Beware of the Master Plan

The City is going through an extensive remodeling of the streets in the downtown area. Adding a center lane, better lighting, wider sidewalks, the whole nine yards. Old Highway 61 was to be the first with the work there almost completed. Church Street is next on the schedule with a completion date in 2012. Many more streets will be in line in accordance with the new downtown master plan.

This past Wednesday, at the Wentzville Board of Aldermen meeting the audience of citizens suffered through an agonizing two hours of political blathering even before they got to the Bills and Resolutions. The only oasis from the tedium was during public forum; A Wentzville businessman Mr. Rodney Sherman of Budget Towing explained to the Aldermen that the improvements to Old Highway 61 has presented his company with a problem. He explained that the curb cut leading to his building does not match up with his driveway. The Board discussed this situation amongst themselves and Alderman Leon Tow asked City Attorney Paul Rost, what the legal ramifications of this obvious oversight is to the City? Rost responded that the subject cannot be spoken about in a public meeting and suggested to call an executive session. Mr. Sherman was then told by Mayor Lambi that they would go into executive session just after the public portion of the meeting and that he would call him when they reconvened. It was at this point that I decided to leave. I wasn't about to sit around for another two hours while they scratched their collective asses. On my way out the door, Mr. Sherman pulled me aside and asked me what I thought was going on. I simply told him that it looked to me like he was about to get screwed.

I received a phone call from Mr. Sherman the following day and all he said was; "You were right!" I strongly urge residents or business owners to look carefully if you are in the path of the master plan. Be sure that what the City tells you and what the master plan says are the same.