The fate of a new city hall building placement is at hand and in the very near future, in an executive session, the Board of Aldermen will be deciding its location. A serious dialog has been going on for more than fifteen years and I really wonder how long our current board members have even lived in Wentzville. Therein lies a major problem of having a Board of Aldermen who have a maximum of four rears of service on the Board. In May of 2012 The Wentzvillian posted; "City Hall Opinions" which listed each of their opinions regarding location.
Public opinion regarding the location of a new City Hall building was huge then (and still is), it mandated the passing of a resolution by the City. In 2003, "Resolution 03-098" in part reads; "That the Mayor and Board of Aldermen state the location of a future site of City Hall in the downtown district is preferred." Mayor Paul Lambi took great interest in historic Wentzville and spearheaded the Board of Aldermen to work toward building a new City Hall building in the downtown area.
On March 22, 2006, the Board of Aldermen voted to accept a proposal by Holleran, Duitsman Architects (HDA), in the amount of $272,000 to provide professional services for the planning of a City Hall and Public Works Facility and authorize a contract not to exceed an amount of $275,000 for the study (by the way, it ended up costing more than the limit). There were hundreds of citizens interested in this project and attended numerous public meetings and surveys held by HDA to support a new location in our historic district. Four locations were identified by HDA with the favorite of the citizens to be at the intersection of Pearce Blvd and N. Linn Avenue.
Last Wednesday evening at the Board of Aldermen work session, they had a discussion; "(ID # 4567) Discussion of Wentzville City Hall Project." Questions asked by some of the Aldermen were quite frankly disturbing. It is disheartening that Aldermen, who are relative newcomers to our city, eagerly disregarding the wishes and hard work of those who came before them. Equally disheartening was the lack of leadership displayed by our mayor, Nickolas Guccione. He should have been all over this with his recommendation, but in his usual "follow the pack attitude," said nothing. This is your chance to shine and you need to take a stand.
City Administrator, T. Michael McDowell, started the discussion and boiled it down to two sites. One on the Wentzville Parkway by the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) and an undescribed downtown location. He further said; by going through the studies made "five or six years ago" he figured out the downtown location was where the old Commerce building sets today, the corner of Pearce Blvd. and N. Linn Avenue.
Ward 2 Alderman, Sonya Shyrock, asked if they could look at other places to locate the new building. She wants to take a ride around town with McDowell to show him her new choices. From what she said, it sounds like she wants to redo the study and public opinions given over the last fifteen years, but I could be wrong because she never named her choice(s). I think she's in favor of the downtown location, but I can't say for sure.
Perhaps the most frustrating question was brought forward by Ward 1 Alderman, Cheryl Kross, to paraphrase, she asked; "Was there a resolution made by the City recommending a downtown location?" I know for a fact that she does not want City Hall in the downtown location at Pearce and N. Linn, and suspect she doesn't want it at the LEC location. In a discussion with her a month or so ago, I found her reason to be somewhat cryptic: "If we build a city hall building on that site, people would be tearing down historic buildings on Pearce Blvd." That's a noble thought but I think perhaps there may be an underlying agenda for not placing it there. To Aldereman Kross, who is a staunch conservative, I say; The city has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on this project already, do we really need to spend more to make the right decision?
The discussion was left with, they would further discuss the location choice at the June 26th Board of Aldermen Meeting and make the decision in closed session. Citizens need to be at that meeting to express their opinions—again!
Wentzville is at the crossroads, the new City Hall building could be an enhancement to Wentzville's history, not just another modern building out on the Sprawlway having little or no impact on our city's image. A classic three- or four-story building downtown would become a landmark in historic Wentzville rather than just another throwaway bit of dated architecture out by the subdivisions. Our historic image could be ensured and we wouldn't have to rename our city "The Fountains, Missouri," or "Bear Creek, Missouri," or "(insert a subdivision name here), Missouri." It's frustrating to have to ask every time we elect a new rash of Aldermen but: To my Wentzville neighbors, if you have any pride in our city, you need to be heard. Call your Aldermen or write city hall, don't let them disenfranchise you and our city's founders. The time is short and they need direction—again!
Ward 2 Alderman, Sonya Shyrock, asked if they could look at other places to locate the new building. She wants to take a ride around town with McDowell to show him her new choices. From what she said, it sounds like she wants to redo the study and public opinions given over the last fifteen years, but I could be wrong because she never named her choice(s). I think she's in favor of the downtown location, but I can't say for sure.
Perhaps the most frustrating question was brought forward by Ward 1 Alderman, Cheryl Kross, to paraphrase, she asked; "Was there a resolution made by the City recommending a downtown location?" I know for a fact that she does not want City Hall in the downtown location at Pearce and N. Linn, and suspect she doesn't want it at the LEC location. In a discussion with her a month or so ago, I found her reason to be somewhat cryptic: "If we build a city hall building on that site, people would be tearing down historic buildings on Pearce Blvd." That's a noble thought but I think perhaps there may be an underlying agenda for not placing it there. To Aldereman Kross, who is a staunch conservative, I say; The city has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on this project already, do we really need to spend more to make the right decision?
The discussion was left with, they would further discuss the location choice at the June 26th Board of Aldermen Meeting and make the decision in closed session. Citizens need to be at that meeting to express their opinions—again!
Wentzville is at the crossroads, the new City Hall building could be an enhancement to Wentzville's history, not just another modern building out on the Sprawlway having little or no impact on our city's image. A classic three- or four-story building downtown would become a landmark in historic Wentzville rather than just another throwaway bit of dated architecture out by the subdivisions. Our historic image could be ensured and we wouldn't have to rename our city "The Fountains, Missouri," or "Bear Creek, Missouri," or "(insert a subdivision name here), Missouri." It's frustrating to have to ask every time we elect a new rash of Aldermen but: To my Wentzville neighbors, if you have any pride in our city, you need to be heard. Call your Aldermen or write city hall, don't let them disenfranchise you and our city's founders. The time is short and they need direction—again!
I agree, the heart of the city should remain in the heart of the city.
ReplyDeletekross not wanting city hall in the center of old town because she's afraid of people tearing down historic buildings doesn'r make sense. it isn't like the city has tried to save any of them over the last fifty years, they just keep letting them go. what's the problem alderman kross?
ReplyDeleteThe Aldermen who vote to put city hall anyplace other than downtown need to be called out.
ReplyDeleteThe old Commerce Bank building is not really that 'historic'. It is from the '60's, I believe. I totally agree that a building with historic architecture would do so much for the oldtown area. It certainly would give a more friendly and approachable appearance to visitor's than a building with another roof that looks like a potato chip out on the parkway. If the city is trying to be more friendly to business' by lowering fee's etc., locating city hall in oldtown area would certainly be a friendly move. Two of the best kept secrets in oldtown are Ehll's Western Auto store where you get personal service and Pete's Drive-in where the food and company is always great, and you get personal service, also. The oldtown location would serve the city well, in more ways than one.
ReplyDeleteOK taxpayers how much money are you willing to cough up for another architectural boondoggle??
ReplyDeleteWe need fiscal responsibility to hold trump over Taj Mahal folly.
Mr. Gossett, you say you and the aldermen were elected to be caretakers over taxpayers $$. Now is the time for all of you to go to bat for the citizens and cast away the big spenders who want to drain the town by having friends & family and deep pockets make the decisions. Let's not have another Splash Station debacle for a city hall.
Alderman Kross wants to put City Hall on a soon-to-be-built extension of Schroeder Creek Drive when it is extended to meet up with Pearce Blvd. That would put it out of the downtown district and abandon all of the buildings currently occupied by the current city hall sprawl, leaving at least three empty buildings downtown. Not a good thing.
ReplyDeleteAlderman Kross is bent on the dessication of old Wentzville, probably because she has only lived in Wentzville for only six or seven years. She knows nothing about our heritage, and I am not sure she cares.