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Board to Discuss Future of Wentzville's Wabash Days, Holiday Night Lights

City staff asked that the board consider not just the profit and loss numbers, but the economic impact to the city and what these events provide to residents.

At Wednesday night's work session, the Wentzville Board of Aldermen will discuss the future of the city's special events, including Wabash Days, Holiday Night Lights and the 4th of July celebration. When Wabash Days was first established, the intent was to turn it over to a local organization. However, no organization came forward and this year's event will be the mark the tenth anniversary of Wabash Days. "By their very nature, special events hosted by a City Municipality have less ability to be profitable than other hosting entities. This is partially due to the cost in staffing an event with public/local government employees rather than utilization of organizations who volunteer hours to work the event(s)," city documents reported. …

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Lake Saint Louis Receives Aa2 Credit Rating

Ten years ago, the city was not able to get a credit rating at all.

(The following press release was issued by the City of Lake Saint Louis.) Lake Saint Louis residents often ask city officials about the status of city finances.  This question has arisen more frequently with the news of certain cities declaring bankruptcy.  The credit rating agency Moody's has assigned a rating of Aa2 for Lake Saint Louis.  City officials are proud of this Investment Prime Grade rating as the city was not able to obtain a credit rating from Moody's ten years ago. The City's financial condition has greatly improved from where it once was.  To learn more about Moody's rating system Click Here. The City's 2012/13 fiscal year budget is posted for viewing on the city's website on the Finance Department page.

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Letters to the Editor

George’s Alderman Highlights: May 07, 2012

Lake Saint Louis Ward 3 Alderman George Rich discusses topics from the May 7 board meeting.

Lakeview Storm Water Proj.: This project will cost about $0.5M and deals with storm water from O'Fallon Hills (St. Charles County) to Newport Terrace, to Blue Cove, across LSL Blvd., down Lakeview, and into the lake. It involves re-routing some utility lines. In the past the utility company paid for any re-routing of lines on city right-of-way. A recent ruling of the Missouri Supreme Court says cities should pay. Cities all over Missouri are unhappy about this ruling. We will have to increase the budget for this project to conform to this ruling. This will require further work and agreements with the utility companies. Freymuth Road Improvement: The utility company wants money from the city; see above. If we don't start work on this …

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The Rupp Report

Senator Rupp: 2013 Budget Focusing on Education

Local legislator offers opinion on issues.

(State Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, has released his weekly column for the week of April 23. The opinions expressed in the column are those of Sen. Rupp and do not reflect the views of the Wentzville Patch. —Ed.) Even though the federal government has not passed a balanced budget in almost four years, lawmakers in Missouri pass a balanced budget every year.  This was a busy week at the State Capitol — early in the morning on Wednesday (4-25), the Senate gave its approval to 13 budget bills that will comprise Missouri’s projected $24 billion operating budget for FY 2013. This wasn’t an easy task — many negotiations had to be made, and all of us were forced to make tough decisions. We’re facing a $500 million revenue shortfall from last …

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Superintendent Asks for Staff Raises at Tonight's School Board Meeting

Dr. Terry Adams is asking for a 4.2 percent salary increase for school district administrators.

At tonight's Wentzville School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Terry Adams will be asking the board to approve a 4.2 percent salary increase for some administrators. "This increase is consistent with the average increase given to our teachers and that we anticipate giving to all of our groups," Adams said in a memo dated April 12, 2012. "Our administrators do good work and we are certainly not over staffed administratively . . . Our average administrator salaries rank us as one of the lower school districts in the area," he said. Among the administrators receiving raises would be: The board meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Administration Offices.   Remember—You can get updates to this story and all the day's headlines delivered FREE to …

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State Sen. Rupp Wants to End Ban on Public Money for Religious Schools

State Sen. Scott Rupp says religious organizations don't get a fair shake under the state's current constitution.

Money for religious-affiliated schools and organizations?  That could be a reality if one local state lawmakers gets his way. State Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, is sponsoring a resolution that would allow public funds to be given to religious entities that Rupp says "play a huge role in many Missourians' lives." Those entities include schools, such as St. Patrick School in Wentzville, a Catholic school that doesn't get money under the state's current constitution. Rupp said Missouri is one of the most restricted states in the country when it comes to the the issue.  "I no longer want to see discrimination against religious organizations and those who support their mission," Rupp said on his website. "In our great country, we have the …

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Deputies Say They're Tired of Waiting, Ask St. Charles County to Fix Salary Issues

St. Charles County Council members want to re-examine a 2008 pay study on addressing salary issues before the economic recession hit before taking more steps.

Deputy Scott Ginnever and other St. Charles County law enforcement officers asked St. Charles County Council members to restore a pay raise to deputies and to address a confusing pay scale for all employees. “It’s embarrassing to say, but I’m on government assistance,” Ginnever told council members during their Monday meeting. “I have an EBT (electronic benefit transfer for food stamps) card to pay for groceries.” He has eight children, and his wife doesn’t work, Ginnever said. He works overtime and other jobs to meet expenses. Meanwhile, pay advances haven’t come regularly, he said. Paramount among deputies' frustrations is that those with 10 or more years of experience in law enforcement don’t make much more than rookie officers, he said…

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The Rupp Report

A New Chapter of History Begins: The 2012 Regular Session

Sen. Rupp's weekly column.

As the clock chimed at noon on Wednesday, the Second Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly was set in motion. The atmosphere in the chamber was optimistic and confident, as the first bills of 2012 were introduced in the Missouri Senate. My prayer is that lawmakers will be able to band together to pass beneficial legislation that will make Missouri an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. The Legislature has many goals for the 2012 legislative session. Some of those priorities include passing a balanced budget without increasing taxes on hardworking Missourians — Senate leaders would like the governor to present his plan for a balanced budget at his State of the State Address scheduled for Jan. 17 — and passing …

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County Executive Vetoes Raises for Sheriff's Deputies

Steve Ehlmann vetoes a part of the bill as he adopts the 2012 St. Charles County Budget.

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann vetoed part of the 2012 budget which would have given some Sheriff's Deputies a one-time salary increase. “We have budgeted salary increases of 1 percent across the board for most County employees and another 2 percent for those with good employee reviews,” Ehlmann said in a press release. “This includes the Sheriff’s Department personnel. What I am against is providing more money only for the deputies.” Deputies who had been with the department for 120 months would have received $1,250 one-time raise. The raise was approved by the St. Charles County Council on a 4-2 vote on Dec. 20. Five Council Members would have to approve an override of the veto. Councilman Joe Cronin, R-St. Paul, pushed for …

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