Questions for the Candidates

At Monday's Council Meeting I gave each of the candidates a letter that included three questions we hoped they would answer for the voters. We asked our readers awhile back to send us suggestions for questions to ask the candidates and came up with 3 per ward for both Candidates to answer if they chose to. I specifically avoided questions that only one Candidate could answer and decided to focus on the more mundane issues. Though we had several requests for questions on the trash and the recall issues it's my opinion that those lines are well drawn at this point. I decided at the last minute not to include them (though I did have to call the Ward 3 candidates as I missed taking that off their list when I finalized the letter (we all make mistakes)).

In my letter I told the candidates that I would be publishing their answers on Friday, March 30th. I quickly received responses from half the Candidates, but decided to wait until Friday was all but over to give the others a chance to get their responses in. What follows are the Questions as well as the answers from the candidates that choose to send up their responses.

Ward 1:

Councilman Knode:

We did not receive answers from Councilman Knode by the time of publication.


Eedie Cuminale:

What are your ideas for improving the Lackland business area (businesses along Lackland between Woodson and Sims)?

First I would not change Lackland Road being a mixed use avenue. Mixed use benefits business by having the eyes of the residential community to monitor activity. It's a win for business. However I would like to make Lackland Road more welcoming in appearance, by planting street trees, (there are many that will not interfere with overhead electric and cable lines). Lackland Road can become a boulevard that would be an attractive place, which would upgrade the types of businesses that would want to open on Lackland Road. I would work with East West Gateway and the Overland Business Association to encourage business development on Lackland and hire a City Administrator to work with Public Works to facilitate the needs of the businesses and residential community to create an atmosphere of mutual benefit and increase city coffers.

How would you address the issue of cars speeding through the residential streets between Lackland and Midland?

As a person who walks many places I am very aware of speeding cars. They are a problem!

I would set up a citizen hot line directly to traffic enforcement. If the problems in a particular area are acute and there are many complaints, traffic enforcement could monitor those areas on a more continuing basis and issue stiff penalties for violating speed limits on residential streets.

Would you support the installation of a Traffic light at Lackland and Sims?

There is a stop sign at Lackland & Sims but if the stop sign is not enough to control traffic at that corner I would support a study to determine advantages and disadvantages. If the advantages out weighed the disadvantages I would support having a stop light.

Ward 2:

Councilman Sellers:

We did not receive answers from Councilman Sellers by the time of publication.


Mary Beth Conlon:

What are your ideas for improving the Woodson business area (on Woodson, from Lackland to the northern border of Overland)?

These are great questions and illustrate the profound issues affecting the entire community. The issues of blight, crime, and dilapidated buildings are related to each other; they go hand and hand as do the consequences of them. You could actually apply these themes generically throughout the entire city. This erosion of our business districts, neighborhoods and downtown areas didn’t happen over night; it happened over the course of several decades. The effect of the decline of the districts and neighborhoods became even more pronounced in the last decade.

I think it is important that we don’t piecemeal projects for individual corners in our city. Piecemealing will only aestically improve a small area temporarily. We need to be taking a comprehensive look and approach at the entire downtown district. The fact is the downtown area will never be desirable, revitalized or restored until the Midwood Building, which is in essence tenant housing for transient people, is eliminated. When the pedestrian center of the city is not a viable place to walk at night, you are not going to attract the type of businesses and shops needed to revitalize the area and locate here.

How would you address the problem of distressed and dilapidated buildings (reader gave the example of the buildings on Woodson next to the hotel at Midland and Woodson)?

Similarly, the problems with dilapidated buildings are an issue with Public Works enforcement and customer service. These issues didn’t just happen this year; it happened over the course of several years. Overland residents, new businesses and prospective entrepreneurs have been chastised and ridiculed, sometimes even punished by the Public Works management. This is unacceptable and has caused many problems which have accelerated the loss of business and kept potential new businesses out. While other communities were flourishing and enacting progressive policies to improve their community, Overland was withering at the vine. To reconcile this issue I am going to work diligently to get the City Administrator hired so Overland will no longer be held hostage by the dysfunctional patronage system of hiring. I want to eliminate the failed practices of the past; it’s time to throw the patronage system out the window and hire the most qualified personnel to manage our city and work with the businesses and residents to improve Overland.

What are your suggestions on how to address crime problems at the Overland Plaza (Schnucks Shopping Center)?

Issues with crime in the largest retail section within Overland require an open door approach with all of the businesses within Overland Plaza. I would suggest a meeting to start a dialogue of open communication with the management of the businesses, their employees, the patrons and the management team of the plaza to find out exactly first hand what they feel needs to be addressed and then work with the OPD and the management team of the Plaza to implement new policies and procedures to improve the situation. Similar to the problems and issues in Downtown Overland, when the largest retail space in our city has so many vacancies, a perception exists that it is not a viable retail space and people will choose to go elsewhere to shop. I want to change the perception of Overland. Overland must be forward thinking, we must put the politics of the past behind us and become a progressive and a viable community to live, work, shop and enjoy life. If Overland is to improve, we must start electing the most viable candidates to run our city; it is evident that insufficient ideas, vision and leadership have lead us to where we are today.

Ward 3:

Peggy Keller:

We did not receive answers from Peggy Keller by the time of publication.


Michael Oakes:

What are your ideas for improving business development along Page Ave?

I have already contacted 1 business and after I’m elected I will continue to contact them, spelling out the benefits of locating on a corridor that has traffic of 55,000 vehicles daily. That figure is estimated to go up 5000 to 8000 cars a day when work gets underway on the Highway 40 project. Along with this I have ideas to smooth out the process at City Hall for new businesses wanting to establish themselves in Overland, working closely with the O.B.A. and all city officials.

What are your ideas for improving the Woodson business area (from Flora to the southern boarder of Overland)?

Work is already underway on Woodson that looks very promising. The corner of Woodson and Trescott has been cleaned up and work is being completed on a Pizzeria/Creamery there as well. Farther south on Woodson, plans are in works to build a more modern “Mobile on the Run” where the current Mobile as well as the old insurance bldg is. Once the reputation in Overland is on its way to being repaired and we have a functioning government, the Council can more successfully promote Overland to businesses and franchises throughout the region. Overland is a great place to locate a business. We have a great, centrally located town that allows you to get anywhere in 20 minutes.

On the corner of Page and Woodson, I think it would be in the best interest of the city and its residents if some large retail stores or some light Industrial was located there to provide some jobs for our residents. I would also be great if we had some sit-down restaurants on the outer edge of that development. This can be further discussed and more citizen input obtained at Council Workshop meetings to start the process of moving the city forward.

What would you suggest to address crime problems at Brooks and Woodson Parks?

I am not aware of any problems at Woodson Road Park. I have recently heard of a drug problem at Brooks Park and know our Police Dept. has recently been made aware of it also and I am confident our Police Dept. will take the appropriate measures to ensure citizen safety.

Ward 4:

Tim Jones:

We did not receive answers from Tim Jones by the time of publication.


Sherry Karr:

What ideas do you have for the Seminary Property at 2500 Ashby?

I believe that the Seminary property at 2500 Ashby has the potential to be something that everyone in Overland, young and old alike, can enjoy. I think that we need to get everyone together as a whole to come up with ideas as to what needs to be done with this building. As I stated at the candidate's forum, it is my opinion that this be brought to the residents as a vote.

Would you support the installation of a Traffic light at Lackland and Sims?

For me to support the installation of a Traffic Light at Lackland and Sims, I would have to look more into an accident study at that intersection. Another thing that would need to be considered is how costly this would be.

Do you have any ideas on how to make Wild Acres Park more accessible (the reader seemed to feel that the entrance to the park was not safe or easy to use)?

Wild Acres Park may be more accessible by providing an access road to the Seminary property from the park providing a entrance/exit from Ashby Road.



I would like to thank the candidates who took the time out of their busy schedules to respond to these questions. I believe their answers will help Overland voters get a sense of their individual approaches to everyday problems and the solutions they think will address them.
I waited to the last hour of Friday before posting this article in the hopes that we would receive answers from the other Candidates. Comments are NOT enabled on this post as I wanted to let the Candidates answers stand on their own merits without commentary.