Council Overrides Landmarks Decision, Allows Lincoln School Improvements

The St. Charles City Council overrode a Landmarks Commission decision Tuesday and will allow the school district to replace doors and windows at Lincoln Elementary School.

A map that shows registered sex offenders who live in the area may have swayed the vote. A list showing where registered sex offenders live in St. Charles County is available online.

The Landmarks Board previously ruled that the St. Charles School District could not replace the doors and windows at the school at 625 South Sixth St. The board can approve or deny architectural changes or additions to existing buildings in the historic district.

However, Rick Radford, assistant superintendent of business services for the St. Charles School District, told council members that replacing the older doors and windows at the school is a safety issue.

“Some doors and windows won’t close all the way,” Radford told council members. “One door was locked, but I jiggled it a little bit, pulled real hard, and it came open.”

He provided council members a map of registered sex offenders who live in the area near the school.

Mayor Sally Faith said that she was present during the Landmark Board ruling, and the safety aspect and the sexual offender map was not presented during that meeting.

“I don’t want anyone to think that the Landmark (Board) members don’t care about the safety of children,” Faith said.

Radford said the safety and sexual predator information was not available to the Landmarks Board because he was on vacation and could not attend the meeting.

“Safety of children is No. 1,” said Ward 6 Councilman Jerry Reese.

The vote was 9-1, with Councilman Tom Besselman voting against the issue. Besselman said he agreed that children’s safety should take priority, but said he wanted more time to review the decision.