Exposing Corruption, Injustices and the Truth.
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| O'Fallon Watchdog |
Exposing Corruption, Injustices and the Truth.
O'Fallon, Mo., withdraws plan to annex Busch preserve
By Nancy Cambria ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 06/12/2007
O'FALLON, MO. — Busch wildlife fans can relax — O'Fallon has dropped an annexation plan that included the
conservation area and the Missouri Research Park.
"It's become such a divisive issue," City Administrator Robert Lowery Jr. said Monday. "We want to be viewed as a
good neighbor. " Who is the "we" Lowery is constantly talking about? From all the reports, the plan to annex Busch
Wildlife was not even known by 7 of our 9 elected officials. Mr. Lowery still doesn't understand "we" did not elect
him.
Lowery said widespread public unease over the fate of the wildlife area drove the city to reconsider its plans. Duh.
If Lowery isn't fired for working behind the back of elected officials he should be fired for the pure stupidity of this
plan. The city's rush to beat a competing annexation bid for the research park by Weldon Spring also caused
further tension that doomed the idea, he said. Bob, the plan was doomed because it was a bad idea.
"We didn't have the opportunities to fully discuss the issue because of the pressure and competition from other
cities to sit down and see if this was a viable option," he said. "We had to act or lose." You had months to discuss
this plan but you choose to keep it secret. If you would have run this idea by someone who looks out for the
residents rather than just the builders/developers you would have found out this idea would never work.
The plan came under fierce opposition last week from some local officials and environmentalists, including
Adolphus Busch IV, whose grandmother donated the $70,000 to the state to buy the parcel in 1947. Although
Lowery said the city had no intention of altering the area or superseding state authority over it, critics worried that
the future of the preserve — including its popular hunting and shooting range activities — would be compromised.
Even though this plan was in the works for months, Lowery was unable to answer even the most basic questions.
His answers indicated he did not understand the complexity or ramifications of the proposal.
"I'm just glad to see O'Fallon recognized the will of the people and took the high road on this thing," Busch said. "To
have places like this that are so close to major metropolitan areas are so important." The mayor and some of our
council members recognized the will of the people and we doubt this plan would have seen the light of day if all of
our elected representatives would have been part of the discussion. However, we also learned that Peter Cantwell,
Bill Hennessy and Bob Lowery either don't care about the community or are completely out of touch with our wishes
and common sense.
Officials had proposed annexing the 6,987-acre August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area and about 400
acres of the Weldon Spring Wildlife Management area to get a required contiguous boundary to take the 700-acre
Missouri Research Park. The complete annexation would have encompassed about 12.6 square miles and
expanded the city's area by 42 percent. Let's see, our police force is grossly understaffed, our sewer system is
failing, our streets are crumbling, our debt level is much to high, we are losing money on the Spirit Center and
stadium every year and we are going to be able to provide services to an additional 12 square miles?
The research park is home to 15 companies, two federal agencies and the Missouri Bluffs golf course. The
research park would have brought in about $265,000 in property taxes a year to the city. O'Fallon officials said they
wanted the research park to further entice interested companies to come to the city. $265,000.00 doesn't come
close to covering the money this annexation would have cost the residents. As to new business coming to the
Research Park why would they care if it is O'Fallon, Weldon Spring or St. Charles County since the location is the
same. Unless, of course, we would be giving them every tax break allowed under the law, which defeats the
purpose of the annexation.
The week's actions prompted state Rep. Kevin Threlkeld, R-Washington, to request a formal opinion by the state
attorney general on the legality of annexing state-owned land. If the state says it's legal, Threlkeld said Monday, he
might consider introducing legislation blocking future annexation of state parks and wildlife areas. The state needs
to scrap our entire system of annexations and start from scratch. O'Fallon has used annexations to reward
builders/developers at the expense of the residents for years. We have lost sight of the intended purpose of
annexation.
One of the proposal's harshest critics last week was Mayor Donna Morrow, who said she was unaware of plans to
take the wildlife area. On Monday, Morrow was again taken by surprise by the city's decision to scuttle the plan.
Imagine that you go behind your bosses back at your job and put together a major plan to purchase a small
competitor. You then send out letters informing others of your proposal, still without notifying your boss. Then once
your plan gets to the press it is apparent you have not done the research to answer questions about your idea and
its legality may even be in question. The plan is then universally attacked but you make comments to the press
which imply your boss knew about the plan. Finally, you withdraw the plan without telling your boss. How long do you
think you would keep your job?
"You're kidding," she said after learning about it from a reporter. Morrow said the City Council ought to take a
formal vote on the annexation plan, which was to be introduced at Thursday's regular meeting.
"I think the vote should be done so the council can officially kill it," she said.
O'Fallon council President Bill Hennessy, an original proponent of the plan, said Lowery had been unfairly criticized.
"He was following a council directive," Hennessy said Monday, arguing that the council and the mayor were fully
aware of the plan. 6 of the 8 councilmen said they were unaware of the plan to annex Busch Wildlife which is
consistent with the mayor's comments. A seventh councilmen, Jeff Schwentker, indicated he did not learn of
Lowery's plan at a council meeting but in a private conversation with Lowery. Again, consistent with the mayor's
claim. However, expect some of the council members to switch their stories because they lack the guts, ethics and
moral compass to stand up to him.
Morrrow "said she didn't know anything about it. She did," Hennessy said.
O'Fallon's decision to withdraw its annexation bid could pave the way for Weldon Spring to complete its competing
involuntary annexation of part of the research park. That city, just north of the research park on the other side of
Highway 40, already has a contiguous boundary with the area and has no plans to take the wildlife area. Why does
any city need to annex this area? The county has been providing services while the businesses received tax
abatement and when those abatements begin to run out Weldon Spring will reap the rewards.
Weldon Spring Mayor Don Licklider said he was pleased with O'Fallon's decision.
"Common sense prevails," he said. "It just seems the right thing for the research park to be in Weldon Spring since
we are right next to them and put so much into it."
If Weldon Spring's Board of Aldermen approves its annexation plan, the proposal will then go before city voters.
In a statement distributed late Monday, O'Fallon officials vowed to be better neighbors "so we may realize the
shared goal of moving our region forward for the betterment of everyone." What officials? What the statement
should have said was:
"The City of O'Fallon would like to apologize for the actions of Bob Lowery, Bill Hennessy and Peter Cantwell.
Please understand that this was not O'Fallon's plan but instead was the plan of a few people who apparently do not
trust our democratic form of government. As mayor I believe we should discuss these type of issues in an open and
transparent way which would have avoided this type of embarrassment for our city.
I was elected as Mayor to represent this city and Mr. Lowery actions are unacceptable, therefore, I am calling for
his immediate resignation. If Mr. lowery refuses I will begin the process to remove him from his position with the
city. As to Mr. Cantwell, the residents have already fired him and I will leave it to the residents to decide what should
happen to Mr. Hennessy."
By Nancy Cambria ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 06/12/2007
O'FALLON, MO. — Busch wildlife fans can relax — O'Fallon has dropped an annexation plan that included the
conservation area and the Missouri Research Park.
"It's become such a divisive issue," City Administrator Robert Lowery Jr. said Monday. "We want to be viewed as a
good neighbor. " Who is the "we" Lowery is constantly talking about? From all the reports, the plan to annex Busch
Wildlife was not even known by 7 of our 9 elected officials. Mr. Lowery still doesn't understand "we" did not elect
him.
Lowery said widespread public unease over the fate of the wildlife area drove the city to reconsider its plans. Duh.
If Lowery isn't fired for working behind the back of elected officials he should be fired for the pure stupidity of this
plan. The city's rush to beat a competing annexation bid for the research park by Weldon Spring also caused
further tension that doomed the idea, he said. Bob, the plan was doomed because it was a bad idea.
"We didn't have the opportunities to fully discuss the issue because of the pressure and competition from other
cities to sit down and see if this was a viable option," he said. "We had to act or lose." You had months to discuss
this plan but you choose to keep it secret. If you would have run this idea by someone who looks out for the
residents rather than just the builders/developers you would have found out this idea would never work.
The plan came under fierce opposition last week from some local officials and environmentalists, including
Adolphus Busch IV, whose grandmother donated the $70,000 to the state to buy the parcel in 1947. Although
Lowery said the city had no intention of altering the area or superseding state authority over it, critics worried that
the future of the preserve — including its popular hunting and shooting range activities — would be compromised.
Even though this plan was in the works for months, Lowery was unable to answer even the most basic questions.
His answers indicated he did not understand the complexity or ramifications of the proposal.
"I'm just glad to see O'Fallon recognized the will of the people and took the high road on this thing," Busch said. "To
have places like this that are so close to major metropolitan areas are so important." The mayor and some of our
council members recognized the will of the people and we doubt this plan would have seen the light of day if all of
our elected representatives would have been part of the discussion. However, we also learned that Peter Cantwell,
Bill Hennessy and Bob Lowery either don't care about the community or are completely out of touch with our wishes
and common sense.
Officials had proposed annexing the 6,987-acre August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area and about 400
acres of the Weldon Spring Wildlife Management area to get a required contiguous boundary to take the 700-acre
Missouri Research Park. The complete annexation would have encompassed about 12.6 square miles and
expanded the city's area by 42 percent. Let's see, our police force is grossly understaffed, our sewer system is
failing, our streets are crumbling, our debt level is much to high, we are losing money on the Spirit Center and
stadium every year and we are going to be able to provide services to an additional 12 square miles?
The research park is home to 15 companies, two federal agencies and the Missouri Bluffs golf course. The
research park would have brought in about $265,000 in property taxes a year to the city. O'Fallon officials said they
wanted the research park to further entice interested companies to come to the city. $265,000.00 doesn't come
close to covering the money this annexation would have cost the residents. As to new business coming to the
Research Park why would they care if it is O'Fallon, Weldon Spring or St. Charles County since the location is the
same. Unless, of course, we would be giving them every tax break allowed under the law, which defeats the
purpose of the annexation.
The week's actions prompted state Rep. Kevin Threlkeld, R-Washington, to request a formal opinion by the state
attorney general on the legality of annexing state-owned land. If the state says it's legal, Threlkeld said Monday, he
might consider introducing legislation blocking future annexation of state parks and wildlife areas. The state needs
to scrap our entire system of annexations and start from scratch. O'Fallon has used annexations to reward
builders/developers at the expense of the residents for years. We have lost sight of the intended purpose of
annexation.
One of the proposal's harshest critics last week was Mayor Donna Morrow, who said she was unaware of plans to
take the wildlife area. On Monday, Morrow was again taken by surprise by the city's decision to scuttle the plan.
Imagine that you go behind your bosses back at your job and put together a major plan to purchase a small
competitor. You then send out letters informing others of your proposal, still without notifying your boss. Then once
your plan gets to the press it is apparent you have not done the research to answer questions about your idea and
its legality may even be in question. The plan is then universally attacked but you make comments to the press
which imply your boss knew about the plan. Finally, you withdraw the plan without telling your boss. How long do you
think you would keep your job?
"You're kidding," she said after learning about it from a reporter. Morrow said the City Council ought to take a
formal vote on the annexation plan, which was to be introduced at Thursday's regular meeting.
"I think the vote should be done so the council can officially kill it," she said.
O'Fallon council President Bill Hennessy, an original proponent of the plan, said Lowery had been unfairly criticized.
"He was following a council directive," Hennessy said Monday, arguing that the council and the mayor were fully
aware of the plan. 6 of the 8 councilmen said they were unaware of the plan to annex Busch Wildlife which is
consistent with the mayor's comments. A seventh councilmen, Jeff Schwentker, indicated he did not learn of
Lowery's plan at a council meeting but in a private conversation with Lowery. Again, consistent with the mayor's
claim. However, expect some of the council members to switch their stories because they lack the guts, ethics and
moral compass to stand up to him.
Morrrow "said she didn't know anything about it. She did," Hennessy said.
O'Fallon's decision to withdraw its annexation bid could pave the way for Weldon Spring to complete its competing
involuntary annexation of part of the research park. That city, just north of the research park on the other side of
Highway 40, already has a contiguous boundary with the area and has no plans to take the wildlife area. Why does
any city need to annex this area? The county has been providing services while the businesses received tax
abatement and when those abatements begin to run out Weldon Spring will reap the rewards.
Weldon Spring Mayor Don Licklider said he was pleased with O'Fallon's decision.
"Common sense prevails," he said. "It just seems the right thing for the research park to be in Weldon Spring since
we are right next to them and put so much into it."
If Weldon Spring's Board of Aldermen approves its annexation plan, the proposal will then go before city voters.
In a statement distributed late Monday, O'Fallon officials vowed to be better neighbors "so we may realize the
shared goal of moving our region forward for the betterment of everyone." What officials? What the statement
should have said was:
"The City of O'Fallon would like to apologize for the actions of Bob Lowery, Bill Hennessy and Peter Cantwell.
Please understand that this was not O'Fallon's plan but instead was the plan of a few people who apparently do not
trust our democratic form of government. As mayor I believe we should discuss these type of issues in an open and
transparent way which would have avoided this type of embarrassment for our city.
I was elected as Mayor to represent this city and Mr. Lowery actions are unacceptable, therefore, I am calling for
his immediate resignation. If Mr. lowery refuses I will begin the process to remove him from his position with the
city. As to Mr. Cantwell, the residents have already fired him and I will leave it to the residents to decide what should
happen to Mr. Hennessy."
| Watchdog comments to story in yellow |
Will Bob Lowery get
fired or demoted after
this latest travesty?
fired or demoted after
this latest travesty?
Shouldn't Bob Lowery
be held to the same
standard as Al Renaud
or will Bob get a pass?
be held to the same
standard as Al Renaud
or will Bob get a pass?
| Maybe Security Guard at City will be a good fit for Bob? |
Charlie talks with Mayor Pam Fogarty of Dardenne
Prairie, MO; Mayor Don Licklider of Weldon
Spring, MO; Doyle Brown of the Mo. Dept. of
Conservation; Adolphus Busch; Bob Lowry, Jr.,
City Administrator of O'Fallon,MO; Rick Fischer,
former Special Counsel,
Prairie, MO; Mayor Don Licklider of Weldon
Spring, MO; Doyle Brown of the Mo. Dept. of
Conservation; Adolphus Busch; Bob Lowry, Jr.,
City Administrator of O'Fallon,MO; Rick Fischer,
former Special Counsel,