West County News Briefs

BALLWIN

Recycling effort scheduled

The city of Ballwin again will partner with Republic Services, its trash and recyclables collector, in an effort to recycle electrical devices.

From 8 a.m.–noon on Feb. 16, residents can take electrical items they want to dispose of to a collection center at the North Pointe on Holloway Road. Ballwin Mayor Tim Pogue described the items that will be accepted as “anything with a cord.”

The program is designed to keep such items out of landfills and salvage materials that can be recycled. A similar effort last October collected 13,000 pounds of electrical equipment.

 

International baseball tournament scheduled

The Ballwin Athletic Association (BAA) and the St. Louis Boys Baseball Association are planning a repeat of last year’s international baseball tournament.

The event will be held Aug. 2-11 at the BAA baseball complex. Overseas teams and local squads participating will be announced later.

Last year’s tournament featured six teams from Japan, Australia and Europe and seven St. Louis area squads whose members included many from West County.

Area families hosted the overseas guests and provided transportation to and from the various activities, which included more than 40 games in two age brackets, a trip to Busch Stadium for a Cardinals game and visits to other local points of interest.

 

Ballwin Days taking shape

The city of Ballwin has approved an agreement with Miller Spectacular Shows, Inc., of Greenbriar, Ark., to provide the rides and various concessions at the annual Ballwin Days event May 31-June 2.

Linda Bruer, Ballwin’s director of parks and recreation, said the festival’s leaders had recommended the contract award based on Miller’s past performance at Ballwin Days.

Under the contract, the city will receive 28 percent of all ride ticket sales and $2,500 for rights to operate family game concessions and two carnival food stands. Prices for rides will be the same as last year.

 

 

CREVE COEUR

Villas approved for Mosley Road

The Creve Coeur City Council on Jan. 28 approved a proposal by Benton Homes to build 10 villa residences on 4 acres on Mosley Road.

The development will be built using new guidelines from the  Metropolitan Sewer District regarding stormwater retention. Stormwater retention was one of the concerns brought forth by residents as the Council considered the request, which passed 7-1 with Councilmember Charlotte D’Alfonso casting the opposing vote.

 

 

ELLISVILLE

Resident takes city, Walmart to court

In a case of David v. Goliath, Ellisville resident Tom DeBold is taking on city hall and retail giant Walmart.

DeBold filed a lawsuit in November contending that the city of Ellisville had ignored community welfare in issuing a conditional use permit for the development of a Walmart Superstore to be located on Manchester Road at the site of the Clarkchester Apartments. On Jan. 29, DeBold had his day in court.

The judgment, which is expected before Feb. 8 (but after presstime), could have big repercussions, according to Ellisville Mayor Adam Paul.

“If St. Louis Circuit Court Judge David Lee Vincent III rules in favor of the plaintiff the conditional use permit (issued to the Sansone Group on behalf of Walmart) will become void,” Paul said.

If that happens the conditional use permit process would have to begin again.

Paul also pointed out that the April election has the potential to change the makeup of the City Council.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how it turns out,” Paul said.

Paul and City Clerk Catherine Demeter were both questioned during the Jan. 29 hearing.

Paul noted that one of the concerns DeBold’s attorney, Jane Ellen Dueker, had was in regard to the 25-foot setback required of new construction. Duecker accused the city of violating one of its own ordinances requiring a 25-foot setback by including an 8-foot wide sidewalk in the setback.

Duecker also said  the city did not have all affected property owners sign a consent form for the conditional use permit and, according to Demeter, three signatures were missing.

But perhaps the biggest issue in question had to do with how the city chose its legal counsel for the case.

“We have to have approval from the Council to choose counsel for the city,” Paul explained. “I was asked if I had ever voted on this. I said no.”

[Editor’s note: Due to press deadlines, look for continuing coverage of this story on newsmagazinenetwork.com.]

 

 

MANCHESTER

Dedicated volunteer

The Manchester Board of Aldermen on Jan. 21 honored resident Jean Muehlendyck with a proclamation for her years of service to the city.

Mayor Dave Willson said for more than 20 years, Muehlendyck “devoted countless hours” to the city’s Parks and Recreation program and has been an active volunteer for the Manchester Homecoming festival. She also is a major contributor to the city’s Breakfast with Santa, Senior Citizen Luncheon, Easter Egg Hunt and Shop With a Cop events.

In addition, Muehlendyck has been an auxiliary member at the Manchester American Legion/Walter LePere Post for more than 50 years and was auxiliary president for about 20 years.

Muehlendyck is retired after working as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

“I just want to thank you … and anybody that has anything to do with this,” Muehlendyck said. “I will cherish this the rest of my life. I will never forget it – unless I get Alzheimer’s.”

 

 

WILDWOOD

Manchester Road Streetscape

The city of Wildwood in January began phase 2 of the Manchester Road Streetscape project. J.M. Marschuetz Construction, is the contractor for the project, which will include new curbs, sidewalks, street lights, trees, and pavement on Manchester Road from Route 109 to Eatherton Road.

Most of the work over the next two months will involve relocating various utilities that are in conflict with underground drainage structures.

Laclede Gas will be relocating gas lines at various locations as will Missouri American Water Company. Much of the relocation work will be at the intersection with Center Avenue and also at the rock culvert crossing near the Metro West Fire Station. The city urged residents to use caution while traveling through the area during the improvements.

Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2010 and included the additions of bike lanes, sidewalks, streetlights and streets along both sides of Manchester Road, between Taylor Road and Schnucks Wildwood Crossing.

Once completed, the project will provide a bicycle and pedestrian link between the Town Center, its surrounding residential areas and the city’s existing trail system.

 

 

ST. LOUIS COUNTY

Monarch Fire Protection District renews insurance

The year 2012 was a good one for the Monarch Fire Protection District from the standpoint of not having many claims against its property and casualty insurance. But the fact there were more losses generally for insurance companies during the year means the district will pay about 4 percent more for its coverage in the year that began Feb. 1.

While renewing its policy with ESIP through the Huntleigh McGehee agency, the district opted against including terrorism coverage. Charles Billings, the district’s legal counsel, said the additional insurance costing almost $2,800 was unnecessary, particularly in light of all the federal government actions and decision-making required before an incident is designated an act of terrorism.

Cost of the overall coverage is just over $205,000, compared with the previous rate of some $197,400.

 

West County EMS election

The director position up for election to the West County EMS and Fire Protection District Board of Directors won’t appear on the April 2 ballot. That’s because Richard Rognan, the incumbent and current Board chairman, was the only person to declare his candidacy for the six-year term.

Election rules permit opting out of an election when there is only one candidate for a position subject to a vote. At its Jan. 24 meeting, the West County Board approved that course of action, a step district officials said would save its taxpayers several thousand dollars.

 

Continuing EMS and fire protection services

The West County EMS and Fire Protection District has approved an agreement to continue providing its services to office buildings on Des Peres Road north of Manchester Road.

The district will receive annually 62 cents per $100 assessed valuation of the properties at 1610, 1630 and 1650 Des Peres Road during the five-year agreement. The office complex is outside West County’s boundaries but has had an agreement for more than 20 years to receive the district’s services.

 

 

APRIL 2013 ELECTION

Candidate Forums

The following is a list of upcoming candidate forums, moderated by the League of Women Voters of St. Louis.

• Rockwood School District Board of Education – March 5, 7 p.m. at Crestview Middle, 16025 Clayton Road in Ellisville

• Parkway School District Board of Education – March 11, 7 p.m. at Parkway South Middle, 760 Woods Mill Road in Ballwin

• Wildwood City Council – March 14, 7 p.m. at City Hall, 16860 Main St. in Wildwood.

 

CORRECTION: The hours for The Mizzou Store listed in the Jan. 23 Business Profiles should have been: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday.