Government Meetings Return In Full Force
By ERIC X. VICCARO
eviccaro@stegenherald.com
After the extended holiday period, Ste. Genevieve’s elected officials and government workers have returned to matters at hand.
Last Thursday, the Ste. Genevieve Planning and Zoning Commission had its first meeting of the new year.
(Read a story on the meeting elsewhere in this edition.)
On Tuesday night, it was Ste. Genevieve Levee District No. 3’s turn for a meeting — with the first board of aldermen meeting set for this coming Thursday.
Also, at the county level, Special Road District A met on Tuesday, and the city of Bloomsdale had its first regular meeting of 2021 as well.
WORK SESSION
The board of aldermen meeting will feature a work session following the regular board meeting.
The work session agenda will contain six items, according to a play-by-play account provided the Herald from city administrator Happy Welch.
Business items will include seeking aldermanic volunteers for both a health insurance committee and a water/sewer contract committee.
Welch said he’s looking for up to three volunteers for the health insurance committee as the city deliberates a possible future change of plans.
Ste. Genevieve’s water/sewer contract with Alliance Water Resources is up during this fiscal year, Welch noted.
Discussions will need to be facilitated for future possibilities related to this type of infrastructure.
Alliance during a recent board of aldermen meeting set out a long-range water and sewer system plan through 2032.
Welch reported the St. Louis County-based Forward/Slash has won an informational technology management contract with the city. The aldermen will be brought up to speed on what services will be provided.
In a distantly related matter, aldermen also are set to discuss its use of TextCaster.
Welch said he would like to see TextCaster become more of an informational tool, especially for emergency management services.
There also will be discussions on possibly extending sick day guidelines during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to March 31, 2021.
The original First Families Coronavirus Response Act paid leave rights expired on Dec. 31, 2020.
Lastly, Welch would like to provide aldermen with an update on the Misselhorn Collection, which is now housed with the National Park Service at the Jean-Baptiste Valle House.
As the pandemic continues, the aldermanic meeting will be available through the Zoom mobile and computer-based application. The agenda will feature a special meeting identification number and pass code.
The meeting also will air on Ste. Genevieve TV, which can be found on Spectrum Channel 991.
Log onto the Herald’s Twitter site before the meeting for the ID number and code.
MOBILE HOME
Welch reported both the deed owner and property owner will be present during Thursday’s meeting for discussions centering on Bill No. 4402.
This is an ordinance approving (or disallowing) a special use permit for Ste. Genevieve Properties, LLC, and Hunter Lee Holdings.
There was lively debate at the Dec. 10, 2020 meeting regarding the potential replacement of a non-conforming mobile home at 205 S. Tenth Street (Lot No. 4) with a new model unit. The lot covers 42,000 square feet.
General consensus is that this mobile home park has become substandard in recent years, which has been a fixture in the community since the 1970s.
The Ste. Genevieve Planning and Zoning Commission had originally approved this permit at its meeting on Nov. 5, 2020 — by a 5-1-2 vote. Gina Bryant was the lone “no” vote.
While the first reading of the ordinance was approved, a vote to waive the second reading was denied by a unique 3-3-1-1 vote.
Alderman Michael “Buck” Jokerst (Ward 2) abstained from the entire voting process due to a relationship with the property owner. Jeff Eydmann (Ward 3) was absent. Ashley Armbruster, (Ward 4) Gary Smith (Ward 1) and Bob Donovan (Ward 2) cast “no” vote