Brown Accuses Hoefpner of Conflict of Interest

Hoepfner’s actions called into question by Councilman Brown

In early 2004, the St. Charles City Council approved a contract with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilley (CMT) Engineering Company to do a study that would assess the city’s sewer system and future needs. In early 2005, the St. Charles City Council was presented a report from then Public Works Director, Mike Pratt, received from CMT outlining over $48 million of sewer improvement costs for the City of St. Charles. Shortly after the presentation, the St. Charles City Council, urged by Councilman Gieseke, decided to obtain a second opinion to reevaluate the findings. The St. Charles City Council hired Donahue and Associates to perform the second opinion and report to the Council. Donahue and Associates worked for over 3 months and determined that there were over $12 million in savings to the city taxpayers in construction costs for upgrading and updating the sewer system.

The City of St. Charles Public Utilities Meeting held on Wednesday, August 17, 2005, seemed to be running smoothly until the committee reached item 6 on the agenda. Item 6 read “Request for Qualification for the Missouri Sewer Treatment Plant Project (referred by councilman Hoepfner)”. This project involves the study in which Council authorized Donahue and Associates to reevaluate a proposal by CMT Engineering. Donahue recently completed the review, and their proposal resulted in the city’s saving over $12 million in construction costs.

Councilman Hoepfner indicated he was not comfortable with Donahue doing the engineering work because they had recently done some engineering for the city and wanted to change a price after submitting their bid. Mike McKee, a representative of Donahue and Associates, was in the audience. He stood up and said that statement was not true, and pointed out the company felt it would be better to use a higher-grade pipe, which would increase the cost. Mr. McKee also pointed out they had intended to incur the additional expenses and they had never asked the city for additional monies. Mr. McKee said, “We gave you a guaranteed cost, and we plan to live up to our guarantee.”

The discussion continued as to the city’s going out for qualifications for people to bid on the newly proposed project. Council members Brown and Greer thought that it was improper to let another engineering company reengineer Donahue’s conceptual plans. Councilman Hoepfner indicated he was comfortable with certain engineering firms and it was not necessary to submit for additional qualified companies. He said he was comfortable with EMC and indicated he was in favor of EMC meeting with Archard Engineering (his preferred company) and Donahue in hopes they would form a team and do the project together.

Councilman Brown then challenged Councilman Hoepfner stating, “Mr. Hoepfner it appears you have a conflict of interest and you should abstain from any further discussion in this matter.” Councilman Brown stated to Mr. Hoepfner, “You’ve been involved in negotiating privately with these companies prior to this meeting and you have a conflict of interests, and if you continue, you’re putting yourself, as well as the city, at risk.” Mr. Hoepfner sat there quietly and did not respond to Brown’s statement. Brown continued, “You’ve been doing this kind of thing for a long time and it would appear to be unethical and improper, and for us to sit up here and force a company to do business with their competition for any reason is wrong.”

Brown said Donahue was the company who came up with the plan to save the city money, and they are the ones who should perform the work. Donahue was the company who was willing to give a guaranteed $12 million savings and to force them to use your special company would prevent them from adhering to their guarantee.

President of the Council, Rory Riddler stated he had no problem allowing the three companies to get together, but would be opposed to mandating a cooperative agreement between the three. Riddler stated, “Let’s take some cool-off time and wait and see what the three of them come up with.” Councilman Brown stated, “These actions are risky, and I will not be a part of it.” Council members Brown and Greer voted ‘no’; Councilman Hoepfner voted ‘yes’. Brown then asked the Clerk, “Did he vote on this? Did Hoepfner vote on this?” The clerk shook her head and indicated he voted ‘yes’. Brown stated, “Make that part of a record, and make sure this tape is saved.”

After the meeting adjourned, The First Capitol News asked Brown what he meant by his statements during the meeting. Councilman Brown stated, “Mr. Hoepfner has an appearance of a conflict of interest, and his strong-arm tactics have got to come to an end.” Councilman Hoepfner’s actions were exacted as an active lobbyist for developer CSM & Associates and have created a lawsuit against the city. Councilman Brown indicated he was considering opening an investigation and said he feels there may be a clear breach of code of conduct. Brown said he was concerned that Councilman Hoepfner planned to interfere with the meeting between the three companies. Riddler said he will make sure the companies meet without any further interference from councilman.

Mike Mckee said This would be a positive move for the taxpayers of St. Charles. Choosing us is a no brainier, the city benefits because:

The City shifts the risk of project cost overruns to the program management
team.

The City shifts the risk of operational effectiveness to the program management team.

The City shifts the risk of project management from its staff to the program manager. The program manager becomes an extension of the City’s staff.

The City ensures management continuity over the implementation of the facilities plan through its life cycle.

The City shifts the risk of operational cost to EMC.
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Williams Ordered To Provide Information On Mayor’s Bodyguard After Telling Council Too Time Consuming To Compile

By Phyllis Schaltenbrand

“This is a hand operation going back through months of operation. You have to literally go through by hand. It is not compiled in any particular way. You have to literally go through a bunch of records by hand. With the personnel shifts at the police department it is a strain,” City Administrator Allan Williams told City Council members Tuesday evening. Williams was responding to a request by Councilwoman Dottie Greer for information regarding Mayor York’s bodyguard. Greer had asked for a full breakdown listing all dates, costs for each date and the names of the officers assigned for each time the Mayor had used a member of the St. Charles police department as a personal bodyguard.
When Councilwoman Greer insisted the Council be provided the information Williams asked the Council, “Does the Council place a high priority and want to commit the amount of time (to compile the requested information). The Council voted to direct Williams to provide the information regarding the Mayor’s bodyguard as requested by Greer.

Williams told the Council he did not consider the officer as a bodyguard but as security for the Council Chambers. “They are security people and they do stay here, “Williams told the Council.

Councilman Mark Brown pointed out the police officer meets the Mayor at her car, walks her to her office, stays at the office until the Council meeting starts, follows her from her office to the Council Chambers and goes with her each time she leaves the Council Chambers and then walks her back to her car in the City Hall garage.”Having an armed guard in the Chambers is a good idea like they do in every Council Chambers I have been in,” Brown said. “I have problems with an officer assigned to the Mayor to walk her to her car and then after the meetings the Mayor frequents an establishment on Main Street with no guard. Makes no sense.”

Williams said, “I have been down to that garage (City Hall garage) at night, probably later than most of you on some nights. There are things that go on down there that make me glad I have a telephone close by. I don’t thing it is as safe as it ought to be all the time.”

The First Capitol News has asked City Administrator William what are the unsafe conditions he was referring to in his statement to the City Council and we also asked what he was doing in his position as City Administrator to make the City hall garage safe for the residents who use it.. As of press time he had not responded to our requests for information.

Mayor York told the Council she has received threats and had items stolen from the City Council Chambers. “I have been harassed and threatened on more than one occasions. I don’t have the option of my husband being with me all the time. We have had belligerent people in the Council Chambers and since my back is to the audience I don’t know who is behind me. (The Mayor was referring to the fact that the City Council voted to remove her from the dais after the last election and now have her seated in front and facing them) In reference to the request from Councilwoman Greer for information on when bodyguards were used, where they were used, the cost and who was assigned, the Mayor responded, “I don’t want anyone to know my schedule.”

Councilman John Gieseke said, “Why would it make any difference to the Mayor for people to know where she has been. There would be no security concerns. She has already been there and gone. We need to know what her bodyguard is costing the taxpayers of St. Charles.”

When questioned by Councilwoman Greer Chief Swope said, “An assessment was made for security for the Mayor before I was hired because of reports of belligerent constituents. The cost of the security is funded from the Police overtime budget.” When asked by Greer if the bodyguard would be with the Mayor throughout the remainder of her term Chief Swope said, “I have received no instructions on that.”

City Administrator Williams told the Council, we don’t have bodyguards, we have people who do security.

The Mayor also indicated other elected officials took advantage of bodyguard services. Councilman Kneemiller jumped in and said he wanted information of who else was receiving such protection. No one else admitted receiving bodyguard services.

Council President Rory Riddler told the Council of a recent incident where he received an unusual letter and long telephone message from an individual who was later arrested for harassment of someone else. Riddler said he had requested no special protection and the matter was handled as a routine police call.
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German Professors Teach At Lindenwood As Part of St. Charles Sister Cities Program

By Lynndi Lockenour

Three German teachers got a taste of life in St. Charles on their recent trip to the area. Their visit was part of the first teachers exchange, sponsored by the Sister Cities Program and Lindenwood University. St. Charles has a sister city in Ludwigusburg, Germany and for the past several years the Sister Cities Program has been facilitating student exchange programs. However, this time President Joe Daues said he thought it would be great to have a teacher exchange.

Three teachers, Alexander Folk, Anne Deetz and Melanie Katjaroth, all made the journey from Germany to America in July. Their classes were geared toward history, politics and government organization in Germany. After holding office as President for the Sister Cities for 11 years, Daues said he realized it would be a shame to miss out on the first teachers exchange. “To be frank, their election process in Germany has always left me in a state of confusion,” he said. “So I was interested to learn more about that.”

The hope originally was to market the classes to professors at Lindenwood and high school teachers in the area. Even though Daues and others taking the classes found them quit interesting, Folk and Katjaroth agreed that more planning by Lindenwood would have made the program better and more effective. “Things weren’t as organized as they could have been,” Katjaroth said. “I personally would have enjoyed having more students than we did.”

Folk and Katjaroth had planned on having at least 20 students in their classes, but were disappointed to find only three or four chairs filled. “It wasn’t due to lack of interest,” Katjaroth said, “because I’ve talked to many people who would have been interested in the classes if they’d only known about them.” The problem, she said, is that Lindenwood waited until the last moment to inform people about the upcoming classes. “We aren’t complaining by any means,” she said. “I just hope next time people will get more involved earlier so our class rooms will be full and not empty,” she said.

One positive aspect Katjaroth said to having few students in the classroom was the intense relationships they were able to develop. “We talked more one on one and the students were able to ask more questions than if there were 30 people in the room,” she said. The classes offered focused on different modules of German history and politics and the process by which they came to develop the current system. Daues said his biggest regret was that the class he took didn’t last long. “It was so interesting because of the teachers’ dedication,” he said, “and extensive work they did in preparing for these classes both in their presentations and in the handouts we were given to provide us with background reference materials.”

Katjaroth said her favorite thing about the St. Charles area was the people. “Though I’ve been to America many times, this was my first experience with what you call the Midwest,” she said. “People here live a slower paced lifestyle than Americans on the east coast.” Katjaroth came to the U.S. for the first time at the age of 15 to visit her aunt. “I loved the U.S. from the very beginning and I’ve been back several times since then.”

Folk is also no stranger to the states and has spent a lot of time in the St. Charles area. “I love the people here,” he said. “It’s like coming home and the hospitality is absolutely amazing.” Katjaroth said it’s more socially acceptable here for people to talk to someone they don’t know than in Germany. “Making friends here is so much easier than at home,” she said.

Katjaroth was surprised at the “campus” idea of universities in The States. “We don’t have campuses in Germany,” she said. “Universities are just a group of buildings that you go to for classes and then you go home.” Katjaroth said school identity in general is something Germans’ are missing. “You would never see someone in Germany wearing a shirt with their school logo on it,” she said. “I really think it’s something we could benefit from, so that’s why I find campuses so interesting.” Regretting that she didn’t get to see Lindenwood in full swing because of summer vacation, Katjaroth hopes to come back during the school year sometime.

Katjaroth was also impressed with how Americans embrace their heritage. She said when she told many people she was from Germany they responded by saying, “our family is from Ireland, France, Germany, etc.” “Even though it was a long time ago, Americans are still proud of their heritage.” She said you would never hear a German say those things. “We lack that patriotism for our heritage and our country that Americans have,” she said. “We have so much to be proud of and I wish we would embrace that.”

Both Katjaroth and Folk complimented on how busy the Sister Cities Program has kept them. “They’ve had us out doing something fun every night,” Katjaroth said. The three visited historical landmarks in the area, Busch Stadium and the Arch as part of their trip to St. Charles, along with many local restaurants.

Though the number of students was lower than expected, Katjaroth and Folk both said they are really hoping the program continues again next year. “Everything they’ve done for us was wonderful,” Folk said. “It’s just a matter of selling the entire idea again, but Dr. Spellman at Lindenwood likes the idea, so hopefully the program will continue.”

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Developer Threatens To Sue City

Brown complains, Developer who doesn’t build to City Codes, wants into the City sewers or will sue; Hoepfner pushing to allow it, Brown fights back.

By Tony Brockmeyer

The St. Charles City Council is being asked to allow an attached housing development located in St. Charles County, outside the City limits but close to Ward 3 to hook onto City Sewer and water services. The developer, CMJ, spoke at the St. Charles City Council meeting Tuesday evening, just a week after he and his lawyers presented a threat of a lawsuit they were planning to file against the City and Councilman Mark Brown of Ward 3 if the development was not allowed to hook up to City sewers.
Councilman Mark Brown, Ward 3, has been outspoken about this project and what detrimental effects it could have if allowed to hook on to city services as well as annexing into the City of St. Charles. Brown told the FCN, “I am not going to allow a threat of a law suit to change the true facts of what this unscrupulous and unethical developer wants to do to the City taxpayers. CMJ wants to develop this property in the county where the building codes are lax, and then annex into the city. That means once we accept this development that was not built to city codes, the taxpayers of St. Charles will bear the cost of any substandard work.” The developer, Mike Sellenshcueter, told the council he would require variances when annexed in because the development did not meet our set back requirements.
The FCN has learned this section of the codes of ordinance are the most troubling for many on the Council;
§ 151.60  PURPOSE.
Two consequences of construction and development are the increased runoff created by the changed properties of the ground surface and the rate of discharge of this increased runoff. These are both of great relevance to storm water management. The natural condition of the land before development is in relative balance with the natural capacity of the receiving creeks. Normally, the undeveloped conditions provide greater permeability and longer times of concentration. By modification of the ground surface from the irregular, pervious, and vegetation-covered, the areas are changed to more impervious,  more quickly drained and, in some cases, denuded of vegetation. It is the policy of the city to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare. The management of storm water will reduce the erosion on land and channels, will reduce the possibility of damage to public and private property, will assist in the attainment and maintenance of water quality standards, and will preserve the environmental quality of the watercourses in the city.
151.67

Development along natural watercourses shall have residential lot lines, commercial or industrial improvements, parking areas and driveways setback a minimum of 25 feet from the top of the existing stream bank. The section of land between a natural watercourse and lot lines shall be designated as common ground and drainage easement to be maintained by the trustees of the subdivision within all types of residential developments. All developments shall maintain a setback minimum of 50 feet from the top of the existing stream bank and any building or structure.  Commercial and industrial areas shall have areas dedicated as drainage easements.

This development has a building within 15 feet of the creek. According to sources, the creek has been filled with dirt to make the appearance of the building line much further. This changing of the creek bed could be a violation of Department of Natural Resources laws sources claim.

Others on the Council question the strong arm tactics of the developer. Councilman John Gieseke, Ward 8, “threatening a law suit against the City is threatening all the taxpayers who will end up footing the bill when this creek bed needs to be stabilized because it is encroaching on the buildings. This is the height of arrogance by this developer. This threat would have worked in the past but the council has its own attorney who agrees the City in no way owes this developer anything. I think it is important to note the many developers who don’t try to skirt our development laws, play by the rules of the City don’t develop houses too close to creeks. They abide by our laws and develop quality housing without threats of suits.”

According to our sources many on the council have begun to question Councilman Bob Hoepfners involvement with this development. Brown told the FCN, “Councilman Hoepfner threatened to stop the Pearl Ridge project if I did not let this project proceed.” Pearl Ridge is the subdivision where Brown resides and which floods, apparently due to faulty detention built by the developer. Brown went on to say, “This type of conduct is unethical and is consistent with the rumors of other developers and businesses who have appeared before the council having been solicited by Hoepfner for donations, contributions and other items before his vote.”
During a heated discussion over the Oak Ridge, Oak Tree vote Brown stated, “I don’t sell plumbing permits…. And I may ask for an executive session to have a council investigation regarding your actions.”

Just days after that meeting Hoepfner requested a tape of the meeting for Sellenschueter. Shortly after that the council was given documents threatening a lawsuit if the council did not vote in favor of this development.

Brown told the FCN, “I will not succumb to these strong arm tactics and I believe that legislation against these type of threats apply. I fully intend to defend the City as well as the residents of Ward 3 against this multi-family apartment complex that will be built to lesser standards than their homes, just so this developer can make more money.”

We attempted to contact the attorney for the developer, Keith Hazelwood for his comments. We were told by someone in his office he was out of the office Thursday. He would not be returning until after we had gone to press.

At a meeting of the Public Utilities Committee Wednesday evening at City Hall, the room was packed. Over half the crowd was complaining about excessive charges from ECM, the private sewer company that TR Hughes hooks his sewers to for his St. Andrews development. The rest of the agenda was filled with residents asking for help with creek bank erosion and creek bank stabilization. Council President Rory Riddler estimates it would take more than $90 million to fix all creek problems in the City.

CONSERVATIVE FACTOR Alex Spencer

Arthur Miller wrote a play called “The Crucible” about the Salem witch trials. He used the witch trials as a comparison to Senator Joe McCarthy’s 1950s hunt for communists. Admittedly, such literary analogies are often lost on me, but I have recently seen enough political witch hunts here in St. Charles County to get the idea.

Americans love a good witch hunt. Somehow it appeals to our inherent desire to be one of the “us” against the “them.” I learned the secret in middle school: if you’re one of the kids picking on the kid everybody picks on, then you’re not the kid getting picked on. It’s basic pack mentality 101.

Last week, our little St. Charles school yard saw two such witch hunts—one in O’Fallon and one in St. Peters. Both were orchestrated by our new school yard bully, Adolphus Busch IV.

Adolphus inherited part of the Anheuser-Busch brewery fortune. Like most rich kids, Adolphus bullies others with his money. But in Adolphus’ case, he also bullies with his name.

Adolphus’ half-brother, August Busch III, runs the brewery that employs a lot of St. Louisians. Consequently, August Busch earns a great deal of respect in St. Louis. And the Busch clan is St. Louis’ closest thing to a reigning royal family.

Now reportedly, August Busch won’t let his half-brother so much as run a fork lift at a company warehouse. Adolphus is a family “black sheep.” But that doesn’t stop Adolphus from using his family’s clout to bully little local politicians here in St. Charles County. He is half-brother to a king. He expects the local pols to kiss his ring.

O’Fallon Mayor Paul Renaud didn’t kiss Adolphus’ ring. So Adolphus spent a fortune to manipulate public sentiment against the Old Town Redevelopment Project into a sweep by his hand-picked candidates of the Mayor’s office and a majority of the Board of Aldermen. The public was so upset about Old Town that no one stopped to ask who the new people were challenging the old. The public just wanted to “throw the bums out.” Now that was an impressive piece of bullying.

Adolphus’ mayor, Donna Morrow (a.k.a. the Pipeline Lady), didn’t like old Mayor Renaud’s police chief, Steve Talbott, still being in office. So she had him investigated to find some excuse to fire him. Interestingly, she has a majority of Aldermen who came to power with her on a wave of beer money from Adolphus. As long as Adolphus’ brewery boys stick with her, she doesn’t need a reason to fire Chief Talbott.

And she doesn’t appear to have one. Not a real one anyway. You can tell because the only two Aldermen not affiliated with Adolphus, Hennessy and Cantwell, are publicly saying that Talbott’s firing is a witch hunt. As Aldermen, they have seen the “evidence.” If Mayor Morrow had Chief Talbott on anything real, these two would not be defending him.

But like I said, it doesn’t matter. She has the votes.

Now contrast O’Fallon with St. Peters. Just like in O’Fallon, old St. Peters Mayor Tom Brown wouldn’t kiss Adolphus’ ring. Adolphus responded by virtually single-handily financing Shawn Brown’s campaign to defeat Tom Brown. And Tom Brown gave Adolphus’ machine the perfect campaign issue by trying to sneak through a gargantuan pay increase for himself. Again, the voters wanted to “throw the bum out” without questioning whether the new “bum” might actually be worse.

But unlike O’Fallon, the St. Peters’ voters re-elected the old Board of Aldermen. So Mayor Shawn (as he likes to be called) doesn’t have the votes. And without the votes, it’s hard to conduct an O’Fallon-style witch hunt.

Last week on the same night O’Fallon replaced Chief Talbott, Mayor Shawn tried to throw out the St. Peters city prosecutor, Jeff Morrison. Just like in the case against Chief Talbott, Mayor Shawn never really said why he wanted to remove Morrison. But as a County Councilman, Morrison has tangled with Adolphus (again, failure to kiss the ring). And Morrison was a friend of the old mayor, Tom Brown. Unfortunately for Shawn, the St. Peters Board refused to put Shawn’s request on the agenda.

Now just because Mayor Shawn couldn’t follow through against Morrison, he isn’t giving up on the whole witch hunt concept. He sent the Aldermen a request to remove David Hayes’ wife, Randa, from the city’s Historical Commission.

Now Randa Hayes has the perfect makings for a target of a good witch hunt. She has long black hair and an air of mystery. She has all sorts of undefined political connections and unquantifiable “pull” with high ranking Republican political insiders. And Governor Matt Blunt recently asked for her resignation from a high level post in Jeff City when the Democrats attacked her because she had a misdemeanor conviction from college. You want to publicly try someone for being a witch, she’s your gal.

In his memo to the Board, Mayor Shawn alleged that he wanted to remove Randa because of her lack of attendance to Commission meetings. Then he told the papers it was also because of her questionable “background.”

But a few days later, Mayor Shawn sent another memo to the Aldermen saying that he did not realize that he is also a member of the city’s Historical Commission and that he would start attending meetings. Apparently, since he took office, he has only been to one meeting.

Whoops! Talk about the facts getting in the way of a good old fashioned political witch hunt.

Mayor Shawn should take his cue from Mayor Morrow: if you want to hunt “witches,” better ask Adolphus to buy you some more Aldermen.

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EDITORIAL CARTOON

THE CITY DESK - City Council President Rory Riddler

Public Transportation Life-Line
For Residents Who Don’t Drive

Most of us don’t have to worry about making a trip to the local grocery to buy milk or eggs. We have the means to simply jump in the car and drive there, whenever it is convenient for us. But for those who rely on public transportation, when and how they can get to the store for basic necessities can be a real challenge.

The occasion of being driven places by my son on his learner’s permit, reminded me of just how excited I was about getting my own driver’s license. It was over thirty years ago now, but I still remember every detail of the driving test. We got to the terrifying orange cones and dreaded request to “parallel park” the car. It took me five motions to get in the space, a detail noted by the test giver. “You know, you are suppose to parallel park in three motions?” To which I answered with a straight face and all the sincerity I could muster, “Oh, you wanted me to do it in three motions.”

He managed to forgive my transgression, having probably heard a lot worse excuses, and I received my driver’s license. With it came a lot of responsibility and expense over the years, but it also brought something we all value very highly...freedom. Next to freedom of speech, nothing has come to symbolize personal freedom in our country more than having your own car, a license to drive and the open road. Whether we have the time to spare, or can really afford the gas, doesn’t seem to matter. Our cars take us anywhere we want to go, at any time of the day or night. It’s America’s magic carpet ride.

Now, I would like you to think about those times you found yourself without a car. Perhaps it was in the shop and you didn’t have use of another car at the time. You had to rely on a lift from a friend or relative. Maybe you had to take a cab to work. If you’re like most people, you were very glad to get your “freedom” back.

It is at those times that we come close to experiencing what people without private transportation live with every day.

One woman called me a few months ago about a change in the local bus routes. With transfers, it took her over an hour each way to get to and from the grocery store. She was worried that her milk would spoil and that she couldn’t buy ice cream. The City was able to adjust the route so this one story had a happy ending, but there are many other people in our community, some handicapped, most Senior Citizens, who live too far from a bus route to take advantage of our public transportation system.

I believe it was former Mayor Grace Nichols, when she was a Councilwoman, who began pushing for Senior transportation. I was a strong supporter of those efforts. Our first bus was called The Golden Age Express and helped Seniors get to and from our Senior Center on Fairgrounds Road. Later, we changed the name to St. Charles Area Transit or SCAT and opened it up to use by the general public for a nominal fare. SCAT now has four color coded bus routes that overlap and allow transfers. It is well run, though poorly advertised in my opinion.

While SCAT is a great service it is not for everyone. There have been suggestions that the City should get away from the mid-size buses and go to a van system where people call in for a ride. Others feel we shouldn’t abandon the type of service we already provide, especially if it proves to be more expensive.

One alternative I would like to explore is having government work with private enterprise instead of competing with them. We already have a clean efficient cab service in the community. Perhaps the City could issue a “Freedom Pass” to those Seniors or handicapped persons needing basic transportation. They would simply call the cab company for a weekly trip to the grocery store and any health related trips in town. Reimbursing the cab company for short trips, including helping riders in with packages, may prove more economical than hiring additional personnel, buying vans, setting up a dispatcher and doing it ourselves.

We are also conducting a Citizen Survey about the SCAT system which will help us in making decisions about public transportation. Please take a moment to fill out the survey here in the First Capitol News. It is also available on-line at the City website, www.stcharlescity.com and will be included in the next City Newsletter. Copies of the completed survey can be mailed to the Public Works Department, 200 North Second Street, St. Charles, Missouri 63301.

As gasoline prices continue to soar, public transportation may have to become a more important part of our life, as it has in larger cities and most European Countries. Meanwhile, well planned new urbanist developments like New Town, offer residents an opportunity to drive less and walk to more services. In-fill condominium and loft style developments planned in downtown St. Charles, are bringing people closer to that business district.

We won’t be giving up our “magic carpets” any time soon, but we can certainly work to extend greater freedom of mobility to our Seniors who choose to no longer drive. And we can plan communities that make sense for America’s future...where jobs and services are closer to home...an America less dependent on oil sheiks and robber barons.

THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor

Dear Editor:

My, My, My – What an interesting council meeting last Tuesday evening. I watched and listened, as citizens were ready to give our City back to the Mayor with no accountability for anything she does. As I heard a taxpayer say “Let the mayor do her job, and let the administrator do his job, and let the council do what they were elected to do – be the representatives of the people who elected them.” I had to wonder – DUH – We wouldn’t have the problems we have in our city if the Mayor would do her job, the administrator do his job and the whole council do their job. My opinion is we only have a few who are doing their job – the council members who are asking questions and making those in appointed and elected offices stand accountable for their wasteful spending of our tax dollars.

I’m not in favor of discord and the petty battling that goes on at City Hall, but I do believe the blame starts at the top! There are many taxpayers who are fed up with the waste of our tax dollars. It is so easy to spend someone else’s money. Our city should be run like a business, not a Hollywood movie – set with all the props positioned to suit the Mayor.

It only takes a few good men and a few good women to stand up for Truth and Honesty – “the total absence of any intent to deceive.” This is a very good time to commend Dottie Greer, Mark Brown, Joe Koester, John Gieseke, Rory Riddler and Larry Muench for their courage and independent voice for the people. These good council members march to the beat of their own drum, they don’t have to read the script to perform their duties.

We as taxpayers know the Mayor has her own cast of about 75 who do all her casting work for her. The run of Hollywood stardom is short lived and that’s when the oldies move on. The rubber stamp on the video must always be “Ego of the Queen.”

All taxpayers realize the day will come when we have had enough of the wasteful spending of money – CUT – this movie will not cost us one more dollar.

This is a piece of advise for the Mayor and her cast, a body guard isn’t needed if you surround yourself with really true friends. Maybe Tommy Mayer would be someone the Mayor could hire – oops! That can’t happen, she’s trying to distant herself from him. So sorry Tommy, you are not in her script anymore. A word for Mayor, as President Truman said, “If you can’t take the heat – get out of the kitchen.”

The bring it on taxpayer with courage,
Joyce Bredensteiner

Dear Editor:

Before the First Capitol News started more than four years ago I was an avid reader of he County Post. When the First Capitol News came along I discovered how much information could be gleaned from your pages. You would have more information in one issue of your paper than the daily had given us in a month.

Needless to say the First Capitol News became my paper of choice. I did occasionally read the daily when I found it at the barbershop.

I told all my friends that if you wanted to know what was happening in St. Charles you needed to read your paper. They also became avid readers. On those occasions when I did read the daily it seemed that they always reported the stories after you had already printed them.

I also noticed that the columnist in that paper seemed to hate you or the First Capitol News. Or maybe both. I am curious as to what brought about this hate. Could you tell me?

Joe Friend

Editor’s response,

No I cannot. I wish I could. We have been told that when we started the First Capitol News the columnist you mentioned was the editor of the daily paper. When stories began breaking in the First Capitol News, before the daily paper had the information, the higher up at his publication became enraged. Suddenly he was no long the editor but was now a columnist and a new editor was brought in to run the paper. Was this the reason? Your guess is as good as ours.

CASE IN POINT By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9

“I don’t know much about Americanism, but it’s a damn good word with which to carry an election.” Warren G. Harding

“Substance Vs Image” - That’s what that quote says to me! We have a political system in crisis. Up and down the governmental layers the power of corporate money has rotted our democracy. Did you know that the courts simply see all of this corporate money buying up politicians and their votes as “freedom of speech?” Boy, some people have a whole lot more freedom than others nowadays. We saw locally that If you have the money you can buy yourself a state law. Across the board the corporate raiders simply donate their way to new regulations (or more likely deregulation), new policies, and new laws.

The problem is bipartisan. The Republicans get the lion’s share of the money because they are the traditional friends of big business and currently hold power of all branches of federal government, but Democrats too have learned to play the game and regardless of what side you are on, we (meaning the 97% of us that do not make up the wealthiest class) are the real losers in it all.

Waiting on the next swing-by of Haley’s Comet makes more sense then waiting on the media to take on these corporate crooks because, unfortunately, the “fourth branch of government” is part of the scheme. NBC is owned by GE, ABC by Disney, CBS by Viacom, Fox by Rupert Murdoch who is wealthy enough to play poker with Bill Gates and match his every bet. Even locally our media are getting consolidated, condensed, shrunken, and atrophied into, “all the canned news that’s not fit to print.”

People speak of news bias in conservative or liberal terms, but that’s not quite accurate. Media bias that matters is corporate interests Vs public interests and guess which side comes out smelling as sweet as honeysuckle is this arena! I purposefully chose the word, “arena” because the little news blurbs that do get fed to us are trivial and meant to entertain rather than enlighten the public and increase the potency of our democracy.

The problem of government for sale to the highest donor is serious business. It is entwined in every layer of government from the city and county levels right on up to Jefferson City and on over to Washington, DC It’s getting so that you have to be quite wealthy to run for a local office! We already know that most higher offices are reserved for the affluent and that the composition of the “People’s House” is about fifty percent millionaires! Think of that — the “House of Representatives” is about 50% millionaires while “We the People” in comparison are less than 1% millionaires!

So, what are we to do about this corporate buyout of our government? There is hope even though it can seem overwhelming when face with the deep pockets of big money, a complacent media, and dubious elections; however, the fight is important if you believe that our democratic-republic is worth fighting for.
First, we need major finance reform! The very idea that a dollar is free speech and $1,000,000 is just more free speech has got to come to an end. Corporations need to be strictly prohibited from contributing to politicians or political parties or campaigns of any sort! For those who would say, “corporations have rights” I say, citizens have rights, not corporations!

We need publicly financed elections! Sound expensive? Try allowing corporations to add so much special interest pork to the government’s bottom line that you have to mortgage the nation’s future just to...pay for...the daily running....of things. Oh, yes, I forgot that we are already doing that! Of course, at present, elections cost far too much, go on far too long, and allow far too much fact-fumbling (see Sally Faith or Tom Green for more information on this last one), but politicians would have to learn to function within set guidelines: how much money they could spend; how long the campaign could go on; what could not be mailed out (i.e. LIES); etc.

Next, Americans need to hold these corporate leaders who speak so freely of their patriotism but act so corruptly in their business dealings to higher standards. Not the “image” things that the mass media love such as who has smoked pot (Bill Clinton) or snorted coke (George W), but the substance things such as who is raiding retirement accounts (Ken Lay) or moving their corporate accounts to a PO box on some Caribbean Island to avoid paying taxes (Dick Cheney)!
Lastly, we need to Regulate! Corporations have done a great job making this a four-letter word, but regulations are nothing more than prevention of abuse and accountability. We citizens face regulations all the time. We want to drive, we have to prove we can see; know the rules of the road; have paid our taxes; have insurance; carry a license; and don’t drive while intoxicated. Here’s an example of regulation that many people in Missouri can appreciate — usury laws. Our state (still) does not allow a bank to arbitrarily assign penalties for a returned check. Let’s say you write a check to a friend for $10.00 for baby-sitting and it bounces. The bank can charge you $20.00 on your $10.00. It may seem high, but without regulations the bank could make that fee $50.00 or $100.00, and what are you gonna do about it?
So then, let the people regulate the corporations with real power to stop corporate abuse (far more insidious stuff than check fees are at stake here) and you will see politicians everywhere breathe easier (metaphorically and literally) and sleep better at night because then they will be able to do the People’s work and pass legislation based on reason rather than “rea$on.”
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Crafty Ladies Lose Battle For Business On Main Street

Crafty Ladies Lose Battle For Business On Main Street

Lynndi Lockenour

While Cheri Brownlee is busy packing boxes away, a few customers enter the store to browse merchandise which has been marked down 60 percent. An incoming customer asks, “Are you going out of business to retire?” and Cheri politely replies, “Yeah, I guess you could say that.” Cheri is co-owner of Crafty Ladies, a small gift and knick-knack store located at 335 South Main.

The truth is, Cheri isn’t going out of business because of retirement, she going out of business because she says business owners aren’t getting the help they need from the city. Cheri also said tour buses no longer come through the area like they did 3 years ago when she and her business partner Marta Glynn first opened the store. “When we first moved down here there was at least one if not two or three tour busses a day stopping on Main Street,” she said. “Now we are lucky if we see a couple a week.”

Cheri believes that this decline in the number of tour busses has something to do with bus drivers getting a kickback from the casino for bringing passengers there instead of down town. “I know that each driver makes $50 for dropping of a load of people at the casino,” she said. This combined with the lack of advertising is what Cheri calls a deadly dose for Main Street.

City advertising is something Cheri feels would help benefit business owners on Main Street. “We need them to advertise for the businesses as much as they do for that damn boathouse and casino,” she said. After all the taxes and rent most business owners pay to be in this area, Cheri said the least the city could do is advertise Main Street more effectively. “We need more posters up at rest stops and travel locations,” Cheri said. “People need to know about us.”

Cheri said when she and Marta first opened the store they were able to make decent money from the business, but in the last year she said things have gone down hill dramatically. “Our first Christmas here was amazing,” she said, “but the next year we were down 60 percent compared to the year before.” Recently people have started coming in, but Cheri said that is most likely because every item is drastically marked down.

Cheri and Marta were thrilled when they first opened the store to finally be in business. “It was such a relief not to have to rely on craft shows anymore,” Cheri said, “we were so enthusiastic about having our own place.” Though Cheri said she hates to give up, she feels as though there is no other choice. “This wasn’t just something I did on the side,” she said, “This was my livelihood.” Cheri even sold her house to continue the business, but it has been so bad recently that Marta returned to what Cheri calls “the working world” in order to try and keep the business afloat.

Cheri plans to keep the store open until Sunday, August 21 and will come to a close at the completion of The Festival of the Little Hills. After finishing up things with the store, Cheri said she guesses she’ll go back out into the working world. “Trying to find another job at my age isn’t going to be easy,” she said, “but I have no other choice.”

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Nesslage era set to begin St. Charles High graduate takes over reigns

Nesslage era set to begin
St. Charles High graduate takes over reigns

By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor

On Friday, September 2, the Saint Charles Pirates will begin a new era, the Nesslage era. St. Charles and Lindenwood graduate Corey Nesslage will make his debut as head coach of the Pirates as they take on non-conference opponent Jennings.

“The success of this team will depend upon the leadership of the seniors,” said Nesslage, “some of them have been with the program for four years, some are transfers from other schools.” Two of the seniors who will be counted on heavily are offensive linemen Jason Yingling and Tommy Hickman. “Jason and Tommy have invested a lot of time in the weight room, they are about to collect their dividends,” shared Nesslage.

Yingling and Hickman hope to open some holes for senior running backs Dorsey Thompson and Joe Otey. “Our offense will be pretty much the same as last season,” Nesslage offered. Its an offense he is more than familiar with as he served as offensive coordinator last season.

Presently it looks as though junior Michael Brown will lead the offense as the starting quarterback. Should he decide to put the ball in the air, he will have a stable of receivers to throw to. “Gosh, I’m not sure where to begin, out of fear of forgetting someone,” Nesslage said, “Senior tight end Chad Parnell can block as well as catch, then we have seniors Jake Bethman, Adam Denningman, Brian Lewis and Rodney Glanzner – all of whom we have confidence in throwing the ball to. Junior wide out K.J. Rufkahr factors into the offense as well,” Nesslage said.

Defensively the Pirates will be looking to senior defensive linemen Colby Patton and Otey to slow down the opponents running games. “Joe Huskey, another of the seniors we are counting on,” is penciled in at free safety.

“This (Gateway Athletic Conference-North Division) conference is getting tougher every year,” boasted Nesslage. “When you have to lineup against teams like Duchesne, St. Charles West and Holt week after week, you had better be prepared. If not, well, you had better be prepared. We’re confident, not cocky, but confident,” he said.

St. Charles Pirates 2005 Football Schedule

09/02 vs. Jennings 7 p.m.
09/09 vs. Timberland 7 p.m.
09/16 vs. Vashon 7 p.m.
09/24 vs. Warrenton at Lindenwood 3 p.m.
10/01 at Holt 1 p.m.
10/07 vs. Fort Zumwalt North 7 p.m.
10/14 vs. North County 7 p.m.
10/21 at Parkway North 7 p.m.
10/28 vs. Duchesne 7 p.m.
11/03 at St. Charles West 7 p.m.

indicates conference contest
indicates MSHSAA District contest

“Art In Public Places” St. Charles An Artistic Community

By Lynndi Lockenour

Public Art will soon become another method for St. Charles to show its support for the arts. Rory Riddler, President of the City Council, approached Joyce Rosen of the Foundry Art Center about the public art idea some months ago. Riddler’s idea was fashioned after a program called “Art ‘Round Town” in Saugatuck, Michigan. “I was enthralled with the way their program built up over the years,” he said. “I wanted to bring something like that to St. Charles.”

The basic principals behind the public art program in St. Charles includes the city providing locations for the art to be displayed and installing an anchorage system to secure the artwork. Through a process of jury review, a professional selection committee will select up to 10 sculptures and will consider its selection of work based on site location. Reproductions of each selected sculpture will be published in a brochure with a map indicating a walking/driving tour of the sites.

Each piece selected will be awarded a $1,000 honorarium and a $5,000 Public People’s Choice Award will be given for one piece of sculpture judged to be the “The Best of Show.” Deadline for entry is October 10, 2005. This call for sculptures is open to all artists working in North America. Riddler said another nice thing about the public art is that while it’s on display for that year, the sculptures can also be for sale. “In the other program people bought the art and then donated it to local libraries and schools,” he said. “I hope perhaps that will eventually be a possibility here in St. Charles.”

Part of the “Art in Public Places” will be a portion called “Historic Figures in Bronze.” Through a process of jury review, a professional selection committee will choose up to one marquette to cast a life-sized sculpture of Daniel Boone seated on a bench. Other historical figures for the “Historical Figures in Bronze” category include: Mary Easton Sibley, Saint Philippine Duchene, Pierre Pointe Dusable and Alexander McNair. Riddler said when considering figures for the bronze category he tried to think of people who were not already well represented in the area, but who played key roles in St. Charles history. “Having these bronze statues will add value and let people know that St. Charles is a city which harbors a safe place for the arts.”

The bronze statues, Riddler said, will try to be located in the area where the historical figure had their greatest influence on St. Charles. For the “Art in Public Places” portion of the contest, Riddler said each member of the City Council will select a location within their ward which they feel would be appealing to place a piece of public art. “At this time we are really trying to anchor down locations and get permission from business owners,” Riddler said.

Interpreting the art is what Rosen looks forward to for the public. “I think by having the art in public places it gives everyone the opportunity to interpret the art, even if they’ve never been to an art museum in their lives,” she said. “Whether they love it or hate it, interpreting art is something everyone should get to experience.”

A second aspect to the “Art in Public Places” program is the plan to eventually have a sculpture park available to the public. Riddler said some think New Town would make a great location with all it’s new parks, but he said Rosen would like to see the sculpture park located closer to Main Street. “People enjoy art for art’s sake, but as a whole we are trying to gain a reputation that we’re starting to build a City which really is geared toward supporting the arts.”

Riddler also extended a call-out to St. Charles citizens to let their councilmen know of locations within the ward, which might be suitable for public art. The “Art In Public Places” will most likely have a public celebration each year to kick off that year’s sculptures. “We want to give people a way to publicly get involved with this,” Riddler said. For more information on entering the sculpture contest or the “Art in Public Places” program, please call the Foundry Art Center at 636-255-0270 or visit their Website at www.foundryartcentre.com.

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MY COLUMN - Mike McMurran Sports Editor

Very rough week in the old McMurran household; one of those weeks where, as parents, Lynn and I are not sure if we did the right thing. Only time will tell. Incidentally, I suspect I am violating a rule or two of journalism as I write this. Presently, emotionally, I am at a pretty high level.

The reason is two fold, little does it have to do with sports – such will come later. As I write this my son is in the emergency room of the hospital with a dog bite – a bite from our family dog, Buddy. Buddy has been in our family now for 14 months and is considered a member of our family. I am not certain how much longer that will remain.

As I mentioned, my anger and emotions are two-fold. If I were to reference Wednesday’s Post Dispatch, and the column written by the former sports writer, who by the way has forgotten more about journalism than I might ever know, suggest that I am one who doesn’t think highly of family values. According to August 17th article, Republicans “believe in family values, oppose abortion, go to church…” which suggests, somewhat strongly I might interject, as a Democrat, I have no family values, support abortion, and do not attend church. Wrong on two out of three!

Lately, it seems to me, the very columnist of whom I speak might have just lost touch with reality. Certainly his reality is not the same as mine. Let’s address the topic of family values. This weekly has a deadline for submitting articles; a deadline I have already missed. Both Tony Brockmeyer and Phylllis Schaltenbrand have told me to attend my son – remember the dog bite, and worry not bout the deadline. Thank you to the two of them. Maybe they too have some “family values.”
What about “going to church?” Family McMurran attends St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church every Sunday – or Saturday evening. Check the records! My daughter Maggie has made her first communion, and her brother Joe will do the same this coming May. As I have mentioned here on a number of occasions, all three attend Academy of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic school.

Here’s the point that bothered me the most: “…I wouldn’t mind it if all of the bridges were imploded between St. Charles County and St. Louis County.” If there is a typical Republican, conservative philosophy, that very sentence sums it all up! Those bridges Mr. Family Values would implode are the same bridges he used to move here! He raised his family in Ferguson – and God forbid, they attended public schools! Those bridges need to remain exactly where they are, so that others might be afforded the same opportunity to improve the quality of their life. To many times conservatives forget what got them where they are. They concern themselves with what only benefits them. Our boy governor, who opposes abortion, but also opposes providing any medical care for those too down on their luck to afford it, not only received a free college education, the government paid him to attend classes. No sir Mr. Columnist, you are way wrong with this one.

You, and I are transplants from North St. Louis County – and you and I moved here to improve the quality of life for our families and ourselves. Applying your version of choplogic, I belong here more than you. At least two of my three children were born in St. Charles.

Lastly he commented on “goofy liberal Democrats who are obsessed with doing anything and everything to take religion out of American life.” Not so much life sir, but certainly schools. What if, when your son was a student there, McCluer High School made their students say a daily prayer to Allah? Would that not offend your Christian son? Of course it would. The majority of this nation might be Christian, that does not make us a Christian nation. By the way, until recently I have never seen such strange bedfellows as fundamental Christians and Catholics. In my discussions with a number of fundamental Christians, they don’t really perceive Catholics to be Christian.

No, live and let live; unless of course a life-style invades one’s personal space. Trying to make everyone conform to your way of thinking would make us the same mind set of those whom we are presently engaged in military war.

Back to the dog situation if I may. Daniel is now home and required a single stitch to close his wound. He is fine. Maggie on the other hand knows Buddy’s days living in our household are limited – and is a nervous wreck over it. Joe, ever the wise one of the family (probably because he is a native St. Charles son) suggested we find a farm for Buddy – so that is what I am doing. If anyone knows of someone, Democrat or Republican, who has a large piece of property, where a dog can run, and run and run, please let me know. Buddy is half Australian Shepard and half Beagle, house broken – and usually great with kids. They just can’t go nose to nose with the dog. If you wish to rid your property of rabbits and/or birds, he is the dog you need. He, like I, am neutered and housebroken. The vet told me Buddy takes much better to males versus females – which means he pretty much is my dog. That probably explains why he is always in some sort of trouble.

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RAGE FOOTBALL

By Mike Thompson

In an episode of the long running sitcom ‘Coach’, Craig T. Nelson’s character, Hayden Fox of the infamous Minnesota State College, decides to visit his daughter Kelly in New York City. Indroduced to one of her yuppie-type friends, the girl exclaimes, ‘Oh, so you’re a football coach, how exciting. But, let’s see, football season only last for about four months. What do you do the rest of the year?”

River City Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt could only smile when I relayed that little scenario in his office last week. “I’m always amazed at the number of people who think a coach just goes on a long vacation or gets another job between seasons.” Kidding aside, Wyatt hit the nail right on the head when he looked me straight in the eye from across his desk and said, “Now, brother, you and I know that just isn’t the case.”

Yes I do, and where to start? How about the fact that Wyatt is not only Coach of the team, but as General Manager of The Rage is involved in all of the marketing and promotional decisions that the team proposes for the coming year. Last week alone, myself, Coach Wyatt, Morris Groves, our Director of Operations and Scott Wilson, one of our majority owners, spent the better part of 2 days hammering out a CD presentation to promote our new season ticket package for 2006. Game highlights had to be incorporated with graphics and voice over, then the job is to go out and negotiate with a company to get the best price for mass production. One promotion will be to hand out the CD’s to qualified prospects at our inter-active football toss and promotional table at Baer Park at all Rams home games at the Edward Jones Dome this season. Talk about a built-in football crowd! Wyatt often has the final say in something like that and consequently, goes over everything with the proverbial fine tooth comb. That takes time and then couple that with player personnel decisions, and you’ve got a coach who probably ends up wishing he had more months in a given year!

“The one thing that keeps me motivated is the fact that this all is a labor of love, it’s what I’ve done for the past 25 years, it’s not all I know to do, but it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and that makes all the difference when you’re plugging away day to day” stated Wyatt as he reviewed game film from the playoff game with Cincinnati, “like right now, I’m using this game and some others I’ve looked at to see where we need to improve, personnel wise. I’ve been in contact with teams from the NFL, the CFL, and we’ve developed a good working relationship with the Chicago Rush of the Arena League. The idea is to find out who’s been cut, and do we want to look at rookies or veterans when making decisions for The Rage. We have agents who send in film of prospects, and I’m in contact weekly with NFL Europe. All in all, my job is to staff this football team with the best players currently not playing in the NFL.”

There’s equipment to be re-conditioned and re-certified, and even though the season just came to an end, the NIFL is already getting a schedule in place for next season. With that comes travel and hotel concerns for Wyatt, who shops constantly for the best airfare, bus fare and hotel prices around the country. At the upcoming NIFL league meetings scheduled for September 14-17th in Las Vegas, it’s starting to look more and more like the league will be again shifting The Rage to the Pacific Conference of the NIFL, one in which it resided a few years ago when the franchise operated under different ownership. Coach Wyatt had thoughts on this as well, “it’s primarily for purposes of economics and travel issues, putting a lot of our games a little closer to home. I expect us to be in the Pacific North Division, and that means will will lose the rivalry type games we’ve had with Cincinnati and Dayton, although while not a home and away series, we should still be able to play those teams with inter-conference games. My feeling is it’ll be a huge plus for us.”

Among the issues to be discussed at the league meetings will be what new teams will be granted membership in the NIFL, an over-all review of league rules, the approval of any rule changes, and the garnering of national sponsorships for 2006. A national television deal is also being considered.

And while majority owners Tye Elliott and Scott Wilson will be on hand to represent the River City Rage in Vegas, don’t look for Coach Mike Wyatt to be there. He’s got enough to keep him busy right here at home, working on issues that provide the answer to the question ‘what exactly does a football coach do in the off-season’???
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FRONT PAGE August 13, 2005

Donation taken by Citizens For Responsible Community was for Heritage Residents Association

By Phyllis Schaltenbrand

St. Charles County Developer Steve Groeper of Western Expansion Group told the First Capitol News a $10,000 donation his company made in January 2004 to the Heritage Residents Association was for the HRA to do with whatever they wanted. He did not direct that $5,000 of that amount was to go to the Citizens For Responsible Community, a political action committee headed by Carl Maus and Raymond Stone. “I gave the $10,000 to the Heritage Residents Association to do with what they wanted and absolutely did not direct that $5,000 of the money was to go to CFRC,” Groeper said. “I didn’t care what they did with the money.”

After the HRA received the $10,000 check from Groeper the board was told by it’s president at the time, Carl Maus, that only $5,000 was for HRA and the other $5,000 was to go to CFRC. Other board members resisted any payment to CFRC and refused to pay any money to CFRC. Maus was also the president of Citizens for Responsible Community at the time and still holds that office.

An internal fight developed over the funds, which resulted in $3,293.75 in legal fees for HRA. At a later meeting, that was not attended by several board members, a HRA check for $5,000 was issued to CFRC.

Maus did not run for re-election as president of HRA as he was moving to Heritage Trails, and into a new home. Two candidates representing Citizens for Responsible Community were defeated in their election attempts to join the HRA board. Maus was elected to the board in the 2005 elections as a representative from Heritage Trails. Two other candidates aligned with him in Citizens for Responsible Community were defeated in their attempts to join the HRA board.

An attorney hired by the HRA board, Joel Brett, investigated the matter and reported back to the board. He wrote the board that the $5,000 payment the board made to CFRC was apparently a misdirection of funds to avoid the appearance of CFRC accepting money from a developer, particularly since the purpose of CFRC was to prevent another developer from purchasing and developing property. He wrote the board the $5,000 should be returned to the HRA by CRFC and then perhaps returned to Groeper and his company, Western Expansion. The HRA attorney also advised the board that Maus being president of HRA at the same time he was president of CFRC was at the very least a conflict of interest and should have been disclosed to all members of the association (all residents) and not just the board members.

Other recommendations he made to the board were; hire an independent accounting firm to audit the HRA books for the past two to four years and to take bids for services and/or materials of any significant amount. He also believed that funneling the donation from Western Expansion Group through HRA to CFRC constitutes a violation of the Missouri Ethics statute as well as the rules and regulations promulgated by the Missouri Ethics Commission. In closing he wrote, “ I also firmly believe that the association had no authority to make this donation ($5,000 to CFRC). Clearly Mr. Maus’ dual roles and the commingling of funds for attorney’s fees and contributions, at the very least, gives the appearance of impropriety, and in my opinion was improper and illegal.”

In the July 30th edition of the First Capitol News we reported the Heritage Residents Association voted to refer information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) along with a request for a Criminal Investigation on the advice of their accountant.

We also reported the Missouri Ethics Commission notified the HRA sufficient evidence was found to refer their complaint against Carl Maus and the Citizens for Responsible Community to the Attorney General for further handling.

The HRA board recently hired a new accounting firm, Crowder Accounting St. Charles. Crowder told the HRA the way CMA (former accountant) reported the $10,000 donation from Groeper on the financial statement, presented HRA with a problem that must be corrected. Crowder recommended the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service be contacted and request an investigation.

Frank Rosner, president of the HRA told the First Capitol News this action was being taken.
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Mayor & Husband Fail To Correct 21 Month Old Ordinance Violation

Mayor & Husband ignore 5 day violation notice from City
In our last edition we reported the building pictured above at 218 N. Main has been boarded up with black painted plywood since November of 2003 in violation of City ordinances. We brought this matter to the attention of the City Administration several months ago and nothing was done. Several hours after our paper hit the streets last week we received the following e-mail from Tom Ashburn the Director of Community Development for the City.

We checked this out yesterday and confirmed your report and a complaint we received from a businessman on N. Main earlier this week, that one of the glass panels has been replaced with a plywood panel that is painted black. We also checked our records to see if any notices had been sent on this in the past and they have not. As you may know, the City's Code of Ordinances does allow temporary boarding of windows for up to 90 days and then the boards must be removed and the windows must contain glazing which is free from cracks or holes. Based on your complaint as well as the other complaint we received, we have reason to believe that the board has in fact been up longer than the 90 days permitted by the ordinance. Therefore, we are sending out a letter today to the property owners notifying them of this violation and giving them 5 days to take corrective action. The vast majority of code violations are handled on a complaint basis. We were not aware of this violation prior to your complaint and the complaint received earlier this week. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

We checked the building Thursday evening, and the window has not been brought into compliance with City codes. The Mayor took an oath of office to uphold the ordinances of the City and in November she will be in violation of that oath for two years.

Who Finances Dirty Trick Mud Slinging Politics By Citizens For Responsible Community?

By Tony Brockmeyer

Records at the Missouri Ethics Commission reveals who is financing the political action committee calling itself Citizens For Responsible Community. Not only does CFRC donate money to political campaigns they are responsible for soft money spent in the campaigns. Soft money in CFRC’s hands is money spent to fool the public and to degrade a particular candidate and sway the public’s opinion to electing the candidate of their choice. This is done by distorting facts and telling half-truths in an attempt to destroy a candidate or any supporters of candidates who may reveal their secret agenda. Without donations committees such as CFRC could not exist.

Some of the largest donors are;

Glennon Jamboretz $37,250 owner of The Glennon Company a Public Relations Company, Jamboretz is a helper and advisor to St. Charles Mayor Patti York. He also represented Ameristar Casino, Anheuser Busch, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance where he is a board member and the Fraternal Order of Police and state FOP president Tommy Mayer a former St. Charles Police Sergeant who was fired for allegedly ordering City Administrator Allan Williams from his vehicle and onto the ground at gun point and has a $104 million dollar suit against St. Charles City and the City Council. Jamboretz along with former Councilman Ken Kielty heads a group called St. Charles Citizens for Better Government which was formed with the intent to recall City Council persons who were considered road blocks to the Mayor and her special interest groups;

Adolphus Busch IV $30,000 millionaire beer baron and board member of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance ;

Don Musick $30,000, developer and St. Louis millionaire duck hunter a board member of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance,

Charles Hager $30,000 millionaire owner of Hager Hinge & Manufacturing and a board member of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance

T.R. Hughes, former St. Charles police officer and millionaire developer and member of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance. Hughes is a confidant and supporter of Mayor York and actively campaigned to have his favored candidates, including Jerry Reese, Mike Weller, Bob Kneemiller and Larry Muench elected to the St. Charles City Council. He opposed the elections of Rory Riddler, John Gieseke, Mark Brown, Joe Koester, Dottie Greet and Bob Hoefpner. Hoepfner, after returning from a trip to Germany with Reese and the Mayor had a secret meeting with Hughes, which Hoepfner later denied and then admitted, later appeared to be supportive of Hughes and his dealings with the City;

Joe Orthwerth for Good Government Committee $7,189.13. Orthwerth is the St. Charles County Executive and pastor of the new Highway for Holiness Church that is meeting in the O’Fallon City Hall.

Don C. Musick III $6250
C. Hager & Sons Hinge $6250
Stephen Blechle $9,000
James W. Blechle $9,000
Paul Von Gontard

Other contributors to Citizens For Good Government are:
Ameristar Casino, St. Charles Charter Preservation Committee, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, Vantage Homes, REGAH LLC, Raccoon Ranch Club, Charles Hager, Jr., Rails of Riverwood Community Association, Charles and Ruth Didion, Thomas Sommers, Tropical Décor, Joseph & Elaine Cronin, Eddie & Park LLC, Cooperative Mgt. Co., Kielty Enterprises, Citizens to Elect Patti York, Oracle Development, Harrah’s Casino, Gary Chytil, Vicki White, Eagle Pines Community Association, Wheeler Canyon Community Association, Professional Real Estate Associates LLC, T. Randolph Porter, and All County Real Estate Development LLC.

Who Benefits from the Dirty Mud Slinging Politics of Citizens For Responsible Community and Founders Carl Maus & Raymond Stone?

By Tony Brockmeyer

Citizens For Responsible Community, a political action committee started by Raymond Stone and Carl Maus, has become very active in St. Charles County politics. Financed by large influxes of cash from St. Louis and St. Charles millionaires, they have supported candidates to political office who supported the special interests of their millionaire benefactors. They have also opposed candidates who were against the millionaires receiving special treatment for their special interests.

Not only does CFRC donate money to political campaigns, they were responsible for soft money spent in the campaigns. Soft money in CFRC’s hands is money spent to fool the public and to degrade a particular candidate and sway the public’s opinion to electing the candidate of their choice. This is done by distorting facts and telling half-truths in an attempt to destroy a candidate or any supporters of candidates who may reveal their secret agenda. Without large influxes of cash from special interests committees such as CFRC could not exist.

Candidates supported by Citizens for Responsible Community have included;

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt
St. Charles Mayor Patti York $3832.39
St. Charles Councilmen Bob Kneemiller, Mike Weller $1598.75 and Dan Gould
St. Charles Council candidates Rod Herrmann $1676.75 and Tom Kuypers $1591.78
St. Peters Mayor Shawn Brown $15,746.49
St. Charles County Councilman Joe Brazil $9072.00
St. Charles County Councilman Doug Funderburk $12,230.80
Candidate for County Council Richard Baum $5,457.22 (unsuccessful)
O’Fallon Mayor Donna Morrow $18,213.29 (Successful)
State Representative Sally Faith
O’Fallon Aldermen Lyn Schipper $2770.12, Bob Patek $2770.12, Jeff Kuehn $2770.12
Candidate for O’Fallon Alderman Terry Busken $4,382.43 (Successful)
Candidate for O’Fallon Alderman Randy Hudson, 4,415.16 (Successful)
Candidate for O’Fallon Alderman Jimmy Mitchell $4,435.65 (Successful)

Other candidates supported financially by Citizens for Responsible Community include;

Douglas Hug
J. Brad Smith
Mary Chrismer
Amy Schipper
Barbara Flagg
Les Mironuck
Bernie McCan
Roland Wetzel
James Bennett
Friends of Jeff Smith (St. Louis)
Citizens for Mitchell
Friends of Dave Hinman
Friends of Donna Morrow
Friends of Randy Hudson
Citizens for Busken

COUNCILMAN MARK BROWN WARD 3

CFRC - WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

How Citizens For Responsible Community Came Into Existence

Citizens For Responsible Community came into existence on March 11, 2002. Carl Maus was President, Raymond Stone Vice President, Al Mercer Secretary, Richard Blalock Treasurer and Kathleen Ball as Deputy Treasurer. Since their inception this group has been involved in St. Charles politics even though none of them reside in St. Charles.

During the last Mayor’s race the group sent out negative mailings against St. Charles County Councilman Dan Foust who was challenging York for the seat. York denied any knowledge of the group or of the mailing. Election night photos showed Stone standing next to York when she was acknowledging her victory to supports. Reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission show Citizens For Responsible Community donated $3,832.39 to Patti York. The records also show on May 13, 2003 Citizens To Elect Patti York made a $2,300 donation to CFRC.

In 2001, the Jones Company came before the St. Charles City Council with a proposal to build over 900 homes on property near the Page Avenue Extension and to have the property annexed into the City. The proposal, known as Cavendish Square, was denied after a petition drive headed by Maus and Stone. Their complaint was the property was more suitable for commercial and they did not want high density residential developed.

Another developer took over the property after the petition drive by Maus and Stone forced the Jones Company to give up.

When the Jones Company proposed a development on the grounds to the St. Charles Golf Course, Maus and Stone and CFRC became involved with area residents and once again foiled a development. Once again another developer stepped in and took over the project.

Since that time Maus and Stone have formed a kinship with St. Charles Mayor Patti York and her husband Lionel. They attend St. Charles City Council meetings frequently and have been given use of the Mayor’s office in City Hall from time to time even though neither resides within the City limits.
The First Capitol News in our April 5-16 edition reported the Citizens For Responsible Community had raised nearly $107,000most of it coming from St. Louis and St. Charles millionaires, Don Musick, Charles Hager, Glennon Jamboretz, T.R. Hughes and Adolphus Busch IV. They have been using the money to attempt to unseat incumbent city officials in St. Charles, St. Peters and O’Fallon.

CFRC sent out waves of expensive mailings attacking candidates in several St. Charles City Council races. The mailers came out attacking Councilman Bob Hoepfner Ward 10, Councilman John Gieseke Ward 8, Councilman John Scheer Ward 5 and Councilman Rory Riddler Ward 1. They also sent out material attempting to defeat Joe Koester and Dottie Greer. The CFRC Candidate Mike Weller defeated John Scheer. CFRC also backed Bob Kneemiller, Larry Muench and Jerry Reese.

In St. Peters they were successful in ousting incumbent Mayor Tom Brown and installing Shawn Brown as St. Peters Mayor. In O’Fallon they were successful in the election of Donna Morrow as Mayor and several of the Aldermen.

CFRC promoted Joe Brazil and Doug Funderburk in their reelection campaigns for the St. Charles County Council. They also backed former St. Charles City Councilman Richard Baum in his unsuccessful race for St. Charles County Council against Joe McCullouch. Baum also lost his reelection campaign for his City Council seat

Besides being used as hired guns to put into office candidates who are agreeable to the agenda put forward by the millionaires they have also been helping Great Rivers Habitat Alliance in their fight against a development on 1600 acres involving the Lakeside 370 Business Park Property in St. Peters.

St. Peters officials recently discovered a secret memo, which outlined Great Rivers plan to gain control of the Lakeside 370 property so they could achieve financial gain. St. Peters officials rejected a $5 million offer from Great Rivers for the property, which Great Rivers later raised, to $12 million. The property has been sold to Kaplan Development for $50 million.

It is also believed they are involved in the attempt by Mayor Shawn Brown of St. Peters to have St. Charles County Councilman Jeff Morrison removed as Prosecuting Attorney for St. Peters. That was foiled by a 5 to 2 vote by the St. Peters Board of Aldermen Tuesday evening.
ttt

RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer

WORD ON THE STREET

DOES WILLIAMS WANT TO CONTRACT WITH STEVE POWELL?

It is believed City Administrator Allan Williams is scrambling to locate taxpayer funds because he wants to send former CEO of the CVB to Philadelphia to represent the city in an attempt to bring tourists to St. Charles. Under current rules Williams can indebt the city up to $20,000 on a contract without the approval of the City Council. Twenty Thousand per contract without any limit on the number of contracts. Powell recently resigned as CEO of the CVB during an internal investigation ordered by the City Council. He was given several months of severance pay. What doesn’t seem right here?

Several weeks ago Williams held a meeting with some of the Main Street merchants. He wanted to learn from them how the City could be of help. I would have thought he learned more from the merchants than the necessity to give more city money to Steve Powell. After the meeting, attended by Powell fresh in from Peoria, bystanders told the First Capitol News that Powell yelled at Donna, the acting director of the CVB. Powell told Donna she should have wrested control of the merchants meeting from Williams and let him know she was in charge. Hmmmmm

Rumor also has it Roger Pryor, the Chairman of the St. Charles County Convention and Sports Facilities Authority, is working diligently behind the scenes to have Powell appointed as a member of the Convention and Sports Facilities Authority. Powell is working as the Director of the Convention and Visitors Board in Peoria, Illinois. Since he is living in Peoria if he is appointed to the Authority there would be an Illinois resident on the Missouri Board. Why should that be a surprise? When Powell was CEO of the St. Charles CVB most of the members of the CVB board were not residents of St. Charles.

Main Street Merchants told the First Capitol News they see Powell on Main Street more often now than when he was employed here. I wonder what Peoria thinks of that?

We have also been told the word is Powell plans to be hired back as the CEO of the CVB after the Mayoral elections in 2007.


Last week I dealt with the Mayor and her never-ending attack on the Council within the walls of City Hall. I believe a recent letter sent to City employees in their pay checks proves she and Dr. Allan Williams intend to act in concert to divide and create a work environment of us against them instead of working together for the common good.

Councilman Mark Brown did say cesspool and their letter demonstrates where the cesspool is. The administration is guilty of trying to create divisiveness with the staff and the council.

Let ‘s look at what Williams and York are trying to do. These two want to cut you off from the City’s staff and are doing this by trying to cut the Council off. After all, the council is our eyes and ears in the City. If we have a problem we call our Councilman, they call the City Administrator and then he delegates to his staff. What do you think staff will do with a complaint from a councilman? This could answer a number of the issues with staff response time. If the administration creates an environment of lack of respect, lack of concern and overall disdain for our voice in City government why would the rank and file not follow suit? Where does that leave the residents?

Everyday you and I drive by neglected areas of the city. We see over grown brush, trash, eyesores, yet for some reason the staff drive by without concern. The reason is simple. York and Williams only care about their own quest for power and keeping things nice for you does not fit within this quest. Let me ask you, since York has hired Williams have you seen a difference in the City? Better yet, since York has been in office have you noticed a change in your neck of the woods?

Bottom line York and Williams are trying to consolidate power in the executive branch and eliminate the council. This is a dangerous thing for us to allow to happen. You see the abuses in the private sector with Enron, Adelphia, and World Com. Even Boeing has had problems. This is what happens when oversight of organizations doesn’t take place. Abuse of power in the public sector is more difficult to discover. That is why we elect Councils. Many people think it is a bad thing for the Council to question the staff and truly provide oversight. Those are the people who just don’t get it. Our money is being collected in the form of taxes. These taxes are supposed to be used for our public needs. When these taxes are spent on special interests and not us, we should be outraged.
When York and Williams refuse to cooperate with your voice in government the system breaks down and controversy is created. The power struggle might seem unconstructive but in reality it is for our best interest. If the council would give in to York and Williams and become a rubber stamp you can bet the rubber stamp won’t be stamping for us. It will be stamping for the rich and famous.

THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler City Council President

An Amazing Adventure...
Tax Money Finds Way Back Home

This week President Bush signed a $286.4 BILLION Highway Bill. With it comes 6,371 pet projects of influential members of Congress, who will be dining on pork for years to come. If we’re lucky, we might see some of our tax money come back to St. Charles. If it does, I’m tempted to throw a homecoming party as some of it got its start in my pocket, where it briefly resided till I filled up my car at the gas pump.

It reminds me of those stories you sometimes read of how a dog or cat is lost far from home. But somehow they manage to wander thousands of miles back home and just show up on the doorstep one day. That’s how I feel about my Federal and State gas taxes.

The President and Congress all hope we will thank them for returning our taxes. Not to seem ungrateful I thought I would get my groveling out of the way right away. Uhh, thank you. Glad that’s over with.

As a former political science student, and nearly life long observer of what works and sometimes doesn’t work in government, a recent press release from City Hall really caught my attention. It came from the Department of Public Works.

On its face, it is simply the Department patting themselves on the back for the annual applications they fill out for grants being approved. Everyone has a right to celebrate milestones in the workplace, though the release probably upstaged the Mayor or City Administrator making the announcement themselves.

What I found curious about the release was how it described the grants themselves. The description of the funds received from East-West Gateway stated:

“This is money that is gifted to the City, never to be repaid by the Cities taxpayers.”

Excuse me, but didn’t the taxpayers pay that money in gas taxes in the first place? This isn’t foreign aid we received.

Last time I checked I was paying 24 cents per gallon in taxes...all State and Federal. There is no local sales tax allowed on the sale of gasoline. At twenty gallons per week that is around $250 per vehicle. There are roughly 34,000 passenger vehicles in the City of St. Charles.

That comes to, let’s see...carry the two...around $8,500,000 we collectively paid in gas taxes. Now to check the Press Release again. Here it is, we were awarded $2,287,210 from East-West Gateway, the regional clearing house for Federal and State funding.

So if we pay out $8.5 Million, they will give us a “gift” of less than $2.3 Million. Sounds like Enron’s retirement plan.

Surely this was just an odd reference or turn of phrase. Then I read the last paragraph of the Press Release:

“With these successes, staff has acquired a total of almost $5,000,000 in grant money, without any burden on the taxpayers.”

This last number includes $2,450,000 the St. Charles County Road Board agreed to contribute towards future Boschertown Road improvements in Wards 1 and 8. I’m wondering how the County Road Board manages to do so many worthwhile projects without “any burden” on the taxpayers?

In fact, the St. Charles County Road Board gets their money from a one-half cent sales tax we all pay. You pay it in the City as well as the unincorporated portions of the County.

It’s good to celebrate successes. It’s good to want to keep people informed. But don’t forget to pat the taxpayers on the back once in a while you’re at it. The bottom line is it’s really our money...just trying to find its way back home.

CASE IN POINT By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9

It is not the common practice of the First Capitol News to mention other publications or columnists/journalists in town by name. I will try and respect this, however, I want to make a point about a recent letter to the editor I penned simply to respond to a letter coming from an O’Fallon resident criticizing our city council. At this point, I would hope that many a resident in St. Charles would be scratching their head wondering why anyone from O’Fallon would bother throwing stones at their neighbors with all of the things going on in their own yard. In fact, maybe the only residents in our county able to criticize their neighbors with a straight face would be from Femme Osage. Maybe even they have their turmoil, I don’t know. Right here is a good time to insert a quote from an American statesman:
“This Republic was founded because of the arrogance of a king who expected his subjects to do as they were told, without question. Our forefathers... adopted a system where dissent is not only important, but mandatory.” April 7, 2004
Robert C. Byrd
I don’t mind a good honest battle about policy, budgets or ordinances. What is disturbing is the politics of personal attacks that do nothing but try and destroy the other side. Even when Bob Hoepfner called me a “village idiot” in another publication, I didn’t respond to his name calling. It was strange to see him throw this out at me since I have almost never spoken to him and have no contact with him. This is a good time to illustrate my point: Mr. Hoepfner made a personal attack, it wasn’t based upon anything other than his own biased opinion. Let me take a moment to use what I think is fair criticism of Mr. Hoepfner. Self-declared, Battling Bob made claims that he wanted to give everyone trash service but the rest of the council just wouldn’t go along with him. Mr. Hoepfner never made a serious proposal of how this would be paid for in budget discussions or by bringing something to the council floor. He also wants the City to eliminate the utility tax. This tax is around $7 million in revenue for our town. I think it might have been a good idea to make every stepped decrease in this tax directly offset our trash costs. This would have been a way to help reduce trash costs by employing a progressive tax.
Think about it, if an elderly resident, living alone, doesn’t use much electricity or natural gas, then his or her utility tax would be comparatively low to a family of five or seven in a large house with a higher utility tax bill. But, the single resident would share the same reduction in trash costs as the family of five. Everyone’s trash costs would sink, but the man or woman living presumably on Social Security would receive a relatively higher benefit from the redirection (rather than elimination) of this tax source. Oh, and before I forget, I wanted the city to pay everyone’s mortgage payment in December but my fellow councilmen wouldn’t go along with it...
I have really moved far too far from my topic, so let me put the focus back on my point about my letter to the editor in another paper. Mrs. Shirley Bryan of O’Fallon wrote a letter asking for those on council to resign from either the Democratic Party or City Council because she was *embarrassed about the goings on in our city politics. *Wow, what a difference a couple of weeks can make! O’Fallon has now stolen our thunder in the controversy category! I’m sure paid PR firms will make certain that doesn’t continue to be the case!
Since I am the only person on the council able to resign from anything to do with a Party, I sent in a letter. I asked them not to edit my letter without my permission. I waited. Surely they would allow me to respond. Nothing. So, I wrote the editor an e-mail asking whether they would print my response. I got feedback! My letter would be printed in the next issue or two and I was told that they are printed in the order they are received. I understood and accepted that until...in one week’s time, Mr. Kneemiller got a letter published. Now my letter outdated his by at least ten days! Only after I registered a complaint was I told that my letter needed editing in order to be printed. I would like to reprint my letter here for you to see the censored parts. I will put those lines in bold and underlined which I was not allowed to include in my original letter. Also, make note, I don’t call Mrs. Bryan names, one can appreciate her perception based upon the way stories coming out of St. Charles are handled by much of the press!
In a recent letter to the editor, Shirley Bryan of O’Fallon wanted those who are both on the St. Charles City Council and members of the Democratic Party to resign from one or the other because she feels we give Democrats a bad name. Since, “we” only refers to me, I wanted to briefly respond.
If the image of the council you derive is only from the news blurbs from local papers, then you should quickly realize our frustration as a council when these same papers make headlines with any story they feel will harm us, and do not report or try and diminish any positive stories about the same. Of course, we do not enjoy a hired PR company as our detractors do.
Let me give a brief recap of some of the things you can be proud of: rehiring of a 20-plus-year police officer who lost his job due to work-related injuries; re-bidding of health insurance that saved our city several hundred thousand dollars with no loss of coverage for our employees; reduction for the first time on the dependence of gaming revenues from ongoing expenses; an alternative solution to an aging sewer system that will result in millions of dollars in savings.
It’s laughable to think the politics of St. Peters, O’Fallon, Wentzville and the county government are any less contentious. St. Peters has recently had a taste of aldermen and mayor representing different interests, and O’Fallon went through this a couple of years ago. In fact, the Old Town Preservation Committee (in O’Fallon) did battle with some of the same characters we now face! So then, allow a hired PR firm in concert with a local columnist to paint the picture and I’m certain any board’s shortcomings can be
`highlighted and any good doing ignored.
Reasons given for editing my letter were none of those mentioned in this publication that include offensive material, grammar, length, and clarity. The first line they didn’t like because they felt it wasn’t true. Truly, I am the only one on council able to resign from a Party position. The publication determined that Mrs. Bryan meant something else. Maybe a little initial editing on clarity would have been helpful here. The second line was too vague. Any columnist could be inferred but the person on the phone admitted that they knew whom I meant. I said, just name the columnist then. The response was something about not attacking another paper and professionalism, yada, yada, yada. I questioned why they worried about that since they insert a competing newspaper into their own every two weeks. I was told that that isn’t a newspaper but a paid advertisement. I wonder if the articles of incorporation state, “Paid Advertisement Company?”
Really, it is their business to do with it what they will. They have the right to print biased headlines and articles all they choose. It was this one-sidedness that gave The First Capitol News its *raison d’être. I mentioned to the Mayor that three papers to one isn’t bad, she should be happy! Oh, and by-the-way, I have the utmost respect for Mrs. Bryan, she has the courage to sign her name to letters!

*If anyone reads this to Mr. Hoepfner, please replace, “raison d’être” with “reason for existence.” I don’t want to alter his image of me.

Joe Koester
Ward 9

THE CONSERVATIVE FACTOR - Alex Spencer

This year, the St. Charles Mayor’s Charity Ball became the St. Charles County All Mayors’ Charity Ball for all the mayors of our county. Well sort of. The whole thing felt like a wedding with Mayor York as the bride (she wore a white dress) and the other Mayors as the obligatory wedding party—invited as a backdrop/filler, but not trusted to be involved in the planning, selection of charity recipients, table placement or let near the Bar. But the event raised money for charity, so who is complaining?

I think we can do one better by tapping into the traditional rivalry between the cities of St. Peters and St. Charles and holding a Charity Boxing Match between each city’s resident grumpy old man. Who wouldn’t pay top dollar to watch a match up between “Battling Bob” Hoepfner and Len “Pandering Pagano”?

Just look at the “Tale of the Tape” and you can see that it is likely to be an even match:

First, both fighters have similar oddball choices for political whipping boys. Hoepfner feels compelled to attack the relatively popular St. Charles City Police Department. Not wanting to be outdone, Pagano demands background checks on St. Peters City Volunteers. It’s hard to say which political strategy is crazier, but they do seem to be at equal levels of nuttiness.

Second, the combatants each have a history of overreacting to a single resident call. In doing so, they both seem to turn rather innocuous issues into major points of contention within their cities. For example, one St. Charles resident complained to Hoepfner about his inability to obtain a continuance for his court matter without appearing in court first. So Hoepfner has decided that Municipal Court Judge Barklage is way out of bounds because lawyers have a slightly easier time than non-lawyers in navigating the murky waters of municipal court to get a continuance. By comparison, one St. Peters resident complained to Pagano about the number of scooters on the city streets. So Pagano decided that motorized scooters were the bane of St. Peters. The edge goes to Pagano, who managed to turn one killjoy’s opinion into a city ordinance. The jury is still out on Hoepfner’s crusade against the municipal court.

Third, each of these ancient gladiators has equivalent levels of experience in running for higher political office. That is, they both have impressive loss records. Hoepfner has unsuccessfully run for Mayor of St. Charles. Pagano has unsuccessfully run for Mayor of St. Peters. Both appear to be preparing to unsuccessfully run for mayor of their respective cities again. In this regard, I again give a slight experience edge to Pagano as he has also unsuccessfully run countywide for Assessor.

Next, we’ll need a referee. I guess we go with the old stand-by community good guy – Tom Hughes. I’m not sure he’ll be able to fit this event into his busy schedule, what with fundraising for Mayor York’s legal defense fund, various recall efforts targeted at Mayor York’s political rivals and Mayor York’s re-election fund, but I think we can count on him to step up and referee this match of the century.

Of course, these days Hughes’s “neutrality” seems suspect. He abandoned his status as unquestioned civic leader among the St. Charles business community to join Adolphus Busch IV’s Great White Duck Hunters Alliance.

Now those duck boys never play fair. They are all about throwing mud and making threats. But it is unclear to whom they would want to throw the match.

Hoepfner has flipped over to Mayor York’s side in St. Charles. Hughes likes York. The Duck Boys like York. So maybe Hoepfner can get some consideration on the close calls.

But in St. Peters, Pagano has started singing the duck lover’s song. He comes to meetings with prepared “remarks” courtesy of Glenn Jamboretz. Adolphus uses Jamboretz to write for all his candidates’ speeches. Unfortunately for Pagano, Jamboretz uses too many fifty-cent words for Pagano to struggle through.

If Adolphus is going to try and rig the fight (and why wouldn’t he given that he has tried to fix every county election in the last two years), we can never be sure who he will favor. In fact, the contestants won’t know either as Adolphus always promises both sides that he is with them.

Regardless of who wins, however, these grumpy old men aren’t going anywhere. And neither are their sycophants and groupies. So we’ll all have to make do and tolerate their endless rambling speeches, their mugging for the camera and their carefully orchestrated “confusions” on political issues where they want to flip sides.

It’s about time for each to contemplate his next run for Mayor (maybe they can switch cities this time?) Until then…ding, ding, ding…may the best grumpy old man win.