OOPS' The swim club overflows into the retaining wall!

It seems that on Friday May, 25, 2007 while filling the Crestwood swim club pool, the pool fillers were called away, or left with the water valves in the open position. Why not said I, as that's a lot of water to run into anything.

Well someone must have forgotten to return to shut off the spigot's, as the pool overflowed sending water into the retaining wall. Officials from the pool were notified, and within the hour the water was shut off.

I think that was a pretty good response time considering it was a holiday weekend, and the gates are locked so just anyone can't get in. So now we know that there are measures in place in case accidents like this happen in the future. Still it left me wondering if all that water and the resulting hydraulic pressure it must have caused has done any damage to the retaining wall.

Will the pool officials be asking a civil engineer to inspect the wall for possible damage? I think it would be a good idea, and I hope they share my feelings on this and have that done as soon as possible.

Tom Ford

NO. 338

Have a safe and reflective Memorial day Crestwood!

Here we are at another Memorial day week end, and once again our young men and women have been called upon to lay down their lives in support, and defence of this great Nation.

Please find the time this weekend to reflect of the sacrifice these brave young people have given for us to be able to do all the thing's we have planned with relative impunity.

When your at the park, or at the baseball game with your family, please, when you leave the celebration, take one last look back for those who are no longer able, they ask nothing of us, but they deserve that and more from us.

Please click on the header for a Memorial day card for Crestwood!

Tom Ford

NO. 337

Former City Administrator Don Greer passes away!

For those of you that have not heard yet Mr. Donald Greer was found today at his home deceased. It appears that a massive heart attack, or stroke may have taken Mr. Greer, but I am not certain at this time.

I will post more here as it becomes available. Please click on the header for further.

As promised the arrangements for Don Greer are as follows. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 PM on Tuesday, May 29,2007 at Kallal and Schaaf funeral home in Bethalto, IL. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 with burial following at Rose lawn Gardens at Bethalto, IL.

On line guest book may be signed at www.kallalandschaaf.com

" For home is the hunter, home from the hill, and the sailor from the sea!" Rest in peace!

Tom Ford

NO. 336

Did the Mayor actually say " he would not vote for a TDD, TIF, CID?

I have been searching my memory for a hint of that from Mayor Robinson's campaign speeches, literature, or comment's to no avail! There are those who post here that say he said it, and if he did, well, I can't find it!

I am at a loss as to how that statement could be made by anyone running for public office when they have no way to see into the future. There may indeed be times when it could be very necessary to grant such a "tool" to a developer for a really large project (No the pool deal wasn't one of them,) to insure success.

I doubt that it will matter much anymore as the State Legislature has passed a bill that grants the County's the power to do so, and not the cities! This bill will go to the Governor for his signature soon, and will no doubt end the in-fighting for new developments between local communities. Is it a good thing? I have no idea, but it should be very interesting to watch!

Tom Ford

NO. 335

Mrs. Duchilds letter to the paper!

I know you all expected me to "start A new thread to save the Mayor," and I wasn't going to do it, but hey, this is too great a letter, and thus a post to resist! (click on the header, please.)

I would hope that the people involved with this deal have an answer for Mrs. Duchild, but I doubt it, and while I am at it, The Mayor is not the one that "needs saving!" Mrs. Duchild brings up some very valid questions! How do you sell what you don't own? Or, how do you get "public" funds for the sale of property you do own (if we are to believe THF owned the property!)

As I see it you can't transfer property you do not own to anyone for whatever, and I am at a loss as to how you receive public tax funds for property owned by others!

Which one is it swim club officials? Someone must have the answer to her questions, no?

Tom Ford

NO. 334

Local paper slams Mayor Robinson for telling it like it is!

In an editorial a local paper has accused Mayor Robinson of "playing the blame game!" Why you say? Well it seems they do not want to hear about the past. Now, I have no problem with that, however I am reminded that "those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it in the future."

Let's look at the "constructive criticism" the paper has to offer. The Mayor is not allowed to blame former "City officials" for anything prior to his becoming Mayor, nor is he to mention the THF / swim club deal, or the fact that he may have been lied to by "previous officials."

As I see it, the paper would have us all forget what happened in the past to land us in the financial difficulties we have faced, and we should all forget the $1400.00 chairs, the police palace, and all the other "small problems" we have had to live through in the past!

The paper calls these thing's "self serving," and an attempt to "shift blame!" Well, that's a neat try, "paper," but I think most of us in Crestwood (with some Mayor haters as exceptions,) can see through your agenda, and I for one reject your premise, and your liberal bias in bringing it to us!

What the heck ever happened to telling the truth about what happened in the past, and why we don't want it in the future?

Tom Ford

NO.333

Crestwood new police cars to arrive on Wednsday!

Ladies and Gentlemen, we will finally be seeing 10 new police cars on Crestwood streets this week! This has been a long time coming as some of the police vehicles are 10 years old!

What a great sign of the recovery we have all be hoping for, and at less than the budget called for this year!

Good job Mr. Myers, Mayor Robinson and the board of Aldermen!

Tom Ford

NO. 332

Happy Mothers day Crestwood MOM'S!

Please click on the header for your card!

Happy Mothers day!

Tom Ford

NO.331

Real estate taxes, assesments, and the twin properties on Rayburn, and Sappington!

At the last BOA meeting a question was asked by a resident reference why a local club should pay lower taxes than a homeowner. That in it's self is interesting, but do we have the "rest of the story?" No, we do not, so stay tuned for the results! It would appear that we have a "denouement" going on here that will require further research!

Tom Ford

NO. 330

Growing apathy in Crestwood?

My friends and neighbors, I have been reading some of the post's here on the blog, and I am concerned that we citizens have grown somewhat apathetic when it comes to our City.

I know we have come a very long way under Mayor Robinson's leadership, but there is still a long way to go! I see questions asked that are pushed aside by some with no answer given, as well as the "well, that's the way it is" answer with no reason given.

Folks, we have a brand new board, a group of people with the knowledge, and courage to move Crestwood forward, but they need our ideas, and help. Now is not the time to back off, but rather the time to offer suggestions, and what ever else you think is a legitimate issue that needs to be addressed!

Please give us your comment's, and I promise I will forward them to the entire BOA, and the Mayor for their edification!

Tom Ford

NO. 329

Preliminary schedule for the May 8th,2007 BOA meeting.

Please click on the header to be directed to the site. It looks as though it might be worth attending (as they all are,) but select your area of interest, and attend!

Tom Ford

NO. 328