St. Charles County Municipal League Supports Page Extension, Won't Cooperate on 9-11 Ceremony

In a Community Association ballroom overlooking picturesque Lake Sainte Louise, the St. Charles County Municipal League met for a dinner meeting on the last day of June. The dinner meeting was co-sponsored by Patch and Armstrong Teasdale.

Municipal League Board President Jim Pepper of O'Fallon was not present, so Vice President Judy Bateman of St. Peters conducted the meeting.

Among the business conducted:

• Passage of a resolution to support the construction of the Page Extension.
• Tabling discussion of the volunteer Executive Director position, which is currently vacant.
• Discussion of the League's website, determining if it gets enough traffic to warrant the cost and possibly replacing it with a Facebook page.
• Discussion of the possibility of a cooperative 9-11 commemoration ceremony.

Lake Saint Louis Alderman Karen Vennard brought up the idea of the Municipal League sponsoring a 9-11 memorial service for the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

"It falls within our by-laws and our focus," Vennard said. She suggested such a ceremony take place on the St. Charles riverfront so that sufficient room and parking would be available.

Rose Mack of O'Fallon said that she had spoken to officials in O'Fallon about the idea. O'Fallon has had its own 9-11 event for several years, she said, and would not be interested in being part of a county-wide ceremony.

Vennard said that the Municipal League ceremony would most likely be on Sept. 10 instead of on Sept. 11, because members had a conflicting obligation in Kansas City on Sept. 11.

Cheryl Kross of Wentzville said that she believed the and the O'Fallon Fire District were coordinating something countywide. Wentzville is also planning its own small ceremony in conjunction with the soap box derby.

Vennard said that perhaps it would be better to continue plans for the 9-11 anniversary ceremony at the city level.

The Board then discussed plans for their next meeting, which is tentatively planned for Friday, Oct. 21, at a location to be announced.

City Reports

Tommy Roberts of St. Peters talked about progress in his city, including new solar panels being added to the Rec-Plex, the Salt River Road improvements and the opening of Lakeside 370 Park.

O'Fallon representative Rose Mack and Lake Saint Louis Mayor Mike Potter talked about their respective Fourth of July events. A representative from Dardenne Prairie said that the city is making progress on its own park and that Prairie Days is scheduled for Sept. 16-17.

St. Paul is also working on a new 19-acre park that will include a conservation area and trails. 

The Municipal League

The Municipal League's mission is to "represent the interests of its membership, to serve local governments as a vehicle for cooperation in formulating and promoting municipal interests and policy at local, state and federal levels to enhance the welfare of the citizens."

The League includes the cities of Augusta, Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Flint Hill, Foristell, Josephville, Lake Saint Louis, New Melle, O'Fallon, Portage Des Sioux, St. Charles, St. Charles County, St. Paul, St. Peters, Weldon Spring, Weldon Spring Heights, Wentzville and West Alton.