UPDATED: Patronage Parade comes to Overland!
Overland's Chief of Police James Herron has apparently issued a permit for the Schneider Campaign to hold parade that will cover over 40 streets in Overland on Sunday, August 5th, 2007. The parade will start at Ortmann's funeral home at 12:30PM and, considering the extensive route, it will likely take most of the afternoon to complete. As a result residents may want to reschedule any plans they might have had with their families Sunday afternoon as getting across Overland will likely be difficult.
Interestingly, though I assume Councilperson Schneider was aware of this event, apparently none of the other Council members, nor President Pro Tem Jerry May were consulted or even told about it. The Chief of Police does have the authority to issue such a permit (according to Overland Ordinances Section 340.050), but you would think he would have consulted with at least the President Pro Tem, if not the entire Council before approving an event that would disrupt Overland to this degree (let alone the political problems it will surely create).
Interestingly, though I assume Councilperson Schneider was aware of this event, apparently none of the other Council members, nor President Pro Tem Jerry May were consulted or even told about it. The Chief of Police does have the authority to issue such a permit (according to Overland Ordinances Section 340.050), but you would think he would have consulted with at least the President Pro Tem, if not the entire Council before approving an event that would disrupt Overland to this degree (let alone the political problems it will surely create).
What concerns me (and should concern all the citizens of Overland in my opinion) is the number of Police Officers that will be needed for an event of this size. With such an extensive route, that criss-crosses a number of main thoroughfares in town, it is likely going to take more police officers and vehicles than just a front and back patrol car keep this event safe.
This event raises several questions:
This event raises several questions:
- Who is paying for the wages of these police officers?
- Who is paying for the fuel used by the police vehicles?
- Will the officers be on overtime? (or will police protection for the rest of the city suffer?)
It has also come to my attention that some time ago the Overland Business Association wanted to hold a parade through Overland and apparently Chief Herron opposed it because of the manpower and expense it would have required. That parade was no where near as extensive as the one the Schneider campaign will be holding on Sunday, nor was it's potential benefits limited to only one political faction in town.
UPDATE (7/05 2:30PM):
Well the rather disappointing Schneider parade just wandered through Overland. 20 or so cars were involved and the parade was seen all over town. The non-stop blaring car horns announced their arrival wherever they went. It appears Councilperson Schneider is not aware of Overland Ordinances Section 380.140, subsection A which states:
I wonder if the officers tasked with traffic control for this parade (rather than patrolling and protecting the city) were allowed to issue citations for the excessive number of violations of this ordinance? I also feel bad for the officers as I imagine this sort of duty was not what they had in mind when they joined the Overland Police force.
According to one resident who contacted Chief Herron, the wages of the officer(s) involved and the fuel used in their vehicle(s) will be handled out of the normal police budget. I will try to contact Chief Herron on Monday to verify this, though he is welcome to contact me himself anytime.
I only saw one police car involved in this event when they went by me, however these expenses should clearly be paid by the Schneider Campaign and not the residents of Overland. I hope the City Council, now that they are aware of this event, will ensure that this happens. City revenues should never be used to fund a political event like this parade no matter how little the cost is. If you do not wish to see City revenues used to pay for these expenses Contact your City Council representatives as well as the Missouri Ethics Commission (link).
UPDATE (7/05 2:30PM):
Well the rather disappointing Schneider parade just wandered through Overland. 20 or so cars were involved and the parade was seen all over town. The non-stop blaring car horns announced their arrival wherever they went. It appears Councilperson Schneider is not aware of Overland Ordinances Section 380.140, subsection A which states:
Signaling Devices. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a horn, directed forward, or whistle in good working order, capable of emitting a sound adequate in quantity and volume to give warning of the approach of such vehicle to other users of the highway and to pedestrians. Such signaling device shall be used for warning purposes only and shall not be used for making any unnecessary noise, and no other sound-producing signaling device shall be used at any time.
I wonder if the officers tasked with traffic control for this parade (rather than patrolling and protecting the city) were allowed to issue citations for the excessive number of violations of this ordinance? I also feel bad for the officers as I imagine this sort of duty was not what they had in mind when they joined the Overland Police force.
According to one resident who contacted Chief Herron, the wages of the officer(s) involved and the fuel used in their vehicle(s) will be handled out of the normal police budget. I will try to contact Chief Herron on Monday to verify this, though he is welcome to contact me himself anytime.
I only saw one police car involved in this event when they went by me, however these expenses should clearly be paid by the Schneider Campaign and not the residents of Overland. I hope the City Council, now that they are aware of this event, will ensure that this happens. City revenues should never be used to fund a political event like this parade no matter how little the cost is. If you do not wish to see City revenues used to pay for these expenses Contact your City Council representatives as well as the Missouri Ethics Commission (link).
Labels: August 7th, Chief Herron, Mayoral Election, Patronage, Schneider, Wasteful Spending
posted by Overland Sailor @ 12:26 AM 
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11 Comments:
SuzyJax at the OVCC Blog has more questions concerning this parade that are definately worth checking out over at the The OVCC Blog.
Thanks for the nod and referral. My main concern is that no notice of this is given to the residents. When you consider there are many cul-de-sac streets along the route (e.g. Clare Ct and Steadman along Eastbrook), folks could stuck either away from or on their street, without much notice.
The only good thing about this is that it will tend to draw votes AWAY from Schnieder via the irritation it causes than any votes could be GAINED from such an action.
--SUZYJAX
PS Love the "Patronage Parade"
I agree there should have been more notice to the residents. My primary concern at this point is who is paying for the police and the fuel in their cars for this event? I hope it will be the Schneider Campaign, otherwise the residents will be stuck with that unnecessary expense.
This post has been updated to include information about the parade itself now that it has happened.
THAT WAS IT?
If you're going to have a parade have one, I've seen bigger groups cruising on Lindbergh. You have got to be kidding me, that was a sorry joke, the elite of Overland, less Jay Fetsch, driving on our streets strut'n their stuff.
The anointed Veiled Prophet of Overland was in the taxed laden T-Bird near the end of the line.
The lead car clean driven by Mr. Cleansweep, might want to consider retiring that raggedy old Mustang, it's an eyesore.
I've heard that the gentleman in that lead car yelled at a few people who were video taping, saying he had their license plate numbers.
Wow, yet another known member of COGG resorting to the same intimidation tactics that organization used to complain about when Purzner supporters tried pulling that same stuff on them.
It's certainly looking like COGG has made a "clean sweep" of it's former Good Government goals.
Sad really.
How true is this statement of yours: "the parade was seen all over town"
From what I have heard, the streets were empty of viewers. Pretty pathetic when the people in the parade outnumber any of the watchers.
Yes, the man in the lead car (Bill Schwend?) yelled that out. How stupid, did he not realize that a video camera also picks up sound?
Ok,
Why would you complain about getting taped when you're out there honking your horns towing a large sign & balloons all to get noticed.
How stupid is that.
People this is not Hollywood. Don't they complain about the same stuff, me, me, me but, butt out of my life it's private.
You do not go around touting yourself then complain someone notices. These people are worse then I thought.
I had intended on contacted the Chief about the parade today. Unfortunately, I didn't get home until after 5pm. I should have time to contact him tomorrow morning.
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