Bids will be accepted now until 1:00pm, Thursday, April 26, 2012. For more information click on: Concession Supplies Bid Packet

Proposals for the operation of the Sappington Barn Center will be received by the City of Crestwood in the Department of Public Works, #1 Detjen Drive, Crestwood, Missouri, 63126, until Tuesday, April 3, 2012.

Click here for RFP

Annual Rate Increase for Solid Waste Services

The City of Crestwood’s residential solid waste services contract with Meridian Waste Services is entering year two of the contract.  The first year of the contract began on April 1, 2011 and each year commencing on April 1, an incremented increase will be incurred for waste services per the contract. The monthly rate is increasing from $17.75 to $18.28, which is an increase of 53 cents per month.  Since billing cycles are in three month increments, residents are being billed for the months of April, May and June 2012. You may have already noticed the price increase on your current bill. The next rate increase will not occur until next year on April 1, 2013.  At that time, and per the contract, a rate increase of 55 cents per month will go into effect.

For those residents that have qualified for the senior sticker program, sticker rates will increase from $3.00 to $3.25 per each sticker as of April 1.  This will be an increase of 25 cents per sticker.  The next sticker rate increase will not occur until April 1, 2013.  At that time, and per the contract, a rate increase of 25 cents per sticker will go into effect.  

If you have any questions please call the City of Crestwood Department of Public Services at 314-729-4720.

To increase awareness of the impending severe weather season, the annual statewide “Tornado Warning Exercise” will be conducted on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, around 1:30PM. If weather is inclement anywhere in Missouri, the test will be postponed by the National Weather Service until Thursday, March 15. To check for possible postponement of the drill, call the St. Louis County Police Severe Weather Information Line at 314-628-5420 on March 13th for a recorded update message.

For more information, click here

St. Louis County residents, age 50+, have an opportunity to learn computer skills and strategies for successful aging through the “Age Smart, Age Well” program sponsored by the Saint Louis County Department of Human Services.

More information here

Memorandum                                         

Office of the City Administrator

TO:                  Honorable Jeff Schlink

                        Board of Alderman

                        All Employees

FROM:            Petree A. Eastman

                        City Administrator

DATE:             February 24, 2012

RE:                 City Administrator’s Report

Congratulations to our service award recipients this year.   Two employees, Joe Evering and Mike Provaznik have been with the City 35 years! Wow!  Joan Eichholz has been with the City 25 years!  Doug Wilson and Jeff Schwering have been with the City 20 years and Donna Pierce, Larry Ostertag, Gordon Shaffer and Howard Rhymes have been here 10 years. They have all seen so many changes to the City and the community over those years.  I applaud them for their work and dedication to Crestwood.  So if you meet or see any of them, give them a handshake for years well done.  And come join us on Tuesday, March 6 at 3:00 for a little ceremony in the Auditorium to say thank you. Refreshments will be served.

Since the last City Administrator Report in January, we have been able to pull our numbers together to see where we stand given the closure of Sears and Barnes and Noble.  While we ended up with a surplus in fiscal year 2011 of approximately $291,049, we are forecasting a deficit in our General Fund in fiscal year 2012 of $160,378.  In FY 13, we expect a deficit of $264,553 which assumes no increases in any category except contracted services and commodities.  Undoubtedly, it will grow as costs for everything rise naturally with inflation.  This news does not bode well for us.  It does not bode well for City employees who have not seen a salary increase of much significance since 2005. 

There are only three real ways to deal with the growing deficits in the General Fund: 1) cut expenditures/services; 2) increase revenues; and/or 3) transfer certain overhead costs from the General Fund to the Capital Improvements and/or Park & Stormwater Funds and reduce the capital projects planned.  None of the choices are easy. 

Without laying off employees and preserving our capital improvement projects, one way to reduce costs is to eliminate overtime, especially by police and fire.  This means slower response times and increasing reliance on our mutual aid partners.  It would also mean less snow and trash removal.  We could also cut employees, but services would be reduced to do it. We are a very, very lean organization and already know that there are many projects that have not been done or have been scaled back.  We have cut or reduced so many programs and expenses over the years including street lighting, stormwater projects, tree planting and pruning, less snow removal and much needed building maintenance. Employees would again have to wait for a salary increase.  Morale is already low, this would not help.

We could raise revenues.  The Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance to end the Prop S property tax at the end of 2011, rather than let it be collected in 2012, which was its original sunset date.  This decision could be reversed and wipe out the deficit in 2012 and help significantly in 2013 because of the timing of receipts.  Beyond 2012, no matter what, Prop S expires on its own.  New revenues would have to come from some other source. 

The other method of dealing with the deficit is to move some portion of administrative costs (City Administrator, Director of Public Services etc) to the Capital Improvement and Park and Stormwater Funds.  Park Maintenance costs could also be allocated to those funds to free up monies in the General Fund.  The downside of this is that fewer capital projects would be completed and deferred a number of years.

What about the Mall?  Well, we all hope that the owner/developer will come soon and make a proposal that will help city finances.  We do not know when that project will begin and what form it will take.  Any development the size of the one anticipated will take years to get off the ground and even then what type of tax dollars would be generated is speculation at best.  Thus, we are in hold pattern on it and have to face the realities of our budget situation now.  The deficits cannot be ignored.  I wish we had better news, but it is what it is and it is my policy to be as frank with you as possible. Ultimately, what the Board of Aldermen decides is a matter of policy and the public can influence what policy they choose. 

Sales Tax Revenues: February 2012 sales tax revenues of $540,087 were -26.4%, or $193,374 less than the $733,461 projected for the month. 

The 2012 monthly budgeted amounts were forecasted using 2011 receipts as the basis.  As we have seen in the past, monthly sales tax receipts can vary greatly on a month-to-month basis and also vary greatly based on historical numbers.  For the first two months of 2012, sales tax revenue receipts are lagging compared to 2011 receipts.  Some of the decline is most likely due to the timing and processing of sales tax receipts by both the State and County.  The other factor would be due to the closing of Barnes & Noble and the announcement of the closure of Sears.   

City staff will continue to monitor sales tax receipts throughout the year and will notify the Mayor and Board if any budgetary revisions need to be discussed.

2012 Audit: City staff has begun compiling information requested by the auditors, Botz, Deal P.C.  The auditors have tentatively scheduled their field work for the week of April 9^th, 2012.

Public Works Maintenance Crew:  Maintenance personnel are currently engaged in the correction of sidewalk tripping hazards, joint and crack sealing, some street tree pruning, and the removal of dead trees and stumps.

Snow Removal:  The Public Works maintenance crew has used 242 tons of deicing salt thus far in addressing 2011 / 2012 winter storms.  Hopefully the remainder of the winter is mild. 

Rotary Pavilion: The Rotary Pavilion is complete except for the installation of the plaque indicating that the pavilion was donated by the Crestwood / Sunset Hills Rotary Club.  Rotary has scheduled a ribbon cutting ceremony in early March.   

Asphalt Mill and Overlay Project: The 2012 Asphalt Mill and Overlay Project was approved by the Crestwood Board of Aldermen on February 14, 2012.  Contracts have been submitted to West Contracting for execution.  A preconstruction meeting will be scheduled in March, with Notice to Proceed to follow shortly thereafter.  Once a schedule is completed notification will be provided to area residents, the City Administrator, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen.

Contract Mowing:  On February 14, 2012 the Board of Aldermen approved the mowing contract for 2012 with St. Louis Select Landscaping and Lawncare.  We are in the process of executing contracts, and work should begin in late March or early April. 

Electric Lighting Fixture Supply and Replacement Project:  Bids for this project were opened on February 1, 2012.  Only two bids were received, both of which were substantially over budget.  Additionally, the portion of the grant funding through Ameren Missouri has been eliminated.  Accordingly, the project is currently on hold until Public Works Staff and Administration determine how to proceed.  Anyone with questions  regarding this project is encouraged to contact the Director of Public Services.  

Sewer Lateral: During the month of January the City received eight applications for sewer lateral repair, of which three were approved.  A detailed report on the sewer lateral program will be provided to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen in May.   

Planning and Zoning Commission:  The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on March 7, 2012 in order to consider a request for a Conditional Use Permit for a dance studio at 9698 Watson Industrial Court.       

Spellman Avenue Phase I.  A meeting with the affected utility companies was held on February 15.  Right of way plans have been approved by MODOT and the City Staff will soon begin the process of obtaining the necessary easements and right-of-way.  Construction is scheduled for the spring of 2013.       

Spellman Avenue Phase II:  Notice to Proceed has been issued to HR Green and survey work should begin soon.  As a reminder, this project includes the reconstruction of Ponderosa, Acorn (Ponderosa to Oak Ridge), Oak Ridge, and Holmes.  MSD is currently in the process of installing a large sanitary sewer line along Kirkwood Creek, which will run under Holmes Avenue.  While this project is not part of the road reconstruction project, it will affect the traffic patterns of area residents.  The contactor is in the process of providing notification to area residents regarding the impact to Holmes Avenue.  

Sign Commission:  The Sign Commission met on February 8, at which time it unanimously approved a request for an electronic reader board sign at 8790 Watson Road. 

Animal Control Report:  The Animal Control Officer responded to 84 animal related calls in January, including three complaints, 24 requests for information, six wildlife calls, four dead animals,  twelve lost and found calls,  twelve adoption inquiries, one abuse/neglect concern, four bite cases and three volunteer opportunity inquiries.   In the month of January, the Animal Control Officer picked up two dogs and three cats.  The shelter had 26 animals on hand at the beginning of January, and 20 animals remained on hand at the end of January.     

Community Center: 

• The brochure has gone to press and will be arriving in the mail the week of February 27, at which time it will also be available online.  
• The annual Daddy and Daughter Valentine Dance took place on February 11 with 128 fathers and daughters enjoying an evening of dinner, dancing, games, and crafts.  Each of the girls took home a stuffed animal to help her remember the evening.
• Tickets are now available for the Egg Scramble to be held on Saturday, March 31, sponsored by Montgomery Bank.  Anyone interested can purchase a ticket at the Community Center for the low price of $2/resident and $4/non-resident.  Tickets need to be purchased prior to March 24.

Aquatic Center:

• Recreation staff is currently in the process of purchasing new overhead netting for the Lilly Pad feature and replacement deck chairs and river tubes. Bid packages will soon be distributed for concession suppliers and the climbing wall feature.
• New special promotional days are being offered for this year, which are described in detail in the Spring and Summer Pastimes of a Lifetime. These promotions are intended to increase interest and attendance at the Aquatic Center and potentially attract new members.

Park Board:

• The next Park Board meeting is scheduled to be held at the Crestwood Community Center on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 7 p.m.

Alarm Totals – As of the end of January, the Fire Department has responded to 110 alarms. This is 12 more alarms than the same time period in 2011. EMS accounted for 84 of the alarms in January or 76%.

Grants – Department members are in the process of evaluating equipment and apparatus for the two FEMA grants we were awarded in December. The New Equipment committee has had several manufacturers of thermal imaging cameras and gas detectors bring their equipment to the Fire House for evaluation. The Apparatus Committee had an opportunity to view several different manufacturers’ fire engines at the Missouri Winter Fire School in Columbia, Mo. on 2/10. Members are awaiting replies from manufacturers for our requirements. A specification will be developed by the committee after reviewing those replies.   

Wellness Challenge-The wellness challenge concluded Tuesday, January 31.  Cassy Kollmeyer won the weight loss challenge by losing approximately 4.3% of her body weight.  John and Melanie Vonarx won the activity challenge and logged close to 800 minutes of exercise.  Congratulations to those two teams, as well as to all those who participated!  If you have any suggestions for future wellness challenges, please contact your department’s Wellness Committee representative or Assistant to the City Administrator Nikki Koehnemann.

Here’s the latest edition of the eNewsletter, including highlights of upcoming meetings and events, summaries of past City meetings, volunteer opportunities and upcoming programs for adults and kids:

February 24, 2012

Latest edition of the eNewsletter here; making it easy to keep up to date on local events and meetings.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

St. Louis (Feb. 2, 2012) – Lindbergh High School history teacher Brad Durnell is inviting war veterans in the Lindbergh community to volunteer one day of time this spring to share their stories with small groups of students, during the third annual “History Alive” program in his classroom.

“The goal of this program is to connect various generations and promote meaningful conversations through a series of interviews between the students of today and America’s veterans,” Durnell said.

During this rewarding experience, veterans speak with small groups of 2-4 students, sharing their personal experiences and life lessons learned while serving in the American armed forces.

“This is a rewarding experience not only for the students, who get to talk face to face with a person who lived through the history we study, but also for the veterans, who have the opportunity to work with the next generation and share their stories,” Durnell said.

The sessions will be from 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Lindbergh High School, with lunch provided, on the following days:

• WWII – Thursday, March 15
• Korean War – Thursday, April 5
• Vietnam War – Friday, May 4
• Wars in Afghanistan, Iraq – Friday, May 11

If you or someone you know may be interested, please send their names, phone numbers and/or email addresses to Durnell at bdurnell@lindberghschools.ws.

St Louis County Outdoor Warning Siren System

Individual Testing beginning February 1, 2012

Outdoor warning siren testing will begin Wednesday, February 1, 2012. We expect this testing to continue to Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Testing will not be conducted Saturday or Sunday.

The sirens are located in various locations throughout the County, and will be tested during the day between 10AM and 2PM (weather permitting) - the test will begin with a voice announcement, followed by a one-minute tone, followed by a concluding voice announcement.

Please note that the regularly scheduled first-Monday-of-the-month test of the entire system is also scheduled during this period, and will occur on February 6, 2012 at 11AM (weather permitting). All sirens will be activated simultaneously for three minutes.

David J. “Duff” Barney

St Louis County Emergency Communications Commission

7900 Forsyth Boulevard

Clayton, Missouri 63105

O:  314-615-2562