Crestwood Alderman Discourages Folks From Role in Choosing New Alderman

Crestwood's Tom Ford said a meeting with Ward 2 residents Tuesday before the official Board of Aldermen , even though Alderman Chris Pickel said it was "probably unnecessary" in an email to Ford.

Ford and resident Jacque Stock called this week for Ward 2 residents to gather June 14, 6 p.m. in the city's to consider how best to fill a vacancy on the Board of Aldermen from their ward.

In an email to Ford on Thursday, Pickel suggested Ward 2 residents just wait until the aldermen installed a new board member, before meeting.

Pickel said in the email that he met with Mayor Jeff Schlink and Board President Mimi Duncan recently and were "working together to pursue other solutions to filling the vacancy which, we agreed, should be acceptable to
all concerned."

Schlink said Friday he did not believe that the issue of an appointment for the vacancy was resolved, yet he was open to ideas presented by Pickel and Duncan, and "very interested."

Pickel is the other Ward 2 alderman. He said he won't attend the June 14 meeting of Ward 2 residents that Ford and Stock proposed, due to work commitments.

The Board of Aldermen vacancy came about when then-Ward 2 Alderman Schlink ousted incumbent Roy Robinson for mayor in the April elections.

The polarized board voted to reject Schlink's nominee Scott Mosby at the last public meeting, saying they were uncomfortable that Mosby was a retired Crestwood police lieutenant. 

The board faction—which appeared to include Pickel, Duncan, Deborah Beezley and John Foote, was expected to nominate someone else for the vacancy as per the city charter, on Tues. June 14.

The city attorney said the appointment of an alderman had never bounced down to the board before—not in recent memory. 

Pickel defeated Ford for an alderman seat several years ago, Ford said.

We will add comments from Duncan when/if they are become available.