City Council Meeting Draws Charlestowne Residents

St. Charles City Council President Mike Klinghammer introduced an ordinance that will amend the development plan for Charlestowne subdivision in north St. Charles.

The ordinance meets the requests of residents who objected to an earlier proposal to not require homeowners of new single family homes to pay a maintainence fee which the surrounding owners of townhomes pay monthly.

Under the proposed ordinance, Fischer and Frichtel would be able to build 48 single-family row homes which would be included in the town covenants.

Fischer and Frichtel agreed to require homeowners of single-family homes to be a part of the maintenance agreement.

City resident John Frolker said he would like the council to keep in mind the new single-family homes will be priced much lower than the amount he paid for his home which will have an impact on his ability to sell his home.

Athletic Field Fees

Although several people spoke out against the new fees the Parks Department is charging groups to use city athletic fields, not enough city council members supported a resolution calling for the Parks Board to reconsider the decision.

Council members Jerry Reese, Ward-6, Tom Besselman, Ward-2, Mike Klinghammer, Ward-7, David Beckering, Ward-8, and Ron Stivison, Ward-9 voted in favor of the resolution. Council members Mary Ann Ohms, Ward-1, Laurie Feldman, Ward-3, Mary West, Ward-4, Mike Weller, Ward-5, and Bridget Ohmes, Ward-10, voted no.

The Parks Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday and the issue was not on the agenda.

TIF for Lindenwood University Town Centre

The city introduced an ordinance on Tuesday that designates the Lindenwood Town Centre as a redevelopment area, approves a redevelopment plan and adopts . The ordinance will be held until the Redevelopment Agreement is complete.

City resident Joe Kloeppel spoke out against the TIF. He said the council should not approve the TIF which would divert taxes for 23 years. The TIF Commission voted to not recommend the city approve Tax Increment Financing.

"You asking the community to wait 23 years to do this thing before you finally get it back to the school districts, the ambulance district," he said. "Let's see if we can't drop the TIF program."

Other items:

St. Charles City Council will not hold a work session on Feb. 14 because several council members plan to attend the Missouri Municipal League Legislative Conference in Jefferson City Feb. 14 and 15.

Councilwoman Laurie Feldman, Ward-3, was appointed to be the liaison to the St. Charles Parks and Recreation Board.