Who bears the cost of this special election? Is it the taxpayers who pay for it or will A9A be the responible for the costs? Not sure why can't it be added to the November election.

Are there concerns about toxic pollutants? There are 250 people living there being exposed. Should they not be allowed into the area until it is proven safe?

Michael;
I have been told that it would cost between $12,000 and $15,000 perhaps more, to have an election out of cycle. And yes it would be the citizens of Ellisville expected to pay for that election.

Mr. Rhodes, I think the mention of unpredictable discoveries about land was somewhat hypothetical; I don't think anyone currently has reason to think that sort of the thing is the case.

As for why not adding the question to the November ballots; I believe it's concern that related to the city charter, which says no one can be recalled within 180 days of that official's next election date. A November recall vote would not be able to apply to Councilmembers Anglin and Pieper because they are up for election in April 2013 i.e. less than 180 days from the November election date.

Hey Liz...Why don't you pay for the new election, since you seem to be the most interested, and the most concerned how taxpayers money is spent...Not all share your vision or enthusiasm.

Just so I understand Mr. Castle, both Council member Anglin and Pieper are up for re-election next April. But since they can't be recalled on the November Ballot because they ARE up for re-election, the Article 9 alliance, wants to hold an election in October, then again again in November and then again in April? With an off schedule election costing the city $12,000 - $15,000. If there is a special election, are those who might win an October election, have to re-run again in April?

Chase, I didn't think you had a humble bone...Just kidding... Of course there will be elections in Nov and April, One will be a presidential election in Nov, the other will be the regularily scheduled April election, no opinion necessary. I did ask someone in the city what an out of cycle election would cost the city taxpayers, 12-15 thousand dollars. As far as "wholesale" changes to the city's charter, Not gonna happen. The current city charter was worked on for a very long time before it was voted on. If changes to the city charter are required, I am positive that there would be many hearings before a change could be made and quite possibly a vote of the citizens also at a regularly scheduled election.

This is not discount democracy.

And thus is certainly not "Wal-Mart style" discount democracy.

This is the cost of having a City Charter that allows for direct democracy. The bill has come due. They need to pay it instead of feigning poverty.

Ellisville residents taxed themselves an addition one-half cent sales tax in April 2011 to stop then Mayor Pirrellos’s talk of needing a Wal-Mart TIF. There should be plenty of money sloshing around to let the voters’ voices be heard.

And let’s remember that just over two months later, after Ellisville voters agree to tax themselves to prevent a Sansone Walmart TIF on 04-07-11, the City Council approved this on 06-15-11:

“A Resolution Authorizing a Preliminary Funding Agreement with Sansone Group in Connection with a Proposed Tax Increment Financing Project and Authorizing Certain Actions Connected Therewith.”

Think about that a minute.--Just a little over two months later, the City Council did exactly the opposite of what the voters wanted.

So now the city is providing free financing to Sansone for a Walmart TIF in the MILLIONS.

The apparent duplicity is just STUNNING.

So, I think there is plenty of money for a special election.

Let’s use some of that new half-cent sales tax money and apply it the cost of a special election to get our voices heard this time, since it didn’t work at all the first time when we said "No Walmart TIF" at the April 2011 sales tax election.

Liz;
<Ellisville residents taxed themselves an addition one-half cent sales tax in April 2011 to stop then Mayor Pirrellos’s talk of needing a Wal-Mart TIF?>
I would really like to know where this statement came from. Since the debate about Tif's came up long after the 1/2 cent sales tax was passed. Walmart TIF wasn't even in the picture to my knowledge before that election cycle. You have noted this statement several times, and I can't find supporting facts for this. I am not questioning your integrity here, just trying to figure out your timeline.

As far as monies "sloshing" around, Ellisville simply isn't run that way. The budget has been cut and cut and cut for the past several years. You would have rather more services cut, so you can have a special election when one of the 2 members you are trying to recall cannot even be re-elected in April? I understand your passion. With the exception of your objection to the TIF issue, Both Dawn and Troy have been outstanding members on this council. They are both extremely independent and fair minded on issues regarding their custodianship of their districts. Until I was redistricted into District 3 a few months ago, Dawn was my councilmember and she was truly a pleasure to work with. So, since you disagree with her on this issue, she should be thrown out? Without your re-call she would be out in 5 months anyway due to term limits.

K Jamies

<Ellisville residents taxed themselves an addition one-half cent sales tax in April 2011 to stop then Mayor Pirrellos’s talk of needing a Wal-Mart TIF?>

http://ballwin-ellisville.patch.com/articles/weighing-in-on-walmart

Weighing in on Walmart

Ellisville residents share concerns about traffic, atmosphere tied to mega-store's possible arrival. By Chase Castle November 13, 2010

>>>Roughly three-fourths of Ellisville residents who were informally polled recently said they opposed a Walmart coming to Ellisville, although Mayor Matt Pirrello and others suggest it may be best alternative to a sales tax increase.

Pirrello said at a town hall meeting this week that a key factor in whether a tax hike will be necessary is how much revenue can be generated through the county sales tax, which gives a majority of its revenues to local municipalities. The debate comes as the city prepares its 2011 budget, which has a shrinking margin between revenues and expenses that Pirrello said needs attention...<<<

Aside for Chase Castle's spot on reporting as to what was said and the sentiment of the crowd, I know people who were at that meeting. They took notes.

There it is.

Chase,

Could we get a Comments Section with an edit and preview functions?

Sometimes I can't $pell. I getz cornfused.

Pleeze halp us!

Liz;
<Ellisville residents taxed themselves an addition one-half cent sales tax in April 2011 to stop then Mayor Pirrellos’s talk of needing a Wal-Mart TIF>
<Roughly three-fourths of Ellisville residents who were informally polled recently said they opposed a Walmart coming to Ellisville, although Mayor Matt Pirrello and others suggest it may be best alternative to a sales tax increase>
I can't see where he stated every anything about a TIF? Did I miss something, all I saw in the article was talking about a 'possible' deal with walmart, no mention of TIF.
I don't want to split hairs here, but a Mayor talking about a general idea for a private developer with a Walmart in mind, is a whole lot different than a Mayor talking about a tax increase in lieu of using a TIF.
Not arguing to your point, just trying to clarify.

And I agree, spell check or preview would be a nice touch Mr. Castle!!!!!

K James--

You wrote--

>>>I can't see where he stated every anything about a TIF? Did I miss something, all I saw in the article was talking about a 'possible' deal with walmart, no mention of TIF. <<<

it is my understanding that nearly very developer who has approached the City of Ellisville recently regarding re-development of the corner of Manchester and Clarkson Rds. has stated they needed TIF build a Wal-Mar or a Target or whatever. This fact has been stated in public and in public meetings on more than one occasion. The developers came in feigning poverty...(and we know they needed Eminent Domain to assemble the property parcels.)

I think you do want to split hairs.

This woman got the point. It was more than clear to her....and others who took notes.

>>>...Residents such as Kim Rudd, however, said she would rather see the city adopt a sales tax rather than live near a retail giant.

"It's really not that big of a deal," Rudd, 28, said of a sales tax increase. "I mean, am I not going to buy something because it costs a half-percent more? Probably not."...<<<

She understood what she was voting for and why on 04-05-11...and so did many, many many of the other 64% of the voters who voted "Yes."

Liz;
I do rely on you for a lot of the history for the sales tax increase from last year, I had started a new job and was traveling most of 2011, So I don't know the details.

Walmart is coming.......................................

Tired - are you stirring the pot????

I wrote--

>>>No changes to the city charter needed. It provides for special elections here:

Section 8.1. CITY ELECTIONS.

(b) SPECIAL ELECTIONS. The Council may by ordinance
order special elections, fix the time for such elections, and provide
for holding such elections.

It clearly states the City Council has the authority to set a special election.<<<

I forgot to add that I spoke with the legal counsel for the St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners who assured me that if the Ellisville City Charter allows for special election for a municipal issue, [as it does] the CC could call for a special election municipal purposes outside of the established schedule. The County does not dictate what kind of and/or when a municipality can call a special election for a municipal purpose.

The cost of a recall election is determined by the City.

Well no it is not E, the county election board will have to supply the voting equip, workers etc, then they charge the city. I was wrong in my estimate of $12,000-15,000. That is the cost to the city to add an issue to the scheduled November ballot. So, it would be reasonable to assume that the cost to the city do do it off of a scheduled time that it would cost the city significantly more.

K James

Whether or not a municipal initiative, referendum or recall election is a shared election with St. Louis County or a special municipal election called by the city for its own purposes, the City estimates and provides info on the cost.

How the City arrives at that estimate and where it gets the info is a different question.

Perhaps you should read the City Charter.

Liz
I don't need to read the charter to make a call to the city and ask what the cost to the city to either add an issue to the November ballot or the spring ballot, or hold a separate election free standing. Public information and easy to ascertain. The cost is still the cost. The county charges the city for equipment used, it is what it is. Adding to the county ballot in November will cost the city $12,000 - $15,000 (I am thinking this is because it is a national ballot). To add to the April ballot is $500-$1000 and to hold a special election I can only speculate as to the cost because we haven't done it before. But since merely adding to a national ballot in November is very expensive, I am making an educated guess that it would be significantly more cost than adding to a ballot measure.

K James wrote-
>>>I was wrong in my estimate of $12,000-15,000.<<<

Yes. You are likely wrong. ..if for no other reason than you are ballparking it and there’s this thing called inflation at work.

>>>To add to the April ballot is $500-$1000 and to hold a special election I can only speculate as to the cost because we haven't done it before. But since merely adding to a national ballot in November is very expensive, I am making an educated guess that it would be significantly more cost than adding to a ballot measure."<<<

I don’t know nor do I pretend to know. The cost is a matter of law…and not something to be ballparked or guessed at based on prior situations that don’t necessarily apply.

The cost either needs to be precise or at the very least an official estimate. The City can do that. The City consults with the County. It is up to the City to provide the info. You would know this if you could be bothered to read the City Charter.

I don’t and won’t deal in misinformation if I can avoid it. If on occasion it happens , it is inadvertent on my part. I always do my homework as best I can. Always. [Sound familiar?]

And I don’t go off half-cocked. When I go off I am fully cocked, locked and loaded.

Liz, please dont take my statements out of context. I did consult with the city, and those ARE their estimates, i honestly dont understand why we are bickering over this. According to the city, these are the Numbers:
1. Adding to the November ballot will cost the city anywhere from $12,000-$15,000
2. Adding to the April ballot will cost $500-$1000
3.Adding another entire independent unscheduled election No estimate because it hasn't been done before.
This information comes directly from the city. I don't have any clues why you keep refering to my understanding of the city's charter when I am just referring to the cost of an election. Michael Rhodes asked the question, i looked for an answer, that is all, I Dont understand why you keep referring to the charter when i am only speaking to the cost of an election Liz. Mr. Rhodes asked, I asked the city. Ellisville Charter not in this conversation.

K James--

You wrote--

>>>I don't have any clues why you keep refering to my understanding of the city's charter when I am just referring to the cost of an election.<<<

Yes,. I know you don't have a clue.

Section 9.3. PETITIONS.

(c) AFFIDAVIT OF CIRCULATOR. Each paper of a petition
shall have attached to it when filed an affidavit executed by the
circulator thereof stating the following:…(blah, blah, blah.) Such affidavit shall also state the approximate cost of the election.
[end paragraph]

An affidavit is a legal document. The approximate cost is provided by the City to be stated on the document.

The approximate cost is not something to be ballparked or guessed or broadcast by heresay by someone who talked to somebody else on the phone.

When it comes out in writing to be placed on a petition, then we'll know for certain.

Liz;
Again with the personal attacks. Michael Rhodes asked a question, I went to the city, and got a general answer. Please stop calling me names, I continue to not attack you personally, yet in almost all of your responses you strive to demean me personally with the name calling. I do not do this to you, for I find it extremely uncalled for. The politics of personal destruction is not a practice that is helpful ever.

K James –

What name calling?

You admitted:

>>>Well no it is not E, the county election board will have to supply the voting equip, workers etc, then they charge the city. I was wrong in my estimate of $12,000-15,000.<<<

>>>Michael Rhodes asked a question, I went to the city, and got a general answer.<<<

Yes. Which was wrong.

And;

>>> I don't have any clues why you keep refering to my understanding of the city's charter…<<<

Elections for initiative, referendum and recall and their approximate costs are a matter of legal public record because they eventually appear on affidavits (which are legal documents ) AS STATED ARTICLE 9 of the CITY CHARTER.

The costs of adding recall elections or initiative ballot items is indeterminate at best at this point in time.

[ Hint: “I don’t know,” is an acceptable answer. So is, "The cost of a recall election is determined by the City." ]

cont'd

cont'd

I know that some people who frequent this comments section think this give and take on the Patch is about being witty and cute or pretending they are in the know because they made a phone call, served on a commission or served in office at one time.

I also know that this Sansone Walmart TIF is wrecking havoc with peoples’ lives including working single parents with custody issues, handicapped and other school children who will have to change schools, elderly and disabled people who are looking at five year waiting lists for subsidized housing because they could lose the perfectly decent, affordable housing they have right NOW …not to mention the potential loss of three small businesses and the decline in property values for those property owners to the south and west of this proposed project, the degradation of Whippoorwhill Park and Trail, etc…

I don’t have time for gadflies or dilettantes who won’t do a simple web search and/or read a document. This isn’t about BBQ. This is about the law, people’s lives and MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars.

It has never been easier to do this kind of research. No one need go to City Hall, the Public Library or even a law library for hours on end. Public documents and references are online…statutes, codes, charters, schedules etc…

Anyone can sit in front of their computer in their jammies with a cup of coffee and find the info if they bother...if they bother at all.

Liz
You say 'I dont have time for gadflies etc, yet you spend an awdul lot of time spatting at me. Still with the name calling? It gets old Liz, The politics of personal destruction. Truly not helpful. I am deeply sorry that you are going to have to move, it is sad. And i say this even after continued jabs at me. I dont know your life experiences and you dont know mine, so please stop with the personal jabs at me. Not productive. I understand you dont want to move, but name calling isn't advancing anything.
As afar as the rest of your above comments.. You have your way of processing info and i have mine.

BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Tired still stirring the pot

I would have hated to lose our fine police force. Thank God the Walmart initiative passed.

mike k--

There was never a threat to losing the police force. It was a scare tactic.

Read the city budget lately? Or even the budget summary? It’s on line…for all to see…if they bother.

Hey, did your lawyer son earning the six-figure income ever step-up and help defend his fellow Missouri Walmart employees who got their wages stolen to the tune of 90 MILLION?

>>> My youngest son worked part time at the walmart in chesterfield valley to save enough money for college. He went to st louis univ and then on to univ of chicago law school.<<<

Did he get ripped-off too? Did they make him work through his lunch and rest breaks…and even more hours?

Did he get part of the settlement the Missouri judge forced Walmart to pay back when they got caught red-handed stealing from their employees by their own internal security systems? It was a state-wide case, systematic theft and it went on for years.

Was he even aware he was getting his wages stolen?

You never did answer my questions about that.

Liz;
<There was never a threat to losing the police force. It was a scare tactic.> So now who is speculating, you don't have any clue as to what cuts would have to be made.

mike k

I understand if you don't want to answer the questions regarding you son. Some people are embarrassed when they or someone they love is a victim of a criminal-like behavior.

Walmart stole 90M in wages from Missouri employees and had to pay it back in 2009 when they got caught red-handed by their own internal security systems.
This is not merely a payroll mistake by “Harriet in Accounting”…this is pattern of illegal behavior…some would say criminal behavior.

There must be real big money to be made in jerking around the little guy, because Walmart keeps doing it Keeps stealing from their own employees--getting sued, fighting creation of the class, losing the cases and appealing the verdicts (in other states where the judges are pushovers)…or settling.

In Washington State where Walmart was forced to settle, the judge demanded that the cash registers automatically lock out the employees if they haven’t taken their rest or lunch break since Walmart can’t be trusted. It’s like putting an ankle-bracelet on a parolee or requiring an alcoholic to have an ignition breathalyzer.

cont'd

cont'd

If someone intimidate you and stole $90 from your wallet, you’d be screaming for the police to make an arrest and the prosecutor to file charges.

In MO, Walmart stole $90M in wages. Funny how good citizens would never buy from a drug dealer or a stolen goods from a fence, but will actually “pay” to have white collar thieves to do business in their community.

Again, Walmart 90M stole from people like yourself…your son...and is still stealing from employees in other states…millions and millions of dollars.

That was a lot of injustice heaped on my fellow Missourians…and continues to be heaped on my fellow Americans so consumers can buy a $2 bath towel and a $3 waffle iron at a Thanksgiving Door Buster sale and get trampled in the process.
And they want Ellisville taxpayers to subsidize it and make the playing field even more uneven? Not on my dime.

Yet ,I hear people say, “Walmart is a great American company.” So, this is how we now define a great company?—A thieving, lying corporation with a pattern of criminal-like behavior?

If Walmart were an individual rather than a corporation who stole 90M, they’d be doing time in the state penitentiary.

If you stole $900 from a Walmart cash register, you’d be in the county jail.
But, instead Walmart of being criticized for their lying and thieving, they are being a lauded and even “welcomed” by some in Ellisville including yourself.

cont'd

cont'd

I have a positive solution. Why don’t we tell a corporation that steal from its’ own employees to find somewhere else to do business –since theft is not a community standard we support in Ellisville.

mike k – You wrote:

>>> Walmart in Ellisville will be the best thing that has ever happened to this city.<<<

I hope you change your mind about what a great thing this would be…but, I know victims sometimes identify with their captors.

In answer to your question, my son neither asked for or received any settlement from Walmart due to his years working there. Unlike some union employees, he was not a clock watcher and was willing to do whatever it took to take care of his customer even if it meant working part of his lunch or afternoon break.

He especially enjoyed waiting on Kurt Warner mutliple times during Kurt's stay in St. Louis when he playing for the Rams.

mike k

So then he was the perfect Wal-Mart slave and worked for free when they demanded it. Good for him.

But, I imagine it was hard to save money for college like that.

Most everyone works to make a living or earn money.

First I should say that Walmart's business practices are somewhat unimportant since the Supercenter seems inevitable. I'm not sure how anyone could be excited about getting them as a neighbor and defending them as an employer confuses me even more, but my opinion isn't the one winning out here.

That said, mike k, it's odd that you'd mention unions, which Walmart actively prohibits and discourages. Your son is not an attorney now *because* he worked at Walmart, and I don't think we need to review the reasons why he chose not to make a career there. It's offensive that you would refer to people who expect to be PAID for time they are WORKING as "clock watchers". Believe it or not, some people have to try to live on hourly wages, and Walmart is practically famous for paying less than a liveable wage. Given that most attorneys bill by the hour, I imagine your son watches the clock a bit these days.

Michael Rhodes, "livable wage" or "living wage" is a widely used policy term that generally hovers around the poverty line. It describes the bare minimum needed to pay for required necessary living expenses like food and shelter. Obviously it differs according to the area where one lives, but I'm not talking about paying for cable.

Sorry guys, my impression of Walmart and ALLRetail in general, is not that they pay a living wage, they pay a wage a high schooler /college student needs, retail is a first job, not a destination. All retail pays garbage, it is the nature of the beast. Yes wallyworld is the worst of them all because they hire more people cuz they are so big, but you can ask my ex what XXX pays their employees and the time demands of a "40" hour week working 60 and being paid for 40. If walmart is your 'destination' job. For goodness sakes AIM HIGHER.

average salary for a Walmart sales associate is $10.76 hr plus an opportunity for an annual $1,800 bonus. Not counting overtime, that's over $24,000 annually. Not my cup of tea but not bad for a spouse in a 2 income family or a kid saving money for college.

mike k

>>>Not counting overtime,<<<

Yeah...not counting overtime...since Wal-Mart expects you to work for free...which was the point of the 90 MILLION dollar law suit and settlement in Missouri.

Wal-Mart employees are still putting in overtime for free in other states. The Missouri judge was exceptionally tough and for the first time forced Wal-Mart to open their own internal security devices for the court record,

In other words the judge said "Show Me."

C Sloan,

Thanks for engaging in the conversation.

You will find (if you already haven't) that participants fail to do simple web searches for basic info. They want to be spoonfed. They are either obtuse, gadflies and dilettantes. The are also so obtuse that they think the terms "gadfly" and "dilettante" is name calling.

In a serious debate about serious matters they are far out of their league.

Michael Rhodes--

You wrote-

>>>ES: using your logic you need add the following companies and any other business that sells any of these products:

Nike, Apple, Target, Sears (Kmart), Whole Foods, PF Changs, Costco, McDonalds, Disney, Coca Cola, Nestle, Mars, Hershey, Ikea, and the list goes on and on.<<<

At one of the Chinese Apple suppliers, the workers were hurling themselves out of windows and off the top of the roofs to commit suicide. They were locked in the factory for months on end. The factory owner solved the problem by placing bars on the windows and exterior netting around the building. Do a simple google search.

Prior to 2008 or so, those components and finished i-phones and i-pods were made in the U.S. I don't buy i-junk anymore as a result. I won't work on Job's farm no more.

I am careful about what I buy based on the sourcing.

When there is an i-boycott app for the i-phone, i-will buy one...and laugh about the irony all the way to the cash register where i-don't spend money on junk that makes the people who made it want to kill themselves.

Liz
The problem some of us have with your point is that we work many more than 40 hours a week without the expectation of overtime compensation. Walmart (retail) is a job, not a destination. Again. Retail stinks. Aim higher!

>>>The problem some of us have with your point is that we work many more than 40 hours a week without the expectation of overtime compensation.<<<

The problem I have is with people who don't understand basic labor law and the difference between a hourly wage earner and a salaried worker. Do a google search.

Michael Rhodes said:
"I simply asked what you thought a liveable wage was?"

Yes, and you're trying to uncover something that isn't there to uncover. If you go way, way back to the point at which you started helping me pull this completely off topic, I was responding to mike k's comment on E Schmidt's question about Walmart's storied history of screwing their employees out of their already meager wages. I'd ask you to agree that a Walmart employee doesn't have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to giving up pay, but that's probably asking too much. I find it telling that you've worked so hard to make the numbers match your story--that these are decent jobs capable of supporting people--yet you were so quick to agree with K James that they're jobs better suited for kids. Guess what? We agree! However, I don't know where you guys shop, but when I look around kids are not what I see. Once upon a time we made things here, but since we don't any longer people have to work where they can find work. Massive retail is the new manufacturing.

"Are you suggesting Walmart (or an employer) should set wages based on the number of dependants?"

I'm sorry, where did I say that? Walmart can operate in whatever way it chooses. I just prefer not to see people who depend on jobs there--and have the nerve to expect wages for time worked--derided as "clock watchers".

(cont)

mike k, I don't put a lot of stock in "average hourly pay" for a company the size of Walmart. While your scenario sounds dreamy, let's not pretend that the large majority of Walmart employees don't live at or close to poverty. The fact that such a large percentage of them qualify for public assistance tells us otherwise.

K James wrote:

" If walmart is your 'destination' job. For goodness sakes AIM HIGHER."

...as a fun experiment, why don't you try saying that to the first few middle aged employees you greet in the new store? All these blasted poor people--they're just not doing it right.

Michael Rhodes--

Your wrote:

>>>There have been cases of companies exploiting the salaried worker to avoid payng overtime.<<<

Yep. That's quite a tactic. The re-definition from hourly to salaried worker is hard to fight in court.

Some workers don't even realize they've been... well, let's just say "jerked." They actually think they got "promoted" when they get re-defined as a "salary employee."

C Sloan--
You wrote:--

>>>At no point was I holding up Kmart or Target as superior employers.<<<

Both corporations get sued far less by employees over wages and hours That's a bonus in my book.

As I've said before, if Ellisville could only get some combined federal and state grant to build a Central Wal-Mart Courthouse for all the lawsuits to be heard, we residents and our merchants would be rolling in dough...and the hundreds of suits could stop clogging up state court systems and clear the federal dockets.

E Schmidt wrote:

"Both corporations get sued far less by employees over wages and hours That's a bonus in my book."

Quite true. More impressive still given what is required of companies to compete with them successfully. Even though I think they're responsible for a fairly major shift in standards, there is something to be said for other major retailers who refuse to stoop to the lowest, lawsuit-worthy practices.

I'd like to get back on topic. How do I find out more about this recall effort?
I live in District 1. Why would we try to force a recall in October of someone who is up for election in April 2013? Effort would be better spent on supporting Ms. Anglin's replacement. Recall efforts are better focused on those who just started their terms.

Mike K,
Mrs. Anglin is not up for re-election - she has termed out.
You should also take the time to speak to your council members Pirrello and Anglin one on one. They are available by phone or email, you can get their numbers on the Ellisville,mo.us website.
Not trying to change your mind or anything, but there are two sides to this issue, and you should at least hear the other side, if this is where you are getting your information, it is pretty one sided.