Politics & Government
City Council 101
With the upcoming election, let's break down the basics of the Wentzville City Council.
Voters will soon be heading to the polls to vote for municipal officials in the city of . But what does the city council do? Before voting, make sure you are informed about candidates' views, policies, and what their job will be if elected.
The city of Wentzville has a council-administrator form of government as set forth in Chapter 77 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. The mayor and the aldermen exist to provide leadership and make major decisions within the city, as stated on the city's website.
The mayor presides over meetings of the board of aldermen and votes only in the case of a tie. The mayor does have veto power, but the aldermen can override the veto by a two-thirds vote, as stated on the Missouri Municipal League's website.
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The Board of Aldermen is comprised of six members, two from each of the city's three wards.
Board members serve staggered two-year terms and are responsible for determining policy, enacting ordinances and authorizing expenditures. An ordinance is a law enacted by city authorities for that particular city.
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Essentially, any major decisions being made for or in the city of Wentzville must go through the city council. The council approves budgets and approves projects to improve transportation, businesses and other key aspects of the city.
The mayor is elected for a two-year term. The responsibilities of the mayor include serving as the chief executive officer of the city, attending and presiding over board of aldermen meetings, veto powers over legislation and appointing members of various city boards and commissions.
The mayor and the board of aldermen serve as the core of the city of Wentzville, working in conjunction with other city officials such as the judge and city administrator.
The city administrator runs the day-to-day operations of the city and oversees the department heads of parks and recreation, community development, public works and law enforcement. All of these officials work together to maintain order in the city.
The board meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall. More informal work sessions are held at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.
As with any other form of government, city council exists to serve and lead the people of Wentzville. It is a body of government that remains open to discussing and solving people’s concerns within the city.