Mayor Pirrello: Ellisville's Economy Is On Track

Editor's Note: The following is in response to wherein Ellisville resident Adam Paul announced his bid for Mayor.

It is easy for the garden-variety armchair quarterback to criticize after the fact.  What is challenging and rewarding is executing the plan on the field. 

Mr. Paul couldn't begin to understand why Gordmans left nor does he realize what was involved in relocating McDonald’s. He also fails to mention the new CVS, the first in the region. He just may not understand the current economic realities faced by all communities across the nation

I would like for Mr. Paul to know that in 2006, the Ellisville Council, with the help of Peckham, Guyton, Albers & Viets (PGAV) planning consultants, set in motion an unprecedented sequence of events that will provide Ellisville economic stability for many years to come. We identified specific areas with potential for redevelopment, then engaged in conversations with individual property owners and business operators to create partnerships and exchange ideas, as well as solicited input from the public.

Since 2006, we have played an active role with the Great Streets Initiative. In April 2008, the city's first Economic Development Commission was formed. Ellisville adopted an Economic Development Strategy Implementation Plan in May 2010, setting out goals and strategies to guide future economic planning.

Mr. Paul’s lack of involvement and understanding of the facts, along with the rhetoric of calling for new leadership, is irresponsible. A genuinely concerned resident would not start an Internet campaign by pointing fingers at leadership.

I invite Mr. Paul to participate in the process, to begin attending Council meetings in order to be informed and to effect change by contributing rather than criticizing. What Ellisville needs is continued leadership. The city's current leadership is informed, in touch with today's economic realities, and actively making a difference.