Monday, March 25, 2013
State Representative Bob Burns and St. Louis County Executive Charles Dooley helped deliver meals to seniors in Mehlville, Oakville and Lemay with the Mid-East Agency on Aging.
Two St. Louis County elected officials helped deliver meals to homebound seniors Wednesday in Mehlville, Oakville and Lemay with the Mid-East Agency on Aging's South County Senior Resource Center. State Representative Bob Burns and St. Louis County Executive Charles Dooley both made the Meals on Wheels rounds, delivering warm, nutritious food to homebound or vulnerable seniors. "I want to make sure our people are taken care of," said Burns. "My heart goes out to them." Burns said he made 14 stops on his route, including deliveries to a woman confined to her home after having 23 surgeries after an accident and to another woman who's social security barely covers her rent check. "I'm going to take that to Jefferson City with me," said Burns…
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Pay increases are being discussed by officials during St. Louis County's budgeting process this year. It would mark the first time in four years that employees were given raises.
Raises for St. Louis County employees are being discussed by officials during this year's budgeting process. (Sign up here for the FREE Patch Newsletter, including Breaking News Alerts.) It would be the first raise county employees received in four years. “We’re in the first third of the budget process and talking about all of the different options here,” said Mac Scott, spokesperson for County Executive Charlie Dooley. He added that a raise isn't certain yet. “We got some things (last year) that were better than we thought they’d be,” he said. Councilman Steve Stenger (D-South County) reinforced the possibility during a South County Chamber of Commerce meeting on Thursday. “The St. Louis County police are the best in the area, but we …
Monday, August 20, 2012
A spokesperson for St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley said a projected shortfall in the parks department may not be a reality.
Calls for a tax increase to pay for St. Louis County parks because of a funding shortfall could be sounding the alarm too early. That’s according to one official in County Executive Charlie Dooley’s office who asserts that a $500,000 budget shortfall might not actually exist. “That’s a nice number, I don’t know if it’s based on any kind of reality,” spokesperson Mac Scott said. “We’re unaware of that kind of a problem as this point.” The parks department created a business plan based on 2013 budget projections from the county executive’s office. Those projections included zero funding from the county’s general fund and a $7.4 million decrease in the budget over two years. The business plan looked at alternate revenue sources and cost-…
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
A committee of parks supporters studied the St. Louis County Parks system and endorsed a tax increase proposal. The measure must pass through the county council, where Councilman Steve Stenger said there is not a funding problem with the parks.
A sales tax increase that might be on the ballot in April would free St. Louis County parks from further cuts or closures. That’s according to a committee of parks supporters who filed an interim report with county officials in July. The Green Ribbon Committee, which is comprised of former and current parks directors, city officials and trail agencies, was tasked with analyzing the county parks system after a tumultuous year of layoffs and threats to close parks. Councilman Steve Stenger, who represents South County, said the committee was a “rubber stamp operation” for County Executive Charlie Dooley to get a tax increase passed in St. Louis County. Stenger has been a vocal opponent of Dooley, and has hinted at running for county …
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
A special committee said the increase is needed to keep parks open while County Councilman Steve Stenger said it's unnecessary.
Last fall, St. Louis County Council members opposed a tax increase and residents rallied against closing county parks—but will they have to do it again? A committee formed by County Executive Charlie Dooley suggests a tax increase to offset potential park closures; something councilman Steve Stenger (D-South County) said is unnecessary. Stenger points to an email between Dooley, Chief Operating Officer Garry Earls and Skip Mange, who was appointed to chair the committee. In the email, Mange writes about suggesting a tax increase in order to potentially make cuts to the county's parks department. The text of the email, which was shared with Patch, is below: “Just an idea, but why not negotiate a little more even budget for next year, and …
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Stenger would challenge current County Executive Charlie Dooley.
Steve Stenger, who represents Mehlville, Oakville, Affton and Lemay on the St. Louis County Council, said he’s "strongly considering" a bid for county executive in 2014. Stenger told Patch July 24 that he was continuously frustrated with the lack of funding in the parks department, especially after the county reported a surplus at the end of 2012. “They’re suggesting, 'Let’s starve off the parks so we can get a tax raise.' That’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” he said. When asked if he would contend for the executive position in 2014, he said, “I would strongly consider it, but I have not committed to that at all.” “But every day that we go on and we experience these kinds of difficulties where there should not be …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Councilman Steve Stenger disagrees with the allocation for St. Louis County Parks as County Executive Charlie Dooley’s budget office reduces funding for the department.
The St. Louis County Parks Department is still $500,000 in the red despite laying off 20 employees and increasing revenue by $193,780. Those numbers were presented to the St. Louis County Council Tuesday in a plan meant to make the parks department more efficient. Acting Parks Director Tom Ott created a business plan that outlined a strategy to keep parks providing the basic services while reducing costs. The plan comes seven months after County Executive Charlie Dooley proposed closing 23 parks and laying off more than 100 employees because of a budget crisis. Early budget projections showed a $10 million deficit, according to the county executive. *At the end of the year, the county received unexpected revenues, leaving the parks open. …
Monday, July 23, 2012
The Parks Department will present a business plan to the St. Louis County Council after being the center of the 2012 budget discussion.
St. Louis County officials will hear a business plan for the Parks Department seven months after County Executive Charlie Dooley first threatened to close 23 county parks and lay off more than 170 employees, citing a budget crisis. The meeting will take place Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the St. Louis County Council conference room at 41 South Central Avenue in Clayton. Members of the county council—led by then-chairman Steve Stenger (D-Affton)—vehemently opposed Dooley’s initial 2012 budget proposal and questioned his office’s claim of a $10 million deficit. Parks activists also protested the closures, leading to several petitions and a rally outside county headquarters in Clayton. After forming a special budget committee, the council and …
Friday, July 13, 2012
The original July 3 celebration was canceled because of dangerous conditions for fireworks displays. A new date has been selected for the fall.
People across St. Louis will get a chance to see JB Blast fireworks this fall. The event has been rescheduled for Friday, Oct. 5, as noted in a Facebook event created by St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley. JB Blast was originally scheduled for July 3, but was canceled when the Lemay Fire Protection District—like other districts around St. Louis—denied the event a fireworks permit due to extreme heat. "We are confident the weather will be more favorable in the fall and that both the concert and fireworks will be as exciting and meaningful as always," stated Dooley in the Facebook event. The U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America's Hot Brass is set to perform between 6:30-8:30 p.m., with fireworks planned for afterward. The event is free …
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Residents can now stay cool at Kennedy Recreation Complex.
Three more cooling centers—including one at Kennedy Recreation Complex—are now available for residents who need relief from the heat. St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley has authorized the Director of the St. Louis County Parks to add the centers after weather reports said temperatures will reach 100 degrees or higher over the next several days. The other new centers are located at St. Vincent Park and Greensfelder/Queeny Recreation Complex. To find more cooling centers, call the United Way of Greater Saint Louis by dialing 211 from a landline phone, or by dialing 1-800-427-4626 from any other type of phone. “I know there is an official National Weather Service process for issuing heat warnings and alerts, but even when …
flyoverland
10:50 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Think of how much would be available if Dooley fired all his cronies. more ›