STE. GENEVIEVE — Most of the new and returning members of the Ste. Genevieve Board of Aldermen were sworn in last night by City Clerk Pam Meyer.
Sworn in were newly elected Ward 1 Alderwoman Kristi Cleghorn and re-elected Ward 3 Alderman Jeff Eydmann and Ward 4 Alderman Joe Prince. Ward 2 Alderman Robert Donovan did not attend the meeting.
None of the candidates were opposed on the ballot.
Alderwoman Suzie Johnson was named board president. She will fill in when the mayor is unavailable to conduct a meeting.
City Administrator Happy Welch presented his report and also presented the tourism report in the absence of the Tourism Director Jeffery Wix; Community Development Administrator Dave Bova presented his report, but Fire Chief Kenny Steiger was also not present to over his report.
Ste. Genevieve Police Officer Pete Unverferth, who was seriously burned almost a year ago, April 16, 2021, when a Molotov cocktail was thrown at him, is back on duty and came to last night’s meeting. He talked about what it was like to return to duty.
“Thanks for having me back…Still got a few things going on, lots of questions still coming around. It’s good to be back. Getting back into the swing of things. When I first came back I felt like a new guy for a couple of days. But it worked out,” he told the aldermen.
Officer Unverferth also talked about the tremendous support he felt from the local and even wider community.
“All the people who came out to support and the prayers. This town, they came out in amazing force for me. It was definitely humbling. Getting cards and letters and well wishes from all the way across the country. You do know that you have the support. It’s not like on the news: ‘everybody hates the cops’ kind of thing. It was super nice and humbling not only for myself but I am sure everybody else that support is still out there.”
In other business:
Four resolutions were approved as part of the consent agenda:
Resolution 2022-43: Revising the city credit card policy and procedures manual.
Resolution 2022-44: Appointing Whitney Tucker to the Heritage Commission.
Resolution 2022-45: Appointing Amanda Hutchings to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Resolution 2022-46: Authorizing the disposal of certain city records according to state statutes.
The aldermen considered four measures:
Bill No. 4486: Vacating an alley from Zeigler to LaHaye Streets, was given first round approval.
Bill No. 4487: A $526,794 agreement with Vern Bauman Contracting Company for the water main replacement – 4th Street and Main Street creek crossings project, was given first and second round approval, 7-0-1.
Bill No. 4488: Authorizing the tourism director to execute an outdoor advetising contract with Robinson Outdoor was given first and second round approval 7-0-1.
Bill No. 4489: A cooperative agreement with Ste. Genevieve County for the collection of city taxes, was given first and second round approval, 7-0-1.
The aldermen then went into a work session.
On the agenda for the work session:
Ward Redistricting
ARPA/SLFRF money
Nuisance code changes
City Administrator ICMA assessment
No actions could be taken during the work session.
Last night’s meeting was shown live on SteGenTV Channel 991 on the Spectrum Cable TV system and also on the SteGenTV You Tube Channel. The video of the meeting has been archived on the SteGenTV You Tube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW2pDLcj5Fs