Apparent Violation of Ordinances by City Officials -- Again

This week, it was announced that four St. Charles City Councilmembers, John Gieseke, Mark Brown, Joe Koester and Dottie Greer, would file suit in St. Charles County Circuit Court (again) to try to force an issue through the city of St. Charles.

These are the same jokers that spent a lot of time on other lawsuits, such as trying to get the City Administrator fired when they didn't have the votes to do it, and other such ridiculous measures.

Who would be the attorney of choice, here? Rumor has it that it is none other than Ron Brockmeyer -- collections attorney extraordinaire! Don't underestimate the collections attorney -- his brother, Tony "the felon" Brockmeyer runs the journalistic bastardization known as the First Capitol News, and has been paid handsomely by the city council "majority" for advertising its meetings and agenda. You'll recall that these four filed for a temporary restraining order to attempt to stop City Administrator Allan Williams from performing his duties when they couldn't muster enough votes on the city council to fire him.

I thought it was laughable that they wanted to fire him in the first place, especially after Williams had done their bidding in getting rid of police Sgt. Tommy Mayer, but that's another issue.

Now, this dynamic group has decided that it's time to force the city to stop a water/sewer hookup for Oak Ridge Condominiums, on the southern edge of the city near the Family Arena.

Seeing as Circuit Judge Ted House has instructed the council to provide the hookups, I find this even MORE amusing! The council took a vote NOT to appeal Judge House's ruling, and this should be the end of it.

But no! These four have decided that they're more important than the rest of the council. So they have banded together again, in order to force their will down the throats of the community since they no longer have the votes on the council.

This brings up the all-important questions:

Who is their attorney THIS time? Is it Brockmeyer? Eric "Don't Look at Me Like You Know My Background or I'll Sue You" Tolen? Chet "Never Met a TV Camera I Didn't Like" Pleban? Perhaps all three?

What is that attorney (or those attorneys) charging to represent them as citizens? Surely they're not paying the "usual and customary" fees required by these attorneys' clients for professional services.

Seeing as Greer is retired, Gieseke reportedly recently lost his job and Koester is a public school teacher, I find it difficult to assume that they're picking up the full tab, so the NEXT obvious question is -- are they violating City Ordinance 38.01(B), which prohibits gifts to city councilmembers?

"No Councilmember, Mayor or spouse or dependent child of a Councilmember or Mayor, shall knowingly accept any gift from any person, organization, or corporation having a substantial interest in any legislative or administrative action of the city..."

Of course, there are exceptions, but certainly none of them have anything to do with legal services, especially when it amounts to the same as suing the city! I mean, let's face it. Who do you think is going to be representing the city, here? Mike Valenti, city counselor, of course!

If these attorneys have not charged retainers, or are discounting their usual and customary fees for services to these councilmembers, who are acting on their own behalf and not on behalf of the city, then these councilmembers are all in violation of this city ordinance.

These people can't even accept tickets to an Otters game, let alone free or discounted legal services to sue the city!

It is time for someone to investigate whether or not these four councilmembers are violating the law with the legal representation they have been receiving.

Let the sun shine!

Will Dottie EVER Get It?

Regular readers already know that there is a recall effort underway against St. Charles City Councilwoman Dottie Greer. I've opined on occasion as to why some might feel the need to recall Greer from the city council, and good old Dottie ... never one to disappoint ... gives plenty of ammunition!

Not only did Greer do as much as she could to prevent the recall from going on the ballot in the first place, now here it is a week before the election, and she is asking a judge to invalidate the election altogether because of a whopping 12 (that's TWELVE for those of you keeping track!) signatures that were admittedly forged on the recall petitions.

The petitioners turned in far more than necessary to trigger the recall election -- in fact, they turned in something like four times more signatures than those that had bothered to vote for her in the first place!

So Greer and her attorney, Eric Tolen (I'll get to THIS gem later -- although I should probably seek legal advice first!), staged a press conference Monday in order to announce that they felt that enough signatures had been obviously forged to forego the formal election process.

They just don't get it, do they? Had this election been scheduled for February in the first place, poor old Dottie might have even gotten the vote to go her way. But as time went on, she fought and fought to keep the recall election off the ballot, until finally she had to give in. In a show of "good faith" *insert gagging noise here*, she even SPONSORED the ordinance calling for her recall! Ever since that time, however, she has delayed and otherwise demonized the process, causing more and more people to jump over that fence.

I would predict that Greer will be recalled next Tuesday by a large number. That number of people would have likely been much smaller -- possibly even reversed -- if she had just stopped interfering with the will of the people. Now, since she seems so intent on stopping the will of the people, more of those people are getting fed up and are demanding a vote, whether they signed the petitions or not.

Tonight, Greer and the rest of the city council were scheduled for a work session -- non-televised. When the meeting was to commence, at 6:00, only four councilmembers were present. Greer dismissed herself, assuming there would be no quorum, and went to a committee meeting across the hall.

When two more councilmembers showed up, Greer refused to even join the council meeting, opting instead to stay in the committee meeting. As the meeting went on, there was an issue that came up that required 7 votes for passage, lest the council risk losing revenues. (It was a state-required renewal of the telecommunications tax issue)

City Attorney Mike Valenti went to get Greer from the other room so she could be present to be the 7th vote. Her response? "Come get me at the very moment I need to vote -- I won't be in there a moment longer!" So the ordinance was read and once again, Greer was sent for. She came into the council chambers, asked what they were voting on, and could the ordinance be read to her before she voted. She then cast a vote and promptly left the room!

Is this gal with it, or what???

As for her attorney ... well, that's another issue! I'll wait until after the recall election to get into this peach!

Lafata Adds to List of County Council Candidates

In a not-so-surprising reversal of everything he has told everyone lately, Mark Lafata has now filed for the County Council seat being vacated by Bob Schnur, who is running for County Collector.

Lafata, not so well liked by this blogger and many others that have actually paid attention to his antics in the Francis Howell School District, filed on the final day of filing, after having told many people, including at the county Lincoln Day dinner, that he was not going to run.

This brings up many questions, since the charter prohibits a council member from holding another elected office:
- Will he win, based upon the wool that he's been able to pull over taxpayers' eyes already?
- Will he win, based upon the fact that a number of people may very well support him just to get him off the Francis Howell School Board?
- Can there now be a BETTER reason to support Nancy Matheny, former St. Charles City Councilwoman, who has also filed for the seat?

Sorry, but I'll opt for the last choice. Matheny is an extremely good candidate with an incredible business background who would make us all proud on the County Council. I would just assume sit back and watch Lafata lose his power on the school board and watch his world cave in around him in response to his misdeeds over the years, than to watch him have to leave because he's moving up.

I, for one, will not support giving Lafata a promotion!

A Host of Guest Commentaries!

Okay, as we grow this blog, we will continue to learn.

One of the things I never dreamed I would do was allow guest commentaries, preferring instead that info be provided in the "comments" section. Of course, I also expected that comments section to actually be used from time to time!

However, I continue to receive emails from interested parties regarding little-known details of some issues, such as party activities in Lincoln County and more people fleeing the Francis Howell School District.

I know for a fact that Kevin Palmer, Chief Information Officer for Francis Howell is also now leaving, which makes a round number of TEN top administrators from the Central Office alone.

His reason for leaving? To protect what's left of his reputation!

This new commentary came to me from someone who wishes to remain anonymous. Since I understand how reprisals can be handed out, I will respect their wishes:

I read with interest your insightful bloggings on FHSD...you have articulated the issues well. There are additional rumors running through the hallways of the buildings and some additionally reported resignations that have taken place...

Barnwell MS Principal, Greg Batenhorst resigned to become a Rockwood MS Principal. I suggest that normally, principals do not leave school districts for another principalship, unless there are issues with the work environment.

FHHS Interim Associate Principal, Dr. Jennifer Tiller, resigned to become a principal in another district (not certain which) after just being selected to be promoted to Associate Principal. It is rumored that she has was being groomed as a rising star in the district, and yet she still left.

Chief Information Officer, Kevin Palmer, resigned to return to higher education as a CIO (I think he came from a college). He is one of the four chief officers for the district and he was offered a 3-year contract, but still chose to leave...do you think it may be due to Mark Lafata's constant hammering of the technology department?

Just last August Lafata unveiled in a board meeting a "reorganization plan" that reduced the role of technology in the district and laid off 4 technology employees. Thankfully, Lafata's grand plan was dismissed by the rest of the board because it lacked credability and created poor morale in the work environment. With all of the success of technology at FHSD under Palmer's leadership, why was the technology department targeted?

Although Dr. Chris Griener, new FHHS Principal did not leave, the talk on the street is about why did Lafata create havoc and insist that the search committee recommendation was not good enough, and the superintendent's recommendation was not good enough, and that the recommendations from the board members who were involved were not good enough? Well the same rumors inform me that Lafata required Griener to interview with him personally and pay homage to his Lafataness before he could be promoted to Principal.

Keep your eyes open for more top talent to leave Francis Howell just because Lafata does not like someone...I saw one proposal that decimated the academic department by 15 positions! When those positions are eliminated and everyone leaves, who would be crazy enough to accept a position in the central office? Maybe that is why only approximately 10 people applied for the Superintendents' job, when other districts have had upwards of 50 people applying for their superintendent positions.

Then again, all the defections at the administration level could be because it was rumored that after last year's election when Lafata hijacked the board, he walked around the administration building telling everyone they were on his "hit list", as he patted his shirt pocket. With just 11% of the electorate voting in the last election and Lafata's slate receiving just 6-7% of the registered voters, how can anyone believe that Lafata thinks he has a mandate!?! Regardless of the number of people voting, the majority rules...so, it is the fault of the FH community for being so passive and allowing someone of Lafata's ilk take over the board of education.

Of course, another theory is that the four "chief officers" have become nothing more than the four "chief puppets" with a current superintendent who is a lame duck, and a new superintendent who has zero experience as an superintendent or even an assistant superintendent and will simply be ineffective...a lamb brought in for the slaughter! By comparision, neighboring Wentzville School District just hired a new superintendent (at what will certainly be a lower salary than the new FHSD superintendent)who had experience as a superintendent in two other school districts ...obviously, there is not a drought of experienced superintendents.

It now appears that the board has entered a new low level of micro-management and has yet to approve teacher, administrator, or support staffing for next year, which has normally been approved in Feb...this is truly throwing curves at everyone who is working at FHSD except possibly the tenured teachers, who by law have a job. But, if Ken Shaller, the buddy of Lafata, Spencer, and Black, is elected then all bets are off regarding maintaining a fully staffed district... The supposition is that Lafata could easily eliminate several dozens of positions for support staff, non-tenured teachers, and of course, administrators...again, is it any wonder why the smart people are leaving in droves????

The final rumor is that the FHEA leadership meets with Lafata and Spencer almost every Sunday afternoon, in secret, to discuss what needs to be changed at FH...when will this unholy alliance blow up, and worse yet, when the backroom deals are exposed, who will be left holding the bag?

Probably the taxpayers.


Now, I get to add my own notes as administrator of Just to the Right ...

Lafata's threats and bullying tactics have taken the Francis Howell School District to a new low.

When Lafata became board president, he not only referred to many people in the district and community as liars, but he promised a return of all revenues generated by the tax levy increase that was passed by voters. Since that time, not only has he not returned any of the money, he used every dime allowed by that vote, thus illustrating that he either lied to the public in order to get elected, or he figured out (but won't admit) that those in the administration and community were right all along with their figures.

Either way, Lafata has spent his time trying to have total control over the operation of the Francis Howell School District, something about which he knows nothing.

Although Board Members Mike Sommer, Anne Womack and Robert Farr have done what they could to throw water on this reign of terror, it took until just recently for Board Member Rhonda Brown to come around to understanding what Lafata is really all about. *By the way, this is why March meetings of the Francis Howell Board of Education were cancelled -- Lafata knew that the NEW board majority would remove him from the presidency with a reorganization effort.

I would suggest that Mike Sommer and Rhonda Brown are well deserving to return to the Board of Education, with a new-found understanding of what is truly happening in our community. Please stop this nonsense before it's too late!

By the way ... what's with the talk that Board Member Terry Black (of Super Smokers fame -- bouncing checks all over St. Louis) now resides in Illinois?

More to come!

Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

This is a guest commentary from "Concerned Republican," a Lincoln County resident who has requested that this be posted here:

Well I guess you could say that some of our fellow Republicans, or those who claim to be Republican, have started to try and take our party to a new level. The recent posting on a local website, RiteOn.Org, requires a direct and fact-based response. This posting, including a letter from an unidentified source, attacks Rep. Scott Rupp and endorses Dem. Wayne Henke for the 2nd Dist. State Senate Seat.

Let's talk about the "real" accomplishments of Mr. Henke and not add fluff like that which appears in the posted letter. In his 3 plus years as the State Rep. from Lincoln County he has accomplished NOTHING! We have 1 in 3 public school students on free and reduced federal lunch programs. Perhaps more jobs and businesses recruited by Mr. Henke would have helped.

In the last 8 months, 7 citizens have lost their lives on Highway 61 between the Big Creek Bridge and the Highway KK intersection just north of Troy. Mr. Henke has said publicly that he does not know how to bring more highway funds to Lincoln County. This puts our families at risk, families that Mr. Henke is supposed to support.

Also we should question Mr. Henke's acceptance of campaign donations from individuals who have violated elections laws. It is now common knowledge that Mr. Henke accepted a $300 donation from a person who pled guilty on August 9th of 2004 to election fraud in Lincoln County Circuit Court. To verify this you need only read the St. Charles Post edition from Tuesday, August 10th in an article by Tim Bryant.

Why would someone who claims to uphold Republican values support such an individual for public office? Is it his or her dedication to the "Good Ole Boys" or simply a myopic view of the world?

It is well known that not only this blogger, but several elected committee members in Lincoln and St. Charles County have, in the past, REFUSED to support Republican Candidates. The current Republican Central Committee Chair in Lincoln County and several of her associates have openly supported Mr. Henke and continue to do so.

What are we, as party, to do? There must be complete and full public accounting for the actions and words of these naysayers. The state party needs to be informed of these actions and do what is necessary to curtail this activity before it does irreparable harm.

For far too long now this group of regressive individuals have been allowed to direct many aspects of our party's activities. They constitute a clear and present danger to the party and must be shown for the true people they are!