STE. GENEVIEVE – Ste. Genevieve Mayor Brian Keim presented his very first Mayoral Merit Award Thursday evening to Bill Naeger at the regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
Mayor Keim read from the document, listing the Naeger’s many contrbutions to the city of Ste. Genevieve over the years.
“A Resolution honoring Bill Naeger with the Mayoral Merit Award
“Whereas, the City of Ste. Genevieve takes great pride in recognizing individuals whose dedication, service, and leadership strengthen the community and exemplify the highest ideals of civic responsibility, and
“Whereas, Local son, Bill Naeger, has spent much of his life chronicling Ste. Genevieve and giving back to his community, and
“Whereas, Bill served as staff photographer and reporter for the Ste. Genevieve Herald in the early 1980’s, and
“Whereas, Bill operated Bill’s Photo Lab from 1990 to 2004 and the Merchant Street Gallery from 2009 to the present, and
“Whereas, Bill provides the historical photographs that are displayed in many businesses throughout Ste. Genevieve, and
Whereas, Bill photographed and videotaped the 1993 Flood and produced the film “Saving Ste. Genevieve”, and
“Whereas, Bill co-authored the 1999 book “A Leisurely Stroll Through History” which beautifully highlights Ste. Genevieve’s history, architecture, festivals, local traditions, and people, and
“Whereas, Bill has promoted the humanities in Ste. Genevieve through his participation in plays, creating films, authoring books, photographing our town, and portraying famous characters such as Mark Twain, Henri Brackenridge, and Ferdinand Rozier, and
“Whereas, Bill gave back to the community by serving on the SGCATV Board and as president of the Performing Arts Council, and
“Whereas, Bill has served community youth as Troop 404 Scoutmaster and by assisting his wife, Patti, teaching children to sing and perform French and German songs in the community and throughout Missouri, and
“Whereas, Bill has served as the Master of Ceremonies for the opening of Jour de Fete, King’s Ball, and the French festival, and
“Whereas, Bill was a leading force in celebrating Ste. Genevieve’s German heritage organizing the Deutsches Tages festivals, liver dumpling cookoffs, and development of the mascot Oliver Dumpling, and
“Whereas, Bill and his wife Patti received the Chamber Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, and
“Whereas, Bill was crowned King at the King’s Ball in 2008 and 2016 and named a Chevalier of Ste. Genevieve in 1999, and
“Whereas, the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve awarded Bill and Patti the Distinguished Service Award in 2009 stating that “their dedication to the community and its history provides an outstanding example of giving back to your town.”, and
“Whereas, the editor of the Herald described Bill and Patti as natural ambassadors of good will for Ste. Geneveve and are two of our “famous faces” in the world at large.
“NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF STE. GENEVIEVE, MISSSOURI DOES HEREBY CONFER UPON BILL NAEGER THE MAYORAL MERIT AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE, DEDICATION, AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND
“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS RESOLUTION BECOME OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE CITY OF STE. GENEVIVE AND THAT A COPY BE PRESENTED TO BILL NAEGER AS A SYMBOL OF THE CITY’S SINCERE APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE.”
The board heard from its auditor Jeffrey C. Stroder of Beussink, Hey, Roe and Stroder, LLC. He had one negative comment, the city had three instances of deficit budgeting in one of its accounts.
The board also heard fromAshley Crider, who presented the annual report of the Ste. Genevieve Housing Authority.
Later in the meeting, Police Chief Daniel Halek presented the annual report of the police department and Alliance Water representative Corey Litterest presented its annual report.
The consent agenda was approved.
The items on the consent agenda were all approved:
Liquor License Approval for Midwest Petroleum Company for a license at its location at 599 Ste. Genevieve Drive authorizingt the sale of package liquor.
Resolution 2026-10 – stating the intent of the Ste. Genevieve Police Department to accept a grant donation from “Justin Delivers Hope” for a new K-9.
Resoution 2026-14 – an agreement with Ste. Genevieve County to utilize city hall as a polling place.
The aldermen considered four items of “new business”. All were approved.
Resoution 2026-11 – Re-appointing Dawn Schlmelzle to the Parks and Recreation Board.
Resolution 2026-12 – Re-appointing Lauren Smothers to the Ste. Genevieve Parks and Recreation Board.
Resolution 2026-14 – Re-appointing Gary Roth to the Parks and Recreation Board.
Bill No. 4704 – a revised cooperative agreement with Ste. Genevieve County for the collection of city taxes. First and second reading.
The aldermen adjourned to a closed session to discuss legal actions, causes of action or litigation and documents related to a negotiated contract.
Following the closed session, the aldermen convened in a work session to discuss:
Sewer Study Update for Pointe Basse.
Code Enforcement Duties
Loss Prevention Policy.
The meeting was then adjourned.
The meeting was shown live on SteGenTV Channel 991 and on the SteGenTV You Tube Channel. The video of the meeting is now available on the SteGenTV You Tube Channel.