News Briefs – Bull terrier breeds no longer ‘dangerous’

CHESTERFIELD

Bull terrier breeds no longer ‘dangerous’

All breeds of dog, including pit bulls and bull terrier breeds and mixes, will soon be welcome in the city of Chesterfield and its dog park.

At its meeting on Dec. 3, the City Council approved by a vote of 7-1 to remove all breed-specific language from its current “dangerous animals” ordinance. Mike Casey (Ward 3) was the sole councilmember to oppose the amendment.

The existing ordinance had deemed as dangerous any bull terrier breed of dog, or mixed-breed dog containing bull terrier, and banned these dogs from the Eberwein Dog Park. The new ordinance will consider animals dangerous on a case-by-case basis, regardless of breed.

Mayor Bruce Geiger, who at last month’s City Council meeting expressed his concerns with changing the ordinance and allowing pit bull terriers into the city dog park, reiterated his opposition to amending the ordinance.

Geiger stressed that he would not sign the ordinance.

Without the mayor’s signature, the new ordinance will be effective 10 days from the City Council vote – or on Dec. 13 – rather than immediately upon approval.

 

Open house signs on Saturdays

The City Council unanimously approved extending for one more year an ordinance allowing the display of residential real estate open house directional signs on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The city established regulations regarding open house signs in 2007.

The original ordinance permitted the signs to be displayed on Tuesdays and Sundays. In 2009, at the request of the Home Builders Association (HBA), the city amended the ordinance to allow the display of open house signs on Saturdays. Since then, the HBA has annually requested that the city extend this provision for another year. The current extension expires on Dec. 31, 2013.

 

Nominations sought for ‘Citizen of the Year’

Residents who wish to nominate a “Citizen of the Year” can do so by visiting Chesterfield’s newly retooled website (chesterfield.mo.us) and downloading a nomination form.

Nominations will be accepted now through Feb. 1.

This is an opportunity to nominate someone who has brought honor upon themselves and the community as the result of an outstanding accomplishment, or simply by being actively involved in the community.

Actions being recognized should benefit the overall community of Chesterfield and its residents in some manner through volunteerism, work performed on community projects and overall civic contributions to the community.

Individuals nominated should preferably be a resident of Chesterfield. If not, the accomplishment should have taken place in the city.

One nomination per person per household will be accepted and previously nominated individuals can be renominated.

 

 

EUREKA

Community asked to rally in support of fallen trooper

Eureka Police Department is one of the drop-off sites for the holiday toy drive being conducted for the children of fallen Illinois State Trooper Kyle Deatherage after a fatal accident on Nov. 26. A scholarship fund has been started as well.

The toy drive was started by area first responders who will be accepting donations until Dec. 22 at the following locations:

• Eureka Police Department, 120 City Hall Drive

• Des Peres Department of Public Safety, 1000 N. Ballas Road

 

 

MANCHESTER

City approves 2013 budget

The Manchester Board of Aldermen on Dec. 3 approved its 2013 budget with a vote of 5-1.

David Tuberty, director of finance, at the Nov. 19 Council meeting presented the budget and said the projected revenue of all funds would be $18 million, with projected expenditures of $17,572,141. The city’s operating fund was estimated at $9,223,000, and expenditures were estimated at $8,972,964.

Alderman Paul Hamill (Ward 1) was the only alderman opposed and said the revenue projections are too high, but Tuberty on Dec. 3 said he does not believe there is any reason for extraordinary concern.

“We will continue operating the best way we know how, and I think we’ve been doing it for a very long time,” Tuberty said.

 

Reappointed

The Board of Aldermen on Dec. 3 reappointed Bob Strothkamp and Sandra Wilmoth to the Historic Review Commission for three-year terms.

 

Continuing storm water improvements

The Board of Aldermen on Dec. 3 unanimously approved a resolution to accept a proposal of Stock & Associates to provide engineering services to obtain a new 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The proposal is for a five-year extension for the city’s permit to continue storm water improvements and restoration projects.

The cost to the city is estimated to be in the range of $35,000 to $40,000, which previously was allocated in the 2013 budget.

 

 

TOWN & COUNTRY

West County EMS/FPD reopens fire station

Updating and refurbishment of the West County EMS and Fire Protection District Town & Country fire station on Clayton Road have been completed and the facility is back in operation.

An open house on Dec. 10 showcased the upgraded facility to interested residents.

Chief among the improvements were a new HVAC system, an emergency generator capable of meeting the building’s electrical power needs in the event of an outage, and a reconfiguration of the station’s sleeping facilities. Sleeping quarters were converted from a dormitory-type setup to individual rooms so that firefighter/paramedics of both sexes can be accommodated.

In addition, ceilings were lowered to save on utility costs, and the kitchen area and offices received a facelift. New carpet and painting also were included and new overhead doors for the equipment bays were installed.

The total cost of the project, which included temporarily relocating the station’s operations to the former state highway patrol Troop C headquarters on the north side of I-64 at Mason Road, was $870,000. Started late in June, the work required approximately five months to complete.

West County EMS and FPD provides services to Town & Country under an agreement that has been in effect since 1983. Town & Country owns the station and West County pays rent to use it under terms of the pact between the city and the district. The structure was built in 1991.

On any given day, five to six firefighter/paramedics are at the station.

[Editor’s note: A slideshow of images can be found online at newsmagazinenetwork.com.]

 

West County EMS/FPD personnel promoted

Two members of the West County EMS and Fire Protection District have been promoted.

Jeff Sadtler has been named assistant chief and Kelly Grassmuck has been appointed a battalion chief.

Sadtler formerly was deputy chief of emergency medical services and had served earlier this year as interim chief when the position was vacant and the West County EMS and Fire Protection District Board was in the process of filling it. Grassmuck had been serving as an acting captain.

Approved by the West County Board at a meeting earlier this month, the appointments were effective immediately.

 

 

ST. LOUIS COUNTY

Municipal election filings open

Candidate filing for the April 2, 2013, election opened on Dec. 11 at 8 a.m. and will continue through 5 p.m. on Jan. 15.

In the West Newsmagazine readership area, charter, fourth class and third class cities exist. Charter cities include Creve Coeur, Ellisville and Wildwood; fourth class cities include Ballwin, Clarkson Valley,  Des Peres, Eureka, Manchester, Town & Country, Valley Park and Winchester. Chesterfield is the sole third class city.

Although general guidelines exist for fourth and third class cities under Missouri Revised Statues/Missouri Constitution, candidates in charter cities must refer to their individual city charter for qualification guidelines.

In fourth class cities, qualifications for mayor include being 25 years old, U.S. citizen and a resident of the city at the time of and for at least one year preceding the election. Qualifications for alderman include being 21 years old, U.S. citizen, an inhabitant and resident of the city for at least one year preceding his election, and a resident, at the time he files and during the time he serves, of the ward from which he is elected.

In third class cities, qualifications for mayor include being 30 years old, U.S. citizen, and a resident of the city at the time of and for at least two years preceding the election. Qualifications for councilmembers include being 21 years old prior to taking office, U.S. citizen, an inhabitant of the city for one year preceding the election, and a resident from the ward from which he is elected six months preceding the election.

In the village of Twin Oaks, qualifications for trustees include being 21 years old, U.S. citizen, and an inhabitant of the town at the time of his election who has resided there one year preceding the election.

For additional information on qualifications candidates can refer to “April Municipal Election Filings Qualifications” on the St. Louis County website (stlouisco.com/YourGovernment/Elections). Candidates also should refer to requirements on individual municipality or district websites.

 

Editor’s note: In last week’s cover story, “Traffic Jam,” the photo was provided to Metro Transit by Dan Donovan Photography.