Council Meeting 09-24-2007
The Overland City Council met for a regularly scheduled Council meeting at the Overland Community Center on September 24th, 2007. There were approximately 200 people in attendance. Though the City attempted to improve the sound by repositioning speakers, the echo and sound quality issues continued. The Council breezed through the minutes with only one minor correction requested by Councilman Owensby. They also passed the bills without issue.
At this meeting the Council voted unanimously to approve the Mayor's appointment of Les Dills to the vacant seat in Ward 4, giving the City of Overland a full Council for the first time since April 2006. Several on the Council commended the Mayor for working with them to open the appointments process to the public by allowing interested residents to speak to the Council as well as answer questions. All agreed that ultimately, such appointments are chosen by the Mayor, with the Council filling the role of advisers with the ultimate responsibility to approve or disapprove such appointments. In my opinion, this vote was a sign of how our new Council can and will work together in the future.
At this meeting the Council voted unanimously to approve the Mayor's appointment of Les Dills to the vacant seat in Ward 4, giving the City of Overland a full Council for the first time since April 2006. Several on the Council commended the Mayor for working with them to open the appointments process to the public by allowing interested residents to speak to the Council as well as answer questions. All agreed that ultimately, such appointments are chosen by the Mayor, with the Council filling the role of advisers with the ultimate responsibility to approve or disapprove such appointments. In my opinion, this vote was a sign of how our new Council can and will work together in the future.
Les DillsNew Councilperson - Ward 4
(click to enlarge)
There was a proposal from the City's financial director presented by the City Clerk asking for direction from the Council on whether or not to purchase $500,000.00 in Certificates of Deposit (CDs) to improve the interest the City would earn on the money. Most on the Council expressed concerns about tying up that much money. Ultimately the Council decided to reduce the amount and terms of the CDs to $200,000.00 for 1 year.
During the City attorney's report there were a host of Ordinances passed unanimously to enter into contracts with suppliers and secondary suppliers of road materials, concrete and fuel. There was a resolution passed that expressed the intent to seek park grants from St. Louis County. Councilperson Conlon mentioned that the resolution did not mention any specific grants or projects to which the Mayor responded that the issue was on the agenda for next week's Council Workshop meeting so the Council could consider the various options and decide what the best approach would be.
During the City attorney's report there were a host of Ordinances passed unanimously to enter into contracts with suppliers and secondary suppliers of road materials, concrete and fuel. There was a resolution passed that expressed the intent to seek park grants from St. Louis County. Councilperson Conlon mentioned that the resolution did not mention any specific grants or projects to which the Mayor responded that the issue was on the agenda for next week's Council Workshop meeting so the Council could consider the various options and decide what the best approach would be.
At first it seemed odd to hear that acting Public Works Director Chuck Boone did not have a report for the Council as he had just returned from vacation. Last weekend was Autumn in the Park, an event that requires much work from City employees, especially Public Works, as well as coordinating efforts with the OBA, the Overland Lions assistance with electric, etc. However, Autumn in the Park was originally planned for next weekend and was moved up to fit the Calvary's schedule. It's likely that Mr. Boone had committed to his vacation plans long before that change. Since the event went off without issue it seems that the folks at Public Works know how to get things done, even when the Acting Public Works Director isn't available.
The Chief's report focused mostly on the recent news of attempted Child Abductions in our area. Ritenour School District put out information on this issue earlier that day (which you can see here). Fox 2 News did a report on this issue earlier the same day as well which can be seen here and included this map of the suspected abduction attempts:
Suspected Abduction attempts in Overland
over past 2 months (source: Fox2 News St. Louis)
(click to enlarge)
The Chief added that though there were 2 attempted abductions this past weekend there was an additional one since last July. We are happy to report that in each incident, the children responded by running away and yelling as they were taught to do. The Chief pointed out several safety tips, including the availability of Child I.D. kits (thanks to a donation from Alberici) that are available to residents, free of charge, at the Overland Police Department (more information available here). Additionally, parents and grandparents should review the following links provided by the Ritenour School District:
The Chief's report focused mostly on the recent news of attempted Child Abductions in our area. Ritenour School District put out information on this issue earlier that day (which you can see here). Fox 2 News did a report on this issue earlier the same day as well which can be seen here and included this map of the suspected abduction attempts:
Suspected Abduction attempts in Overlandover past 2 months (source: Fox2 News St. Louis)
(click to enlarge)
The Chief added that though there were 2 attempted abductions this past weekend there was an additional one since last July. We are happy to report that in each incident, the children responded by running away and yelling as they were taught to do. The Chief pointed out several safety tips, including the availability of Child I.D. kits (thanks to a donation from Alberici) that are available to residents, free of charge, at the Overland Police Department (more information available here). Additionally, parents and grandparents should review the following links provided by the Ritenour School District:
Parents should also consider visiting the National Crime Prevention Council's McGruff.org where children can learn about a host of safety issues related to them while playing games, reading stories, and more. They can even join the McGruff Club with their parent's permission.
During the Mayor's report he thanked the Council for approving his appointment and mentioned how he and Councilperson O'Connell had not seen a full eight member Council until now. We were given the opportunity to take a picture of the Mayor and the new, full City Council after the meeting:
During the Mayor's report he thanked the Council for approving his appointment and mentioned how he and Councilperson O'Connell had not seen a full eight member Council until now. We were given the opportunity to take a picture of the Mayor and the new, full City Council after the meeting:
City of Overland's 1st full Council since April 2006(click to enlarge)
The Mayor spoke of a recent meeting he had with the St. Louis County Economic Development Council to discuss options and ideas for Overland's future. One issue he raised at that meeting was whether or not our city master plan, originally drafted in 2001, should be completely re-written. They recommended a full review and update rather than a complete re-write of the plan. To that end, the Mayor stated that he had asked Mark Giroux (currently a member of Overland's Planning and Zoning Commission) to form and chair a citizens committee to review the plan and recommend changes. The Mayor left the naming of committee members to Mark Giroux but said citizens should contact Mr. Giroux if they are interested in sitting on this committee. If you would like to contact Mr. Giroux about this committee, contact City Hall at (314) 428-4321 so that they can pass your information along.
Overall the meeting went well though it was difficult to follow at times due to sound system issues. The following is a video of this meeting in its entirety. I did what I could to clean up the sound. However, without the ability to directly connect to the sound system (as Charter does), our video is subject to the same sound issues faced by the audience.
If you are viewing this content through a news-reader
you might not be able to see the video below.
you might not be able to see the video below.
City Council Meeting
September 24th, 2007
(59 minutes, 9 seconds)
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Labels: Appointment, City Council, Community Alert, Les Dills
posted by Overland Sailor @ 5:09 AM 
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8 Comments:
The council should be ashamed of themselves. The "opening of the process" was a sham. Why put us through that horse-and-pony workshop when the mayor ended up picking the one that came out the worst? (An opinion I heard from even those who supported Dills after the workshop).
There is compromise and there is comprosing your position. Unfortunately, a few on the council chose the latter.
Les Dills paid taxes for lot(s) in a nearby unincorporated area the weekend before M. Schneider appointed Dills to have his seat on the Overland Council. TAXES owed for THREE years.
Dills sounds like M. Schneider, supposed to be a businessman, but failed to check Missouri law about personal property tax and MO license for his Yukon.
Les Dills didn't bother to mow or have mowed the lot(s) in a residential neighborhood. It is easy to get by with this apparently in an unincorporated area.
M. Schneider sent out a letter to get elected that "the judge did not tell him to pay taxes on the Yukon." BUT, he failed to mention that the tax collector did: The POST-DISPATCH reported that M. Scheider "paid $850 under protest."
When ALL the truth is not told - then is this a lie??
Les Dills told the person in MVE who asked him about the taxes he owed that they "were not a good neighbor or a good Christian." This person went to the tax office in Clayton to vertify the info they had seen on a blog about the 3 years of unpaid taxes on the property.
The whole council voted for Les Dills to have M. Schneider's seat in Ward 4.
This sounds like what happened in 2006 when Purnzer and her group got a lawyer and told the East-West Gateway Council of governments representative "to cease and desist" from assisting in the hiring of the City Administrator the council approved and had been shown around Overland by the officers of the Overland Business Assoc.
DODY and the OVERLAND COUNCIL did NOTHING. No wonder Purnzer and her group thought they could do all they tried to do from April 2006 until the recall. Read the Overland Council minutes for yourself.
Mark Giroux, president of COGG, is now the person M. Schneider appointed to redo the master plan for our city with the help of whomever HE CHOOSES.
This SAME Mark Giroux in a COGG meeting called MBC questioning the nonpayment of personal property, thus elibility to run for mayor of Overland, a "dirty trick."
WHO and how many WHOS are running this city and for whose gain? This is the dirty trick!! Overland and its government is for ALL who live here.
WILL Overland get a city administrator and with WHOSE approval? Cities around us, Bridgeton and St. John, have city administrators. Look at the NEW retail and other business these cities have.
M. Schneider did not get a majority of the votes CAST. Why did Keller to a non run for mayor?
Citizens of Overland - BEWARE!
Look - listen - call your council member or ----------- we will see and suffer.
I understand concerns about how this committee to work on the master plan will be formed, and to whom it will answer to.
I'm taking a "wait and see" approach to it. This is a public body that will be considering public issues including recommendations that could result is city spending. As such, at a minimum, meetings of this group should be posted and publicly accessible in my opinion. Will it be run that way? I hope so, but for now it's still "wait and see" time.
The "wait and see" approach in the past has gotten us where we are--nowhere! We need to have a "nip it in the bud" approach, because often while you are waiting to see, time and opportunity to stop the shenanigans have passed us by.
A good Christian?
Doesn't Jesus say render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's in regards to paying taxes?
Perhaps Les Dills views Jesus and his 12 disciples as some sort of divine cronyism?
ORT - You are correct - Jesus did say,"Give to Caesar what is Caesars...." In this case: Dill's real estate tax and Schneider's personal property tax.
M. Schenider is going away from the plans to engage East-West Gateway Council of Governments to find a City Manager. The CM is the person that should chair the Overland Master Plan, NOT Mark Giroux. Council members and citizens should fill this committee, NOT by the cronyism of M. Schneider and Mark Giroux which equals the ole politico system that got Overland into the mess we have today. LOOK AT DOWNTOWN.
City Manager's are educated to lead citizens in how to look at their city and are educated to speak with prospective businesses and business projects.
Overland citizens must realize that M. Schneider is NOT educated for the C.M. job. FURTHERMORE, M. Schneider was away from Overland for 20 years - only back for 2 years, he has MISSED a lot in 20 year which is not gained by a few visits.
Mark Giroux travels a lot through the week. He missed COGG meetings.
COGG has become representative of the old politico system with its cronyism. Les Dills got M. Schneider to run for Ward 4 councilman - an example. Now Les Dill is appointed by Schneider for the Ward 4 council position.
Unless we get the attention of the Council, we will have SAME O, SAME O in Overland.
Call, write - both - Overland Council electorate and remind them of the need for a City Manager.
The problem with the "nip it in the bud" approach in this instance, in my opinion, is that the only way to accomplish this is to accuse someone of wrong-doing before they even do anything.
If the nominations are handled with cronyism then that called and pointed out to the public. However, if the nominations are handled crossing local political lines and the like, then saying this is what is going to happen not only calling into question the credibility of the person saying it, but it widens the chasm between the political sides.
As for a "City Manager", we do not have the form of government that calls for or allows for one. Our City is setup for a City Administrator which is different, though similar (I'm not trying to pick on you or split hairs, I am only trying to clarify the discussion). And yes, I fully agree that people should make sure that their Council representatives know how important filling the City Administrator position is to them.
Thanks for telling me there is a difference between City Adm and City Manager. Would Overland be hiring a City Administrator because we are a third class city?
M. Schneider says Herman will have something about trash help for needy residents at the next council meeting. Why isn't there a discussion about 'WHAT' Herman is working on?
Because I sat in on ALL COGG meetings and never once did any one tell me that Mike Schneider was planning to run for mayor, perhaps I am / should be suspicious of Mike Schneider and his group. The story is that Mike planned to run for mayor from Oct, 06. I was a foot soldier in gathering signatures for the recall and then going back to encourage the petition signers to vote.
After the recall I was asked to help in Mike's campaign. NO! I saw Mike sit in silence and let Jerry May and Jeff O'Connell do all the hard work of dealing with the last of Purzner and her group.
I am no longer a member of COGG. Mark Giroux calling MBC's tax question / elibility about Schneiders nonpayment of his personal property a "dirty trick" without giving her a chance to reply is inexcusable. COGG should be named: Citizens of Overland for Mike Schneider
SUSPIOUS? Yes!! There is NO work and no mention of contacting East-West Gateway Council of Governments for involvement in finding a City Administrator. Or, for that matter, there is no mention of a City Administrator. WHY? Is the salary for a CA in the budget for this year?
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