Culver's coming to crestwood? Click here for the article by the "Patch."
Well we may be the proud supporters of a new Culver's restaurant if all goes well at the next Board meeting.
If you have never tried a "butter burger" from Culver's I can guarantee you that once you do you will be back for more.
I wish them Gods speed in their deliberations with the Board, and I hope yo see them opening here soon.
Tom Ford
NO. 1014
If you have never tried a "butter burger" from Culver's I can guarantee you that once you do you will be back for more.
I wish them Gods speed in their deliberations with the Board, and I hope yo see them opening here soon.
Tom Ford
NO. 1014
posted by Crestwood Independent at 08:41
43 Comments:
Hopefully Miguel won't be at that board meeting. We need that business.
Yes, heaven forbid he asks any questions. Board members should just rubber-stamp everything.
Fellow Bloggers: Were uniquely fortunate to have an Alderman who actually reads his packet before the meeting and prepares for it.
Alderman Miguel is a blessing to Crestwood, questions, meticulous numbers crunching, and insightful remarks included.
May we be blessed with another just like him when he is term limited out!
Tom Ford
Which is soon hopefully
9;47 AM Blogger: "Be careful what you wish for yo just may get it." (Old Chinese proverb.)
Now what do you want up there an empty dress, or suit that just is a bobble head doll for whoever pulls the strings?
Please explain that to all of us like we were three year olds!
Tom Ford
Perhaps all the real discussions happen in the '007 top secret meetings' they have when 'the kiddies' are in bed...Though it was nice to see Mr. Foote actually say a quite a lot...in public...
No, I am enjoying the board we have currently. I love having little to no new businesses in Crestwood, and the ones that are interested in moving here, I like that they are picked apart, grilled and interrogated until they want to run screaming from here. I prefer that we become similar to Wellston or some place like it, where no businesses want to come here, and there is no tax money coming in. I agree...Mr. Miguel is an asset and should continue just as he always has, making potential new businesses feel very welcome.
For all of you who have opinions. You have little to no understanding about the negotiations. Perhaps you should first run for office, maybe become elected, ask the correct questions, understand the information, and then negotiate with seven others who may or may not have performed the due diligence required to perform the job of alderman. Miguel, Duchild, Wallach, and Schlink are good examples.
The remaining barley understand what is occurring right under their noses.
Duncan questions about prop S at the last BOA meeting is agood example. Duncan displayed an amazing example of ignorance about Prop S even though she voted to levy the tax every year during her term. It is this lack of leadership and vision that continues to push our city to the brnk of bankruptcy.
Until it is recognized that we are no longer the city built from the revenue of Cretwood Plaza (long gone and will not return any time soon) we are doomed to the likes of Wellston. The boom is over and severe adjustments to staff and service expectations will have to be implemented.
Decisions during the next two years will be crucial to the future of Crestwood. I hope the new BOA is smart enough to make the business decisions required.
Thus far John Foote raving about canopy fires to justify the money spent on a bridge to no where, the growing population of feral cats as justification for an animal control person, the city providing room and board and a stipend for the code enforcement officer, paying excessive salary and providing the cost of personal transportation for the director of public works etc,. certainly do not demonstrate any hope for the future.
I have my doubts!!!!
I certainly will not support a tax increase or as I am sure what will also be referred to as a, no tax, tax increase.
yes, 3:11 poster, I am more than sure you will not support a tax increase. That is more than understandable. No one wants tax increases. But let's be honest: cities, states, and countries do not run by the good humor of the citizens and people's sparkling personalities. They need money to function. And withholding a vote for a moderate tax increase for your city to function until exactly what you want is done at city hall is the very definition of selfish and a prime example of wearing blinders. The fact is that the residents of Crestwood cannot seem to accept that the mall is gone, and refuse to look at any other way to generate funds. The city is down to bare-bones staff, and firing anyone else will have whole departments eliminated. If there is to be any city left, a tax increase may be necessary, whether they have done what you want or not. Holding your vote hostage to get your own way baffles me, since the city needs help now.
3:32 PM Blogger: The City is no where near "bare bones staff!" What with assistant City Administrators, a secretary for darn near every department head, and excess positions (animal control, free room and board and a $100.00 a month to live at Sappington house for the code enforcement officer.)
If you wish to discuss a tax increase you had best stop the ridiculous monetary bleeding at City Hall.
Were paying for things that no other community on this planet would stand for because we once had a shopping center!
We no longer have that luxury, so "show me" the cuts and i will listen to your tax increase ideas, not until!
Tom Ford
Correct me if I am wrong but I believe I was told the stipend is $1000.00 per month.
How is expecting my tax money to return maximum value being selfish?
The citizens cannot run their private financial affairs on good humor either.
The massive devaluation of the citizens primary investment, the home, has been devalued 30% or more in the last four years. The government still thinks it deserves increased taxes on a smaller valuation.
People wake up. The government we created is not sustainable on my declining value or yours. Smaller government is required and increased self reliance that we gave to the government should fall back to the individuals.
4:45 PM Blogger: Check the budgeted amount, last I heard it's $100.00 per month as were paying for heat, electricity, air conditioning, water, and repairs.
If it's a thousand per month she has to go as well since "code enforcement" is done by the Police Department anyway.
You should expect "maximum value" for every dollar you give them (and anyone else,) so when do we see it from City Hall?
Tom Ford
Tom - it is $100 per month but what makes me angry is how things get distorted (4:45 saying $1000) that is exactly how things get out of hand. People taking jabs at making statements like 4:45 - others read it and then run with it thinking it is true. God I hate it. That is exactly what this city doesn't need - "another country heard from". Get it right or shut up! Just say you don't know!
3:32 PM - 4/14 I give you plaudits for your words. Sorry Tom but I agree with 3:32 on having a moderate tax increase. I think every word said in that comment is "right on". You are saying you will vote against it unless the city first does what you want them to do about cutting costs. I do not agree and respectfully disagree.
3:32 your comment should be given to The Call and other newspapers. Thanks you so very much for saying it - in my book - you are "right on".
Sandy
I stated I was told the amount was $1000.00. I apologize for repeating something that seems to be incorrect.
The principle still applies. The quantity is not relevant.
I presume the rest of the anomalies are accepted.
You cannot ask for a tax increase until the city is running as efficiently as possible, and its services are scaled to the needs of the community. This benchmark has not yet been met.
Martha Duchild
Please clarify "scaled to the needs of the community". I am unsure of your meaning. Thank you.
I agree. We need a tax increase. A massive one. This city was founded for one purpose and one purpose only - its employees. We should be terribly ashamed of ourselves for providing for our family and not giving more of our hard-earned money to this wonderfully-run city. The residents are selfish as can be - how can you feed your family when our employees need a raise? How selfish is that?
Our departments are stripped to the bone. The police department is only down to 100 cars! The fire department needs another fire truck or 3 and more fire union influence. My word, a canopy forest fire could start anytime! Even in this rain! The animal control official needs a staff of at least 30 to control the onslaught of feral cats. Why I saw 10 tonight on my way home! The public works department needs more trucks. I'd say they could use 10 more and I'd throw in a few 18-wheelers. After all, they need to assist our consultants and hired engineers to build more bridges that are so necessary.
We have the absolute best staff of city employees ever ... in the world ... in the universe! I would put any one of our police officers against any special forces ninja karate firearms expert trained anywhere. I would put any of our firefighters against Denis Leary in Rescue Me.
Our population is at an all-time high. Don't believe what the census tells you.
So I for one, will not rest until we see a tax increase and the city returns to its original mission - to provide for the employees only! Until our employees are chauffeured by limousine to and from work and are eating steak and caviar for lunch and working 4 hour days, I will not rest. Keep the faith!
Four police detectives and their boss for a city of 11,000???? And an empty mall that used to keep them busy...
9:32 AM Blogger: We need four to cove all the shifts per week. The supervisor, well not so much, so he could return to uniform duty.
Tom Ford
A huge workload
They work days. Lol
So many paperbacks....so little time....
2:55 PM Blogger; maybe you should ask my neighbor 5 doors up who was robbed three days ago if they don't need the detectives who caught the bad guy, and will return the belongings to them!
You haven't done it, you have no idea what your talking about reference Police work,and yet you and the other amature comedians above seem to think we don't need them.
Police, fire, paramedics and yes, detectives are sort of like a parachute, you don't need one till you need one! I pray you never need any of the my friend!
Tom Ford
remember on this blog, there is no need for any other city employees besides police and fire. They are obviously necessary and very important, as no one will dispute. But on here, they are the only city employees worth having.
9:44 PM Blogger: Once again your attempt is "too cute by a half."
We all know there is a need for City employees, just not so many of them! For instance we are one of only two municipalities in St. Louis County with animal control, ALL the remaining 87 use County.
We have assistants to far too many department heads, and secretaries as well.
To survive the coming times we must become leaner, and that means fewer employees, like it or not.
The problem here is all we hear is TAX INCREASE when we have granted them far too many times in the past, to no avail I might add.
This Blog will remain anti "tax and spend" as long as I write it, so get with the program, start suggesting ways to save money, not spend it!
Tom Ford
well, with 87 municipalities using st louis county, that might be why the employees are over worked, under paid, and unavailable. I have a friend not in crestwood who just had to call them and it didn't go well. He was very envious of our system here. Never assume your opinion is the only one.
1:57 PM Blogger: Well since we don't know what your friend said, or did, if anything to "not make the call go well," it's a moot point.
What I a discussing here is the fact that we have to take all the emotion out of this and deal in cold hard facts for a change!
Were no longer able to afford the amenities we once enjoyed here and we have to face it. Now, what do we cut to keep the services this City was founded for? That being Police, Fire, and Public Works.
Rake everything else out of the emotional corner and tell me what we can (AND MUST) cut to avoid going bankrupt.
I am sure at this point you will say tax increase, but forget it, it's been done numerous times over the last 12 years and ALL the money has ended up being squandered on foolish projects.
Please give me an unemotional and rational answer as to what you would do (minus the tax increase) to keep Crestwood afloat, and why you think it will work, now hows that for "other opinions?"
Tom Ford
am curious, with a nearly a million dollar surplu, how are we going bankrupt?
pardon me...that was supposed to read surplus.
6:29 PM Blogger: We must be else why the hue and cry for a tax increase?
True enough that surplus will be "eaten up" sooner rather than later, but as of today with a minimal amount of restructuring we can,and will pull this off minus a tax increase.
You see the "bankrupt" comment was to assist some here to think about what was and is needed, not as a looming fact.
I am really happy that you are knowledgeable enough to call me on it as the masses certainly do not seem to be, or worse yet they don't care.
Tom Ford
John Foote has proclaimed the need for a tax increase since was elected. Is it possible John has repeated it so often that
A. It is finally true.
Or
B. Gloom and Doom wins
Or
C. John is gearing up for additional lectures concerning the end is near.
I am curious if you have heard what the surplus will be spent on, or will it be put into the "general fund"?I prefer putting it away or into salaries, because I am not a fan of firing people. I hate causing unemployment. I am a believer in protecting jobs as best we can in every situation.
The excess is to cover the pending lawsuits.
Pure speculation right now is all you are doing. Look up the word in the dictionary. Look at any celebrity magazine, nightly news, newspapers......it is all the same; 90% hype, 10% fact. I am only interested in facts and 8 x 10 glossys; other than that - all we do is guess until such time as our mayor and board make a decision (if they ever will) and put it on paper, sign it and make it a fact.
1. August 2000/Proposition C Passed Sales Tax/Parks and Storm Water
2. August 2002/Proposition S Passed
Sales Tax/Capital Improvements Extension
3. August 2003/Proposition 1 Passed Sales Tax/Fire Department
4. April 2005/Proposition 1 Failed
General Obligation Bond/Property Tax
5. Nov. 2005/Proposition R Passed
Increase Merchant License Fee/Gross Receipts
6. Nov. 2005/Proposition S Passed
Tax Increase/Gross Receipts/Commercial Utilities
7. Nov. 2005/**Proposition T Failed Tax Increase/Gross Receipts/Residential Utilities
8. April 2006/Proposition S Passed Property Tax Increase
9. August 2008 **Proposition 1
Failed Property Tax Increase
In twelve years, we've had NINE tax increase proposals. Our utility taxes and sales taxes are some of the highest in St. Louis County. Only our real estate taxes for Crestwood are low ... for now.
What really flabbergasts me is that those who are in favor of a tax increase almost shame the residents who will voting on it! Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!
You live in a low tax city ...how could you not want to increase your taxes..look at all our wonderful services...we have to step up to the plate...we have to give our employees a raise.
Well, I'll tell ya. I pay high utility taxes. I pay high sales taxes every time I shop in Crestwood.
I hear very little to no talk about the residents. All I hear is about how our taxes are so low and how our poor employees suffer. If you listen to some of the board members, you would think they are employee advocates and not representatives of the people of their wards!
If you wish to raise taxes, present your case and show me how the extra money will be spent. If you wish to raise taxes, don't shame the ones who will vote on it.
2:20 am poster
Well said. I would vote for you.
Typical politics. If your cause can be supported logically then prey on emotions.
I meant to say cannot be supported
Low tax cities tend to have limited services or mounting debt.
Business and family migration negates any sales tax increases.
i for one vote for a modest tax increase with the elimination of Police and Fire. Downsize public works to where it should be and enjoy the surplus to improve roads, parks, sidewalks and the like. My property has declined close to 40%. We need a small government with no frills.
St. Louis city just cut its force by 90 police officers..maybe early retirements are in order.
There are a few that have retired. They have just not left the job.
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