Wentzville's Martin Luther King Day Celebration Will Include Awards, Timberland Choir

The event will be held at Holt High School from 7 p.m. to 8 pm. on Jan. 21.

Wentzville Holt High School will host Wentzville's eighth Martin Luther King Day celebration on Mon., Jan. 21, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The keynote speaker for the event is Pastor B.T. Rice of New Horizon Seven Day Christian Church. There will be a presentation of youth scholarship awards and musical presentations from the Timberland High School A Cappella Choir and the Discovery Ridge Elementary Choir. Refreshments will be served afterwards. The event is free and open to the public. Former Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi, one of the volunteers assisting with the promotion and planning of the event, said that he feels this year’s celebration holds special significance. “This year’s celebration takes place the same day our country will swear in …

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New Mayor, Board Squabble Over Empty Ward 3 Seat

Some aldermen would like to see a public application process for empty seats that are filled by the mayor's appointment.

It didn't take long for Wentzville's new mayor and board of aldermen to find something to disagree about. Just minutes after newly elected Mayor Nick Guccione and the Wentzville Board of Aldermen were sworn in, the board got quickly down to business at Wednesay night's meeting. Ward 5 Alderman Rick Stokes was unanimously elected board president, the board passed a consent agenda and Guccione made committee appointments. Everyting was running smoothly until Guccione asked for a special meeting before the May 9 regular board meeting so he could make an appointment for his former Ward 3 seat on the board, which is now empty. The seat needs to be filled as soon as possible, Guccione said, and he'd like to talk to the board before presenting …

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Investigation Concludes: No Evidence Lambi Benefited From City Funds

City attorney suggests Wentzville officials avoid even "the appearance of impropriety" in the future.

A new report out from Wentzville City Attorney Paul Rost clears Mayor Paul Lambi of allegations that he personally benefited from city funds paid to Westplex Sports & Entertainment LOC in 2007. The report, which will be discussed at Wednesday’s Wentzville Board of Aldermen meeting, concludes Lambi’s connections to Westplex, and his failure to disclose those connections, “certainly created an actual or possible appearance of impropriety. Further, the lack of documentation as to the allocation of ownership interests in Westplex, coupled with the Mayor’s known connections with Westplex, prevents this investigation from conclusively determining whether the Mayor may have violated any relevant laws.” At issue is a $15,000 check from the city to…

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Lambi's Reimbursement Request Met With Dead Silence

Aldermen refused to discuss Lambi's request that city reimburse his legal fees.

At Wednesday night's board of aldermen meeting, Mayor Paul Lambi asked that the board consider his request for the city of reimburse his legal fees in a city investigation into a $15,000 check that may have constituted a conflict of interest. Lambi was requesting $6,671.25 in reimbursement. When he asked for a motion from the board to open discussion, he was met by dead silence. Lambi said, "Very interesting. It doesn't much surprise me, it's consistent with the board's actions over the last six months. We'll move on . . ." Patch posted a story on March 11 about Lambi's March 30 memo to Interim City Administrator Dennis Walsh requesting the reimbursement.  Lambi said that the city has already paid $41,448.71 to special council Tom Lorain…

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Jim Frain

11:35 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012

Was it proven that there was a conflict of interest on the part of the outgoing mayor? I don't believe they proved any conflict from what I read. It seemed to me that the $15,000 was approved by the aldermen. So, it cost the city over $40,000 in legal fees that proved nothing? And it cost the mayor over $6,000 to defend himself against false accusations? The City Loses Big Money...The Outgoing …   more ›

Lambi Asks Board to Reimburse Legal Fees

Lambi's legal fees to date are $6,671.25.

Mayor Paul Lambi has asked that an agenda item be added to tonight's Board of Aldermen meeting concerning his legal fees in a city investigation into a $15,000 check that may have constituted a conflict of interest. Lambi is requesting $6,671.25 in reimbursement. In a March 30 memo to Interim City Administrator Dennis Walsh, Lambi said that the city has already paid $41,448.71 to special council Tom Lorain. "Do you really want to send the message to City Department Heads and employees that they can use the city treasury to neutralize the Mayor if they curry enough favor of the board by simply making allegations," Lambi wrote. On March 16, Wentzville Patch posted a story about Alderman Nick Guccione's allegations that the investigation was …

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Mayor Asks Board to Honor Wayne Dockler at New Park

Dockler passed away March 27.

Visitation is being held today for Wayne L. Dockler, 54, of Wentzville. Dockler's death was noted by Mayor Paul Lambi at Wednesday night's board of aldermen meeting. After a presentation about the new park plans, Lambi suggested that the 4-plex of ball fields at Peruque Valley Park be named "Dockler Field" in honor of Mr. Dockler and his family.  "Just to give you a little history," Lambi said, "Peruque is possible because of the generosity of the Docker family." Lambi said that Wayne Dockler had given up his inheritance of the property so that his parents Leroy and Shirley could offer the property to the city. The family agreed to set aside 50% of the appraised value of the property, selling it at a much lower price. Lambi asked for a …

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Guccione: Mayor Investigation Intended for Election Advantage

Alderman Leon Tow said Wentzville aldermen were obligated to investigate an employee complaint and the investigation turned up information that's not been publicly released.

Ward 3 Alderman Nick Guccione said a group of aldermen are plotting to get Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi to resign so that Ward 1 Alderman, and mayoral candidate, Leon Tow would assume the role of mayor before the April 3 election. If the mayor resigns, Tow, as president of the city's board of aldermen, would replace him. Tow said the board was obligated to do what it did. “There was a complaint by an employee and there was an investigation into that complaint,” Tow said. “We almost have to investigate an employee complaint. You can’t sweep that under the rug. Any government or any company would have to investigate something like that.” Lambi said the report was from "a disgruntled employee who was upset and made allegations. Basically they …

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Dog Owners Leave Happy, Red Light Cameras Declined and Ranken is Explained

Marathon Board of Aldermen meeting winds up dog and red light camera issues, while Ranken Technical College remains up in the air.

A marathon meeting that went past 11:30 p.m. left dog owners happy, red light cameras operating until 2013 and aldermen, staff and the mayor doing a lot of explaining on Ranken Technical College. Doggy Smile            Aldermen voted 5-1 to approve new animal control regulations that eliminate breed specific legislation. The legislation allows dog owners to use electric fences in their back yards to control their pets. Afterwards, happy pit bull and other dog owners gathered outside and traded stories. “I’m allowed to tell people I own a pit bull again,” said Nicole Genz, as she walked out of city hall. She said her family owned the 5-year-old pit bull, Reesy, for five years, but didn’t know about the city’s policy to leash and muzzle pit …

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Records Show Aldermen Approved Check for Westplex LOC

Controversial $15,000 check was issued to support the local organizing committee and to attract and retain events.