Creve Coeur City Council Election Preview: Ward Four

Editor's Note: For the next five days, Creve Coeur Patch will run profiles of each of the City Council races up for election on April 5.

From the looks of the things, the two candidates for Creve Coeur’s Ward 4 council seat couldn’t be more different. Scott Saunders immersed himself within Creve Coeur’s government on appointed committees, serving on the Creve Coeur Public Art Task Force, the Traffic Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission. While Mel Klearman serves as an Advisor Director for the Olive/Graeser Transportation Develeopment District (TDD) Board of Directors, he’s been a critic of the way the city spends its money.

Saunders has lived in Creve Coeur for 13 years and is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Developmental Biology at Washington University.  Klearman was involved in real estate and land development before retiring in 1992. His house was annexed in Creve Coeur in 1997.

Creve Coeur Patch caught up with both candidates for the seat and asked them questions related to downtown development, TDDs and the city’s taxation polices.

What do you think is the biggest issue in your city council race?

Saunders said that both candidates in the race want the city to be fiscally responsible, but he brings to the table experience in traffic and development, as well as planning and zoning.

“I think we have a similar set of goals, but I think I have a broader experience and exposure to issues in the city,” Saunders said.

Klearman said “every elected official has a fiduciary duty to provided needed services at the lowest possible cost.”

“Government officials are elected to serve their citizens,” said Klearman in an e-mail to Patch. “Therefore, council members must be held accountable for how they spend our taxes.”

What is your vision for downtown Creve Coeur?

Saunders said a downtown needs to be a place that “really draws people in.”

“There are a lot of ways that we can do that by incorporation of public art, having facilities there – performing arts – things that will actually bring and draw people in,” Saunders said. “I think that’s what’s really lacking in any single area of the city.”

Klearman said he “has been told” that downtown would include structures other than buildings or banks.

“Frankly speaking, I do not know what ‘downtown’ describes,” Klearman said. “I do know Creve Coeur businesses are located on both sides of Olive from Mason to Spoede.”

Are you satisfied with the way TDDs are structured?

Saunders said there are several problems with TDDs, adding that the past two reports from the state auditor’s office revealed hitches in the way they’re set up on a statewide basis.

“And the auditor has recommended at least changes in legislation in the state in the ways those are controlled,” Saunders said. “That hasn’t been forthcoming from our legislature. That being said, there are things the city can do that when we do structure these or create these that we make sure we have the proper oversight that is necessary.”

Klearman said the key to TDDs is “holding everyone involved accountable for what they do or do not do and the due diligence regarding the funding of a TDD’s project.”

He also said the Olive/Graeser TDD’s project of aligning Dautel with Graeser is making good progress.

“Fortunately, the road project building – Pace Creve Coeur Associates – diligently worked to complete the project,” Klearman said. “The alignment and the turning on the traffic lights will be completed by the end this month or early April depending on the weather. Pace and our current council members are to be complimented.”

How would you classify Creve Coeur’s tax burden?

Saunders noted that the city just recently passed a .25 percent tax increase, which could yield an additional $800,000 to the city’s budget. The city council’s job now is to “spend those dollars wisely.”

“We spend them properly now so that years from now, we don’t run into a problem of being short of money for city services,” Saunders said. “In general, this is a city that has relatively low taxes compared to other cities and is relatively high service oriented. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I think that’s a good goal for our community to strive to maintain that.”

Klearman wants to develop what he calls a “truth in spending” requirement, which would encompass public sharing of the city’s finances.

“Timely, factual information about revenues, spending & deficits must be published in Creve Coeur’s monthly newsletter in plain language we all can understand,” Klearman said.

What should Creve Coeur voters pick you instead of your opponent?

Saunders once again pointed to his experience in different areas of city government as a compelling reason for voters to choose him.

“I think I share many of the same concerns my opponent does,” Saunders said. “But I think I have a greater breadth of experience in the terms of the past 10 years serving on traffic and planning and zoning committee.”

Klearman said his election will lead to more information about the city’s finances.

“If I am elected, one way or another, taxpayers will receive ‘truth in spending’ reports,” he said.