That Small-Town Feel — is a Joke!

 

The Wentzvillian has posted on numerous occasions that Ward 1 and Ward 3 citizens have little representation by their elected aldermen, and today I want to point out a group of citizens and businesses who have even less; those living and working in the village center. This quaint part of town was the heart of Wentzville and had been since first platted in 1855 — this all changed a little more than 15 years ago, when a decade long journey of thousands of immigrants from St. Louis County loaded their wagons to begin anew — out just a little farther west. All of these people, some 25,000, wanted a little slice of country-heaven. Unfortunately for them, and the native-born residents, they now have exactly what they left behind; urban sprawl and big-city politics.

 

Native Wentzvillians were pushed to the side in favor of the Wentzville Parkway, big-box stores, and scores of new subdivisions. With the population explosion, the little community of Wentzville was hemmed-in by Highways 70, 61, and the Parkway. The total focus of newly elected transplants was on growth, nothing on preservation or maintenance of the core city.

 

The now misused phrase; "Small-Town Feel" was coined in the summer of 2005 — it appeared as the masthead on the premier issue's cover of  a very popular Wentzville magazine entitled; Echo Magazine. It read: "ECHO MAGAZINE Celebrating That Small Town Feeling." The pages were filled with village center articles about people, events, history, businesses, and the politics of Wentzville. A lot has changed in Wentzville since it lost Echo Magazine — sometimes I wonder if things wouldn't be a little different for the village center if it had survived.

 

Wentzville today reminds me of that TV show "The Dome," nothing gets in and nothing gets out. What I mean by that is; The Wentzville Union newspaper pulled up stakes after 80 years to be sold off in the 1970s and that opened up a vacancy for the Wentzville Suburban Journal to move into town. Over the years, Newstime has lost touch with what's going on in Wentzville, the Journal moved out of town, and Echo Magazine closed it's doors in 2010. No news gets in or out of Wentzville; if it had been, Nickolas Guccione would not be Mayor and would probably have served a one two-year term as alderman. Things would have been different for sure.

 

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A few years ago, the board of aldermen restructured the boundaries of the wards but maintained all three wards converging in the center of the downtown village center. Village center residents are vastly outnumbered by those living in the newly developed outer ring of the city and because they are divided into three wards they are even more diluted — consequently the only voices heard by aldermen (who all live outside the village center) are their subdivision neighbors. To prove this point; Alderman-elect Robert Hussey and Alderman Cheryl Kross are both suggesting that they want to put high-density housing and even section eight housing in the downtown area. Everyone living in downtown who want this; raise your hand. I believe a better place for this kind of housing would be out near those who want it; a place like Golf Club of Wentzville, Bear Creek, or even Stone Meadows — and I think most of the disenfranchised village center residents would agree.

Downtown Wentzville is unheard by city government because it has no voice. It's time to restructure the wards again and this time, do it fairly — create Ward 4 — Ward 4 would be bounded by Highways 70, 61, and the Wentzville Parkway. Those residents outside that area have their own unique problems and those downtown have an even more unique set of problems. The newly created Aldermen of Ward 4 would be residents of the village center and probably not immigrants from St. Louis County. They would know about the things that downtown desperately need to have done and how to get them done. Residents and businesses of the village center need to press for equality, petition this new board of aldermen to give you a voice by creating a level playing field, give us back that small-town feeling!
 

 

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StlToday.com posted another article on Saturday, April 19th (click here) in which Mayor Nickolas Guccione admits he has stacked the Board of Aldermen cards. The article deals with the turmoil in this city since Guccione was elected. My hope for the city; this is just the beginning of real investigative news coverage in Wentzville.
 

"Just To Set The Record Strate."

For the past few years I've constantly said how our mayor, Nickolas Guccione does nothing, needs to go back to school, and tries to take credit for everything. He thinks he's pretty good at covering his tracks but yesterday he really stepped in it.

Alderman of Ward 2, Sonya Shryock posts on Facebook frequently giving news regarding the City of Wentzville. Yesterday, she reposted an article from stltoday.com; Plans Announced for Highway 61 Improvements, (click here). The first comment to her post was our claim-jumping Mayor. Guccione posted; "This was also a huge part of my goals fit 2012 when I became mayor of Wentzville..." You need to go to the link I provided to see for yourself the string of comments that followed her repost, it's very revealing.

Another comment (copied and pasted exactly) by our highly literate Mayor was as follows: Nick Guccione: "Just to set the record strate Scott smith Doug'lee and Doug Forbeck set up the meeting with Modot at my request it took a lot of people working together local county and state just to set the record strate " I noted his mispelling of the word straight and the comment that followed; Michael Hulse: "Um ... Mr Mayor, it's spelled 'straight,'" and Guccione responded; Nick Guccione: "Thanks Michael for spelling lesson all thumbs." All thumbs? Mr. Mayor you used the non-word "strate" in two places in the same post and two times you spelled it the same way, coincidence, all thumbs? I think not. If anyone reads your propaganda in Newstime each week they would notice a marked difference in writing. As a matter of fact I read your last article and I have serious doubts if you could even read it, much less write it.

Now that the fun part is over, let's get back to our claim-jumping Guccione. Later yesterday afternoon a Facebook post by Alderman of Ward 1 Forrest Gossett (click here) really set the record STRAIGHT. Gossett gave a lengthy progression of the Highway 61 story. From his information I can safely say without fear of sucessful contradiction, the only part Mayor Nickolas Guccione took in the entire process was to nod, make it one of "his" goals (after the fact), sign the letter, and take credit for everything. I'm trying very hard to be nice here but I'm about to blow.

Footnote: I cannot find the word "strate" in any dictionary I have on hand. I'm beginning to wonder if he meant "strait?" Surely that must be it.

A Muddy Elephant in the Snow

In only a month and a half we will be going to the polls to elect two Aldermen and our Municipal Judge here in Wentzville. It reminds me of another election when then-Mayor Vickie Bodecker stuffed the ballot with her hand-picked candidates. At the time she was frustrated that her conservative Board of Aldermen didn't subscribe to her ultra-liberal beliefs so she initiated one of the dirtiest campaigns (until Nick Guccione's of last year) ever to be held in Wentzville. Unfortunately, two of her bozos overthrew the conservative board that would have allowed her to cast tie-breaking votes had she been reelected. Fortunately, Paul Lambi was elected and for a year the balance of power remained just right of crazy, but that would all change the following year with the election of the ultra-left socialist Alderman Nickolas Guccione.

With Guccione on the Board creating a majority, things got real nuts in City hall. The Socialist board of that time took apart any resemblance of fiscal responsibility and they binged on useless and destructive legislation. The effect of their influence is still being felt today, employees being fired or quitting out of fear, audits and policy violations because of a lack of oversight, and Guccione is the only vestige of those chaotic times.

Mark Twain said; "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Guccione is trying to do the same thing he did last year and Bodecker did over nine years ago—stuff the board. That tactic set the city back for years to come by endorsing candidates who agreed with them rather than what's best for the city. If he were to be honest he'd have to admit that he has no interest in what's best for the city, it's all about him and his nonsense politics. If he were interested in creating a better city, he'd do what he does best (besides lying); follow—follow this Board of Aldermen who could make him a great Mayor instead of one who will go down in history as our worst.

Today, our Mayor is parading around town with Michael Hays and Robert Hussey in tow, introducing them as the best things since sliced bread. A little advice to them; check with some of the candidates he supported in the past and see what they have to say about him and his loyalty. Even better, ask his campaign manager of last year, see what she has to say about his ethics. In case you don't know, the Board of Aldermen just passed new ethics policies because of Alderman Nickolas Guccione's total lack of ethics, so if you want to follow his advice you'd better prepare yourselves for some fines. Guccione won't leave a paper trail when he stabs you in the back, he'll just slither away leaving you out there twisting in the wind, that's the way he does things.

I'm waiting for him to use his latest "campaign propaganda tool;" his weekly Newstime articles (that we all pay for) to hawk his recruits. He doesn't do anything different, he merely changes a few names and starts the motor running. You can smell his influence and he covers his tracks like a muddy elephant in the snow. He really believes that no one can see him coming or where he's been. Soon we'll see the old worn-out trash that he and Bodeker used for years in their campaigns to help Hays and Hussey smear and defame anyone who runs against them. One more thing; Guccione is campaigning for Michael Carter for for Municipal Judge but everyone knows he's a loser just like Guccione.

To the voters; Don't let Guccione get another foothold on dirty politics in Wentzville's City Hall. Reelect Alderman Cheryl Kross in Ward 1 and elect Darrel Lackey for Ward 3, as for Municipal Judge; incumbent Steve Martin is the man. Remember, a vote for Kross, Lackey, and Martin is a vote to keep Guccione frustrated for another year. Who knows, if we can't get rid of him maybe we could have him committed, he is definately not drooling out of both sides of his mouth.

Put Up or Shut Up

On the 18th of January I posted "Where The Buck Stops." In this blog I wrote about the Mayor of Wentzville, Nick Guccione who does nothing, shifts blame, and never takes responsibility for anything. In that same blog I quoted Guccione who announced that Newstime will be publishing weekly, he said: "Newstime will fix any misinformation out there."

Inwardly I laughed at him for making that statement because I knew that The Wentzvillian was eating his lunch. Last year about this time, he and his ex-Judge Carter friend started a blog that they thought would shut me up by posting their version of the truth. They figured that by exposing me as a citizen I would discontinue my blog and slip into the night. They were going to start a news service written by Carter, which would counter my posts with their version of facts but they overlooked two very important facts:  #1, No one read or cared about their online version of a newspaper and #2 when you put two anal-retentive nit-wits together you get a disaster.

I enjoy Guccione's blathering in Newstime every week and I'm glad he's found a hobby. Unfortunately for the taxpayers I found out that we are paying for it. If Guccione were writing it and giving it to Newstime I'd be fine with it but he's not, our Publicist does, and she charges the City by the article. I don't remember the Aldermen approving this expenditure where our Mayor could have the City pay for his weekly "Gooch Truth" article. If our aldermen did approve it, our taxpayers should be outraged, after all, isn't this group of aldermen hanging their hats on cost-cutting?

Should the taxpayers be charged for weekly articles supposedly written by our Mayor? I don't see this as necessary especially since he has a paid article in our city newsletter The Vision. No other Mayor in the history of Wentzville has had a spending latitude such as this, he should be paying for this himself, or hire a writer out of his own pocket.

This is another example of Guccione over-stepping his authority and handing the taxpayers the check in the process. If you agree, I urge you, my fellow citizens, to call your Aldermen, they need to hear what we think. Guccione has no skin in the game and no right to put taxpayers on the hook for his political agenda, it's bad enough we have to pay him a salary. It's time for the Gooch to put up or shut up!

(Several of you have asked me how many hits are there on The Wentzvillian, in 2012, I received just over 58,000 pageviews, Thanks to all of you who read The Wentzvillian!)

Where the Buck Stops

Before I get into the happenings of the January 16th board of aldermen meeting I have to relay a newsflash, a pontification by our Nickompoop; Mayor Nick Guccione. During the Mayor's Report, Nickompoop stated that he had good news; the Newstime newspaper is going to be publishing weekly once again and that they will have a reporter at all of the city meetings. Quoting Nickompoop: "Newstime will fix any misinformation out there." That's great news for Wentzville, throw away the Journal, don't read Patch.com, and never, ever visit the Wentzvillian. Our Nickompoop has declared the Newstime newspaper the guardian of Truth, Justice, and the American way.  His rationalization sounds like one of Mayor Lambi's during his last days in office—twisted.

Possibly the most interesting portion of the meeting was "Open Forum." A gentleman spoke before the board asking them to change the sign ordinance to allow human signs. If you'll remember, Jiffy Lube always had a person waving a large sign at people in cars on Pearce Blvd. near the Wentzville Parkway trying to rustle up business and some business owners had people in costumes on streets out in front of their businesses. The City received numerous complaints by citizens claiming these large animated critters and sign waivers are  hazardous distractions to travelers on Wentzville thoroughfares—they wanted it stopped.

The sign ordinance was just recently revised removing the "human sign" hazard from the roadways and now it will be interesting to see if the aldermen go back on their earlier decision, under the threat of litigation, and bow to the speaker because he claims it to be a violation of his first amendment rights. His company uses human signs in costumes of the Statue of Liberty to attract business. If the city changes the ordinance to allow human signs get ready for a hoard of costumed hucksters in the form of hippos, ball headed hamburger peddlers, and giant gorilla balloons lining the Parkway and Avenues of Wentzville.

Now back to Rock Park. City staff came back with their upside cost overrun amounting to $290,000 for any more unexpected anomalies (rock removal). Last week they estimated $250,000 but the two-ninety figure is their latest estimate. The new number leaves $2,000 for any other problems they may have during the remaining ninety percent of construction cost of the 6.3 million dollar Splash Station. The "how did we get here" question was put off for another day and Ward 2 Alderman, Chris Gard stated, "Laying blame is not constructive." Ward 1 Alderman, Forrest Gossett added, "We need a root cause conference much like what is had with Federal contracts. We must not repeat how we got here."

Perhaps the most dysfunctional statement came from our maladroit mayor, Nick Guccione, "I can't see any problems above ground and nobody can anticipate what's below ground." REALLY Mr. Mayor! I'm going to hold you to the first part of that statement, especially when above ground change orders begin coming in which total more than $2,000. Secondly, core sampling was invented many years ago, no major undertaking of this magnitude would not include it. The history of this site was known and I would think that any competent below ground survey would have found the "unforeseen anomaly." Obviously, someone dropped the ball and by the sound of your statement, it fell on your head!

The Splash Station project is going to come in over budget, there is absolutely no way it can't, and when that happens some amenities will need to be dropped from the project. It's going to be hard-decision time and I hope our Nickompoop can stand before the taxpayers and explain why this project is not all it should have been. I hope he is the one choosing which parts of the Splash Station are cut and he answers to the people of Wentzville.

This whole thing is your fault Mr. Mayor, you are in the seat where the buck stops and you need to take responsibility! Maybe you can get Newstime to blame it on someone else.