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West Newsmagazine
is West St. Louis County's exclusive direct-mailed community newspaper. |
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| News Briefs |
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Creve CoeurWeb site will change The city of Creve Coeur is looking to change its Web site and is looking for input from its citizens. The city recently hired the firm Next Generation Government Websites to aid in designing the new offering. Melissa Cantarero, Creve Coeur's public information officer and management analyst, said the new design would be organized differently than its current one and the graphics will be new as well. She said the city hope to have the upgraded Web site up and running this spring. "It will have more interactive features and search capabilities," Cantarero said. "It will be improved." The new Web site will include an interactive calendar that will list city-wide events as well as a frequently asked questions (FAQs) feature, Cantarero said. She said the site also will contain online surveys on a variety of topics dealing with Creve Coeur. She said visitors to the Web site will have access to .pdf documents that will offer a lot more information on city matters. Cantarero also said the city hopes to receive a lot of feedback from the residents. One thing that has been noticeable in recent weeks in the tech-savvy government center in Creve Coeur is the addition of laptops for city officials to use during City Council meetings. During a recent meeting, Creve Coeur City Councilmember Beth Kistner (ward 1) informed the audience in attendance that the use of city laptops is a more efficient way to access files, such as packets dealing with city issues. Kistner also said the goal is to eliminate paper waste. Cantarero said the transition to the paperless packets provides a much more "green" atmosphere at City Hall. She said with packets sometimes being more than 100 pages, the city is reducing information it is printing on a monthly basis.
Once the new Web site is introduced, Cantarero said visitors will see a noticeable difference. The current site contains information regarding the construction of the new Ballas Road, information on the new TDD at the Walgreens at Graeser Road and the fall leaf vacuuming schedule.
EllisvilleRezoning is official The city of Ellisville has annexed several unincorporated properties off of Old State Road. On Dec. 3, the Ellisville City Council passed three separate ordinances related to the annexation of land. Ellisville City Clerk Kate Demeter said the properties actually were annexed months ago, but the ordinances were passed in order to put the necessary rezoning documentation on the books. The city annexed the Kerryton Place Villas subdivision, which sits on the east side of Old State Road. It was rezoned from County R-3 to Ellisville R-2 Planned Residential. An authorization of the change in the city's zoning map was required. With this ordinance, the Kerryton Place subdivision officially became a part of Ellisville. Several conditions were also established in the process. The buildings within Kerryton have to be 2 stories with a maximum of 35 feet high. The total housing density also must not exceed 39 units, according to the ordinance. Kerryton Place Drive and Kerryton Place Circle also become Ellisville city streets that the city will maintain. The city also annexed three parcels of land on the east side of Old State Road between Pierside Lane and Ridge Road, 502 through 510 Old State Road. Those properties now are rezoned from County NU to Ellisville R-1 Single Family Residential.
Lastly, the city will rezone eight parcels of land, 423 and 437 through 541 Old State Road, from County M-3 to Ellisville M-1 Light Industrial. These properties sit on the west side of Old State between Pierside Lane and Ridge Road.
MissouriBallwin man promoted to brigadier general in Missouri National Guard Ballwin resident David F. Irwin recently was promoted to brigadier general in the Missouri Army National Guard during a ceremony at Jefferson Barracks. Irwin is the commander of the 35th Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Leonard Wood. The brigade undertakes, plans, integrates and directs the execution of engineer missions that the Missouri National Guard conducts. “The promotion is quite humbling and quite an honor,” Irwin said. “I look forward to the challenge and want to do what’s right by all of the great soldiers I work with.” The Jefferson Barracks location for his promotion had a special significance for Irwin. “It means a lot to be promoted to brigadier general here at Jefferson Barracks,” Irwin said. “I enlisted in the Missouri National Guard at Jefferson Barracks in 1983 and was promoted to colonel here. I also served with the 70th Troop Command, which is based here.” Maj. Gen. King Sidwell, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, honored Irwin during the ceremony. “Dave Irwin is an outstanding man,” Sidwell said. “He has great accomplishments and the admiration and respect of the soldiers. There is no higher praise for a man, in my mind, than the support and respect of the soldiers he serves.” Irwin has 26 years of military service in the active duty Army and Missouri Army National Guard. He has diverse experience, having served with a number of units in the Missouri National Guard, including Battery B-128th Field Artillery, 135th Field Artillery Brigade, 70th Troop Command and the 35th Engineer Brigade. Irwin’s promotion follows a long list of Army and civilian accomplishments. Irwin earned a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from St. Louis University in 1993 and a master’s in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in 2002. He served as executive officer for Battery B-128th Field Artillery, as the operations and intelligence officer for the 135th Field Artillery Brigade and was commander of the 70th Troop Command from 2004 to 2007. Irwin received the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.
A graduate of the Boeing Executive Development Program, Irwin served on special assignment as assistant to the chief executive and chief operating officers of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. He currently works at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in St. Louis.
St. Louis CountyEconomic Council wins award The St. Louis County Economic Council received East-West Gateway’s 2008 Outstanding Local Government Achievement Award for its involvement in the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center’s Bio-Research and Development Growth Park (BRDG Park). The Economic Council, along with the Danforth Center, city of Creve Coeur and St. Louis Community College, were awarded for their contributions to the successful launch of BRDG Park. East-West Gateway Council of Governments recognized honorees at its 43rd annual meeting. The award honors the partnership effort on behalf of the expansion of the Danforth Center’s 40-acre site, which includes a state-of-the-art laboratory and office park, called BRDG Park. The park will house wet laboratory and office space specifically designed to support the needs of emerging life science companies. The NIDUS Center and additional space for Monsanto also will locate to the new building. The 110,000-square-foot lab and office facility is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2009. “St. Louis County fully supports BRDG Park and thanks East-West Gateway for recognizing the collaborative efforts that worked together to promote the project and enhance the region,” St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley said. “BRDG Park is creating high-tech, high-growth and high-paying jobs that diversify our employment base. The companies will benefit from their close proximity to the research scientists and institutions and help ensure that the St. Louis region captures the economic benefits of our established scientific leadership.” The Danforth Center also is partnering with St. Louis Community College to develop a plant science and biotechnology education and training program to be located within BRDG Park. Regional companies and research institutions will provide the laboratory, classroom and office space for a vocational training program.
Holiday enforcement Keeping citizens safe and their property secure are the top priorities of the St. Louis County Police Department's annual Holiday Enforcement/Crime Prevention Program. The St. Louis County Police Department will continue to have both uniformed and undercover officers working in and around shopping centers. The Metro Air Support Unit will continue patrolling commercial parking lots and shopping centers. Officers of the St. Louis County Highway Safety Unit will be working additional patrols throughout the holidays, emphasizing driving while intoxicated (DWI) enforcement. "We want everyone to enjoy a safe and happy holiday season,” said Chief Lee. “In addition to each precinct implementing specific strategies for their area, the Community Action Team and the Highway Safety Unit will also be highly visible. Remember, keep your eyes and ears open and immediately call the police if you see suspicious activity. Prevention is the key. If we all pitch in and work together, I know we can be successful."
Metro raises fares Metro will be increasing fares as of Jan. 1 for riders of MetroLink, MetroBus and Call-A-Ride. The transit’s governing board approved a 25-cent increase for one-way rides on buses and MetroLink. Passes will increase $3 for a day pass, $4.50 for weekly passes and $8 for monthly passes. The decision comes after the failure of Proposition M, which would have generated $80 million annually. Now, Metro will begin its budget year with a $50 million deficit, officials. A second wave of fare increases will take effect in July 2010.
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