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Central Newsmagazine is Central St. Louis County's
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Central Newsmagazine News Briefs |
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ClaytonFree wireless Internet Clayton is a month into a 90-day wireless Internet trial and a step closer to a possible implementation of a city-wide wireless network. The trial agreement with Network 1 Communications will allow city officials a chance to see the network in action while gauging the interest of the Clayton community. A 7 ½-block area bounded by Maryland, Bonhomme, Central and Bemiston Avenues currently has access to the wireless network. The service also includes the eastern half of Shaw Park. During the trial, outdoor wireless Internet access is free within the boundaries. After the trial is complete, city officials will decide whether they want Network 1 to permanently implement the service city-wide. Network 1 has already placed its network in several St. Louis area cities, including O’Fallon, Kirkwood, Florissant, and Crestwood, and has seen positive response.
"We've talked with residents and subscribers from the other cities we currently serve in the St. Louis area, and they like having wireless broadband Internet access," said Mark O'Neal, vice president of business development for Network 1.
BrentwoodCollege expansion Students participating in the Fontbonne Options Program may get the option to take classes in Brentwood as early as January 2009. At the Sept. 15 Brentwood Board of Aldermen meeting, the city approved a site development plan that would place a campus extension for Fontbonne University at 1300 Strassner Drive. The board also revised the city’s code to allow private or public schools in the light industrial district. Ellen Daily, Brentwood’s director of planning and development, said Fontbonne will use existing building for administrative offices and classrooms. The site plan calls for a 27,269-square-foot space that will include 10 classrooms and 110 parking spaces.
The Options program offers accelerated classes for returning adult learners who lead busy lives.
Des PeresDirector of public safety retires William Bridges, director of public safety for Des Peres since 1996, retired at the end of September. “I have been privileged to work in an outstanding public safety department for over 30 years and to lead the dedicated officers of that department for the past 12 years as their director,” Bridges said. “I, more than anyone, appreciate the professionalism of the members of the department and the support and work of our command staff. The citizens of Des Peres should rest peacefully knowing that the men and women of the Des Peres Department of Public Safety are at work.” During his 30 years in Des Peres, Bridges has served in every capacity in the department, including the past 12 years as the director. He also served as captain of fire services and as fire marshal and was one of the first paramedics in the department. Bridges also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. “We appreciate Chief Bridge’s contributions over the years, especially in those years in which he headed up the Department of Public Safety,” Des Peres Mayor Rick Lahr said. “During his tenure as chief, the department continued to improve, upgraded its fire and EMS equipment significantly and substantially increased training of the officers.”
Shoplifting devices banned Des Peres officials recently enacted an ordinance banning shoplifting tools, following the lead of other local municipalities, including Frontenac and Richmond Heights. Items such as devices that remove permanent tags from clothing and large bags with false bottoms now are illegal to carry in stores. Police and security at West County Mall no longer have to wait until a theft is committed to act. Des Peres City Administrator Doug Harms said police still need probable cause in order to stop someone or question them. “A majority of the calls our police department get from West County has to do with shoplifting,” Harms said. “We felt this was another tool for police to have when dealing with shoplifting.”
Firethorn Bridge to be replaced The bridge on Firethorn Drive in Des Peres is facing a complete tear-down and rebuild. It is one of possibly five neighborhood bridges in Des Peres that will be rebuilt after state inspections showed deficiencies. The Firethorn Bridge provides the only entrance to residents on Firethorn and Willow Leaf Drives on the north side of the western branch of Two Mile Creek. At the Sept. 22 Des Peres Board of Aldermen meeting, the city held a first and second reading of an ordinance that would authorize an agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for the replacement. It is estimated to cost $552,000, with MoDOT paying 80 percent of the costs. “Firethorn Bridge will be more expensive than most bridges of its type because it’s anticipated a temporary detour bridge will be needed for one-lane routing,” Des Peres Public Works Director Denis Knock.
Work on the bridge is expected to occur in the summer of 2010 and take three months to complete.
GlendaleReady in 3 The Glendale Fire Department hosts another round of “Ready in 3” citizen preparedness classes. The 1-hour classes help citizens know what to do in emergency situations such as tornadoes, earthquakes or man-made disasters. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services developed the Ready in 3 program to help ordinary citizens know how to best respond to a disaster. It focuses on three steps: create a plan, prepare a kit, and listen for information. Glendale also hosts Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes beginning on Oct. 21. CERT training gives citizens the tools to perform basic disaster response such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. Using this training, CERT members can assist others when professional emergency responders cannot immediately respond.
Contact Capt. Chuck Helle at 965-7097.
KirkwoodBullet-proof glass installed at City Hall The City Council Chambers at Kirkwood City Hall may have a different appearance, but they have been made much safer. During the Sept. 4 City Council meeting, officials approved a bid from Helios Construction to install bullet-resistant fiberglass panels along and behind the council dais, and place an egress door behind the dais. The $35,376 in additions follows a previous installation of new door locks. “Enough things have been done now to make people feel more comfortable and secure at City Hall than they did before,” Kirkwood Mayor Art McDonnell said. “I personally feel very secure in City Hall. I don’t feel afraid.” In order to place the new door, the city of Kirkwood medallion had to be moved from its central location behind the dais.
Amtrak Town Hall meeting Missouri Rep. Rick Stream (R-Dist. 94) hosts an Amtrak Town Hall meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. on Fri., Oct. 10 at the Kirkwood Train Station.
Missouri Rep. Charlie Schlottach (R-Dist. 111), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, will present updated information from the state and federal governments and Union Pacific regarding issues affecting Amtrak service.
LadueFlood assistance Ladue Mayor Irene Holmes on Sept. 20 sent a letter to residents who were impacted by the storm and subsequent flooding that hit the city on Sept. 14. In the letter, Holmes assured residents that she and the Ladue City Council are working with St. Louis County officials to try to obtain federal assistance. Holmes indicated that approximately 100 residences, four businesses and one school were damaged due to the heavy rains and high water. On Sept. 16, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley declared a County Emergency, and requested an emergency declaration through the office of Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt. At that time it was determined that more than 720 residences and 100 businesses in the St. Louis County area were evacuated during the storm, and many remained uninhabitable. Holmes wrote that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) personnel started their assessment of damaged properties throughout St. Louis County on Sept. 20 to determine if residents of the area qualify for individual assistance. Holmes also offered the following tips in her letter: * If you were exposed to flood water, a tetanus shot can be obtained through your primary care physician or free tetanus shots also are available through the St. Louis County Health Department facilities at 6065 Helen Ave. or 4580 S. Lindbergh Blvd. * If your home or business was damaged, you may need a building permit to do repairs. Contact Jim Schmieder at the Ladue Building Department at 997-6308. If the repairs on your property involve electrical work, your electrical contractor is required to secure a permit through the St. Louis County Building Department. Any damage to electrical service, particularly if the main breaker box or electrical outlets were covered by water, needs to be checked by a licensed electrician. * If your home was affected by a sewer backup, you might be eligible for up to $2,400 in reimbursement from MSD. Call MSD at 768-6260 within 30 days of the incident to determine if you qualify. Be sure to keep any photos you have taken of the damage your property has sustained. Items harmed by the backup may be removed from your home, but should be available for examination by MSD adjusters.
* Photos of damage that your home received are also very useful in seeking federal assistance, and for purposes of private insurance purposes. It is also important to retain receipts for repairs already completed, and any estimates for repairs.
Richmond HeightsBoulevard expansion The long-planned expansion of the Boulevard in St. Louis will begin after Halloween. The site across Brentwood Blvd. from the Galleria in Richmond Heights currently is empty except for Halloween Express, a store that plans to close a week after holiday. Plans call for tearing down the long 1-story building and the other abandoned stores and starting site work in November for a 10-story Hyatt Place hotel above 2 stories of retail and a Dick’s Sporting Goods store, said Doug Huff of Pace Properties, the developer.
Huff said he is in negotiations with other retailers for the $80 million expansion, but would not disclose who until the deals are signed. The financing is secure, Huff said, because Prudential Insurance is involved as a partner.
Webster GrovesDrive-through pizza A new Pizza Street restaurant proposed for the Yorkshire Plaza Shopping Center in Webster Groves will have the unique feature of a drive-through pick-up window. The Webster Groves City Council granted a conditional use permit for the drive-through at the restaurant, planned for 8073 Watson Road. Rick Larsen, owner of Pizza Street, told the City Council at a public hearing that the restaurant chain is attempting to gain customer interest in take-out at their restaurants. “Customers can order by phone and won’t have to get out of their cars,” Larsen said. “Not only is it convenient for them, but it would likely create less traffic as people won’t have to park.”
The 140-square-foot addition along the western edge of the shopping center’s commercial building space will provide the drive-up window. Larsen said there will not be an intercom and that it will be for phoned-in orders only.
St. Louis CountyApply by Oct. 15 for property tax credit Missouri Rep. Charles Portwood (R-Dist. 92) reminds eligible homeowners to apply for the Homestead Preservation Tax Credit before the Oct. 15 deadline. The Homestead Preservation Tax Credit program allows eligible senior citizens ages 65 and older as well as homeowners with a 100 percent disability to receive a credit on their real estate property taxes if those taxes increased by 2.5 percent in a non-reassessment year or 5 percent in a reassessment year. Seniors and homeowners with disabilities can qualify for the Homestead credit if their income is below $77,323. Those who qualify for the credit when their property taxes increased more than 5 percent are guaranteed to receive a credit. A new provision that was enacted into law this year changes the way the homestead tax credit is calculated and ensures that homeowners who qualify receive a credit every year, even in a non-reassessment year. Portwood said homeowners must apply for the Homestead Preservation Credit every year, even if they have applied for it in the past. To receive the credit, homeowners must own, occupy and pay real estate taxes for the property in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Property jointly owned with unmarried individuals is eligible if all property owners meet the qualifications and their combined federal adjusted gross income does not exceed $77,323. If any individual does not meet the requirements, then all are ineligible. Property held in a trust also is eligible for the Homestead Preservation Credit. For more information on the Homestead Preservation Tax Credit, call (573) 751-9765 or the Missouri Department of Revenue at (800) 877-6881. Applications are available at local Department of Revenue offices or dor.mo.gov/tax/personal/homestead/.
Former state representative trial is Oct. 27 A trial date of 9 a.m. on Oct. 27 in Division 2 of the Cole County Circuit Court has been set for former Missouri Rep. T. Scott Muschany (R-Dist. 87). Muschany pled not guilty on Sept. 10 to a felony charge of deviate sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl from Jefferson City. He resigned from the Missouri House of Representatives the same day. Muschany represented Brentwood, Frontenac, Huntleigh, Ladue, Rock Hill, Town & Country and Warson Woods. A grand jury in July indicted Muschany in the alleged incident, which allegedly involved the daughter of a former House employee with whom Muschany allegedly had a relationship. The incident allegedly took place in the early morning hours of May 17 in Jefferson City, authorities said. Officials with the Jefferson City Police Department said the investigation began on May 27 after the father of the girl, who is divorced from the mother, called the Missouri Child Abuse hotline. Muschany is represented by attorney Robert Haar of St. Louis.
Citizens’ Police Academy The public safety departments of Creve Coeur, Frontenac and Town & Country are joining to host the 10th Citizens’ Police Academy. Residents of all three cities will have the opportunity to learn about law enforcement through practical training. The academy will cover constitutional and criminal law, investigation tactics, traffic safety, and discuss the use of force and DWI enforcement. Participants will have the opportunity to fire a department-issued firearm under the close supervision of a range training officer. Those who successfully complete the program will have a chance to ride along with a patrol officer. The academy is 7-9 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning Oct. 14 and continuing for nine weeks. It is open to residents and, space permitting, some non-residents who are 21 years of age and older. The academy is free.
To enroll, call Town & Country Police Officer Chris Hunt at 567-4900, ext. 139; Creve Coeur Police Officer Jon McIntosh at 442-2075; or Frontenac Police Officer Ryan Cornelius at 994-9304.
MissouriMoDOT launches largest-ever bridge project The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has approved plans to improve 802 of Missouri’s lowest-rated bridges in five years, starting with 100 structures that will be under construction early next year. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will manage the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program differently than the Design-Build-Finance-Maintain contract that was envisioned when the program was launched two years ago. There will be 554 bridge replacements included in a single design-build package to be advertised this fall and awarded in late spring 2009. The remaining 248 bridges to be improved will be contracted using a modified design-bid-build approach, where projects are grouped by type, size or location to accelerate construction schedules. MoDOT has spent $15.6 million on development of the Safe & Sound program, an investment that will enable it to have 100 bridge projects under contract by spring, and will reduce the cost of other contracting options and speed their implementation. MoDOT plans to issue bonds to pay for the project with annual payments of approximately $50 million as budgeted previously.
A complete list of all the bridges program can be found at modot.org/safeandsound.
Seniors get reduced fares on Metro Ruth Ann Knight waits for Micah Wiles, marketing coordinator for Metro, to produce her new reduced fare permit at Schnucks in Brentwood. Starting Jan. 1, all Missouri seniors will be required to present the new standardized reduced fare permit from Metro as proof of their eligibility to receive a reduced fare of approximately half the regular fare. To make it as convenient as possible for existing and potential new riders to participate, seniors will be able to sign up and receive their new Metro Reduced Fare Permit at several locations across the region. For a list of all registration events, visit metrostlouis.com.
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