Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The economy and parks are high on his agenda for 2012.
Michael O’Mara (D-Florissant), District 4 was elected the new St. Louis County Council chair in the first council meeting of 2012. He takes the helm from Steve Stenger (D-Affton), the councilman for District 6. Kathleen Burkett (D-Overland), District 2, is now the vice chair. O’Mara is a Florissant native, and has been on the council since 2000. He was the chair, last, in 2007. He was an All-American soccer player before playing professionally in Kansas City and St. Louis. He joined the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562, and is currently an international representative for the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Sprinklerfitters. O’Mara’s priorities for St. Louis County for the year are all about the economy. He said in a …
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The General Fund gains $350,000 in the process. The final vote is next week.
To save all the county parks and keep snow plowing in unincorporated areas of St. Louis County, the St. Louis County Council voted Tuesday to adjust four funds from the original proposed 2012 budget. County Executive Charlie Dooley had made an announcement at the previous council meeting that a compromise was reached which saved 23 parks from closing. The General fund started out at $232,091,091 in County Executive Charlie Dooley’s original 2012 budget, which included closing the county parks. The amended amount passed last night was $232,441,091—an additional $350,000. Three department budgets saw adjustments. The council voted to pull $22,754,346 from unappropriated Park Maintenance funds, to go toward the Parks and Recreation Department…
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Nixon announced possible joint management as a solution to Dooley's parks-closing proposals.
The state and the county may be teaming up to save 23 parks from budget cuts, including two swimming pools, a community center and a petting zoo. On the chopping block are Mathilda‐Welmering and Ohlendorf parks in Affton and Bohrer County Park in Concord. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced today that the state is discussing joint state-county management of some of the county parks slated to close. The governor’s office offered Lone Elk Park as an example. Because the popular park is adjacent to Castlewood State Park, joint state-county operation could cut costs and keep the park open. “I am committed to working with County Executive (Charlie) Dooley and his team to explore ways we can help keep some of these parks open for Missourians,” …
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
More than 60 people spoke at the public hearing on the recommended 2012 county budget.
Lily Springer is worried about the animals that live in the 23 St. Louis County Parks slated for closure in the 2012 recommended county budget. The 10-year-old spoke to a crowd of more than 120 at a public hearing Tuesday night that gave residents the opportunity to voice their concerns about the budget. She also brought a petition signed with 241 signatures of adults in favor of saving the parks. “I love the parks,” she said. “Did you ever think about the animals who live there in their natural homes in the parks? Please keep the parks for the children now and in the future.” After speaking, she asked County Executive Charlie Dooley to wear an “I Love Parks” sticker, given out earlier that day at a rally in support of saving the parks. …
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
We're weaving together updates, pictures, video, tweets and more from the Save Our Parks rally and the County Council budget hearing to help you find the answer to tonight's big question: Will the county close parks to keep the budget
Jason Wescoat
9:00 pm on Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Wow, someone stole two thirds of the world GDP and only you and the Occupy people, who can only make a point by continuously breaking the law, know about it? I should read more news... more ›