Friday, April 19, 2013
Home rule could be in the future for Wentzville, if the citizens vote for it—but don't look for it before 2014.
Wentzville's new City Administrator, Mike McDowell, brought up the topic of home rule at Wednesday night's board work session, asking for a definite thumbs-up or thumbs-down. READ MORE: Aldermen to Discuss Possible City Classification Change The board had discussed the topic at their strategic planning session last month, McDowell said, "but a clear direction was not established." If the board's intent was to move forward with the change from a fourth class city to a charter city (known in Missouri as home rule), a significant amount of work would be involved, McDowell said. Either the board of alderman would make a decision to initiate the process, or a petition from citizens could initiate it. At that point, an election is called to …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Wentzville Board of Aldermen will have a public work session on Wed., April 17 at 6 p.m. Among other things, the board will discuss the possibility of changing the city's classification as a fourth-class city. What do you think?
On the agenda for the Wentzville Board of Aldermen's Wednesday night work session is a discussion of fourth class cities versus charter cities and if the city would benefit from a change in classification from its current fourth-class status. A 2007 publication by the Missouri Municipal League explains municipal classifications and forms of government. Missouri state statutes limit a city's governmental structure depending on the city's population at the time of incorporation, but the classification doesn't automatically change with the population. A change in classification takes a majority vote of the residents. Villages must be run under an elected board of trustees. Fourth class cities can be run by a mayor and board of aldermen or by…
Monday, April 15, 2013
Planning Design Studios, who had been with the project since its early beginnings, will no longer have oversight for the aquatic center's construction.
The construction of Wentzville's new aquatic park, Splash Station, has been a headache for the Board of Aldermen, with unexpected rock causing delays and cost overruns that have nearly depleted the project's contingency funds. READ MORE: Board Considers Options After Splash Station Overruns Top $190K The board has agonized over costs, reconsidered the original time frame for construction of all three parks projects and asked over and over who was to blame. Last Wednesday, the board made a big decision. They fired Planning Design Studio (PDS), the company who designed Splash Station and were charged with overview of the construction process. During time set aside for a Parks Project Update on the agenda, Public Works Director Doug Lee told …
Friday, April 12, 2013
Several Wentzville Board of Aldermen took Mayor Nick Guccione to task for questionable election tactics and a lack of leadership at Wednesday's Board of Aldermen meeting.
The Wentzville Board of Aldermen will take another look at election ethics at its next board meeting after hearing citizen complaints about an election flier for candidate Michael Hays. The flier was sent to Ward 3 residents and featured a picture of Mayor Nick Guccione wearing a city name tag and the title "Mayor" printed below his name. Larry Marshall, a Ward 3 resident, said during public comment that he wished to lodge a complaint against the mayor and Hays, referencing the unauthorized use of the city logo. "The Mayor stepped over the line and should be brought to bear," Marshall said, suggesting a new election be held for the Ward 3 seat. Marshall said Guccione has had a "chronic history of the same offense and should be treated …
Hope for the Heights, a nonprofit organization based out of Peine Ridge Church, has already had $80,000 pledged for the construction of the center.
Plans to build a community resource center in the Wentzville Heights neighborhood received unanimous support and even some kudos from the Wentzville Board of Aldermen on Wednesday. Hope for the Heights, a nonprofit started by members of the Peine Ridge Church, has already gathered community support for the endeavor, with $80,000 pledged for construction. READ MORE: Nonprofit Looking to Build Community Center for Wentzville Heights The community center would offer a computer lab, life skills classes, after-school activities and space for events like birthday parties and showers. The group also hopes the center can be a substation for the Wentzville Police Department. Some questions were brought up about parking, but the program's director, …
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The four Meadowbrook homeowners will finally rejoin the other 36 homes in the subdivision as unincorporated St. Charles County.
The Wentzville Board of Aldermen, after going through a lengthy and rather convoluted process at their Wednesday night regular meeting, voted 4-2 to allow a group of homeowners in the Meadowbrook subdivision to de-annex from the city of Wentzville. The four homes will now rejoin the other 36 homes in the subdivision as unincorporated St. Charles County. The homeowners were asked to annex into the city by a developer who wanted to annex his adjoining property and bring city utilities across the four homeowners' properties. When the proposed development fell through and was sold, the four homeowners found themselves on a tiny strip of incorporated Wentzville at the back of a subdivision, without city water, city sewer or city police service…
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Hope for the Heights is asking for approval for a community center near Memorial Park that would offer computer labs, after school activities and educational opportunities. The center would also serve as a police substation.
The nonprofit organization Hope for the Heights is asking for approval of a conditional use permit and site plan for a community center in the Wentzville Heights. The community center would be constructed at 1443 Kathleen Drive and be similar in appearance to a residence in order to fit in with the neighborhood setting. Wentzville Heights, a subdivision located on the west side of Wentzville, has had a reputation for crime and poverty for years. Hope for the Heights is a nonprofit looking to engage and serve the residents of the area. The center would potentially offer: No one would live on the premises, and the center would rely on volunteer help. The center could also serve a substation for the Wentzville Police Department. "We believe …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
In both the Board of Aldermen and Municipal Judge races, incumbents won the right to keep their seats.
Incumbents ruled the day in Tuesday's municipal elections in the City of Wentzville. Municipal Judge Steve Martin will retain his position as municipal judge after winning over challenger Michael Carter. Martin got 1227 votes to Carter's 1057. The new Wentzville Board of Aldermen will look the same as the old one, with Ward 1 incumbent Cheryl Kross beating challenger Robert Hussey. Kross had 456 votes to Hussey's 363. In Ward 3, Michael Hays will keep the seat he was appointed to fill in November of last year. Hays received 255 votes to former alderman Darrel Lackey's 247 and challenger Linda Wright's 142. In Ward 2, Chris Gard ran unopposed and will retain his seat.
Find out who won the mayoral race in Lake Saint Louis and the board of aldermen races in Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis.
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Friday, March 29, 2013
Currently, the city requires all businesses to have backflow prevention devices.
In keeping with the city's desire to show that they are "open for business," the Wentzville Board of Aldermen is considering lightening up the city's requirements for all businesses to install backflow prevention devices. City code defines backflow as "the flow, other than the intended direction of flow, of any foreign liquids, gases or substances into the distribution system of a public water supply." A backflow prevention device prevents that, keeping contaminants out of the city's drinking water supply. Tony Thieman, who owns several commercial buildings in the city, spoke to the board during the public comment period of the Wednesday night regular meeting. He commented that city ordinance requires all businesses—offices, retail and …
Neocaridina Heteropoda
1:04 pm on Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Here is a good read that helps explain it: [PDF] FORMS OF GOVERNMENT - Missouri Municipal League www.mocities.com/resource/.../forms_of_government.pdf more ›