the City Administration to bid the City’s health insurance. Since the polices were due for renewal, the Administration informed the City Council that there were out clauses and the policies in force would be renewed. The companies would be told the Council was taking bids and would exercise the out clauses provided for in the policies if they were able to obtain better rates.
After appointing a new broker of record and obtaining quotes from several companies, the Council members determined the City could save between $700,000 and $1 million in insurance premiums by changing companies. The City Council members told the administration to notify the insurance companies the City was exercising their right to cancel the policies.
After the companies were notified, the City was contacted by Express Scripts, who provided prescription drugs to the employees. The City was told there was no out clause in their contract. In fact, their contract had been renewed in June of 2004 and had been signed by Mayor York.
A search of City Hall failed to locate any such contract. The City Clerk, who by state law is the keeper of all city records, could not locate a contract with Express Scripts and claimed no knowledge of it. The City legal department was not aware the contract existed and could not locate a copy. Express Scripts provided the City a copy of the contract, which was signed by Mayor York.
Sources say on June 22, 2004, Carrie Caskey, former St. Charles City Human Resources Director, requested and received Mayor Patti York’s signature on a contract with Express Scripts Inc. (ESI). The contract was for a three-year period and was part of the City’s prescription drug benefit plan.
Seabury Smith and Marsh Advantage, who were previously handling the insurance for the City, both recommended this program and documents show Seabury would be paid .35 cents to $1 for each prescription filled by Express Scripts. ESI also promised numerous rebates that would be paid for special prescriptions.
The contract with ESI was signed and dated, yet no record of the contract existed at City Hall. Council President Rory Riddler told the First Capitol News, “It is highly unusual for no one in City Hall to be in possession of the City’s copy of a signed contract. Our City Clerk’s office and City Attorney’s office are both extremely careful about how records are kept and would have a copy on file if it had gone through proper channels.” State Law requires the City Clerk to be the keeper of all records and this contract was never submitted to her office.
Sources within City Hall tell us Caskey did not follow the proper protocol which requires the City’s legal department to review the contract before passing it on to the Mayor. Also, it appears York violated a City Ordinance by executing the contract without the approval of the City Council.
Section 40.23 of the City’s code of ordinances states “No contract for the provision of any services, materials, supplies, or equipment shall be extended for a period in excess of one year without an opportunity for public bidding or a request for proposals, unless the extension is by the Mayor and City Council by ordinances.”
This section also provides for a penalty if any violation occurs, 10.99 of the code of ordinances says, (A) “Whenever in this code or in any ordinance of the city, any act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense, or the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful or a misdemeanor, except where a specific statutory penalty is provided for, the violation of any such provision shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both such fine and imprisonment, as may be just for any offense, recoverable with cost of suit: provided, however, that, where the city and the state both prescribe the same offense, the penalty for violating the city provision shall be the same. (B) Each act of violation and every day upon which a violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense. (C) The failure of any officer or employee of the city to perform any official duty imposed by this code shall not subject such officer or employee to the penalty imposed by this section unless a penalty is specifically provided.” The ordinance provides the above penalty. City Hall sources said both Mayor York and Caskey could be prosecuted under this section.
Marsh Advantage was the broker of record, Seabury and Smith the Third Party administrator and Mercer the insurance consultant for the City of St. Charles. These companies are all subsidiaries of Marsh and McLennan who recently settled with the Attorney General of New York for $850 million. The settlement might include money for St. Charles if it is determined Marsh violated the law in dealing with the City.
On July 13, 2004, Marsh representatives gave a presentation reviewing the City’s health insurance plan and the cost associated with the plan. During the meeting, the City Council was told that using benchmarks provided by Mercer, the City is just below the average increase.
Councilman Mark Brown told the FCN, “Of course we will appear to be paying comparable rates when we are being compared to only Marsh plans by the Marsh consulting company, Mercer. When you get down to it, if you are charging everyone higher rates, then ours will naturally look normal.” Brown’s comments appear to have merit. The new Broker of Record quickly pointed out every bid the City received for insurance was lower than the bid Marsh claimed was the best the City could hope for. Brown went on to say, “Anytime you meet with the resistance this Council met regarding the insurance, you know something is wrong.”
During the presentation the Marsh representative explained her close relationship with the City and Caskey’s department. Some on the Council believe this close relationship may be the reason for the blatant disregard for policy, procedure and ordinances when dealing with contracts that obligate the taxpayer’s money. Caskey left the City’s employment during the bid process and after it became apparent the City would no longer use the services of Marsh.
Councilman John Gieseke was very outspoken about Marsh, “This Company has violated the trust of the people they claim to represent, and their motive was profit. I argued in the past that having one company as the only source of information was dangerous, but Caskey fought for Marsh all the way. The cost savings we were able to achieve, and now the backroom deal with this contract demonstrates bad things can happen when you deal in this manner.”
Since the Council took office, they have complained about city staff directing and entering into contracts and then presenting them to the Council after the contract had been executed. It appears this happened with this contract. ESI told the City they are not willing to release the City from their obligation. The City might incur costs upwards of $200,000. This has many on the Council questioning why York and Caskey would enter into a contract knowing the council had not been informed and knowing they did not have the authority to do so.
Candidate For St. Charles Police Chief Had Reign Filled With Conflict In Peoria
By Tony Brockmeyer
The First Capitol News has learned City Administrator Alan Williams intends to bring forward Keith Rippy as his choice for St. Charles Police Chief. Sources at the police department have told us Rippy, a former chief in Peoria, Illinois has already been in St. Charles and has met with the command staff at the police department. It is believed Rippy has already taken a psychological test. We believe he was scheduled to be interviewed by City Council members Thursday evening. We were unable to determine prior to press time if the interview was conducted.
Keith Rippy served as Chief of Police in Peoria, Illinois for about 3 years. He also served as Chief of Police in the country of Haiti. He is currently working with a company in St. Charles, Illinois that is involved in police computer systems.
On November 26, 1990, Rippy was hired as the Chief of Police of Peoria, Illinois. On August 19, 1993 Rippy resigned, two days after the Peoria City Council privately pressured the City Manager to make drastic changes in Rippy’s role or remove the beleaguered police chief.
Rippy’s reign as Police Chief of Peoria was filled with conflict.
Chief Rippy, along with the Mayor and City Manager, was accused of using police officers to conduct a secret investigation and surveillance of a City Council member (Peoria Journal Star June 23, 1995 by Phil Luciano); planning to use a prostitute to set up a City Council Member (Peoria Journal Star, June 23, 1995 by Phil Luciano, October 11, 1995 by Bob Bouyea, October 13, 1995 by Bob Bouyea); hiring an assistant Police Chief with questionable credentials (Peoria Journal Star, June 28, 1995 by Pam Adams; January 30, 1998 by Omar Sofradzija), attempting to force high ranking members of the department to retire (Peoria Journal Star, April 13, 1993 by Stephen Witmer) and firing a Police Lieutenant for allegedly leaking news to the media (Peoria Journal Star, January 29, 1993 by Sarah Okeson).
In 1992 the Council had an independent study made of the Peoria Police Department. In an editorial in the Peoria Journal Star dated March 9, 1992 it was reported the study turned up unexpectedly serious operational and safety problems. According to the editorial, supervision is weak, particularly at the lieutenant and sergeant level, in part because the positions seem to be out of the command loop. Mid-level managers spend too much time in the station shuffling paper and not enough time on the street talking to their officers and the public. Overtime is twice what it should be for a department this size, growing 107 percent in the last five years. Much of the overtime went to supervisors who schedule their own working hours or to patrol officers who built overtime into their regular schedules. Little consideration was given to whether the overtime was necessary; instead it was looked upon as a prerequisite. The police department is so rife with internal conflict that individual officers don’t trust or cooperate with each other. Routine daily patrols proceed without coordination between officers and supervisors. The department has no management development or training program so young cops can learn what it takes to become a supervisor. Officers don’t regularly follow up citizen complaints, inquiries or concerns, when they involve serious crimes. Crime victims for example, aren’t kept abreast of the investigation and, when an arrest is made, frequently don’t know the status of the case in court. Moreover, Police Chief Keith Rippy would like victims; witnesses and complainants referred to counseling, if they need it, or advised on how to avoid further problems. Because people fail to get their questions addressed, they believe the police department has little interest in them or their problems.
Peoria Journal Star, June 23, 1995
By Phil Luciana; Terry Bibo
RIPPY MADE SANDBERG TARGET OF PROBE
POLICE ALLEGEDLY LAUNCHED INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION AFTER TRAFFIC STOP
Peoria – Former Peoria Police chief Keith Rippy ordered his internal affairs department to investigate activities of City Councilman Gary Sandberg in 1993 – a rare departure from policy covering those investigators, sources tell the Journal star.
Rippy, through Assistant Chief Paul Bazzano, ordered the internal affairs division to investigate Sandberg after a traffic stop near Morton Square Park in May 1993 found a known prostitute was a passenger with Sandberg.
Police higher-ups “seized on it like a bloody piece of meat in the ocean. The sharks went after it,” one source said. Another source said internal affairs investigators were told to “target” Sandberg. Sandberg admits he was giving a ride to a woman he later learned was Kay Wright, a convicted prostitute. “I had no reason to believe she was a prostitute he says. He has always maintained he does not patronize prostitutes.
An anonymous letter about that incident was widely distributed to city and county officials, news organizations, neighborhood groups and churches earlier this week. That may have prompted four different sources within and outside the police department, speaking only on condition of anonymity, to reveal what happened next.
The first red flags were raised because Peoria police usually do not launch follow-up investigations regarding suspected misdemeanors such as prostitution. Further, internal affairs, which reports to the police chief and Assistant chief Bazzano, usually confines its investigations to intro-departmental matters. Using internal affairs to investigate possible misdemeanors by a non-police employee is thus extremely rare.
‘That’s kind of J. Edgar Hoover stuff,” says one source. “There’s nothing to justify . . . we don’t follow guys we catch 10 times,” for such offenses.
The incident was handled oddly from the beginning. The rookie officer who stopped Sandberg’s car after he made two right turns without a signal did not recognize him as a City Council member but did recognize the prostitute. The officer gave Sandberg a warning but issued no ticket. Later, the officer was advised to write a memo titled “Special Report,” dated May 20, 1993, and addressed to then Assistant Chief Jeanne Miller and Lt. Russell Buck. A second “Special Report” was made by Sgts. David Millard and Steve Eakle on June 2, 1993, after they interrogated Kay Wright.
Sources say police officials also took Sandberg’s photograph to other prostitutes, asking if they recognized him.
Another source said, “It proved he (Sandberg) was right. They had nothing.”
Twice questioned under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act in 1993, the city refused to release reports of that investigation or discuss the findings. (The internal documents, or a portion of them, were later leaked to the Journal Star.) Sandberg has not been charged with any prostitution-related offenses. Officially, the city still won’t confirm an investigation took place.
“The police department would not investigate any elected public official without cause or upon their own volition initiate one,” says City Manager Peter Korn. “To my knowledge.’
Asked if the investigation was closed, Korn said, “I can’t comment on that, even if there was an investigation, if there was.”
Bazzano told the Journal Star on Thursday that, because the matter was the subject of an internal investigation, he would not comment on its specific or if Rippy ordered the probe. Rippy quit under City Council pressure in August 1993, with Sandberg as one of his chief political foes.
However, Bazzano did say, “Something of that magnitude (politically) certainly has to be the decision of the chief executive of the organization.”
Rippy reportedly is out of the country and could not be reached for comment. His successor, Arthur Kelly, declined to comment about the matter Thursday.
Sandberg commented only briefly, but raised even more questions.
“My basic concern is, if government abuses it’s focus and powers, it’s not a government I want to be a part of,” he says. “I have some reason to believe this is not just focused on me, but anyone who disagrees with the ‘power team.’ “ Asked who he meant by the “power team,” he replied, “I don’t want to make any assertions until I can pin them down.”
According to the Peoria Journal Star Rippy also had officers stake out Sandberg’s home and Morton Square Park in hopes of catching Sandberg patronizing prostitutes.
The Peoria Journal Star also reported that Rippy put out qualifications for the job of assistant police chief. He required a Masters degree as part of the educational qualifications. Local officers suspected they weren’t considered merely because they were insiders. City manager Peter Korn explained, feebly, why they couldn’t find any qualified minority candidates.
Paul Bazzano was hired as assistant Chief. The Peoria Benevolent association, several years after Bazzano’s hiring, discovered that his bachelor’s degree was from an unaccredited correspondence school. Bazzano, when hired, wasn’t working on his master’s and he didn’t lie about his qualifications. He simply didn’t mention the name of the college he graduated from on his resume. It’s not clear whether anyone asked. The police officers union called for Bazzano’s ouster and an independent investigation of their bosses.
Peoria Journal star, January 29, 1993
By Sarah Okeson
A Peoria police officer accused of leaking information to the news media was fired Thursday, eight months after he was placed on paid leave while the department investigated the allegations.
Lt. Paul Hibser said he was fired from his $55,000-a-year post Thursday, effective immediately, after allegations that he had leaked information to reporters and tried to intimidate a clerical worker who saw him with a letter written by the leaker.
Hibser denied the charges and said Police Chief Keith Rippy is trying to get back at him for complaining that Rippy was pressuring him to back off investigating a 23-year-old murder case and another possible murder.
“Mr. Rippy and his staff have gone out of their way to harass me into early retirement,” said Hibser, who had won numerous awards during his 28 years as a Peoria police officer. “Because I wouldn’t retire they finally fired me.”
Rippy declined to comment on Hibser’s charges.
Hibser is a graduate of the FBI academy and has received more than 40 letters of appreciation and commendations from citizens and officials. He has received the Peoria department’s Distinguished Police Duty Award., Combat Valor Award, Life Saving Award, and in 1989 he received the Illinois Police Associations Distinguished Law Enforcement Award.
After leaving Peoria Rippy wrote a blistering letter to City Manager Peter Korn. In his letter Rippy wrote, “Most importantly, you sir are a liar, a coward, and totally lacking in ethics. I am incapable of understanding how someone can sell himself out for something as insignificant as a job.”
Should Rippy be selected as the Chief of Police of St. Charles, Missouri it will be necessary that he attend academy training before he can become a sworn officer. Until that time he would not have the power of arrest or be allowed to carry a firearm.
We attempted to contact several members of the City Council prior to press time for comment, but they were unavailable. A city hall source told us Rippy attended the FBI Academy with Dave King, former St. Charles Police Chief. King is in St. Charles to assist City Administrator Williams with his search for a police chief.
St. Charles has been without a permanent police chief since September of 2003.
MORE NEXT EDITION
The First Capitol News has learned City Administrator Alan Williams intends to bring forward Keith Rippy as his choice for St. Charles Police Chief. Sources at the police department have told us Rippy, a former chief in Peoria, Illinois has already been in St. Charles and has met with the command staff at the police department. It is believed Rippy has already taken a psychological test. We believe he was scheduled to be interviewed by City Council members Thursday evening. We were unable to determine prior to press time if the interview was conducted.
Keith Rippy served as Chief of Police in Peoria, Illinois for about 3 years. He also served as Chief of Police in the country of Haiti. He is currently working with a company in St. Charles, Illinois that is involved in police computer systems.
On November 26, 1990, Rippy was hired as the Chief of Police of Peoria, Illinois. On August 19, 1993 Rippy resigned, two days after the Peoria City Council privately pressured the City Manager to make drastic changes in Rippy’s role or remove the beleaguered police chief.
Rippy’s reign as Police Chief of Peoria was filled with conflict.
Chief Rippy, along with the Mayor and City Manager, was accused of using police officers to conduct a secret investigation and surveillance of a City Council member (Peoria Journal Star June 23, 1995 by Phil Luciano); planning to use a prostitute to set up a City Council Member (Peoria Journal Star, June 23, 1995 by Phil Luciano, October 11, 1995 by Bob Bouyea, October 13, 1995 by Bob Bouyea); hiring an assistant Police Chief with questionable credentials (Peoria Journal Star, June 28, 1995 by Pam Adams; January 30, 1998 by Omar Sofradzija), attempting to force high ranking members of the department to retire (Peoria Journal Star, April 13, 1993 by Stephen Witmer) and firing a Police Lieutenant for allegedly leaking news to the media (Peoria Journal Star, January 29, 1993 by Sarah Okeson).
In 1992 the Council had an independent study made of the Peoria Police Department. In an editorial in the Peoria Journal Star dated March 9, 1992 it was reported the study turned up unexpectedly serious operational and safety problems. According to the editorial, supervision is weak, particularly at the lieutenant and sergeant level, in part because the positions seem to be out of the command loop. Mid-level managers spend too much time in the station shuffling paper and not enough time on the street talking to their officers and the public. Overtime is twice what it should be for a department this size, growing 107 percent in the last five years. Much of the overtime went to supervisors who schedule their own working hours or to patrol officers who built overtime into their regular schedules. Little consideration was given to whether the overtime was necessary; instead it was looked upon as a prerequisite. The police department is so rife with internal conflict that individual officers don’t trust or cooperate with each other. Routine daily patrols proceed without coordination between officers and supervisors. The department has no management development or training program so young cops can learn what it takes to become a supervisor. Officers don’t regularly follow up citizen complaints, inquiries or concerns, when they involve serious crimes. Crime victims for example, aren’t kept abreast of the investigation and, when an arrest is made, frequently don’t know the status of the case in court. Moreover, Police Chief Keith Rippy would like victims; witnesses and complainants referred to counseling, if they need it, or advised on how to avoid further problems. Because people fail to get their questions addressed, they believe the police department has little interest in them or their problems.
Peoria Journal Star, June 23, 1995
By Phil Luciana; Terry Bibo
RIPPY MADE SANDBERG TARGET OF PROBE
POLICE ALLEGEDLY LAUNCHED INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION AFTER TRAFFIC STOP
Peoria – Former Peoria Police chief Keith Rippy ordered his internal affairs department to investigate activities of City Councilman Gary Sandberg in 1993 – a rare departure from policy covering those investigators, sources tell the Journal star.
Rippy, through Assistant Chief Paul Bazzano, ordered the internal affairs division to investigate Sandberg after a traffic stop near Morton Square Park in May 1993 found a known prostitute was a passenger with Sandberg.
Police higher-ups “seized on it like a bloody piece of meat in the ocean. The sharks went after it,” one source said. Another source said internal affairs investigators were told to “target” Sandberg. Sandberg admits he was giving a ride to a woman he later learned was Kay Wright, a convicted prostitute. “I had no reason to believe she was a prostitute he says. He has always maintained he does not patronize prostitutes.
An anonymous letter about that incident was widely distributed to city and county officials, news organizations, neighborhood groups and churches earlier this week. That may have prompted four different sources within and outside the police department, speaking only on condition of anonymity, to reveal what happened next.
The first red flags were raised because Peoria police usually do not launch follow-up investigations regarding suspected misdemeanors such as prostitution. Further, internal affairs, which reports to the police chief and Assistant chief Bazzano, usually confines its investigations to intro-departmental matters. Using internal affairs to investigate possible misdemeanors by a non-police employee is thus extremely rare.
‘That’s kind of J. Edgar Hoover stuff,” says one source. “There’s nothing to justify . . . we don’t follow guys we catch 10 times,” for such offenses.
The incident was handled oddly from the beginning. The rookie officer who stopped Sandberg’s car after he made two right turns without a signal did not recognize him as a City Council member but did recognize the prostitute. The officer gave Sandberg a warning but issued no ticket. Later, the officer was advised to write a memo titled “Special Report,” dated May 20, 1993, and addressed to then Assistant Chief Jeanne Miller and Lt. Russell Buck. A second “Special Report” was made by Sgts. David Millard and Steve Eakle on June 2, 1993, after they interrogated Kay Wright.
Sources say police officials also took Sandberg’s photograph to other prostitutes, asking if they recognized him.
Another source said, “It proved he (Sandberg) was right. They had nothing.”
Twice questioned under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act in 1993, the city refused to release reports of that investigation or discuss the findings. (The internal documents, or a portion of them, were later leaked to the Journal Star.) Sandberg has not been charged with any prostitution-related offenses. Officially, the city still won’t confirm an investigation took place.
“The police department would not investigate any elected public official without cause or upon their own volition initiate one,” says City Manager Peter Korn. “To my knowledge.’
Asked if the investigation was closed, Korn said, “I can’t comment on that, even if there was an investigation, if there was.”
Bazzano told the Journal Star on Thursday that, because the matter was the subject of an internal investigation, he would not comment on its specific or if Rippy ordered the probe. Rippy quit under City Council pressure in August 1993, with Sandberg as one of his chief political foes.
However, Bazzano did say, “Something of that magnitude (politically) certainly has to be the decision of the chief executive of the organization.”
Rippy reportedly is out of the country and could not be reached for comment. His successor, Arthur Kelly, declined to comment about the matter Thursday.
Sandberg commented only briefly, but raised even more questions.
“My basic concern is, if government abuses it’s focus and powers, it’s not a government I want to be a part of,” he says. “I have some reason to believe this is not just focused on me, but anyone who disagrees with the ‘power team.’ “ Asked who he meant by the “power team,” he replied, “I don’t want to make any assertions until I can pin them down.”
According to the Peoria Journal Star Rippy also had officers stake out Sandberg’s home and Morton Square Park in hopes of catching Sandberg patronizing prostitutes.
The Peoria Journal Star also reported that Rippy put out qualifications for the job of assistant police chief. He required a Masters degree as part of the educational qualifications. Local officers suspected they weren’t considered merely because they were insiders. City manager Peter Korn explained, feebly, why they couldn’t find any qualified minority candidates.
Paul Bazzano was hired as assistant Chief. The Peoria Benevolent association, several years after Bazzano’s hiring, discovered that his bachelor’s degree was from an unaccredited correspondence school. Bazzano, when hired, wasn’t working on his master’s and he didn’t lie about his qualifications. He simply didn’t mention the name of the college he graduated from on his resume. It’s not clear whether anyone asked. The police officers union called for Bazzano’s ouster and an independent investigation of their bosses.
Peoria Journal star, January 29, 1993
By Sarah Okeson
A Peoria police officer accused of leaking information to the news media was fired Thursday, eight months after he was placed on paid leave while the department investigated the allegations.
Lt. Paul Hibser said he was fired from his $55,000-a-year post Thursday, effective immediately, after allegations that he had leaked information to reporters and tried to intimidate a clerical worker who saw him with a letter written by the leaker.
Hibser denied the charges and said Police Chief Keith Rippy is trying to get back at him for complaining that Rippy was pressuring him to back off investigating a 23-year-old murder case and another possible murder.
“Mr. Rippy and his staff have gone out of their way to harass me into early retirement,” said Hibser, who had won numerous awards during his 28 years as a Peoria police officer. “Because I wouldn’t retire they finally fired me.”
Rippy declined to comment on Hibser’s charges.
Hibser is a graduate of the FBI academy and has received more than 40 letters of appreciation and commendations from citizens and officials. He has received the Peoria department’s Distinguished Police Duty Award., Combat Valor Award, Life Saving Award, and in 1989 he received the Illinois Police Associations Distinguished Law Enforcement Award.
After leaving Peoria Rippy wrote a blistering letter to City Manager Peter Korn. In his letter Rippy wrote, “Most importantly, you sir are a liar, a coward, and totally lacking in ethics. I am incapable of understanding how someone can sell himself out for something as insignificant as a job.”
Should Rippy be selected as the Chief of Police of St. Charles, Missouri it will be necessary that he attend academy training before he can become a sworn officer. Until that time he would not have the power of arrest or be allowed to carry a firearm.
We attempted to contact several members of the City Council prior to press time for comment, but they were unavailable. A city hall source told us Rippy attended the FBI Academy with Dave King, former St. Charles Police Chief. King is in St. Charles to assist City Administrator Williams with his search for a police chief.
St. Charles has been without a permanent police chief since September of 2003.
MORE NEXT EDITION
RAMBLING With The Editor - Tony Brockmeyer
WHO SELECTS THE CHIEF OF POLICE?
It appears many in the community have a difficult time understanding the process of selecting a chief of police. This process is spelled out in the Charter, something some might want to read before spouting off about who is to blame for the lack of a Chief. First, the St. Charles City Council does not pick the chief. They simply approve or disapprove a candidate. This holds true for the Mayor. The City Administrator is responsible for providing a name for the Mayor and the City Council approval. To date the only name presented to the Council has been Major Bob Lowery, they said yes. The only obstacle was the Mayor. Since that time a gentleman from the Kansas City suburbs was considered. He was willing to take the job until he spoke with the Mayor. During the conversation the Mayor allegedly told him certain officers were hands off. The next day he phoned the City Administrator and told him in a very professional manner to remove his name.
For those who like to point fingers, they should point them directly at the Mayor. York has someone on the police force that has some type of power over her and her husband and can block appointments to the chief’s job with just a phone call.
So let’s set the record straight, the Council has had only one name to consider and they said yes. The Mayor has had more than one and has yet to agree. The City Administrator has a candidate that appears less than qualified. See story on page one. With a budget of over $90 million and being the second largest city in the region, why would we accept someone who has been out of the job for 12 years? This paper has learned there are a number of more qualified candidates that have sent in applications once they understood Lowery was out of the running. Makes you wonder what we are passing up with Lowery when others refused to compete against him.
So the process is: City Administrator recommends, Mayor approves or disapproves, Council approves or disapproves. I just hope this City Administrator doesn’t try to make it look like the Council is standing in the way if he continues to push a less than stellar candidate to lead this leaderless police department. Let’s face it, if the Mayor would stop trying to protect the bad apples, the department would run with any Chief. As long as she allows the FOP and SCPOA the veto power, this City will never have a police department that runs well and one that has officers we can promote from within.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO RUN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?
Remember the jokes about how many people does it take to do anything? This City has somewhat of a joke going on right now. How many people can we hire to run this police department? The answer is five. We have hired two acting chiefs, a consultant to help the hiring process, a consultant to the consultant to do background checks and a City Administrator that is making $148,000 per year. By the way he promised to have a Chief over three weeks ago but has not lived up to that promise. So what is the problem? Let me tell you what I believe. We have a City Administrator who chose his candidate for Chief over a month ago. He knew the Mayor had a candidate she was pushing and he knew Major Lowery was the favorite of the Council and many in the community. How do you get around that? Williams brings forward Lowery’s name without much passion and tells the Mayor he is doing this for a show and Williams really doesn’t want him. Next Williams floats the name of the Mayor’s choice because Williams knows the Council will refuse her son’s boss. The plan is working. Both have been eliminated. Now it is time to bring forward the name of the person from Peoria who Williams had originally mentioned when first hired. The City Administrator brings in two acting chiefs the Mayor recommends because he knows they will be less than aggressive and have cut a deal to protect the chosen few. These two have been lacking in leadership to hold any of the officers accountable for costing the tax payers over $50,000 to determine if letters filed with City stating stress where true. By the way the acting chief wants these letters to be swept under the carpet. This sweeping is becoming a tradition with the Mayor. Every problem is just ignored or covered up. Instead of taking these officers off the street, the City Administrator once again bows to the Mayor and leaves them to protect and serve even though they state they are having difficulty in dealing with the public and are suffering from emotional problems.
The new City Administrator’s plan appears to be working. The original person he wanted is now the front runner. Williams gave the Council and the Mayor a speech saying he can’t find anyone who wants to work here, setting the stage to hire a less than qualified candidate. This is his choice, as well as the choice of former police chief Dave King, who the City Administrator has hired as a consultant.
The Chief of Police job should not be a political football. It has been made one by our Mayor. The City Council stood stead fast behind the only name presented to them. The Mayor has proven she is willing to play politics with your safety and her pick for City Administrator believes the same.
This Council has allowed the Mayor to run the City in this manner. They are responsible for the problems because they are allowing her to violate the Charter and the laws of the City. This Council was elected to clean up the City and the malfeasance that has plagued York’s administration. York has proven to be someone who can get elected but once she is in office has no idea what to do. Her lack of character and honesty will haunt this City for a long time if this Council does not hold her responsible.
It appears many in the community have a difficult time understanding the process of selecting a chief of police. This process is spelled out in the Charter, something some might want to read before spouting off about who is to blame for the lack of a Chief. First, the St. Charles City Council does not pick the chief. They simply approve or disapprove a candidate. This holds true for the Mayor. The City Administrator is responsible for providing a name for the Mayor and the City Council approval. To date the only name presented to the Council has been Major Bob Lowery, they said yes. The only obstacle was the Mayor. Since that time a gentleman from the Kansas City suburbs was considered. He was willing to take the job until he spoke with the Mayor. During the conversation the Mayor allegedly told him certain officers were hands off. The next day he phoned the City Administrator and told him in a very professional manner to remove his name.
For those who like to point fingers, they should point them directly at the Mayor. York has someone on the police force that has some type of power over her and her husband and can block appointments to the chief’s job with just a phone call.
So let’s set the record straight, the Council has had only one name to consider and they said yes. The Mayor has had more than one and has yet to agree. The City Administrator has a candidate that appears less than qualified. See story on page one. With a budget of over $90 million and being the second largest city in the region, why would we accept someone who has been out of the job for 12 years? This paper has learned there are a number of more qualified candidates that have sent in applications once they understood Lowery was out of the running. Makes you wonder what we are passing up with Lowery when others refused to compete against him.
So the process is: City Administrator recommends, Mayor approves or disapproves, Council approves or disapproves. I just hope this City Administrator doesn’t try to make it look like the Council is standing in the way if he continues to push a less than stellar candidate to lead this leaderless police department. Let’s face it, if the Mayor would stop trying to protect the bad apples, the department would run with any Chief. As long as she allows the FOP and SCPOA the veto power, this City will never have a police department that runs well and one that has officers we can promote from within.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO RUN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?
Remember the jokes about how many people does it take to do anything? This City has somewhat of a joke going on right now. How many people can we hire to run this police department? The answer is five. We have hired two acting chiefs, a consultant to help the hiring process, a consultant to the consultant to do background checks and a City Administrator that is making $148,000 per year. By the way he promised to have a Chief over three weeks ago but has not lived up to that promise. So what is the problem? Let me tell you what I believe. We have a City Administrator who chose his candidate for Chief over a month ago. He knew the Mayor had a candidate she was pushing and he knew Major Lowery was the favorite of the Council and many in the community. How do you get around that? Williams brings forward Lowery’s name without much passion and tells the Mayor he is doing this for a show and Williams really doesn’t want him. Next Williams floats the name of the Mayor’s choice because Williams knows the Council will refuse her son’s boss. The plan is working. Both have been eliminated. Now it is time to bring forward the name of the person from Peoria who Williams had originally mentioned when first hired. The City Administrator brings in two acting chiefs the Mayor recommends because he knows they will be less than aggressive and have cut a deal to protect the chosen few. These two have been lacking in leadership to hold any of the officers accountable for costing the tax payers over $50,000 to determine if letters filed with City stating stress where true. By the way the acting chief wants these letters to be swept under the carpet. This sweeping is becoming a tradition with the Mayor. Every problem is just ignored or covered up. Instead of taking these officers off the street, the City Administrator once again bows to the Mayor and leaves them to protect and serve even though they state they are having difficulty in dealing with the public and are suffering from emotional problems.
The new City Administrator’s plan appears to be working. The original person he wanted is now the front runner. Williams gave the Council and the Mayor a speech saying he can’t find anyone who wants to work here, setting the stage to hire a less than qualified candidate. This is his choice, as well as the choice of former police chief Dave King, who the City Administrator has hired as a consultant.
The Chief of Police job should not be a political football. It has been made one by our Mayor. The City Council stood stead fast behind the only name presented to them. The Mayor has proven she is willing to play politics with your safety and her pick for City Administrator believes the same.
This Council has allowed the Mayor to run the City in this manner. They are responsible for the problems because they are allowing her to violate the Charter and the laws of the City. This Council was elected to clean up the City and the malfeasance that has plagued York’s administration. York has proven to be someone who can get elected but once she is in office has no idea what to do. Her lack of character and honesty will haunt this City for a long time if this Council does not hold her responsible.
THE CITY DESK City Council President Rory Riddler
County Executive Announces
Plans For World Domination…
Starting With Our Fire Department
Forget about Alexander the Great. He was an amateur when it comes to asserting power over your neighbors. County Executive Joe Ortwerth has him beat hands down. In the “we can’t believe he said that” portion of today’s news, the County Executive announced he had all the authority he needed under the County Charter to take over any fire district, fire department or for that matter any municipal service he wanted to. His crack County Counselor was there to back him up and claim the Charter gave them power over “ALL” services of any municipality or political subdivision except school districts.
Wow! You have to admire the audacity. What would have taken Alexander the Great a good size army and a few elephants to accomplish, Joe Ortwerth is able to do with one attorney. He is truly a legend in his own mind. I would recommend Joe hold off on the coronation, however, till he gets a second opinion…say from a high school civics class.
Consulting the entrails of sheep or the local oracle might have been good enough for an ancient Macedonian to base his conquests upon, but Ortwerth may need a more firm legal foundation. People in this country tend to frown on overthrowing democracy. We’re sort of use to it.
What Joe Ortwerth wants to do is to consolidate all of the fire districts, our city fire department and the county ambulance service under one giant agency and, of course, under his control. Now some consolidation of fire districts might be a good thing, if all sides sit down and agree to it. But nothing is gained by city taxpayers, who currently don’t have to pay a separate fire district tax. Allowing the County to “steal” millions of dollars of fire apparatus and buildings we’ve already paid for, and then increase our property taxes, adds insult to injury. If County residents want better fire service, let them pay for it. Don’t tax us to give them full-time professional firefighters, if they weren’t willing to raise their own taxes to replace volunteer departments.
Of course what Ortwerth announced is more far sweeping than just taking over the fire department. He announced all municipal services, including our Parks System, are subject to be taken over by the County. I simply can’t believe the County Executive and County Counselor have uncovered a principal of law so profound as to change the relationship of municipal and county governments throughout the State of Missouri. It goes against everything I’ve learned about Missouri government. St. Charles City is a Constitutional Charter City. We are a creation of State Government, the same as the County. We have powers equal to, and in some cases greater than, those of the County. No where in Missouri’s Constitution does it say that cities in Missouri are subservient to the counties they are in.
Sometimes specific services are reserved for one or the other. For example, the County does restaurant inspections and we are prohibited from doing restaurant inspections. But it was the Missouri General Assembly that decided that’s the way it should be…not a creative interpretation of the County Charter.
I would have thought after wasting $500,000 of taxpayers money fighting a losing battle against the City of St. Peters over TIFs that the County Executive would slow down a little on trying to rewrite State Laws through the courts. But his latest “interpretation” of State Law, the Missouri Constitution and the County Charter sets the stage for legal battles that will make the St. Peters fight look tame…and cheap.
Speaking of the County Charter, I thought I should take a moment to introduce the County Executive to this important document. Later he can go back to using it to polish his armor.
SECTION 1.600: RESTRICTIONS
“Nothing herein contained shall be construed so as to give to the County of St. Charles any rights or powers over or pertaining to school districts; fire protection districts; or Cities, Towns, or Villages that are not granted by law to First Class Charter Counties.”
So in other words the County Charter specifically says “nothing” in the County Charter should be construed as to giving the County “any rights or powers” over any city. But isn’t that just what the County Counselor and County Executive said they were doing…construing the Charter to give them power to take over any municipal service? Shouldn’t a County Executive be upholding the County Charter?
Here’s another part of the Charter they must have missed:
SECTION 10.500: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
“In order to eliminate duplication of services and to provide for an equitable distribution of costs to all County residents, all departments, officers, boards and commissions provided for in this Charter, or later created, shall cooperate and coordinate their respective activities with the cities, towns, and villages and special purpose districts of the County. Any new service…shall be provided to or made available for all municipal residents provided such new service or activity is requested by resolution of the city, town, or village.”
First, it would seem to me that the framers of the County charter and the voters who approved it, wanted the County to get along with its neighbors, i. e. the cities, towns and villages. They wanted to discourage the kind of strife Ortwerth seems to feed on. I particularly like the part that says if the County offers its residents new services the cities have to request that service be extended to them. So if the County were to take over the operation of the fire and ambulance districts of the county, it would appear clear the only way that new service could be extended into the City of St. Charles would be by our requesting it by resolution. That must not be the part of the Charter that Ortwerth was referring to either.
The portion of the County Charter dealing with the powers of the County Council (Section 2.529) first says what they can do, then places a specific restriction that their power only covers those areas “outside” incorporated cities, towns and villages. Here is the exact language so you can see it for yourself:
“Exercise legislative power pertaining to public health and welfare, Police and traffic, building construction, and planning and zoning, in the part of the County outside incorporated Cities, Towns, and Villages…”
Even when the County Charter gives the County authority to tax or regulate business within an incorporated area, it does so only with the “consent” of the city (Section 2.514). Now why would the framers of the Charter put that language in, if, as the County Counselor said, municipalities are subject to the will of the county? This same section also contains this language in the same vein, “Nothing in this Charter shall preempt the power of any local government to license, tax, and regulate in accordance with the Constitution and the applicable law…”
Another interesting section of the County Charter gives the County the power to enter into “cooperative agreements” with cities to provide common services (Section 2.528). Now there is a novel approach. Why not sit down with your neighbors, the municipalities, to cooperate rather than trying to impose your legal will.
Section 3.612 speaks even more directly to this point:
“Promote and encourage cooperative relationships between the County and the political subdivisions within the County in matters relating to public health, safety, and public welfare and any and all other governmental functions in which the people of the County could gain through better cooperative arrangements…”
I know talking isn’t as much fun as putting your enemies to the sword and burning down their villages.
Plans For World Domination…
Starting With Our Fire Department
Forget about Alexander the Great. He was an amateur when it comes to asserting power over your neighbors. County Executive Joe Ortwerth has him beat hands down. In the “we can’t believe he said that” portion of today’s news, the County Executive announced he had all the authority he needed under the County Charter to take over any fire district, fire department or for that matter any municipal service he wanted to. His crack County Counselor was there to back him up and claim the Charter gave them power over “ALL” services of any municipality or political subdivision except school districts.
Wow! You have to admire the audacity. What would have taken Alexander the Great a good size army and a few elephants to accomplish, Joe Ortwerth is able to do with one attorney. He is truly a legend in his own mind. I would recommend Joe hold off on the coronation, however, till he gets a second opinion…say from a high school civics class.
Consulting the entrails of sheep or the local oracle might have been good enough for an ancient Macedonian to base his conquests upon, but Ortwerth may need a more firm legal foundation. People in this country tend to frown on overthrowing democracy. We’re sort of use to it.
What Joe Ortwerth wants to do is to consolidate all of the fire districts, our city fire department and the county ambulance service under one giant agency and, of course, under his control. Now some consolidation of fire districts might be a good thing, if all sides sit down and agree to it. But nothing is gained by city taxpayers, who currently don’t have to pay a separate fire district tax. Allowing the County to “steal” millions of dollars of fire apparatus and buildings we’ve already paid for, and then increase our property taxes, adds insult to injury. If County residents want better fire service, let them pay for it. Don’t tax us to give them full-time professional firefighters, if they weren’t willing to raise their own taxes to replace volunteer departments.
Of course what Ortwerth announced is more far sweeping than just taking over the fire department. He announced all municipal services, including our Parks System, are subject to be taken over by the County. I simply can’t believe the County Executive and County Counselor have uncovered a principal of law so profound as to change the relationship of municipal and county governments throughout the State of Missouri. It goes against everything I’ve learned about Missouri government. St. Charles City is a Constitutional Charter City. We are a creation of State Government, the same as the County. We have powers equal to, and in some cases greater than, those of the County. No where in Missouri’s Constitution does it say that cities in Missouri are subservient to the counties they are in.
Sometimes specific services are reserved for one or the other. For example, the County does restaurant inspections and we are prohibited from doing restaurant inspections. But it was the Missouri General Assembly that decided that’s the way it should be…not a creative interpretation of the County Charter.
I would have thought after wasting $500,000 of taxpayers money fighting a losing battle against the City of St. Peters over TIFs that the County Executive would slow down a little on trying to rewrite State Laws through the courts. But his latest “interpretation” of State Law, the Missouri Constitution and the County Charter sets the stage for legal battles that will make the St. Peters fight look tame…and cheap.
Speaking of the County Charter, I thought I should take a moment to introduce the County Executive to this important document. Later he can go back to using it to polish his armor.
SECTION 1.600: RESTRICTIONS
“Nothing herein contained shall be construed so as to give to the County of St. Charles any rights or powers over or pertaining to school districts; fire protection districts; or Cities, Towns, or Villages that are not granted by law to First Class Charter Counties.”
So in other words the County Charter specifically says “nothing” in the County Charter should be construed as to giving the County “any rights or powers” over any city. But isn’t that just what the County Counselor and County Executive said they were doing…construing the Charter to give them power to take over any municipal service? Shouldn’t a County Executive be upholding the County Charter?
Here’s another part of the Charter they must have missed:
SECTION 10.500: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
“In order to eliminate duplication of services and to provide for an equitable distribution of costs to all County residents, all departments, officers, boards and commissions provided for in this Charter, or later created, shall cooperate and coordinate their respective activities with the cities, towns, and villages and special purpose districts of the County. Any new service…shall be provided to or made available for all municipal residents provided such new service or activity is requested by resolution of the city, town, or village.”
First, it would seem to me that the framers of the County charter and the voters who approved it, wanted the County to get along with its neighbors, i. e. the cities, towns and villages. They wanted to discourage the kind of strife Ortwerth seems to feed on. I particularly like the part that says if the County offers its residents new services the cities have to request that service be extended to them. So if the County were to take over the operation of the fire and ambulance districts of the county, it would appear clear the only way that new service could be extended into the City of St. Charles would be by our requesting it by resolution. That must not be the part of the Charter that Ortwerth was referring to either.
The portion of the County Charter dealing with the powers of the County Council (Section 2.529) first says what they can do, then places a specific restriction that their power only covers those areas “outside” incorporated cities, towns and villages. Here is the exact language so you can see it for yourself:
“Exercise legislative power pertaining to public health and welfare, Police and traffic, building construction, and planning and zoning, in the part of the County outside incorporated Cities, Towns, and Villages…”
Even when the County Charter gives the County authority to tax or regulate business within an incorporated area, it does so only with the “consent” of the city (Section 2.514). Now why would the framers of the Charter put that language in, if, as the County Counselor said, municipalities are subject to the will of the county? This same section also contains this language in the same vein, “Nothing in this Charter shall preempt the power of any local government to license, tax, and regulate in accordance with the Constitution and the applicable law…”
Another interesting section of the County Charter gives the County the power to enter into “cooperative agreements” with cities to provide common services (Section 2.528). Now there is a novel approach. Why not sit down with your neighbors, the municipalities, to cooperate rather than trying to impose your legal will.
Section 3.612 speaks even more directly to this point:
“Promote and encourage cooperative relationships between the County and the political subdivisions within the County in matters relating to public health, safety, and public welfare and any and all other governmental functions in which the people of the County could gain through better cooperative arrangements…”
I know talking isn’t as much fun as putting your enemies to the sword and burning down their villages.
$500,000 To be Spent On Convention Center Opening Parties
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
The First Capitol News has learned that a committee headed by Shura Lindgren, General Manager for Global Spectrum, the Manager of the Convention Center, and Steve Powell the CEO of the St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau is making plans to spend close to $500,000 on the opening of the new Convention Center.
Some of the Activities planned and their budgets……
A budget of $10,000 is planned for the “Soft” opening of the facility. The soft opening is to allow event staff – including personnel, the box office, tour guides, operational personnel, premium services, concessions, personnel, etc. the opportunity to experience event conditions prior to the opening. It is meant to be a “Thank You” event for employees of the City, Global Spectrum, Embassy Suites employees, construction/contract workers and their families. Out of the $10,000, $1,00 is to be spent on invitations, $7,500 on Food and Beverage, $1,000 on entertainment and $500 for miscellaneous gifts.
They are planning on a budget of $21,500 for the Ribbon Cutting. This event will be free but by invitation only. For this event $5,000 is planned for the invitations, $5,000 for entertainment, $10,000 for Food and Beverage and $1,500 for miscellaneous gifts.
A community open house is being planned. They will extend an open invitation to the community to tour the facility. This event will be free and open to the public. A budget of $75,000 is being planned for this event. For Food and Beverage $20,000 is budgeted. Promotions $8,000, entertainment $10,000, $20,000 for set up $15,000 for media invitations and $2,000 miscellaneous.
A budget of $11,000 is being planned for Hosted Board Meetings including the EDC Council Meeting along with 15 total hosted meetings with approximately 20 executives per event. Food and Beverage at $7,500, set-up for $3,000 and miscellaneous at $500.
A meeting planners / VIP event is being planned for Saturday, May 21st with a budget of $200,000. $5,000 for VIP invitations, $50,000 for Food and Beverage, $50,000 for entertainment, $15,000 for promotions, $10,000 for advertising and collateral material, $15,000 for set up, $10,000 for decorations, $40,000 for transportation and lodging and $5,000 for miscellaneous gifts. This will be an invitation only event to industry executives, meeting planners, exclusive media and VIPs.
We have been told other activities are planned and that total expenses for the opening will reach the one half million dollar range.
At a recent City Council meeting,, Councilman Mark Brown complained the St. Charles County Convention and Sports Facilities Authority, headed by Ken Kielty, were planning on spending $350,000 on a party. According to Brown, that money being held by the Authority should be returned to the City. Brown said Kielty told him the Authority was keeping all the money and returning nothing to the City taxpayers.
The First Capitol News has learned that a committee headed by Shura Lindgren, General Manager for Global Spectrum, the Manager of the Convention Center, and Steve Powell the CEO of the St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau is making plans to spend close to $500,000 on the opening of the new Convention Center.
Some of the Activities planned and their budgets……
A budget of $10,000 is planned for the “Soft” opening of the facility. The soft opening is to allow event staff – including personnel, the box office, tour guides, operational personnel, premium services, concessions, personnel, etc. the opportunity to experience event conditions prior to the opening. It is meant to be a “Thank You” event for employees of the City, Global Spectrum, Embassy Suites employees, construction/contract workers and their families. Out of the $10,000, $1,00 is to be spent on invitations, $7,500 on Food and Beverage, $1,000 on entertainment and $500 for miscellaneous gifts.
They are planning on a budget of $21,500 for the Ribbon Cutting. This event will be free but by invitation only. For this event $5,000 is planned for the invitations, $5,000 for entertainment, $10,000 for Food and Beverage and $1,500 for miscellaneous gifts.
A community open house is being planned. They will extend an open invitation to the community to tour the facility. This event will be free and open to the public. A budget of $75,000 is being planned for this event. For Food and Beverage $20,000 is budgeted. Promotions $8,000, entertainment $10,000, $20,000 for set up $15,000 for media invitations and $2,000 miscellaneous.
A budget of $11,000 is being planned for Hosted Board Meetings including the EDC Council Meeting along with 15 total hosted meetings with approximately 20 executives per event. Food and Beverage at $7,500, set-up for $3,000 and miscellaneous at $500.
A meeting planners / VIP event is being planned for Saturday, May 21st with a budget of $200,000. $5,000 for VIP invitations, $50,000 for Food and Beverage, $50,000 for entertainment, $15,000 for promotions, $10,000 for advertising and collateral material, $15,000 for set up, $10,000 for decorations, $40,000 for transportation and lodging and $5,000 for miscellaneous gifts. This will be an invitation only event to industry executives, meeting planners, exclusive media and VIPs.
We have been told other activities are planned and that total expenses for the opening will reach the one half million dollar range.
At a recent City Council meeting,, Councilman Mark Brown complained the St. Charles County Convention and Sports Facilities Authority, headed by Ken Kielty, were planning on spending $350,000 on a party. According to Brown, that money being held by the Authority should be returned to the City. Brown said Kielty told him the Authority was keeping all the money and returning nothing to the City taxpayers.
Glow-In-The Dark Mini Golf Tournament
St. Charles Jaycees To Hold Glow-In-The-Dark Mini Golf Tournament
The St. Charles Jaycees are hosting their First Annual Glow-In-The-Dark Mini Golf Tournament on Friday, March 4, from 9:00 p.m. to Midnight. The fundraiser will be held at The Putting Edge at the St. Louis Mills. Cost is $20 per person or $80 per foursome. Cost includes drinks, appetizers, and fun for all. There will be additional side games and attendance prizes.
Proceeds from this event will benefit charities and programs of the St. Charles Jaycees. Pre-registration is encouraged.
For more information or to register contact Christie Jehling, 636-230-7978, or Scott Tate, 314-541-2113.
The St. Charles Jaycees, a leadership training, community service, and social organization for people between the ages of 18 & 40, have helped to build young leaders in St. Charles since 1948. For more information about the St. Charles Jaycees visit their website at www.geocities.com/stcharlesjaycees.
The St. Charles Jaycees are hosting their First Annual Glow-In-The-Dark Mini Golf Tournament on Friday, March 4, from 9:00 p.m. to Midnight. The fundraiser will be held at The Putting Edge at the St. Louis Mills. Cost is $20 per person or $80 per foursome. Cost includes drinks, appetizers, and fun for all. There will be additional side games and attendance prizes.
Proceeds from this event will benefit charities and programs of the St. Charles Jaycees. Pre-registration is encouraged.
For more information or to register contact Christie Jehling, 636-230-7978, or Scott Tate, 314-541-2113.
The St. Charles Jaycees, a leadership training, community service, and social organization for people between the ages of 18 & 40, have helped to build young leaders in St. Charles since 1948. For more information about the St. Charles Jaycees visit their website at www.geocities.com/stcharlesjaycees.
Put St. Charles First
By Jerry Haferkamp
“but there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.” The closing words to “Casey At The Bat” by Ernest Thayer fit the mood of a lot of folks in St. Charles when finding out about the actions of our new City Administrator. We were waiting to see how he would do when he had, like Casey, to bat in a crunch situation.
When hired, Dr. Williams stated he would not take sides in matters, but would do what is best for the City.
In the matter of selection for Chief of Police, he has apparently reversed himself and did take sides, with the result being detrimental to our City. Doing his job as described in our Charter would have meant bringing forth for consideration the person he, not the Mayor, considered to be the best candidate. When he found out the Mayor reneged on what she is reported to have told several Councilmen, he folded like a newspaper. So much for not taking sides. He should have brought the name forward, and let the Mayor show her obstinacy again. Next time, Dr. Williams, at least take a swing at the pitch. Getting called out on strikes without trying to hit is the worst kind of strikeout.
By the way, has anyone relayed to the Mayor the information the Mayor doesn’t get to run the whole shooting match until after the next mayoral election? Better yet, has anyone told Dr. Williams?
“Shock and awe”! No, I’m not talking about a brilliant military strategy, just my feelings about the way the process fell apart.
Shock was the feeling I had when I found out the Council was foolish enough to take Mayor York at her word. Oh, for the good old days when a person’s word was their bond.
Awe came when I realized she “did it to ‘em again”. I am truly in awe as to how she just keeps getting away with it. Atilla the Hun had more finesse, but less success.
We are wasting a lot of time and money and keep rejecting the man most qualified to lead this Police Department. Interim Chiefs are expensive. It’s time to cut our losses and eliminate the middlemen such as Dr. Williams, Mayor York and our City Council. It is time to go directly to the Fraternal Order of Police, and find out whom they will grant the Mayor authority to approve. Since the Mayor apparently doesn’t intend to stop interfering in the process, she can then relay the chosen one’s name to Dr. Williams. Since Dr. Williams seems to want to bring forth only candidate the Mayor has knighted with her royal scepter, the Council can close their eyes, hold their noses, and in an act reminiscent of the previous Council, rubber-stamp the appointment of Sir Chief. However, if the Fraternal Order of Police is going to run our police department, we should all get to elect their officers. That’s only fair.
Are we still wasting our money on Steve? Why?
“but there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.” The closing words to “Casey At The Bat” by Ernest Thayer fit the mood of a lot of folks in St. Charles when finding out about the actions of our new City Administrator. We were waiting to see how he would do when he had, like Casey, to bat in a crunch situation.
When hired, Dr. Williams stated he would not take sides in matters, but would do what is best for the City.
In the matter of selection for Chief of Police, he has apparently reversed himself and did take sides, with the result being detrimental to our City. Doing his job as described in our Charter would have meant bringing forth for consideration the person he, not the Mayor, considered to be the best candidate. When he found out the Mayor reneged on what she is reported to have told several Councilmen, he folded like a newspaper. So much for not taking sides. He should have brought the name forward, and let the Mayor show her obstinacy again. Next time, Dr. Williams, at least take a swing at the pitch. Getting called out on strikes without trying to hit is the worst kind of strikeout.
By the way, has anyone relayed to the Mayor the information the Mayor doesn’t get to run the whole shooting match until after the next mayoral election? Better yet, has anyone told Dr. Williams?
“Shock and awe”! No, I’m not talking about a brilliant military strategy, just my feelings about the way the process fell apart.
Shock was the feeling I had when I found out the Council was foolish enough to take Mayor York at her word. Oh, for the good old days when a person’s word was their bond.
Awe came when I realized she “did it to ‘em again”. I am truly in awe as to how she just keeps getting away with it. Atilla the Hun had more finesse, but less success.
We are wasting a lot of time and money and keep rejecting the man most qualified to lead this Police Department. Interim Chiefs are expensive. It’s time to cut our losses and eliminate the middlemen such as Dr. Williams, Mayor York and our City Council. It is time to go directly to the Fraternal Order of Police, and find out whom they will grant the Mayor authority to approve. Since the Mayor apparently doesn’t intend to stop interfering in the process, she can then relay the chosen one’s name to Dr. Williams. Since Dr. Williams seems to want to bring forth only candidate the Mayor has knighted with her royal scepter, the Council can close their eyes, hold their noses, and in an act reminiscent of the previous Council, rubber-stamp the appointment of Sir Chief. However, if the Fraternal Order of Police is going to run our police department, we should all get to elect their officers. That’s only fair.
Are we still wasting our money on Steve? Why?
The COnservative Factor - Alex Spencer
Patti. Patti. Patti. You just don’t get it. Lionel. Lionel. Lionel. Are you really a train?
The mayor presented an award to a police officer at the last Council meeting for saving a woman’s life and she correctly shook his hand. However, upon completion of his loop around the Council to shake hands, the Mayor put both arms around his neck and moved her body up and against his. No wonder she is so picky about who will be the new Chief of Police.
I couldn’t help wonder what was going through that police officer’s mind. “Gee, that feels good. Does she really think I’m a roll of Charmin? Is my wife comfortable with this? Isn’t “hands-on” government great? Why is she doing this?” Who knows?
The Mayor defiantly let us know she will continue to Hug, Squeeze, Touch, and Feel with impunity. She sure showed us! Atta girl, Patti! Don’t ever allow common sense and good judgment to stand in the way of a great hug.
But, we do not need to concern ourselves with such trivia. I believe there is a lone brave wife out there somewhere that someday will, as the hugging begins, say, “Take your damn hands off my husband!” That woman will not be a good candidate to serve on a city committee to serve the mayor’s interests.
Until the emergence of an astute wife that doesn’t let another “squeeze the Charmin,” we are doomed to be held hostage and forced to witness a lot of silly hugging.
There are a lot of perks to being Mayor. The pay isn’t good, but the ego-trip is such that some would forego any salary and pay their own money to do it. There are lots of parties and social events and pictures to pose for. It’s a heady experience, and even a little power with proper news coverage is better than none. Any mayor can make new friends and enjoy a better lifestyle by appointing and collecting the wealthy, the popular, and anyone who is perceived to be somebody. This is called “reinventing oneself.”
I’ve known many elected officials who were stunned to learn the phone quit ringing the day after they left office. All coveted invitations now went to his replacement. All those “new friends” were merely temporary acquaintances. In short, they were no longer “huggable”. Politics put people together that ordinarily would not associate on a personal level.
Political animals are not bound by personal loyalties. The side they land on is determined by issues, not the individual holding the office. Any official at the helm of administrating huge budgets acquires many new bosom buddies. It is easier to say “yes” to the high-rollers than it is to say “yes” to the taxpayers. It’s also more fun to say “no” to the taxpayers. The high-rollers have better parties. People rubbing elbows with the very wealthy under the umbrella of their elected office can easily believe he or she is one of them and now part of an elite, closed society. The grim reality—-Everyone is elite if they are useful and have something others want. If you are invited to their homes to dine with their families, then you’ve become a friend. They keep their families and social friends separate from their political parties which are designed to influence zoning, landing contracts and just plain favored consideration for whatever they want.
Ego and vanity have led many elected officials into a non-existent fantasy world. Believing the fantasy produces delusions of grandeur and abuse of power.
There has been expressed growing concern that our mayor is so caught up in attempting to turn St. Charles events into “Hollywood Galas” studded with “Stars” that she is out of touch with reality.
While Patti is planning her Hollywood Gala for 850 guests (Mayor’s Ball at the new Convention Center) Rome continues to burn.
We receive phone calls between publications seeking answers to numerous questions. “Do we have a police chief yet? Why hasn’t Williams (City Administrator) produced a new police chief? Is Williams just a windbag who nailed down a huge salary and contract and duped the Council? Why doesn’t anybody pull the plug and look into the excessive and unsupervised spending of Steve Powell?”
The Taj Mahal was an intrinsic, eternal monument to a beloved wife. It appears the Mayor has adopted the Convention Center and is making it her monument to her beloved self. Whereas the Taj Mahal is priceless and a wonder, our Convention Center is just plain costly, but made a lot of money for certain people.
The taxpayers of the City of St. Charles will bear the full cost of this a few years down the road. At that time, we shall look on the bright side and applaud the Mayor’s wisdom and constraint for not putting precious jewels on the exterior. By not adorning her Taj Mahal with precious stones, we don‘t need to worry about the British showing up with chisels, digging out each one, and taking them to London.
Based on what I read in all newspapers, it appears Patti “fiddles” when she should “faddle.” The fiddling is definitely off-key and that is when PR adman, Jamberetz, enters the picture. He puts the proper spin on the fiddling and convinces you you didn’t see what you just saw, and immediately starts a recall petition against Dottie Greer.
The mayor presented an award to a police officer at the last Council meeting for saving a woman’s life and she correctly shook his hand. However, upon completion of his loop around the Council to shake hands, the Mayor put both arms around his neck and moved her body up and against his. No wonder she is so picky about who will be the new Chief of Police.
I couldn’t help wonder what was going through that police officer’s mind. “Gee, that feels good. Does she really think I’m a roll of Charmin? Is my wife comfortable with this? Isn’t “hands-on” government great? Why is she doing this?” Who knows?
The Mayor defiantly let us know she will continue to Hug, Squeeze, Touch, and Feel with impunity. She sure showed us! Atta girl, Patti! Don’t ever allow common sense and good judgment to stand in the way of a great hug.
But, we do not need to concern ourselves with such trivia. I believe there is a lone brave wife out there somewhere that someday will, as the hugging begins, say, “Take your damn hands off my husband!” That woman will not be a good candidate to serve on a city committee to serve the mayor’s interests.
Until the emergence of an astute wife that doesn’t let another “squeeze the Charmin,” we are doomed to be held hostage and forced to witness a lot of silly hugging.
There are a lot of perks to being Mayor. The pay isn’t good, but the ego-trip is such that some would forego any salary and pay their own money to do it. There are lots of parties and social events and pictures to pose for. It’s a heady experience, and even a little power with proper news coverage is better than none. Any mayor can make new friends and enjoy a better lifestyle by appointing and collecting the wealthy, the popular, and anyone who is perceived to be somebody. This is called “reinventing oneself.”
I’ve known many elected officials who were stunned to learn the phone quit ringing the day after they left office. All coveted invitations now went to his replacement. All those “new friends” were merely temporary acquaintances. In short, they were no longer “huggable”. Politics put people together that ordinarily would not associate on a personal level.
Political animals are not bound by personal loyalties. The side they land on is determined by issues, not the individual holding the office. Any official at the helm of administrating huge budgets acquires many new bosom buddies. It is easier to say “yes” to the high-rollers than it is to say “yes” to the taxpayers. It’s also more fun to say “no” to the taxpayers. The high-rollers have better parties. People rubbing elbows with the very wealthy under the umbrella of their elected office can easily believe he or she is one of them and now part of an elite, closed society. The grim reality—-Everyone is elite if they are useful and have something others want. If you are invited to their homes to dine with their families, then you’ve become a friend. They keep their families and social friends separate from their political parties which are designed to influence zoning, landing contracts and just plain favored consideration for whatever they want.
Ego and vanity have led many elected officials into a non-existent fantasy world. Believing the fantasy produces delusions of grandeur and abuse of power.
There has been expressed growing concern that our mayor is so caught up in attempting to turn St. Charles events into “Hollywood Galas” studded with “Stars” that she is out of touch with reality.
While Patti is planning her Hollywood Gala for 850 guests (Mayor’s Ball at the new Convention Center) Rome continues to burn.
We receive phone calls between publications seeking answers to numerous questions. “Do we have a police chief yet? Why hasn’t Williams (City Administrator) produced a new police chief? Is Williams just a windbag who nailed down a huge salary and contract and duped the Council? Why doesn’t anybody pull the plug and look into the excessive and unsupervised spending of Steve Powell?”
The Taj Mahal was an intrinsic, eternal monument to a beloved wife. It appears the Mayor has adopted the Convention Center and is making it her monument to her beloved self. Whereas the Taj Mahal is priceless and a wonder, our Convention Center is just plain costly, but made a lot of money for certain people.
The taxpayers of the City of St. Charles will bear the full cost of this a few years down the road. At that time, we shall look on the bright side and applaud the Mayor’s wisdom and constraint for not putting precious jewels on the exterior. By not adorning her Taj Mahal with precious stones, we don‘t need to worry about the British showing up with chisels, digging out each one, and taking them to London.
Based on what I read in all newspapers, it appears Patti “fiddles” when she should “faddle.” The fiddling is definitely off-key and that is when PR adman, Jamberetz, enters the picture. He puts the proper spin on the fiddling and convinces you you didn’t see what you just saw, and immediately starts a recall petition against Dottie Greer.
STRAIGHT TALK Councilman Bob Hoepfner
Hello again out there. Here we are, another week in paradise. We do have some good things to look forward to. We are going to have a fabulous, fabulous Octoberfest. It is now being planned. Don’t come down to the park just yet, it is still a little ways off. First week in October, genuine live german entertainment, fun for all even you Irish people.
Getting closer to home and more serious. In my ward we have had a situation of pit bulls running loose. I an introducing a new vicious dog ordinance. It is on the agenda Tuesday. It is designed to protect all residents from dogs running loose so you will not be subject to attack.
I am still trying to get something provided to the resident tax payers. You know who that is. It is you and me. We pay the electric bill, we support every obligation this city has. We are just the common folks. We are not getting any tax breaks. Everytime somebody with money around here wants to do something, they come running to the city for tax relief. There is still a reluctance to do anything for us. We are still overburdened with the utility tax and pretty soon, because of all the giveaways, we could end up paying twice the amount we now pay for water and sewer. This is not good money management.
Maybe in two years we will get some relief. Again, $98 million budget, but we can’t give money to help school kids learn anything, we can’t get tax relief. What’s wrong with this picture?
You know if you are unhappy folks you need to talk to your Council representative and let them know how you feel. I took a shot at free trash only to get submarined. The bill came back higher with less service, so as unhappy as we are with the rates and service provided, it is better than what was proposed.
But I am forever optimistic. I just know somewhere on the horizon, somewhere there is a break coming for us, the taxpayers.
I will keep you informed of further give aways and keep asking the questions. Why not us? A lot of us are on fixed incomes and I hope State Senator Gross’s bill passes and we will have to spend gaming money on infrastructure and not employees.
Last piece of advice watch for job openings in the city. On the other hand you would probably have to move out of the city to get a job here.
949-0956 or 425 Nantucket
Getting closer to home and more serious. In my ward we have had a situation of pit bulls running loose. I an introducing a new vicious dog ordinance. It is on the agenda Tuesday. It is designed to protect all residents from dogs running loose so you will not be subject to attack.
I am still trying to get something provided to the resident tax payers. You know who that is. It is you and me. We pay the electric bill, we support every obligation this city has. We are just the common folks. We are not getting any tax breaks. Everytime somebody with money around here wants to do something, they come running to the city for tax relief. There is still a reluctance to do anything for us. We are still overburdened with the utility tax and pretty soon, because of all the giveaways, we could end up paying twice the amount we now pay for water and sewer. This is not good money management.
Maybe in two years we will get some relief. Again, $98 million budget, but we can’t give money to help school kids learn anything, we can’t get tax relief. What’s wrong with this picture?
You know if you are unhappy folks you need to talk to your Council representative and let them know how you feel. I took a shot at free trash only to get submarined. The bill came back higher with less service, so as unhappy as we are with the rates and service provided, it is better than what was proposed.
But I am forever optimistic. I just know somewhere on the horizon, somewhere there is a break coming for us, the taxpayers.
I will keep you informed of further give aways and keep asking the questions. Why not us? A lot of us are on fixed incomes and I hope State Senator Gross’s bill passes and we will have to spend gaming money on infrastructure and not employees.
Last piece of advice watch for job openings in the city. On the other hand you would probably have to move out of the city to get a job here.
949-0956 or 425 Nantucket
Work Study Pay Hike Nearly Offsets Tuition Increast at Lindenwood U
Work study pay hike nearly offsets tuition increase at Lindenwood U
If students work on campus at Lindenwood University, the school’s first tuition increase in four years will cost them only $100 per semester.
The university has issued a hefty increase in work study compensation-from $6 an hour to $8 an hour, or $600 annually. Students will now be paid $2,400 for 10 hours work a week over two semesters.
“We want everyone to have a good work ethic,” said President Dennis Spellmann. “Not only is it a core value here, but it will help students in placement when they graduate.”
The pay increase covers most of Lindenwood’s 7.1 percent tuition increase for full-time graduate and undergraduate students, effective with the fall 2005 semester.
“We are still the best value around,” said Spellmann. “Our cost is about half of most other private colleges and universities. Even our parking fee remains steady-at $1 a semester. Who can top that?”
Tuition for full-time students increases by $800 to $12,000 annually. The 7.1 percent increase also applies to room and board, which increases by $400 to $6,000 annually.
“This is the first tuition increase in four years for most of our students,” said Lindenwood President Dennis Spellmann. “The quality, cost and convenience at Lindenwood are hard to beat. It’s why we’re the fastest-growing college or university in Missouri.”
Adult students studying in the accelerated LCIE program will see a 6 percent increase, with undergraduate tuition going to $273 credit hour, and graduate tuition going to $440 per credit hour.
If students work on campus at Lindenwood University, the school’s first tuition increase in four years will cost them only $100 per semester.
The university has issued a hefty increase in work study compensation-from $6 an hour to $8 an hour, or $600 annually. Students will now be paid $2,400 for 10 hours work a week over two semesters.
“We want everyone to have a good work ethic,” said President Dennis Spellmann. “Not only is it a core value here, but it will help students in placement when they graduate.”
The pay increase covers most of Lindenwood’s 7.1 percent tuition increase for full-time graduate and undergraduate students, effective with the fall 2005 semester.
“We are still the best value around,” said Spellmann. “Our cost is about half of most other private colleges and universities. Even our parking fee remains steady-at $1 a semester. Who can top that?”
Tuition for full-time students increases by $800 to $12,000 annually. The 7.1 percent increase also applies to room and board, which increases by $400 to $6,000 annually.
“This is the first tuition increase in four years for most of our students,” said Lindenwood President Dennis Spellmann. “The quality, cost and convenience at Lindenwood are hard to beat. It’s why we’re the fastest-growing college or university in Missouri.”
Adult students studying in the accelerated LCIE program will see a 6 percent increase, with undergraduate tuition going to $273 credit hour, and graduate tuition going to $440 per credit hour.
Spring Clean Up
St. Charles Spring Stream Clean-Up March 5th
The annual St. Charles Spring Stream Clean-Up will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2005 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, according to Project Manager John Reeves.
Everyone is invited to participate. Coffee, hot chocolate and donuts will be furnished to start the day.
For those wanting to participate, meet at Pavilion # 3 at Blanchette Park at 8:30 am. From 8:30am to 9:00 am coffee, hot chocolate and doughnuts will be enjoyed.
From 9:00 am to 11:00 am the plans are to clean-up Boschert Creek from Kingshighway to Hawthorne.
At 11:00 am everyone will meet back at the Pavilion for snacks and soda.
Gloves, safety vests and trash bags will be provided by the City. Volunteers should dress appropriately for the weather; long pants and boots are recommended.
Everyone will need to register upon arrival and receive the location of their assigned section of the stream. Three sections of the stream will be cleaned. Safety instructions will be given prior to departure.
This event is sponsored by the City of St. Charles. For additional information John Reeves can be contacted at 636 949-3514 or by e-mail --
John.Reeves@StCharlesCity.com
The annual St. Charles Spring Stream Clean-Up will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2005 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, according to Project Manager John Reeves.
Everyone is invited to participate. Coffee, hot chocolate and donuts will be furnished to start the day.
For those wanting to participate, meet at Pavilion # 3 at Blanchette Park at 8:30 am. From 8:30am to 9:00 am coffee, hot chocolate and doughnuts will be enjoyed.
From 9:00 am to 11:00 am the plans are to clean-up Boschert Creek from Kingshighway to Hawthorne.
At 11:00 am everyone will meet back at the Pavilion for snacks and soda.
Gloves, safety vests and trash bags will be provided by the City. Volunteers should dress appropriately for the weather; long pants and boots are recommended.
Everyone will need to register upon arrival and receive the location of their assigned section of the stream. Three sections of the stream will be cleaned. Safety instructions will be given prior to departure.
This event is sponsored by the City of St. Charles. For additional information John Reeves can be contacted at 636 949-3514 or by e-mail --
John.Reeves@StCharlesCity.com
Amateur Sports Hall of Fame Banquet March 12
22nd Annual St. Charles County Amateur Sports Hall of Fame Honors Inductees At Banquet March 12
The 22nd annual St. Charles County Amateur Sports Hall of Fame Banquet will be held on March 12, 2005 at the American Legion Hall on Raymond in St. Charles.
St. Charles County Amateur Sports Hall of Fame is an organization formed to honor and recognize amateur sports participants, contributors, umpires and referees from the St. Charles County area. The organization was established on March 10, 1983.
Nine new members and one Outstanding Achievement Award recipient have been selected by the Board of Directors for the Amateur Sports Hall of Fame.
Those selected for this honor are; Jerry Burbes and Dave Dickherber for Baseball, Michelle Fanning and Madge Vanatta for Bowling, Mark Collier and Alvin (Red) Oswald for Dartball, Larry Langewisch for Horseshoes, Frank Deniszczuk and Gary Kinder for Softball.
The Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented to Joseph Haug, Coach at St. Dominic High School.
Each inductee will receive a proclamation from the Governor, a certificate from the Missouri House of Representatives, a certificate from the St. Charles Sports Hall of Fame and a unique St. Charles Sports Hall of Fame ring.
They will also have their picture and their name on a plaque that will be on permanent display at the St. Charles Sports Hall of Fame building on the grounds of the TR Hughes baseball park in O’Fallon.
Outstanding Senior Athletic Award
Each year the organization recognizes the most outstanding senior female and male athlete of the year from St. Charles County High Schools. Lisa Hughes of Orchard Farm High School and Darrell Lloyd of Fort Zumwalt North High School were selected for these awards.
Tickets for the Banquet are $20 per person. For ticket information you can contact; Lenny Boehmer, Chairman of the Board of Directors at 636-639-5786; Armin Hemsath, Secretary at 636-946-2609 or Harold Wies, Treasurer at 636-978-6549.
The 22nd annual St. Charles County Amateur Sports Hall of Fame Banquet will be held on March 12, 2005 at the American Legion Hall on Raymond in St. Charles.
St. Charles County Amateur Sports Hall of Fame is an organization formed to honor and recognize amateur sports participants, contributors, umpires and referees from the St. Charles County area. The organization was established on March 10, 1983.
Nine new members and one Outstanding Achievement Award recipient have been selected by the Board of Directors for the Amateur Sports Hall of Fame.
Those selected for this honor are; Jerry Burbes and Dave Dickherber for Baseball, Michelle Fanning and Madge Vanatta for Bowling, Mark Collier and Alvin (Red) Oswald for Dartball, Larry Langewisch for Horseshoes, Frank Deniszczuk and Gary Kinder for Softball.
The Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented to Joseph Haug, Coach at St. Dominic High School.
Each inductee will receive a proclamation from the Governor, a certificate from the Missouri House of Representatives, a certificate from the St. Charles Sports Hall of Fame and a unique St. Charles Sports Hall of Fame ring.
They will also have their picture and their name on a plaque that will be on permanent display at the St. Charles Sports Hall of Fame building on the grounds of the TR Hughes baseball park in O’Fallon.
Outstanding Senior Athletic Award
Each year the organization recognizes the most outstanding senior female and male athlete of the year from St. Charles County High Schools. Lisa Hughes of Orchard Farm High School and Darrell Lloyd of Fort Zumwalt North High School were selected for these awards.
Tickets for the Banquet are $20 per person. For ticket information you can contact; Lenny Boehmer, Chairman of the Board of Directors at 636-639-5786; Armin Hemsath, Secretary at 636-946-2609 or Harold Wies, Treasurer at 636-978-6549.
Mike McMurran, Sports Editor
Today boys and girls we are going to talk about officials; no, not they type of officials you can read about in other sections of this fine weekly, rather athletic officials: basketball referees, soccer referees, umpires and the such. This comes to mind because of something that happened at my son Joe’s first grade indoor soccer game at Tony Glavin’s complex. It seems the opposing coach was less than happy because one of Joe’s teammates, Andrew Clark, tumbled over the goalie in an attempt to get a ball. From my perspective it all seemed incidental and legal, especially considering some of the other “contact” being allowed. Hey, soccer is a rough, contact game; I think. The opposing coach went nuts! He screamed in an attempt to make his point – achieving only one thing: making a complete fool of himself. To make matters even worse, the young referee he was yelling at was clearly only an underclass high school student.
It was over ten years ago, while being orientated to the world of high school athletic administration by St. Charles native and current resident, Don Oelklaus, that I was taught the following lesson: “Officials never influence the outcome of a contest, no matter what the sport.” It is a lesson I have taken to heart and believe to be true. Even those who like to complain about game six of the 1985 World Series have no response to the question: What happened in game seven? Nope, from my perspective if you argue with an official you need to be removed from a game – certainly at the youth level. Have you any idea how hard it is to get officials? Then people want to go and yell at them; no sir. Shouldn’t happen, ever! For the most part they let anyone coach youth sports (have I mentioned I coach a kindergarten soccer team and a first grade baseball team), whereas officials at least go through some formal training.
On a related note, my final year of coaching high school football was at Trinity Catholic High School in Spanish Lake. The head coach was some young man whose name really does escape me. In the previous two seasons he led the team to identical records of 1-9. As the season went on he constantly complained of the quality of officials assigned to our games. Enter Oelklaus’ philosophy of officials. “The good officials are going to get the good games, the bad officials are going to be assigned to bad games.” If you were an official and were offered a game between Duchesne and Saint Charles West or Trinity Catholic versus Bunker Hill (yes, we were really hard up for a win) the good official would take the first game every time, every single time. Loober, that was his name, could not understand or accept that. He really thought his games deserved top-notch officials, even though the quality of play on the field was barely that of a good j.v. game. Incidentally, Trinity Catholic has continued to go 1-9 for four years running with Loober at the helm.
My point? Lay off the officials, at all levels of competition, but especially at high school games, and most importantly at youth contests. Here is a novel idea: keep your mouth shut until the contest is over, then walk over, shake the official’s hand, and tell them, “Good game, ref!” Such behavior will only improve the quality of the game from all aspects.
This probably should appear on the “letters to the editor” page, but since Greg Almus e-mailed his letter to me, I have the honor of sharing his thoughts. It seems Greg no longer needs his Journal, or at least that is his feeling. “I simply throw my Journal in the trash because the First Capitol News covers the local high school scene (that would be me). I wonder why the Journal decides not to print the stories I see in the FCN,” questioned Almus, “are they afraid of something or someone?” Almus is a little too poetic for me when he says, “The First Capitol News prints the stories most important to the First Capitol.” Rather “cheesy,” yet point well taken.
This week’s “athlete of the week” could be none other than Saint Charles High’s Abby Schultenrich. Rather than write an article about Abby’s performance against Jennings on Tuesday evening, her accomplishments are mentioned in the headline story. In the past fifteen years I have seen a number of gifted high school athletes with some rather impressive performances. Probably the most impressive was Darren Brooks, who recently broke Larry Byrd’s career steals mark in the Missouri Valley Conference. Abby’s performance Tuesday evening is on the top of the list. It was something to see.
And last but not least, Ray Bulte has the honor of being recognized as the 21st regular reader of this column. At last Saturday’s Father Daughter Breakfast at Academy of the Sacred Heart, he was the first, and not the only, might I add, to lay claim to the prestigious title. Congratulations to Ray, your life will never be the same.
It was over ten years ago, while being orientated to the world of high school athletic administration by St. Charles native and current resident, Don Oelklaus, that I was taught the following lesson: “Officials never influence the outcome of a contest, no matter what the sport.” It is a lesson I have taken to heart and believe to be true. Even those who like to complain about game six of the 1985 World Series have no response to the question: What happened in game seven? Nope, from my perspective if you argue with an official you need to be removed from a game – certainly at the youth level. Have you any idea how hard it is to get officials? Then people want to go and yell at them; no sir. Shouldn’t happen, ever! For the most part they let anyone coach youth sports (have I mentioned I coach a kindergarten soccer team and a first grade baseball team), whereas officials at least go through some formal training.
On a related note, my final year of coaching high school football was at Trinity Catholic High School in Spanish Lake. The head coach was some young man whose name really does escape me. In the previous two seasons he led the team to identical records of 1-9. As the season went on he constantly complained of the quality of officials assigned to our games. Enter Oelklaus’ philosophy of officials. “The good officials are going to get the good games, the bad officials are going to be assigned to bad games.” If you were an official and were offered a game between Duchesne and Saint Charles West or Trinity Catholic versus Bunker Hill (yes, we were really hard up for a win) the good official would take the first game every time, every single time. Loober, that was his name, could not understand or accept that. He really thought his games deserved top-notch officials, even though the quality of play on the field was barely that of a good j.v. game. Incidentally, Trinity Catholic has continued to go 1-9 for four years running with Loober at the helm.
My point? Lay off the officials, at all levels of competition, but especially at high school games, and most importantly at youth contests. Here is a novel idea: keep your mouth shut until the contest is over, then walk over, shake the official’s hand, and tell them, “Good game, ref!” Such behavior will only improve the quality of the game from all aspects.
This probably should appear on the “letters to the editor” page, but since Greg Almus e-mailed his letter to me, I have the honor of sharing his thoughts. It seems Greg no longer needs his Journal, or at least that is his feeling. “I simply throw my Journal in the trash because the First Capitol News covers the local high school scene (that would be me). I wonder why the Journal decides not to print the stories I see in the FCN,” questioned Almus, “are they afraid of something or someone?” Almus is a little too poetic for me when he says, “The First Capitol News prints the stories most important to the First Capitol.” Rather “cheesy,” yet point well taken.
This week’s “athlete of the week” could be none other than Saint Charles High’s Abby Schultenrich. Rather than write an article about Abby’s performance against Jennings on Tuesday evening, her accomplishments are mentioned in the headline story. In the past fifteen years I have seen a number of gifted high school athletes with some rather impressive performances. Probably the most impressive was Darren Brooks, who recently broke Larry Byrd’s career steals mark in the Missouri Valley Conference. Abby’s performance Tuesday evening is on the top of the list. It was something to see.
And last but not least, Ray Bulte has the honor of being recognized as the 21st regular reader of this column. At last Saturday’s Father Daughter Breakfast at Academy of the Sacred Heart, he was the first, and not the only, might I add, to lay claim to the prestigious title. Congratulations to Ray, your life will never be the same.
FIrst Capitol News Team of the Week
Saint Charles
Lady Pirates
First Capitol News
Team of the Week
Led by sophomore
Abby Schultenrich, Pirates win GAC North
Conference title
By Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
The Gateway Athletic Conference North Division girls’ championship trophy traveled from Elm Street to North Kingshighway for the first time in four years as head coach Corey Nesslage’s Lady Pirates claimed sole possession of first place on the last day of the regular season. The Pirates were able to watch the first half of the Duchesne/West game Friday evening before heading back to watch the St. Charles boys’ team play senior night. “It was so cool,” said junior Lisa Witte, “right before the boys’ games started they announced that Duchesne had beat West and we were the conference champions.” Duchesne’s win over West left both squads with a 4-2 conference mark. The Pirates finished 5-1, with their only conference loss coming at the hands of Duchesne.
Judging by the start of the season the Pirates would have been a long shot to finish the regular season on top as they dropped the first three games of the season, including the traditional Thanksgiving eve season opener with West. “We knew when the season started that we were young, but we also knew if we worked our butts off we could accomplish some great things,” said Witte, the team’s leading rebounder, averaging just under 7 per contest.
The Pirates have been led offensively all season by the one-two punch of Abby Schultenrich and Tori Fenemor, who average 14.8 and 12.3 points respectively. Fenemor is right behind Witte when it comes to boards, averaging 6.1 per game. Fenemor leads in offensive boards while Witte is the chairwomen of the board defensively.
Nesslage’s band of sisters celebrated their win and immediately began preparing for district competition. Their opponent in semifinal action will be Duchesne. They are undaunted. “If we play our game and work our hardest I think we can beat anybody,” offers Abby Schaberg. Schultenrich adds, “If we can beat their press and minimize our turnovers I think we can beat them (Duchesne). One thing for certain, it is going to be a battle.”
The title is Nesslage’s first as head coach, although he stresses, “It’s the girls’ title, not mine.” He is willing to “trade it (conference title) in a heart beat for a district championship. Winning the conference is clearly an accomplishment, but I want to get to the state tournament,” he sternly stated. “Me and Charlie have talked a few time, and I know Ellen (Parker of West) knows this, whoever comes out of our district has a good, a very good shot at going to Columbia.”
However the season ends the future is very bright for the Pirates as they will be returning all five starters next season. For now next season is the last thing on their minds, as they are concentrating on this season, and the road to Columbia.
Lady Pirates
First Capitol News
Team of the Week
Led by sophomore
Abby Schultenrich, Pirates win GAC North
Conference title
By Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
The Gateway Athletic Conference North Division girls’ championship trophy traveled from Elm Street to North Kingshighway for the first time in four years as head coach Corey Nesslage’s Lady Pirates claimed sole possession of first place on the last day of the regular season. The Pirates were able to watch the first half of the Duchesne/West game Friday evening before heading back to watch the St. Charles boys’ team play senior night. “It was so cool,” said junior Lisa Witte, “right before the boys’ games started they announced that Duchesne had beat West and we were the conference champions.” Duchesne’s win over West left both squads with a 4-2 conference mark. The Pirates finished 5-1, with their only conference loss coming at the hands of Duchesne.
Judging by the start of the season the Pirates would have been a long shot to finish the regular season on top as they dropped the first three games of the season, including the traditional Thanksgiving eve season opener with West. “We knew when the season started that we were young, but we also knew if we worked our butts off we could accomplish some great things,” said Witte, the team’s leading rebounder, averaging just under 7 per contest.
The Pirates have been led offensively all season by the one-two punch of Abby Schultenrich and Tori Fenemor, who average 14.8 and 12.3 points respectively. Fenemor is right behind Witte when it comes to boards, averaging 6.1 per game. Fenemor leads in offensive boards while Witte is the chairwomen of the board defensively.
Nesslage’s band of sisters celebrated their win and immediately began preparing for district competition. Their opponent in semifinal action will be Duchesne. They are undaunted. “If we play our game and work our hardest I think we can beat anybody,” offers Abby Schaberg. Schultenrich adds, “If we can beat their press and minimize our turnovers I think we can beat them (Duchesne). One thing for certain, it is going to be a battle.”
The title is Nesslage’s first as head coach, although he stresses, “It’s the girls’ title, not mine.” He is willing to “trade it (conference title) in a heart beat for a district championship. Winning the conference is clearly an accomplishment, but I want to get to the state tournament,” he sternly stated. “Me and Charlie have talked a few time, and I know Ellen (Parker of West) knows this, whoever comes out of our district has a good, a very good shot at going to Columbia.”
However the season ends the future is very bright for the Pirates as they will be returning all five starters next season. For now next season is the last thing on their minds, as they are concentrating on this season, and the road to Columbia.
Friday, February 18, 2005
OUR NEXT EDITION FEBRUARY 26
WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THE PRESIDENT'S DAY HOLIDAY.
WE DO NOT PRINT ON HOLIDAY WEEKENDS.
OUR NEXT EDITION WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 26TH.
HOWEVER, YOU MIGHT SEE SOME UPDATES TO OUR WEB LOG THIS WEEKEND.
CHECK BACK.
WE DO NOT PRINT ON HOLIDAY WEEKENDS.
OUR NEXT EDITION WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 26TH.
HOWEVER, YOU MIGHT SEE SOME UPDATES TO OUR WEB LOG THIS WEEKEND.
CHECK BACK.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
"MAYOR LIES," SAY COUNCIL MEMBERS
By Tony Brockmeyer
“The Mayor and I sat down and I asked her if she would stand in the way if her choice for City Administrator brought Lowery’s name forwardfor chief. She said “let me think about that.” Twenty minutes before the meeting she agreed that if we appointed Williams and he brought Lowery’s name forward she would not stand in the way. She said that in front of three of us. We are paying Williams $148,000 a year to run the day-to-day operations of the City and yet the Mayor wants to pick the Chief. Her political ties to the Police Union are more evident now than ever. She is allowing a few bad apples in the Police Department tell her whom to pick for Chief so they can continue to run the PD and basically run the City. This Mayor has sworn an oath and is not living up to that oath.”
Ward 8 City Councilman John Gieseke made those comments after Tuesdays City Council meeting where City Administrator Alan Williams told the council he was not bringing Major Robert G. Lowery’s name forward because the Mayor would not approve him.
“We are paying this man over $148,000 a year to run this city on the Mayor’s recommendation and she refuses to go along with his decisions, “said Gieseke. “We may as well stop the process now and let the Police Union leaders come to us and decide who their boss will be, all this so she can protect a political ally that appears to have some unyielding power over her and the office of the Mayor. Endorsements should not buy decisions or appointments. They allow for better access but not total control,” said Gieseke.
“I am so sorry for Major Lowery. He would have never reapplied and never gone through the process, up to taking a psychological exam, if he hadn’t been told he would have a contract and that the Mayor would say yes. We all took the Mayor at her word and we have all learned from this mistake.”
The Mayor has a close relationship with Tommy Mayer, a St. Charles Police Sergeant and state president of the Fraternal Order of Police. She has traveled the state speaking for the FOP and attending their meetings. So much so that she received an award from them in 2002. Mayer has a $104 million dollar lawsuit against the City Administrator, City Council Members and the City of St. Charles but has not named the Mayor in the suit.
The closed-door executive session of the City Council Meeting Tuesday night erupted into a heated discussion. City Administrator Alan Williams had earlier made promises to City Council members that he would bring forward the name of Major Robert Lowery, Jr., Assistant Police of Chief of Florissant and Commander of the Greater St. Louis Major case Squad, to be his choice for Chief of Police of St. Charles.
Councilwoman Dottie Greer told the First Capitol News, “She (Mayor York) lied again. That’s all I can say. I am sick of her lying. I am disgusted with her and her ways. She told us unequivocally if Mr. Williams wanted to appoint Major Lowery as Chief of Police she would approve it if we appointed Mr. Williams as City Administrator. She lied again.”
Council President Rory Riddler told the First Capitol News, “I think it was a terrible disservice to Major Lowery who has been a pillar of the law enforcement community with an outstanding career to have put him through this a second time. The only reason Major Lowery consented to put his application in again for Chief is because the Mayor had made a direct promise to myself and several other Council members. That promise was if Allan Williams were hired as City Administrator and went through another selection process for Chief and if Alan Williams recommended Major Lowery as the best person for the job, she, the mayor, would go along with his appointment.
That promise was not ambiguous I considered it made in earnest and in plain English. It was not only made to myself but two other council members and once again to all three of us at the same time. I believe that my version of the event will coincide exactly with how my fellow council members remember what was said.
The city administrator made it clear to me and the entire council that he was going to bring major Lowery’s name forward and in fact at last weeks council meeting in executive session discussed contract terms. He subsequently indicated to me that he could not get the mayor to go along with the appointment of Lowery and therefore was not bringing Lowery’s name forward. I don’t blame Major Lowery for withdrawing his name from consideration under the circumstances. His position had obviously been made into that of a political football by an administration that would not keep its word. The City Administrator had, prior to Tuesday’s meeting introduced another candidate for police chief to a few select members of the Council and the Mayor. Not all Council members on Tuesday evening had been given the courtesy, of receiving this individual’s resume or being given the same access to the applicant that some were. Therefore as Council President I felt it best to make sure all Council members get a copy of the resume and were given the opportunity to interview as a group before any further discussion took place that evening. The administration seemed anxious to rush through the name of this other individual and I felt it important the Council be allowed to do its own due diligence and fairly consider the individual on his merits.
I also informed the Council the contract with acting chief Larry White was coming to a close the first week of March. Mr. White is being paid $9000 per month in a contract entered into by City Administrator Alan Williams. Because the total contract amount was less than $20,000 the Administrator had the authority to sign the contract without Council approval. A second contract with former St. Louis County Police Chief Ron Battelle had also been entered into by the Administrator for $5,000 per month to be paid to Ron Battelle and $2,500 per month to be paid to Backstoppers, the agency Mr. Battelle took leave from to serve as a consultant to the Administrator. His contract was not to exceed $19,500.
The Council and myself are extremely concerned and that our community is still without a full time police chief that we have had to extend large sums in consultant fees during this interim period. We would hope the City Administrator could quickly bring us applicants for chief to consider without any obvious political ties.”
Councilman Mark Brown said, “I think it is a shame the mayor is trying to hoodwink the public and infiltrate our police department with St. Louis City Politics. I think it is bold that she would recommend her son’s boss to be the police chief. This would only make our police department 100 percent political. I think her actions are out of line and she owes the public an apology.
Obviously I am disappointed Lowery isn’t going to be taking the position especially after our new City Administrator new also agreed he was the best for the job. It is a shame the Mayor said if the City Administrator said he was the best choice she would accept him and then she refuses.
It appears the Mayor is trying to trade favors to see her son advanced in the city police department.”
Tuesday would have been the third time Williams had told the Council he would be announcing his appointment of Major Lowery. Council members had been told prior to two previous meetings the appointment would be made. Williams postponed it on each previous occasion.
Williams had started contract negotiations with Major Lowery a couple of weeks ago. “Dr. Williams called me and told me he was appointing me Police Chief of St. Charles,” Major Lowery told the First Capitol News. “We started discussing contract terms. He offered me a contract and asked me to take a psychological test. I took the test and was told I had passed. He told me he would be offering my name to the City Council and the Mayor. He later called me and told me he was going to wait until the next meeting to ask for a vote because the Mayor opposed my appointment and he needed some time to try and change her mind.”
Apparently Williams asked Councilman Kneemiller to talk to the Mayor. Evidently Councilman Kneemiller was unable to get her to change her mind.
Just before the start of the Council meeting on February 1st Major Lowery received a telephone call from Williams. “Dr. Williams told me the Mayor had just told him she had five City Council votes against my appointment,” said Major Lowery. “He asked me if it would be okay to postpone the vote on my appointment for a week so he could see how many votes I would receive from the Council members and he thought he could change the Mayor’s mind.”
As the City Council meeting progressed that evening, spectators in the audience had their curiosity peaked as they watched Williams approach the dais and take individual Council members out into the hallway one at a time. He was checking to see if the Mayor had the five votes she claimed to block the appointment of Major Lowery. Even though the Mayor had told Williams she had five votes to block the appointment he discovered she did not.
The City Council went into closed session and remained there for an extended period of time discussing the vote on Major Lowery in addition to the contract the Mayor signed with Express Scripts without Council approval as requested by ordinance. It was during that executive session the Mayor told the Council she needed a week to determine what requirements she wanted in his contract. After the meeting Williams called Major Lowery and told him that his appointment would be voted on February 8th, as the Mayor needed time to work on a contract.
After that meeting Councilman Brown asked the Mayor why she would not approve Lowery that evening. She told him, “I never get anything.” When Brown asked her what she wanted he said she replied, “I want the Community Center killed in Riddler’s Ward (Rory Riddler, Council President and Councilman Ward 1).”
Tuesday morning, February 8th, Williams contacted Major Lowery and told him the Mayor would not approve his appointment. It was at that time Major Lowery decided he had had enough and withdrew his name from further consideration.
Williams then contacted a few members of the City Council and asked that they come to City Hall and meet and consider Captain Gerald Wurm of the St. Louis Police Department for appointment as Chief of Police.
Councilmen Muench and Reese acknowledged they had met Wurm and had copies of his resume.
Other members of the Council expressed concern that Wurm is the Commander of the Second District of the St. Louis Police Department and is in command of 80 Officers including Adrian York the Mayor’s son. They also said Williams told them Wurm had heard of Officer York but was not familiar with him. They are also concerned about the recent investigative report in which it was reported the St. Louis Police were not writing police reports and not investigating some crimes.
It was reported that York has said she had considered a proposal that Lowery be hired with the understanding that she could review his performance after six months. Council members believe that would be a violation of the City Charter.
Sources within the Police Department have told the First Capitol News the Mayor has a small group of bad apples that want to be in control of the department and she is doing everything she can do to help and protect them.
Councilman Joe Koester said, “I have learned the Mayor had been allowed to go through the applications and she picked out Wurm’s application and suggested Dr. Williams hire him. It is a violation for her to be allowed to do this and I am appalled with the recent actions of Dr. Williams. I am very angry about what is going on in this city and am concerned we have hired a City Administrator who has abdicated his authority to the Mayor in direct violation of our City Charter.”
“The Mayor and I sat down and I asked her if she would stand in the way if her choice for City Administrator brought Lowery’s name forwardfor chief. She said “let me think about that.” Twenty minutes before the meeting she agreed that if we appointed Williams and he brought Lowery’s name forward she would not stand in the way. She said that in front of three of us. We are paying Williams $148,000 a year to run the day-to-day operations of the City and yet the Mayor wants to pick the Chief. Her political ties to the Police Union are more evident now than ever. She is allowing a few bad apples in the Police Department tell her whom to pick for Chief so they can continue to run the PD and basically run the City. This Mayor has sworn an oath and is not living up to that oath.”
Ward 8 City Councilman John Gieseke made those comments after Tuesdays City Council meeting where City Administrator Alan Williams told the council he was not bringing Major Robert G. Lowery’s name forward because the Mayor would not approve him.
“We are paying this man over $148,000 a year to run this city on the Mayor’s recommendation and she refuses to go along with his decisions, “said Gieseke. “We may as well stop the process now and let the Police Union leaders come to us and decide who their boss will be, all this so she can protect a political ally that appears to have some unyielding power over her and the office of the Mayor. Endorsements should not buy decisions or appointments. They allow for better access but not total control,” said Gieseke.
“I am so sorry for Major Lowery. He would have never reapplied and never gone through the process, up to taking a psychological exam, if he hadn’t been told he would have a contract and that the Mayor would say yes. We all took the Mayor at her word and we have all learned from this mistake.”
The Mayor has a close relationship with Tommy Mayer, a St. Charles Police Sergeant and state president of the Fraternal Order of Police. She has traveled the state speaking for the FOP and attending their meetings. So much so that she received an award from them in 2002. Mayer has a $104 million dollar lawsuit against the City Administrator, City Council Members and the City of St. Charles but has not named the Mayor in the suit.
The closed-door executive session of the City Council Meeting Tuesday night erupted into a heated discussion. City Administrator Alan Williams had earlier made promises to City Council members that he would bring forward the name of Major Robert Lowery, Jr., Assistant Police of Chief of Florissant and Commander of the Greater St. Louis Major case Squad, to be his choice for Chief of Police of St. Charles.
Councilwoman Dottie Greer told the First Capitol News, “She (Mayor York) lied again. That’s all I can say. I am sick of her lying. I am disgusted with her and her ways. She told us unequivocally if Mr. Williams wanted to appoint Major Lowery as Chief of Police she would approve it if we appointed Mr. Williams as City Administrator. She lied again.”
Council President Rory Riddler told the First Capitol News, “I think it was a terrible disservice to Major Lowery who has been a pillar of the law enforcement community with an outstanding career to have put him through this a second time. The only reason Major Lowery consented to put his application in again for Chief is because the Mayor had made a direct promise to myself and several other Council members. That promise was if Allan Williams were hired as City Administrator and went through another selection process for Chief and if Alan Williams recommended Major Lowery as the best person for the job, she, the mayor, would go along with his appointment.
That promise was not ambiguous I considered it made in earnest and in plain English. It was not only made to myself but two other council members and once again to all three of us at the same time. I believe that my version of the event will coincide exactly with how my fellow council members remember what was said.
The city administrator made it clear to me and the entire council that he was going to bring major Lowery’s name forward and in fact at last weeks council meeting in executive session discussed contract terms. He subsequently indicated to me that he could not get the mayor to go along with the appointment of Lowery and therefore was not bringing Lowery’s name forward. I don’t blame Major Lowery for withdrawing his name from consideration under the circumstances. His position had obviously been made into that of a political football by an administration that would not keep its word. The City Administrator had, prior to Tuesday’s meeting introduced another candidate for police chief to a few select members of the Council and the Mayor. Not all Council members on Tuesday evening had been given the courtesy, of receiving this individual’s resume or being given the same access to the applicant that some were. Therefore as Council President I felt it best to make sure all Council members get a copy of the resume and were given the opportunity to interview as a group before any further discussion took place that evening. The administration seemed anxious to rush through the name of this other individual and I felt it important the Council be allowed to do its own due diligence and fairly consider the individual on his merits.
I also informed the Council the contract with acting chief Larry White was coming to a close the first week of March. Mr. White is being paid $9000 per month in a contract entered into by City Administrator Alan Williams. Because the total contract amount was less than $20,000 the Administrator had the authority to sign the contract without Council approval. A second contract with former St. Louis County Police Chief Ron Battelle had also been entered into by the Administrator for $5,000 per month to be paid to Ron Battelle and $2,500 per month to be paid to Backstoppers, the agency Mr. Battelle took leave from to serve as a consultant to the Administrator. His contract was not to exceed $19,500.
The Council and myself are extremely concerned and that our community is still without a full time police chief that we have had to extend large sums in consultant fees during this interim period. We would hope the City Administrator could quickly bring us applicants for chief to consider without any obvious political ties.”
Councilman Mark Brown said, “I think it is a shame the mayor is trying to hoodwink the public and infiltrate our police department with St. Louis City Politics. I think it is bold that she would recommend her son’s boss to be the police chief. This would only make our police department 100 percent political. I think her actions are out of line and she owes the public an apology.
Obviously I am disappointed Lowery isn’t going to be taking the position especially after our new City Administrator new also agreed he was the best for the job. It is a shame the Mayor said if the City Administrator said he was the best choice she would accept him and then she refuses.
It appears the Mayor is trying to trade favors to see her son advanced in the city police department.”
Tuesday would have been the third time Williams had told the Council he would be announcing his appointment of Major Lowery. Council members had been told prior to two previous meetings the appointment would be made. Williams postponed it on each previous occasion.
Williams had started contract negotiations with Major Lowery a couple of weeks ago. “Dr. Williams called me and told me he was appointing me Police Chief of St. Charles,” Major Lowery told the First Capitol News. “We started discussing contract terms. He offered me a contract and asked me to take a psychological test. I took the test and was told I had passed. He told me he would be offering my name to the City Council and the Mayor. He later called me and told me he was going to wait until the next meeting to ask for a vote because the Mayor opposed my appointment and he needed some time to try and change her mind.”
Apparently Williams asked Councilman Kneemiller to talk to the Mayor. Evidently Councilman Kneemiller was unable to get her to change her mind.
Just before the start of the Council meeting on February 1st Major Lowery received a telephone call from Williams. “Dr. Williams told me the Mayor had just told him she had five City Council votes against my appointment,” said Major Lowery. “He asked me if it would be okay to postpone the vote on my appointment for a week so he could see how many votes I would receive from the Council members and he thought he could change the Mayor’s mind.”
As the City Council meeting progressed that evening, spectators in the audience had their curiosity peaked as they watched Williams approach the dais and take individual Council members out into the hallway one at a time. He was checking to see if the Mayor had the five votes she claimed to block the appointment of Major Lowery. Even though the Mayor had told Williams she had five votes to block the appointment he discovered she did not.
The City Council went into closed session and remained there for an extended period of time discussing the vote on Major Lowery in addition to the contract the Mayor signed with Express Scripts without Council approval as requested by ordinance. It was during that executive session the Mayor told the Council she needed a week to determine what requirements she wanted in his contract. After the meeting Williams called Major Lowery and told him that his appointment would be voted on February 8th, as the Mayor needed time to work on a contract.
After that meeting Councilman Brown asked the Mayor why she would not approve Lowery that evening. She told him, “I never get anything.” When Brown asked her what she wanted he said she replied, “I want the Community Center killed in Riddler’s Ward (Rory Riddler, Council President and Councilman Ward 1).”
Tuesday morning, February 8th, Williams contacted Major Lowery and told him the Mayor would not approve his appointment. It was at that time Major Lowery decided he had had enough and withdrew his name from further consideration.
Williams then contacted a few members of the City Council and asked that they come to City Hall and meet and consider Captain Gerald Wurm of the St. Louis Police Department for appointment as Chief of Police.
Councilmen Muench and Reese acknowledged they had met Wurm and had copies of his resume.
Other members of the Council expressed concern that Wurm is the Commander of the Second District of the St. Louis Police Department and is in command of 80 Officers including Adrian York the Mayor’s son. They also said Williams told them Wurm had heard of Officer York but was not familiar with him. They are also concerned about the recent investigative report in which it was reported the St. Louis Police were not writing police reports and not investigating some crimes.
It was reported that York has said she had considered a proposal that Lowery be hired with the understanding that she could review his performance after six months. Council members believe that would be a violation of the City Charter.
Sources within the Police Department have told the First Capitol News the Mayor has a small group of bad apples that want to be in control of the department and she is doing everything she can do to help and protect them.
Councilman Joe Koester said, “I have learned the Mayor had been allowed to go through the applications and she picked out Wurm’s application and suggested Dr. Williams hire him. It is a violation for her to be allowed to do this and I am appalled with the recent actions of Dr. Williams. I am very angry about what is going on in this city and am concerned we have hired a City Administrator who has abdicated his authority to the Mayor in direct violation of our City Charter.”
THIS JUST IN - THE KING IS COMING
EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA
THE KING IS COMING
The First Capitol News learned at press time Dave King, former Police Chief of St. Charles, is expected back in town Monday. King, a close friend of City Administrator Alan Williams, will help Williams in a search for a police chief.
Apparently, Williams will not be offering Gerald Wurm, a Captain with the St. Louis Police Department, to the Council as his selection as St. Charles Police Chief. A City Hall source told us that Williams was not aware that Wurm was the District Commander for Officer Adrian York, the son of Mayor York, until informed by several Council members.
The St. Charles Police Officers Association and the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, headed by St. Charles Police Sergeant Tom Mayer, were constantly at odds with King when he was St. Charles Chief. They apparently wanted to run the police department and King was just as determined they would not.
We have been told that Mayer and the FOP were responsible for King being removed as Chief of Police.
THE KING IS COMING
The First Capitol News learned at press time Dave King, former Police Chief of St. Charles, is expected back in town Monday. King, a close friend of City Administrator Alan Williams, will help Williams in a search for a police chief.
Apparently, Williams will not be offering Gerald Wurm, a Captain with the St. Louis Police Department, to the Council as his selection as St. Charles Police Chief. A City Hall source told us that Williams was not aware that Wurm was the District Commander for Officer Adrian York, the son of Mayor York, until informed by several Council members.
The St. Charles Police Officers Association and the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, headed by St. Charles Police Sergeant Tom Mayer, were constantly at odds with King when he was St. Charles Chief. They apparently wanted to run the police department and King was just as determined they would not.
We have been told that Mayer and the FOP were responsible for King being removed as Chief of Police.
DOUBLE CROSSED BY THE MAYOR & CITY ADMINISTRATOR
By Joe Koester
Councilman Ward 9
Vitamin B ...
In German, “Vitamine B” stands for “Beziehung.” In English, Beziehung means “Relationship” or perhaps better translated as, “Connections.” Vitamine B is a phrase used by Germans to describe that extra help that comes from knowing the right people. None of us are naïve enough to think that connections are unimportant in business, and since lines between business and government have grown increasingly blurred over the past few years, it is not surprising to hear about a little “Vitamin B” at City Hall. After all, doesn’t it sometimes help to know that this lady or that gentleman or that firm or company is known in the community and has, perhaps, done some good things and might therefore be a good candidate for a City contract? Take the recent contract for City web design that was granted to Quilogy rather than a California based company because Council believes it makes sense to support local businesses; especially those who have proven to be a positive force such as Quilogy has. Quilogy wasn’t the low bid, but they weren’t far from the California bid and they have invested much money in downtown Saint Charles infrastructure and employ our townsfolk. We will be working together with a company that can be reached by foot from City Hall in a matter of 60 seconds rather than a company that is hours away by plane!
This kind of symbiotic relationship makes sense, and since no one on Council is employed by Quilogy, there is no conflict of interest.
Enters Mayor York and Companion, Dr. Alan Williams…
For about one and one half years now (pre-dating this Council) Saint Charles has needed a police chief. A litany of individuals and groups declared their support for Major Robert Lowery of Florissant, including the Mayor-appointed selection committee, the acting City Administrator, Mike Valenti, many on the previous Council, the current Council, and most recently, Dr. Alan Williams, our City Administrator chosen by the Mayor and supported by a majority of the Council (this Councilman not included). Dr. Williams stated to the press that he was ready on February 1st to bring Major Lowery’s name forward as his pick! All indications were that this matter would soon be resolved and a spirit of compromise had prevailed! Now we could look forward to working on anything and everything besides this wedge issue that had lingered for this long while.
Recent History…
Tuesday, February 1, 2005; a closed session at City Hall became heated when Mayor York decided to double-cross the City Council and renege on her word to accept Dr. Williams’ choice for Police Chief regardless of who that might be, including Major Lowery. My first concern expressed to Williams during our personal interview was his ability to act fairly in this matter. I trusted Major Lowery’s resume and credentials and knew that they could stand on their own feet as long as Dr. Williams wasn’t scheming with the Mayor to oppose him without reason. The Council took a leap of faith and reached out to Mayor York by appointing Dr. Williams with the Mayor’s pledge that she would not interfere with the administrator’s choice, nor would she stonewall Bob Lowery if Dr. Williams chose him for the job. In the end, this duo of deceit proved that their word is a slippery thing by playing a game of selective memory and semantics.
For the Record…
During that February 1st meeting, the Mayor asked for one week to think over Dr. William’s choice and consider things. She said that if we gave her this one more week (because 1 & 1/2 years isn’t enough time) she might accept Dr. William’s candidate, thereby, keeping her word. I did have a problem with waiting yet another week, however, I agreed to it if Dr. Williams agreed to bring Major Lowery’s name forward regardless of the Mayor’s final decision. I think it would have been appropriate for the public to see the obstinacy of the Mayor, as well as, her interference with the day-to-day running of the City and to see her lack of faith in the competency of her choice for city Administrator. Dr. Williams is compensated well and learned in City Administration, yet the Mayor chose not to accept his counsel. Certainly, we could have chosen a far less expensive administrator to ignore…one without a $400/month car allowance and lifetime health insurance for three years of work!
Our City has not benefited from the arrival of this administrator; and in fact, the Council put its trust in this man to help calm the tension between police and council. Upon his arrival, Council was told that the police wanted to lay down their arms and pledged not to attack the council and incite more conflict between both sides. For our part, we would need to refrain from placing ads in local papers, taking any type of action that would anger police. We agreed and Dr. William headed back home for a long weekend. During his departure, the Police took out full page advertisements that compared the Council to criminals on the street and enhanced their claims with images of wolves in sheep’s clothing. My name too was included in this ad; that was a surprise since I have never had malice towards the Police and have never considered them with such disrespect.
Fait Accompli…
Together, the Mayor and Administrator feigned cooperation and sincerity only to act in concert to swindle the Council. This utter lack of integrity on the parts of York and Williams was heightened by Dr. Williams presenting us with a candidate for police chief who happened, coincidentally, per chance to be the Mayor’s son’s superior on the Saint Louis Police force, proving that too much “Vitamine B” can be a bad thing!
Follow Up…
It is important for me to state that I have no axe to grind with the Police Department of Saint Charles. I truly believe that most of our officers are dedicated and hardworking and they wish to do their job well and with dignity like any of us would. They want to be treated as professionals and they want to have input in their careers. If they feel that a chief is treating them poorly, they need to know that they can approach Administration and Council to address such issues. The Police Department had no trouble expressing their concerns over Chief King a few years back, and in fact, the force drove Chief King from his position. My concern is simply that the elected leaders of this community do not devolve their authority in police matters to the police department itself, because I cherish a civilian-controlled government on all levels; the alternative is police control that trumps that of the elected representatives of the community. If you would have that, then you would agree to state police over the general assembly and governor, and military over Congress and the President. Our City is a microcosm of both of those layers of government, nothing more, and nothing less.
Councilman Ward 9
Vitamin B ...
In German, “Vitamine B” stands for “Beziehung.” In English, Beziehung means “Relationship” or perhaps better translated as, “Connections.” Vitamine B is a phrase used by Germans to describe that extra help that comes from knowing the right people. None of us are naïve enough to think that connections are unimportant in business, and since lines between business and government have grown increasingly blurred over the past few years, it is not surprising to hear about a little “Vitamin B” at City Hall. After all, doesn’t it sometimes help to know that this lady or that gentleman or that firm or company is known in the community and has, perhaps, done some good things and might therefore be a good candidate for a City contract? Take the recent contract for City web design that was granted to Quilogy rather than a California based company because Council believes it makes sense to support local businesses; especially those who have proven to be a positive force such as Quilogy has. Quilogy wasn’t the low bid, but they weren’t far from the California bid and they have invested much money in downtown Saint Charles infrastructure and employ our townsfolk. We will be working together with a company that can be reached by foot from City Hall in a matter of 60 seconds rather than a company that is hours away by plane!
This kind of symbiotic relationship makes sense, and since no one on Council is employed by Quilogy, there is no conflict of interest.
Enters Mayor York and Companion, Dr. Alan Williams…
For about one and one half years now (pre-dating this Council) Saint Charles has needed a police chief. A litany of individuals and groups declared their support for Major Robert Lowery of Florissant, including the Mayor-appointed selection committee, the acting City Administrator, Mike Valenti, many on the previous Council, the current Council, and most recently, Dr. Alan Williams, our City Administrator chosen by the Mayor and supported by a majority of the Council (this Councilman not included). Dr. Williams stated to the press that he was ready on February 1st to bring Major Lowery’s name forward as his pick! All indications were that this matter would soon be resolved and a spirit of compromise had prevailed! Now we could look forward to working on anything and everything besides this wedge issue that had lingered for this long while.
Recent History…
Tuesday, February 1, 2005; a closed session at City Hall became heated when Mayor York decided to double-cross the City Council and renege on her word to accept Dr. Williams’ choice for Police Chief regardless of who that might be, including Major Lowery. My first concern expressed to Williams during our personal interview was his ability to act fairly in this matter. I trusted Major Lowery’s resume and credentials and knew that they could stand on their own feet as long as Dr. Williams wasn’t scheming with the Mayor to oppose him without reason. The Council took a leap of faith and reached out to Mayor York by appointing Dr. Williams with the Mayor’s pledge that she would not interfere with the administrator’s choice, nor would she stonewall Bob Lowery if Dr. Williams chose him for the job. In the end, this duo of deceit proved that their word is a slippery thing by playing a game of selective memory and semantics.
For the Record…
During that February 1st meeting, the Mayor asked for one week to think over Dr. William’s choice and consider things. She said that if we gave her this one more week (because 1 & 1/2 years isn’t enough time) she might accept Dr. William’s candidate, thereby, keeping her word. I did have a problem with waiting yet another week, however, I agreed to it if Dr. Williams agreed to bring Major Lowery’s name forward regardless of the Mayor’s final decision. I think it would have been appropriate for the public to see the obstinacy of the Mayor, as well as, her interference with the day-to-day running of the City and to see her lack of faith in the competency of her choice for city Administrator. Dr. Williams is compensated well and learned in City Administration, yet the Mayor chose not to accept his counsel. Certainly, we could have chosen a far less expensive administrator to ignore…one without a $400/month car allowance and lifetime health insurance for three years of work!
Our City has not benefited from the arrival of this administrator; and in fact, the Council put its trust in this man to help calm the tension between police and council. Upon his arrival, Council was told that the police wanted to lay down their arms and pledged not to attack the council and incite more conflict between both sides. For our part, we would need to refrain from placing ads in local papers, taking any type of action that would anger police. We agreed and Dr. William headed back home for a long weekend. During his departure, the Police took out full page advertisements that compared the Council to criminals on the street and enhanced their claims with images of wolves in sheep’s clothing. My name too was included in this ad; that was a surprise since I have never had malice towards the Police and have never considered them with such disrespect.
Fait Accompli…
Together, the Mayor and Administrator feigned cooperation and sincerity only to act in concert to swindle the Council. This utter lack of integrity on the parts of York and Williams was heightened by Dr. Williams presenting us with a candidate for police chief who happened, coincidentally, per chance to be the Mayor’s son’s superior on the Saint Louis Police force, proving that too much “Vitamine B” can be a bad thing!
Follow Up…
It is important for me to state that I have no axe to grind with the Police Department of Saint Charles. I truly believe that most of our officers are dedicated and hardworking and they wish to do their job well and with dignity like any of us would. They want to be treated as professionals and they want to have input in their careers. If they feel that a chief is treating them poorly, they need to know that they can approach Administration and Council to address such issues. The Police Department had no trouble expressing their concerns over Chief King a few years back, and in fact, the force drove Chief King from his position. My concern is simply that the elected leaders of this community do not devolve their authority in police matters to the police department itself, because I cherish a civilian-controlled government on all levels; the alternative is police control that trumps that of the elected representatives of the community. If you would have that, then you would agree to state police over the general assembly and governor, and military over Congress and the President. Our City is a microcosm of both of those layers of government, nothing more, and nothing less.
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR Tony Brockmeyer
ATTENTION RESIDENTS OF HIDDEN OAKS & SOUTHERN OAKS SUBDIVISIONS
At press time we were notified by City Councilman Mark Brown, Ward 3 that he had scheduled a meeting relatiing to the proposed development plan for the St. Charles Golf Course Property. The purpose of the meeting is to obtain input and comments from the residents of the area. The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2005, in the City Council Chambers, 4th Floor, City Hall, 200 North Second Street at 7:00 PM.
The developers of the St. Charles Golf course Property will be in attendance at the meeting to present the proposed plan, and to address questions the residents have. Councilman Brown says, “I am offering this opportunity for you to view the proposal and voice any new concerns. You can Reach Councilman Mark Brown at his home 636-896-9977 or on his cell phone at 636-368-8359.
TRASH SAVINGS?
Councilman Bob Hoepfner of the 10th Ward has been trying to get free, or at least less inexpensive, trash service for the residents. The Council has discussed furnishing 90 gallon containers and offering once a week service. Those who want twice a week service would have to pay an additional amount. The trash service believes offering twice a week to just a few residents would cause a logistics nightmare. The savings for once a week pick up would be approximately $5 a month.
Councilman Riddler of Ward One believes he has a workable solution. “We would still furnish the 90 gallon trash cans to the residents. This would be a savings of about $60 and would be more safe and sanitary. One of the problems that the trash company faces is when someone does not pay their trash bill and they have to resort to collection, the resident usually places their trash with the neighbor or in a business trash container. The trash company has offered a discount of about 25 percent if the city would bill the residents on their water bills. Then when a resident did not pay the bill, their water would be shut off until they paid. Also, in exchange for the city doing the billing, the company would offer a senior discount. That discount would be in addition to the approximately 150 residents who receive free trash service because of their income.
WHAT IS NEWS?
We often give tours to groups wanting to see how a newspaper is put together. During a recent tour a group member asked us, “What Is News?” Before we could respond another member of the group spoke up, “In the First Capitol News, news isn’t something that everybody else is reporting. News in the First Capitol News is something that nobody else knows about.”
INCREASED COVERAGE
Due to many requests, with this edition we are expanding our coverage to include some areas of St. Peters and St. Charles County. More on this later. We continue to make a difference one week at a time.
At press time we were notified by City Councilman Mark Brown, Ward 3 that he had scheduled a meeting relatiing to the proposed development plan for the St. Charles Golf Course Property. The purpose of the meeting is to obtain input and comments from the residents of the area. The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2005, in the City Council Chambers, 4th Floor, City Hall, 200 North Second Street at 7:00 PM.
The developers of the St. Charles Golf course Property will be in attendance at the meeting to present the proposed plan, and to address questions the residents have. Councilman Brown says, “I am offering this opportunity for you to view the proposal and voice any new concerns. You can Reach Councilman Mark Brown at his home 636-896-9977 or on his cell phone at 636-368-8359.
TRASH SAVINGS?
Councilman Bob Hoepfner of the 10th Ward has been trying to get free, or at least less inexpensive, trash service for the residents. The Council has discussed furnishing 90 gallon containers and offering once a week service. Those who want twice a week service would have to pay an additional amount. The trash service believes offering twice a week to just a few residents would cause a logistics nightmare. The savings for once a week pick up would be approximately $5 a month.
Councilman Riddler of Ward One believes he has a workable solution. “We would still furnish the 90 gallon trash cans to the residents. This would be a savings of about $60 and would be more safe and sanitary. One of the problems that the trash company faces is when someone does not pay their trash bill and they have to resort to collection, the resident usually places their trash with the neighbor or in a business trash container. The trash company has offered a discount of about 25 percent if the city would bill the residents on their water bills. Then when a resident did not pay the bill, their water would be shut off until they paid. Also, in exchange for the city doing the billing, the company would offer a senior discount. That discount would be in addition to the approximately 150 residents who receive free trash service because of their income.
WHAT IS NEWS?
We often give tours to groups wanting to see how a newspaper is put together. During a recent tour a group member asked us, “What Is News?” Before we could respond another member of the group spoke up, “In the First Capitol News, news isn’t something that everybody else is reporting. News in the First Capitol News is something that nobody else knows about.”
INCREASED COVERAGE
Due to many requests, with this edition we are expanding our coverage to include some areas of St. Peters and St. Charles County. More on this later. We continue to make a difference one week at a time.
THE PEOPLE SPEAK Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
I have been out of town for a few weeks and was reading back issues of your paper. I noticed Dan Gould’s notice to boycott all of your advertisers. Since I haven’t noticed any brewers, beer distributors or bail bondsmen advertising in the FCN, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.
Name withheld by request
To The Conservative Factor
Well you and your party did it, you have elected a pro-life candidate and conservative to the State’s highest office you should feel proud and yell loud. His first weeks have been that of person who believes in cut, cut, cut but don’t hurt those who can give, give, give to further the right political agenda.
This week we have found out that if your child is not a perfect child, the child is not deserving of special education from the state. In the early years of this great country when a less than perfect child was born they were institutionalized. Not in Missouri, Blunt cut the funding of institutions too. The term right to life has to mean more than just protecting the unborn. Jesus Christ would not turn his backs on those in need, the less fortunate, the little children who have been born out of love thinking our society who claim this moral high ground will somehow help insure life is not the only inalienable right within reach. Blunt and the party faithful have said they are right to life but what about liberty and the pursuit of happiness? If the party and those right to lifers who parade around town with their little bumper stickers think that will get them points with the big guy I have news, he will judge the totality of your existence. To say that those born with special needs are not worthy of all of our help to pursue a normal life will not bode well with the man upstairs. Blunt has proven the true meaning or should I say meanness of the Republican Party. The party leadership has forsaken their compassionate conservatism, to keep those who line the pockets of their campaign coffers happy.
Blunt is a poor excuse of someone who believes in the right to life. This, the richest country in the world has the means to take care and invest not just in making sure a fertilized egg emerges from the womb, we have a responsibility to make sure that little person has every chance to make this world a better place. I am proud to say I am not pro choice or pro life, I am pro kids. It is not enough to say stop abortion without showing the opportunities that the child can have if he gets to take his first breath. Of course we now know that if the first breath is that of a downs baby our governor believes that the baby is worthless. If it is a deaf child our governor believes hear not, have not. If it is a child that is learning impaired our governor must have checked to see they don’t vote or send money so they don’t matter. Good job right to lifers, let’s have all the babies we can and have them suffer at the hands of an angel of light, Governor Matt Blunt.
Watching Spector
Tony
Maybe you could put some of the new driving laws in your paper. ex. driving with your lights on when it is raining/foggy. Moving over a lane when there is a police car/emergency vehicle on the shoulder,driving in the left lane only to pass not to drive in etc.
This might be a help for the readers.
Received by e-mail
AJLAFFLEUR
To The Editor:
At the last City Council meeting when the Council went into a closed door session for about two hours, when the Mayor returned to the Council Chambers and before the TC cameras were turned on, she turned to the citizens in the audience and said very sarcastically, “Don’t you people trust me?” My wife almost instantly responded, “No we don’t.”
Makes me wonder how other people might answer Mayor York’s question if asked of them - like Dr. Hank, Henry, and Mel who were very instrumental in getting her re-elected and how they might answer her after 22 months into her second term. I just wonder what their answer might be? Well, do you or don’t you? (Trust her).
Before I could respond and not without interrupting the re-start of the meeting I kept quiet. So now I would “ditto” my wife’s remark and say, “No we don’t trust you Mayor York.”
Respectfully
Bob Bredenstiner
To The Editor:
It had to happen. After months of people who know me stopping to thank me on the articles I write for the Put St. Charles First group, I received my first negative e-mail on the column. The e-mail came to me from “unknownsender111@charter.net” It was sent at 4:08 on Sunday morning. The entire e-mail was: “Your articles in the First Capitol News make you sound like an idiot and your photo makes you look like an idiot.” (as with most of the posters on the stchuckwatch computer hate site and senders of letters to FCN advertisers, they haven’t the guts to sign their names}
This well thought out comment on the issues that I bring forth was obviously from an individual with great insight on issues of importance to St. Charles residents. His intense reasoning has a flaw though. Although my columns make me sound like an idiot, my picture doesn’t make me look like an idiot. Making me look like an idiot was purely the doings of my parents. (Somehow my siblings avoided the “idiot” gene) I couldn’t help that. I’ve looked like an idiot all my life. I still wonder why that good-looking young lady married me. Of course, she still calls me an idiot on occasion.
Jerry Haferkamp
Editor’s note (Mr. Haferkamp’s photo has never appeared with his column)
Dear Editor
Words fail me (almost). If Mayor York’s violation of a City ordinance in
signing a contract with Express Scripts without first submitting it to
the city council for their approval could result in her prosecution does
anyone think she is worried? If this were to occur her legal defense
probably would be at city expense which is no small consideration.
It would seem Express Scripts does not have an enforceable contract with the required signatures missing. Why would the city need to be released from a contract that is not fully executed. Surely our staff of lawyers could work this out without “incurring cost upwards of $200,000”.
Carol Diller
Thank You:
We enjoy the First Capitol News a great deal and look forward to the next issue. Thank you and keep up the GREAT work.
We have a question, last summer there was talk about the City of St. Charles being audited. Can you tell us, did they ever do the audit and if they did what was the outcome? Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Mary Lou & Wally Watson
Editor’s Note.. The report is expected wihtin the next 60 says.
I have been out of town for a few weeks and was reading back issues of your paper. I noticed Dan Gould’s notice to boycott all of your advertisers. Since I haven’t noticed any brewers, beer distributors or bail bondsmen advertising in the FCN, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.
Name withheld by request
To The Conservative Factor
Well you and your party did it, you have elected a pro-life candidate and conservative to the State’s highest office you should feel proud and yell loud. His first weeks have been that of person who believes in cut, cut, cut but don’t hurt those who can give, give, give to further the right political agenda.
This week we have found out that if your child is not a perfect child, the child is not deserving of special education from the state. In the early years of this great country when a less than perfect child was born they were institutionalized. Not in Missouri, Blunt cut the funding of institutions too. The term right to life has to mean more than just protecting the unborn. Jesus Christ would not turn his backs on those in need, the less fortunate, the little children who have been born out of love thinking our society who claim this moral high ground will somehow help insure life is not the only inalienable right within reach. Blunt and the party faithful have said they are right to life but what about liberty and the pursuit of happiness? If the party and those right to lifers who parade around town with their little bumper stickers think that will get them points with the big guy I have news, he will judge the totality of your existence. To say that those born with special needs are not worthy of all of our help to pursue a normal life will not bode well with the man upstairs. Blunt has proven the true meaning or should I say meanness of the Republican Party. The party leadership has forsaken their compassionate conservatism, to keep those who line the pockets of their campaign coffers happy.
Blunt is a poor excuse of someone who believes in the right to life. This, the richest country in the world has the means to take care and invest not just in making sure a fertilized egg emerges from the womb, we have a responsibility to make sure that little person has every chance to make this world a better place. I am proud to say I am not pro choice or pro life, I am pro kids. It is not enough to say stop abortion without showing the opportunities that the child can have if he gets to take his first breath. Of course we now know that if the first breath is that of a downs baby our governor believes that the baby is worthless. If it is a deaf child our governor believes hear not, have not. If it is a child that is learning impaired our governor must have checked to see they don’t vote or send money so they don’t matter. Good job right to lifers, let’s have all the babies we can and have them suffer at the hands of an angel of light, Governor Matt Blunt.
Watching Spector
Tony
Maybe you could put some of the new driving laws in your paper. ex. driving with your lights on when it is raining/foggy. Moving over a lane when there is a police car/emergency vehicle on the shoulder,driving in the left lane only to pass not to drive in etc.
This might be a help for the readers.
Received by e-mail
AJLAFFLEUR
To The Editor:
At the last City Council meeting when the Council went into a closed door session for about two hours, when the Mayor returned to the Council Chambers and before the TC cameras were turned on, she turned to the citizens in the audience and said very sarcastically, “Don’t you people trust me?” My wife almost instantly responded, “No we don’t.”
Makes me wonder how other people might answer Mayor York’s question if asked of them - like Dr. Hank, Henry, and Mel who were very instrumental in getting her re-elected and how they might answer her after 22 months into her second term. I just wonder what their answer might be? Well, do you or don’t you? (Trust her).
Before I could respond and not without interrupting the re-start of the meeting I kept quiet. So now I would “ditto” my wife’s remark and say, “No we don’t trust you Mayor York.”
Respectfully
Bob Bredenstiner
To The Editor:
It had to happen. After months of people who know me stopping to thank me on the articles I write for the Put St. Charles First group, I received my first negative e-mail on the column. The e-mail came to me from “unknownsender111@charter.net” It was sent at 4:08 on Sunday morning. The entire e-mail was: “Your articles in the First Capitol News make you sound like an idiot and your photo makes you look like an idiot.” (as with most of the posters on the stchuckwatch computer hate site and senders of letters to FCN advertisers, they haven’t the guts to sign their names}
This well thought out comment on the issues that I bring forth was obviously from an individual with great insight on issues of importance to St. Charles residents. His intense reasoning has a flaw though. Although my columns make me sound like an idiot, my picture doesn’t make me look like an idiot. Making me look like an idiot was purely the doings of my parents. (Somehow my siblings avoided the “idiot” gene) I couldn’t help that. I’ve looked like an idiot all my life. I still wonder why that good-looking young lady married me. Of course, she still calls me an idiot on occasion.
Jerry Haferkamp
Editor’s note (Mr. Haferkamp’s photo has never appeared with his column)
Dear Editor
Words fail me (almost). If Mayor York’s violation of a City ordinance in
signing a contract with Express Scripts without first submitting it to
the city council for their approval could result in her prosecution does
anyone think she is worried? If this were to occur her legal defense
probably would be at city expense which is no small consideration.
It would seem Express Scripts does not have an enforceable contract with the required signatures missing. Why would the city need to be released from a contract that is not fully executed. Surely our staff of lawyers could work this out without “incurring cost upwards of $200,000”.
Carol Diller
Thank You:
We enjoy the First Capitol News a great deal and look forward to the next issue. Thank you and keep up the GREAT work.
We have a question, last summer there was talk about the City of St. Charles being audited. Can you tell us, did they ever do the audit and if they did what was the outcome? Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Mary Lou & Wally Watson
Editor’s Note.. The report is expected wihtin the next 60 says.
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