Saturday, June 2, 2012
With so many adoptable pets ready for loving homes, we have decided to resurrect this column.
Paws & Claws returns, with even more wonderful pets than before. Meet Arnie, a neutered 9-month-old domestic short hair cat. Arnie is black, feisty and is ready for his forever home. If you are interested in adopting Arnie call 314-729-4868 to schedule an appointment. Adopters must sign an adoption contract releasing the City of Crestwood from any post-adoption responsibility. Crestwood does not knowingly adopt any animals with aggressive tendencies or health issues.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
The commission discussed the need to change certain seconds of the code regarding signage.
Last week the Crestwood Board of Aldermen voted to change four proposed sections on the Municipal Sign Code. Particularly of note was the first proposition, which clarified that three members of the commission must be present to constitute a quorum. Previous language conflicted with a section stating that a minimum of three members must be present to grant a sign variance. A quorum is typically more than half. In the sign commission’s case that is three members. Alderman Darryl Wallach, who serves on the sign commission, said that there has been some difficulties in having members there, so to make matters simple is to reduce the numbers to have a quorum down to three. Alderman Jerry Miguel made a motion to raise the number of people on …
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Crestwood Board of Aldermen agreed to the purchase of a new 2.5-ton dump truck.
Even though snow dump trucks don’t get a ton of mileage, they definitely see more wear and tear than an average vehicle does throughout the years. City maintenance workers asked for a 2013 International 7400 SFA 2.5-ton dump truck equipped with a stainless steel snowplow and a spreader at last week's Board of Alderman meeting. The $110,000 budgeted purchase is intended to replace a 1998 2.5-ton Freightliner FL-70 dump truck, which is used for snow removal. Maintenance Supervisor Wendell Hill went through a process about three-four years ago where the purchase of a new truck was deferred, and the sixth truck is a backup truck. In order to address six plow routes the city needs six trucks. “We used a one-ton and in reality using a one-ton …
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Installing several items that allow water to flow through meets MSD’s clean water requirements.
In order to meet the Metropolitan Sewer District’s clean water requirements and obtain approval for the Spellman Avenue Phase I project, the City of Crestwood has to design a number of best management practices to control storm water. The city is in the process of designing the reconstruction of Spellman Avenue from Rayburn Avenue to Ponderosa Drive, and MSD requires a pervious (allowing water to flow through) concrete sidewalk along Spellman Avenue, a pervious asphalt walking trail through Spellman Park, a pervious asphalt parking lot in Spellman Park and a vegetated retention pond near the entrance to Spellman Park. In order to ensure best management practices are maintained in the future and function as intended, MSD now is requiring …
Monday, May 28, 2012
Copying Concepts is approved as the vendor of choice.
Those who work in City of Crestwood offices may be able to relate to the cult classic movie “Office Space.” In the movie, the fax machine continuously breaks down until finally the main characters take it out to pasture with a baseball bat. Gordon Shaffar, Crestwood’s management information systems director, hopes that the bats stay on the ball field. He began a review process evaluating the city’s printers and copiers in 2009 due to the face that some machines were in constant need of maintenance—some machines are up to 18 years old. After meeting with several computer specialists and receiving bids, Shaffar recommended to the Board of Aldermen Copying Concepts as the vendor of choice for either the purchase or lease of new equipment. “…
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
For the 2013 fiscal year, Crestwood has been allocated $23,400 in grant funds to be used in conjunction with approved projects.
Since fiscal year 2006, the City of Crestwood has participated in the Community Development Block Grant program. The grant is administered through St. Louis County, and the one that the city chooses is a home improvement program. The wait list for the program is two years, and the city must have a public hearing as part of the grant process. Nikki Koehnemann, assistant to the city administrator, addressed questions during the public hearing segment of Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting. There are five different areas available to choose from, and the city has again chosen a low to moderate direct income benefit for the rehabilitation for private properties. Up to five eligible residents of the City of Crestwood can receive five-year …
Tsichlis is the latest volunteer to step up to a board appointment to the economic development commission.
Mike Tsichlis, a 16-year resident of Crestwood, is the newest in a line of volunteers to step up to the plate. Tsichlis was named to the Civil Service Board at Tuesday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting as the newest member of the economic development commission. Tsichlis was chair of the sign commission from 1996-2003 and has more than two decades working in institutional advancement for various educational and nonprofit organizations. “I love this community,” Tsichlis wrote in his volunteer profile. “I hope through volunteer service to encourage greater economic growth in the city, as well as fiscal accountability and broader citizen engagement.” Mayor Jeff Schlink always asks volunteers to come to meetings to help put faces with names …
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Sunset Hills finance committee, Crestwood Board of Aldermen meet tonight.
With the fiscal year coming to a close, the City of Sunset Hills finance committe will meet at 5 p.m. today. First up on the agenda is the annual audit report and the discussion of the RFP process for the city's finances and investments. The city's investment policy will be reviewed. Lastly, the hot topic of the night may be a discussion of the capital improvement sales tax. Over in Crestwood, the Board of Aldermen meet for the second time this month. First up is a public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant for 2013, previously discussed earlier this week. Interim City Administrator Karl Krestler has a full report on the agenda. First up is a report on city-wide copier/printer usage. Next is an ordinance approving the …
Monday, May 14, 2012
A farmer’s market, trail-related shop were among ideas pondered at last week’s meeting.
Approximately 30 calls ranging from established banquet-type facilities to “mom and pop” start-ups were fielded regarding the Sappington Barn Center Request for Proposals issued in February. The deadline to issue a formal RFP to the City of Crestwood was April 3, however ultimately there were no responses, leaving Director of Public Services James Eckrich at a loss as to how to proceed. The Board of Alderman had an open brainstorming session at last week’s meeting, admitting that right now they are in the idea phase for uses of the Barn and adjacent parking lot rather than the solution phase. The site was shown to 5-7 people, and after initial interest died down, Eckrich discussed the issue with the city administrator and the mayor, …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Seven months salary and a one-year health insurance option are part of the agreement.
More questions about former Crestwood City Administor Petree Eastman's departure from the city have been answered. According to city documents, the Board of Aldermen met in two separate closed meetings in March and April to discuss Eastman's future. Discussion was held regarding a legal action in both sessions, and a motion was made to authorize payment of seven months severance and 12 months of health insurance. A joint statement between the city and Eastman explains that a list of directives were issed in a March 5 memo to Eastman after the March closed session. Eastman responded March9 in a memo, expressing her belief that "certain of the directives represented material changes to her authority and duties and that, according to her …
John Dough
6:53 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
The one sign the Board ignored was the Mall closing....I guess it wasn't flashing.. more ›