I have died and went to heaven if ever stl city and county merge. I have been wanting this for the longest time. just like mr. fleming stated, nothing but benefits if that were to happen. the time is NOW!
- 1,054
Maybe one county again, but one city is .....difficult to even dream about. The most or worst opposition would come from West County and your Claytons and Ladues where the old wealth reside. I mean these people love their communities and do not yet approve of the image of the City. By the way, the Mayor of STL City is not powerful enough to County people to cause people to jump the fence, maybe Dooley, but not even him. There is an inherent difference in County politics from City politics, less image and more work. Think of "Buzz" Westfall, he was the County's greatest Executive, and yet he hardly ever made a political image of himself like City politicians, and kept more in the quiet like God says to do good things in secret and He will reward you. Not many Countians want to be even merged with other County cities, which makes the appeal of a City-County merger less likely. Let's put it this way, a merger would be awesome and it would solve the County's population drain to the City, but not our future drain to St. Chuck, JeffCo, Franklin, or metroeast. If anything the region needs to expand Metro like Denver, solicit more businesses, revive the industry sector, establish venture money for many business sectors, reestablish the minority business fund with good leadership (remember in the fall the embezzlement), reinvestment into older communities, and most important MORE PEOPLE whether immigration or people from the coasts or just our own college grads. Why should a place like Denver, which is practically isolated from not only the coasts but also the major midwestern cities, is going to attract a million people? Major cities like Denver, Omaha, Salt Lake City, and other Great Mountain and desolate plains areas are not pointless but in-the-middle-of-nowhere. Denver is cool in the respect that it is quickly becoming the next Portland, but it's landscape besides flat is too modern '70s pffice park like and not very eastern urban. The majority of its downtown is boring architecture since it's practically all 1960s-1990s. It's only recently that they've jumped on the architecture wagon due to the their new urban obsession.
Back to topic, a merger is nearly impossible unless the region could make the ideological shift regarding transit, race, income, social status, and the City's overblown political image like all mayors after Cervantes. Maybe if that image became subdued and the County began to realise its problems that the City can help with, then possibly....Very uncertain and confused though, it's unpredictable.
Back to topic, a merger is nearly impossible unless the region could make the ideological shift regarding transit, race, income, social status, and the City's overblown political image like all mayors after Cervantes. Maybe if that image became subdued and the County began to realise its problems that the City can help with, then possibly....Very uncertain and confused though, it's unpredictable.
In no way is it possible for one person to get anything done, and nor did my asking Mayor Slay at lunch what his stance and views are on this subject will change anything, just a good subject for opinion.
I own a company based downtown and have the opportunity through networking. Should be a nice way to see a more "personable" side of Mayor Slay.
So how did you get a personal lunch with the Mayor?
I own a company based downtown and have the opportunity through networking. Should be a nice way to see a more "personable" side of Mayor Slay.
Last year Louisville, KY city and county merged. Here are some articles about How they did it and the BENEFITS they are reaping!
Louisville has reaped benefits of regionalism
By SCOTT WARTMAN - The Herald-Dispatch
Millions of dollars in savings, more police officers patrolling the streets and even expanded mosquito control all became a reality in the past two years for the Louisville area after the city government merged with Jefferson County government, Louisville Metro?s deputy mayor Joan Riehm said Saturday.
Riehm spoke at the "A Shared Future" forum about the benefits and challenges of merging a city and county government into one.
Jefferson County and Louisville merged their governments on Jan. 6, 2003, after more than 40 years of debate and three failed attempts through a referendum to combine the governments under one local government.
Louisville voters approved merging the city and county governments in the 2000 election, the fourth time such a proposal had been on the ballot.
When the county and city merged, the expanded boundaries more than doubled Louisville?s population to 694,000 and made Louisville rise from the 67th largest city to the 16th largest city in the country.
This distinction gives Louisville a much bigger draw economically, Riehm said.
"The real value is in the psychological impact," Riehm said. "We are now a first-tier city in the top 25 cities nationwide. We have had businesses locate here saying how much easier it is to deal with one government instead of two."
Often nodding her head in agreement Saturday as local leaders at the forum expressed the desire to consolidate governments, Riehm said during the merger process, Louisville struggled with many of the same issues facing Huntington today.
"I have heard a number of folks seem not happy with the situation. You are worried about a brain drain, losing your young people to other areas; worried about businesses leaving," Riehm said. "Those are the same sentiments Louisville had when we struggled with starting a metro government."
The seeds of a metro government took a long time to germinate, but the fruits have been plentiful, Riehm said.
Merger?s effect
Consolidating the seat of power in Jefferson County under one mayor and council reduced excess costs caused by duplication of services and needless bureaucracies, she said.
Under the Louisville Metro government, Riehm said, the city has saved $2 million by using a vast amount of property owned by the city and county rather than paying rent for government operations on privately owned property, as the separate governments had done in the past.
Once in power, the Louisville Metro government also discovered a surplus of police officers relegated to desk work. The metro government hired civilians to do the desk work for police officers and made an additional 100-plus officers available to patrol the area.
Louisville?s metro leadership also took stock of the many agencies in Jefferson County that travel to houses and neighborhoods on a daily basis, Riehm said. The government harnessed the manpower these groups provided by training employees in these agencies to drop mosquito repellants in neighborhoods while the workers made their usual rounds, thus minimizing risk of West Nile Virus and other health problems while city work continued as usual, Riehm said.
The metro government has allowed the Louisville community to think big, Riehm said. Combining resources, Louisville Metro has a 24-hour government information service 311 hotline and is currently building a $70 million public safety emergency communications network to improve communication among emergency responders.
Louisville Metro?s mayor, Jerry Abramson, recently unveiled a plan for the city to buy Louisville Gas and Electric for $1 billion from its German-based parent company, should that company decide to sell, Riehm said.
"The mere idea of a mayor proposing such a large project would not have happened before," Riehm said.
"Thinking bigger is a big benefit of a metro government on big projects that are hard and require people being selfless. Could we have done some of this without a merger? Maybe. Did we? No."
How to merge
Putting county and city governments under one umbrella requires a simple approach to a complex issue, Riehm said.
The Louisville and Jefferson County merger only combined the main government bodies and did not affect school boards, which remain unchanged.
In addition to the school board, the merger also didn?t affect:
n Most of the suburban volunteer fire departments
n Special service districts
n Most of the suburban cities in Jefferson County, which also retained their city councils and mayors
n Taxes and many public services. County and city services remained at the same level to keep taxes down, Riehm said.
The merger allowed for the streamlining of government but kept the individual identities of the different neighborhoods, Riehm said.
Louisville Metro?s government, once established, did later merge the city and county police departments.
Instead of a Louisville mayor, Jefferson County Judge-Executive, Louisville Council and Jefferson County Fiscal Court as the governing bodies in Jefferson County, the area is now under a metro mayor and a metro council with 26 members.
Previous attempts at merging Louisville and Jefferson County often degenerated as opponents criticized and bickered over details, Riehm said. On the fourth attempt, they pared the merger down to the main bodies of government, Riehm said.
"Since the vision was one leadership, we only merged the executive and legislative branches," Riehm said. "I think simplicity was one of the secrets."
Prior to the merger, however, Jefferson County and Louisville had already merged several departments including tax collection, planning and zoning, the health department and disaster and emergency services.
Louisville and Jefferson County made an agreement in 1986 to share taxes for economic development, freeze future annexation and parceled out who was to govern the merged departments.
These steps helped pave the way for a metro Louisville, Riehm said.
Even if a community opts not to combine governments, these preliminary measures could be taken to make government more efficient.
"I don?t think it is the answer for every community," Riehm said. "It is hard to accept and it doesn?t solve all your problems. It does put you in a better position to deal with 21st Century issues better than with a 19th Century government structure."
ANOTHER GOOD ARTICLE:
http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/us_mayor_n ... sville.htm
Louisville has reaped benefits of regionalism
By SCOTT WARTMAN - The Herald-Dispatch
Millions of dollars in savings, more police officers patrolling the streets and even expanded mosquito control all became a reality in the past two years for the Louisville area after the city government merged with Jefferson County government, Louisville Metro?s deputy mayor Joan Riehm said Saturday.
Riehm spoke at the "A Shared Future" forum about the benefits and challenges of merging a city and county government into one.
Jefferson County and Louisville merged their governments on Jan. 6, 2003, after more than 40 years of debate and three failed attempts through a referendum to combine the governments under one local government.
Louisville voters approved merging the city and county governments in the 2000 election, the fourth time such a proposal had been on the ballot.
When the county and city merged, the expanded boundaries more than doubled Louisville?s population to 694,000 and made Louisville rise from the 67th largest city to the 16th largest city in the country.
This distinction gives Louisville a much bigger draw economically, Riehm said.
"The real value is in the psychological impact," Riehm said. "We are now a first-tier city in the top 25 cities nationwide. We have had businesses locate here saying how much easier it is to deal with one government instead of two."
Often nodding her head in agreement Saturday as local leaders at the forum expressed the desire to consolidate governments, Riehm said during the merger process, Louisville struggled with many of the same issues facing Huntington today.
"I have heard a number of folks seem not happy with the situation. You are worried about a brain drain, losing your young people to other areas; worried about businesses leaving," Riehm said. "Those are the same sentiments Louisville had when we struggled with starting a metro government."
The seeds of a metro government took a long time to germinate, but the fruits have been plentiful, Riehm said.
Merger?s effect
Consolidating the seat of power in Jefferson County under one mayor and council reduced excess costs caused by duplication of services and needless bureaucracies, she said.
Under the Louisville Metro government, Riehm said, the city has saved $2 million by using a vast amount of property owned by the city and county rather than paying rent for government operations on privately owned property, as the separate governments had done in the past.
Once in power, the Louisville Metro government also discovered a surplus of police officers relegated to desk work. The metro government hired civilians to do the desk work for police officers and made an additional 100-plus officers available to patrol the area.
Louisville?s metro leadership also took stock of the many agencies in Jefferson County that travel to houses and neighborhoods on a daily basis, Riehm said. The government harnessed the manpower these groups provided by training employees in these agencies to drop mosquito repellants in neighborhoods while the workers made their usual rounds, thus minimizing risk of West Nile Virus and other health problems while city work continued as usual, Riehm said.
The metro government has allowed the Louisville community to think big, Riehm said. Combining resources, Louisville Metro has a 24-hour government information service 311 hotline and is currently building a $70 million public safety emergency communications network to improve communication among emergency responders.
Louisville Metro?s mayor, Jerry Abramson, recently unveiled a plan for the city to buy Louisville Gas and Electric for $1 billion from its German-based parent company, should that company decide to sell, Riehm said.
"The mere idea of a mayor proposing such a large project would not have happened before," Riehm said.
"Thinking bigger is a big benefit of a metro government on big projects that are hard and require people being selfless. Could we have done some of this without a merger? Maybe. Did we? No."
How to merge
Putting county and city governments under one umbrella requires a simple approach to a complex issue, Riehm said.
The Louisville and Jefferson County merger only combined the main government bodies and did not affect school boards, which remain unchanged.
In addition to the school board, the merger also didn?t affect:
n Most of the suburban volunteer fire departments
n Special service districts
n Most of the suburban cities in Jefferson County, which also retained their city councils and mayors
n Taxes and many public services. County and city services remained at the same level to keep taxes down, Riehm said.
The merger allowed for the streamlining of government but kept the individual identities of the different neighborhoods, Riehm said.
Louisville Metro?s government, once established, did later merge the city and county police departments.
Instead of a Louisville mayor, Jefferson County Judge-Executive, Louisville Council and Jefferson County Fiscal Court as the governing bodies in Jefferson County, the area is now under a metro mayor and a metro council with 26 members.
Previous attempts at merging Louisville and Jefferson County often degenerated as opponents criticized and bickered over details, Riehm said. On the fourth attempt, they pared the merger down to the main bodies of government, Riehm said.
"Since the vision was one leadership, we only merged the executive and legislative branches," Riehm said. "I think simplicity was one of the secrets."
Prior to the merger, however, Jefferson County and Louisville had already merged several departments including tax collection, planning and zoning, the health department and disaster and emergency services.
Louisville and Jefferson County made an agreement in 1986 to share taxes for economic development, freeze future annexation and parceled out who was to govern the merged departments.
These steps helped pave the way for a metro Louisville, Riehm said.
Even if a community opts not to combine governments, these preliminary measures could be taken to make government more efficient.
"I don?t think it is the answer for every community," Riehm said. "It is hard to accept and it doesn?t solve all your problems. It does put you in a better position to deal with 21st Century issues better than with a 19th Century government structure."
ANOTHER GOOD ARTICLE:
http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/us_mayor_n ... sville.htm
Questions and Answers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Courier-Journal
Confused about all the changes taking place under our new merged government? Wondering what will happen to your taxes? Chances are you?re in good company. Here?s a merger primer to answer those questions today ? the first day of the new Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government.
Q: How does the merged government work?
A: It will operate much like the Lexington-Fayette County government. Louisville-Jefferson County?s 83 suburban cities and the unincorporated county will be under one government led by the metro
mayor and a 26-member Metro Council. The metro mayor is elected countywide. Council members are elected from within their districts, with each member representing approximately 26,670 people. Council members elected last November from even-numbered districts will serve a one-time, two-year term to stagger council members? tenures. In future elections, all council members will be elected to four-year terms.
Q: If I live in the unincorporated area of the county, how am I affected by merger?
A: You will pay taxes as you have in the past, but to the new government. The amount probably won?t increase unless new services are offered, such as extending government garbage service to areas where people now pay private haulers. You also would continue to pay taxes to a suburban fire district.
Q: Will I get garbage collection and other services, such as recycling and yard-waste pickup, as Louisville residents do?
A: Not automatically. Louisville residents pay higher taxes for additional services such as trash collection, sidewalks and professional fire protection. Extending those services to residents outside
the former Louisville city limits would require the residents to pay additional taxes. Those decisions would be made by the metro mayor and council.
Q: How will residents of the 83 suburban cities be affected by merger?
A: Suburban cities remain intact and may continue to collect taxes and provide services, such as police protection or snow removal. Tax bills and services for residents of suburban cities won?t change because of merger. However, if suburban residents want metro government to provide new services, taxes would probably increase to pay for them.
Q: What happens to my tax bill?
A: Officials say merger will have little or no effect on the amount of taxes you pay, although your taxes will be handled differently. Residents within Louisville?s old city boundaries will pay property taxes equal to their previous city and county taxes, but to the new metro government. Residents in areas of the county that previously were unincorporated will pay the same property taxes they used to pay to
Jefferson County to the metro government. Residents of small cities will pay their current property taxes and property taxes levied by their cities.
Q: I live in a small city within Jefferson County that already has a mayor. Is Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson also my mayor?A: You?ll have two mayors. Your small-city mayor will continue to officiate over your community. The law allowing merger protects the small cities. The metro mayor will preside over the entire county, somewhat similar to the way the judge-executive used to function.
Q: How can I find out what Metro Council district I live in and who represents me on the council?
A: Call the Jefferson County Board of Elections at 574-6100, or go to the Web site at www.countyclerk.jefferson.ky.us.
Q: Can the metro government annex unincorporated county areas and suburban cities?
A: The metro mayor and the Metro Council cannot dissolve or merge existing suburban cities. The merger law forbids suburban cities from expanding through property annexation for 12 years, although they can merge with other suburban cities. After 12 years, suburban cities can annex
property with the Metro Council?s approval. The merger law doesn?t allow new cities to be created within the county.
Q: Who will provide my area with fire protection?
A: Louisville?s fire department will continue to fight fires within the traditional Louisville boundaries. Fire protection elsewhere will be provided by the 21 existing fire districts. Each fire district will continue to levy taxes to provide fire protection. The boards of trustees of those fire districts can decide to dissolve or merge if they choose.
Q: Who will provide my police protection?
A: The Louisville and Jefferson County police departments have merged into the Louisville Metro Police Department and will provide protection throughout the county. Decisions about deployment of officers and patrol districts will be made by Police Chief Robert White. Small cities with police forces will continue to provide protection for their residents.
Q: Will the merged government save money?
A: Nobody knows. Merger is supposed to create efficiencies and reduce duplication within government. Mayor Abramson is merging some departments and considering contracting some
functions.
Q: What happens to city, county and independent agencies under merger?
A: Most agencies answer to the metro government, including the Health Department, the Air Pollution Control District, the Planning Commission, the Human Relations Commission, Metro Parks and the Louisville Free Public Library. Independent agencies such as the Metropolitan Sewer District and the Transit Authority of River City are slightly affected by merger because the metro mayor appoints more of their board members.
Q: What powers does the metro mayor have?
A: The metro mayor is the leader of the new merged government, with duties that include supervising, administrating and controlling all departments; submitting the annual budget; vetoing power over proposed ordinances; implementing and enforcing ordinances; and appointing department and agency directors.
Q: What powers does the Metro Council have?
A: The Metro Council is responsible for passing all ordinances and laws. It also reviews and approves the mayor?s annual budget, as well as financial agreements such as labor agreements. It also confirms some mayoral appointments to boards and commissions. The council can override the mayor?s veto with a two-thirds majority, or 18 votes.
Q: Who appoints members to boards and commissions?
A: The merger law gave the metro mayor authority to appoint all board and commission members.
However, the law also stipulates that the mayor and Metro Council must decide which appointments will receive council confirmation.
Q: How does merger affect the Jefferson County clerk, sheriff, commonwealth?s attorney, coroner and property valuation administrator?
A: All will function as they do now. The offices are established by the state constitution and aren?t a part of merger. Some of those offices, however, will receive at least a portion of their money from the
metro government.
Q: What roles do the Jefferson County judge-executive and county commissioners have in the new government?A: The county judge-executive and three county commissioners will continue to be elected every four years. But their powers and salaries will be determined by the Metro Council. The council likely will give the posts few if any duties and pay them accordingly.
Q: Where are the offices of the new mayor and Metro Council?
A: The metro mayor?s office is in the county courthouse at 527 W. Jefferson St. The Metro Council has its offices and will convene its meetings at City Hall. The council tentatively has decided to meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 6 p.m.
Q: So, if the mayor is in the courthouse and the Metro Council is in the old City Hall, where exactly is City Hall officially located nowadays?A: ??Interesting question,?? Abramson spokeswoman Susan McNeese Lynch said. The Abramson administration has considered the possibility of calling the Jefferson County Courthouse ??Metro Hall?? or ??The Louisville Government Center?? to better reflect the position it occupies in representing
the entire community. City Hall would retain its name, and the two buildings together would be called the ??Metro Government Complex,?? or something like that, Lynch said. ??Of course, regardless of our aspirations, people many times determine for themselves what they want to call important buildings,?? Lynch said. ??After all, in Chicago the ?Sears Tower? is still called the ?Sears Tower,? even though Sears is no longer headquartered there.??
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Courier-Journal
Confused about all the changes taking place under our new merged government? Wondering what will happen to your taxes? Chances are you?re in good company. Here?s a merger primer to answer those questions today ? the first day of the new Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government.
Q: How does the merged government work?
A: It will operate much like the Lexington-Fayette County government. Louisville-Jefferson County?s 83 suburban cities and the unincorporated county will be under one government led by the metro
mayor and a 26-member Metro Council. The metro mayor is elected countywide. Council members are elected from within their districts, with each member representing approximately 26,670 people. Council members elected last November from even-numbered districts will serve a one-time, two-year term to stagger council members? tenures. In future elections, all council members will be elected to four-year terms.
Q: If I live in the unincorporated area of the county, how am I affected by merger?
A: You will pay taxes as you have in the past, but to the new government. The amount probably won?t increase unless new services are offered, such as extending government garbage service to areas where people now pay private haulers. You also would continue to pay taxes to a suburban fire district.
Q: Will I get garbage collection and other services, such as recycling and yard-waste pickup, as Louisville residents do?
A: Not automatically. Louisville residents pay higher taxes for additional services such as trash collection, sidewalks and professional fire protection. Extending those services to residents outside
the former Louisville city limits would require the residents to pay additional taxes. Those decisions would be made by the metro mayor and council.
Q: How will residents of the 83 suburban cities be affected by merger?
A: Suburban cities remain intact and may continue to collect taxes and provide services, such as police protection or snow removal. Tax bills and services for residents of suburban cities won?t change because of merger. However, if suburban residents want metro government to provide new services, taxes would probably increase to pay for them.
Q: What happens to my tax bill?
A: Officials say merger will have little or no effect on the amount of taxes you pay, although your taxes will be handled differently. Residents within Louisville?s old city boundaries will pay property taxes equal to their previous city and county taxes, but to the new metro government. Residents in areas of the county that previously were unincorporated will pay the same property taxes they used to pay to
Jefferson County to the metro government. Residents of small cities will pay their current property taxes and property taxes levied by their cities.
Q: I live in a small city within Jefferson County that already has a mayor. Is Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson also my mayor?A: You?ll have two mayors. Your small-city mayor will continue to officiate over your community. The law allowing merger protects the small cities. The metro mayor will preside over the entire county, somewhat similar to the way the judge-executive used to function.
Q: How can I find out what Metro Council district I live in and who represents me on the council?
A: Call the Jefferson County Board of Elections at 574-6100, or go to the Web site at www.countyclerk.jefferson.ky.us.
Q: Can the metro government annex unincorporated county areas and suburban cities?
A: The metro mayor and the Metro Council cannot dissolve or merge existing suburban cities. The merger law forbids suburban cities from expanding through property annexation for 12 years, although they can merge with other suburban cities. After 12 years, suburban cities can annex
property with the Metro Council?s approval. The merger law doesn?t allow new cities to be created within the county.
Q: Who will provide my area with fire protection?
A: Louisville?s fire department will continue to fight fires within the traditional Louisville boundaries. Fire protection elsewhere will be provided by the 21 existing fire districts. Each fire district will continue to levy taxes to provide fire protection. The boards of trustees of those fire districts can decide to dissolve or merge if they choose.
Q: Who will provide my police protection?
A: The Louisville and Jefferson County police departments have merged into the Louisville Metro Police Department and will provide protection throughout the county. Decisions about deployment of officers and patrol districts will be made by Police Chief Robert White. Small cities with police forces will continue to provide protection for their residents.
Q: Will the merged government save money?
A: Nobody knows. Merger is supposed to create efficiencies and reduce duplication within government. Mayor Abramson is merging some departments and considering contracting some
functions.
Q: What happens to city, county and independent agencies under merger?
A: Most agencies answer to the metro government, including the Health Department, the Air Pollution Control District, the Planning Commission, the Human Relations Commission, Metro Parks and the Louisville Free Public Library. Independent agencies such as the Metropolitan Sewer District and the Transit Authority of River City are slightly affected by merger because the metro mayor appoints more of their board members.
Q: What powers does the metro mayor have?
A: The metro mayor is the leader of the new merged government, with duties that include supervising, administrating and controlling all departments; submitting the annual budget; vetoing power over proposed ordinances; implementing and enforcing ordinances; and appointing department and agency directors.
Q: What powers does the Metro Council have?
A: The Metro Council is responsible for passing all ordinances and laws. It also reviews and approves the mayor?s annual budget, as well as financial agreements such as labor agreements. It also confirms some mayoral appointments to boards and commissions. The council can override the mayor?s veto with a two-thirds majority, or 18 votes.
Q: Who appoints members to boards and commissions?
A: The merger law gave the metro mayor authority to appoint all board and commission members.
However, the law also stipulates that the mayor and Metro Council must decide which appointments will receive council confirmation.
Q: How does merger affect the Jefferson County clerk, sheriff, commonwealth?s attorney, coroner and property valuation administrator?
A: All will function as they do now. The offices are established by the state constitution and aren?t a part of merger. Some of those offices, however, will receive at least a portion of their money from the
metro government.
Q: What roles do the Jefferson County judge-executive and county commissioners have in the new government?A: The county judge-executive and three county commissioners will continue to be elected every four years. But their powers and salaries will be determined by the Metro Council. The council likely will give the posts few if any duties and pay them accordingly.
Q: Where are the offices of the new mayor and Metro Council?
A: The metro mayor?s office is in the county courthouse at 527 W. Jefferson St. The Metro Council has its offices and will convene its meetings at City Hall. The council tentatively has decided to meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 6 p.m.
Q: So, if the mayor is in the courthouse and the Metro Council is in the old City Hall, where exactly is City Hall officially located nowadays?A: ??Interesting question,?? Abramson spokeswoman Susan McNeese Lynch said. The Abramson administration has considered the possibility of calling the Jefferson County Courthouse ??Metro Hall?? or ??The Louisville Government Center?? to better reflect the position it occupies in representing
the entire community. City Hall would retain its name, and the two buildings together would be called the ??Metro Government Complex,?? or something like that, Lynch said. ??Of course, regardless of our aspirations, people many times determine for themselves what they want to call important buildings,?? Lynch said. ??After all, in Chicago the ?Sears Tower? is still called the ?Sears Tower,? even though Sears is no longer headquartered there.??
- 1,054
The Louisville merger seems to have changed almost nothing that affects County residents, but current sububs stay their own city with mayors and more, how are they absobed by Louisville? It would be amazing to have a population of 1.35 million, but I don't understand the jurisdiction of the city or its expanded limits over all county suburbs but yet those suburbs can still expand too!? This is confusing, but it is a great possibility for our region if the relation between the suburbs in the county and the city would be explained as if nothing is changing but the executive and legislative operations of county and city. Maybe we should have boroughs because STL county is rather large. North, Northwest, West, Central, Southwest, South boroughs and City borough. If our merger happened then attracting more bioscience and lifescience companies would be easier.
Hey all,
For a good part of my life, I have thought that a City-County Merger would be great. Does anyone know if this idea is still on agendas or even being considered?
Thanks
For a good part of my life, I have thought that a City-County Merger would be great. Does anyone know if this idea is still on agendas or even being considered?
Thanks
- 1,026
I'd love St. Louis CFounty to merge with the City. It would be a masterstroke. The city woudl have access to County tax revenues .. and thus be able to function as an actual urban center.
but I highly doubt it would ever occur. Why? politics. Lets be honest, does anyone think that the Democratic machine in the city would allow such a merger? If it happened ... the entire city would most likely go Republican. I just can't see people letting go of their little fiefdoms. I mean good God .. look how hard people fought to keep alderman in wards that now only have about twenty people.
And the County would resist as well. How many Countians would vote to share their tax revenues with the city?
It would be far sighted sure ... but when was the last time St. Louis was far sighted?
but I highly doubt it would ever occur. Why? politics. Lets be honest, does anyone think that the Democratic machine in the city would allow such a merger? If it happened ... the entire city would most likely go Republican. I just can't see people letting go of their little fiefdoms. I mean good God .. look how hard people fought to keep alderman in wards that now only have about twenty people.
And the County would resist as well. How many Countians would vote to share their tax revenues with the city?
It would be far sighted sure ... but when was the last time St. Louis was far sighted?
- 1,768
I think most of the opposition would come from the county. people talk about money diversion and schools and the what not. It seems like every time they talk about a merger the schools come up. And it also seems like everyone wants the entire county to become one city, rather than one county. Why not just make the city another municipality in the county, rather than its own(St. louis City County). Then they would have access to county funds for some stuff, while dodging the oft maligned school integration theory. The city would probably find being apart of the county as a boost to its own district, both psychologically and fiscally. It seems like rather than attempt a meaningful, though small unification, they always propose the monster stroke, which inevitably scares most people away. Too much at one time. Like you say, St. Louisans don't look forward so much, and don;t like to change in leaps and bounds. Take it back a step. Merge the counties. then the schools. Then the municipalities. Then we will be the sixth largest city in the nation.
- 2,005
I'd love St. Louis CFounty to merge with the City. It would be a masterstroke. The city woudl have access to County tax revenues .. and thus be able to function as an actual urban center.
but I highly doubt it would ever occur. Why? politics. Lets be honest, does anyone think that the Democratic machine in the city would allow such a merger? If it happened ... the entire city would most likely go Republican. I just can't see people letting go of their little fiefdoms. I mean good God .. look how hard people fought to keep alderman in wards that now only have about twenty people.
And the County would resist as well. How many Countians would vote to share their tax revenues with the city?
I don't think the City would have to worry about becoming Republican all of a sudden. The County has a democrat county executive and went democratic in the last Presidential election. I think the City political structure needs some work, 28 wards seems a bit much considering there are 300,000 fewer people than when the 1914 charter was written. Someday the charter will change, but it'll need more thought than the one submitted last year. I'd also compare all the little towns in St. Louis County to fiefdoms like Bel-Nor, Velda Village, Flordell Hills. The issue is this whole region is so parochial, the question is how do you get people to look at the big picture.
The County has its own political issues, it thinks it's a city too. It's very tough for a city in the county to annex territory. A city has to have annexation plans submitted to the County now something like 10 years in advance. Unfortunetely a merger will be slow to take shape. Any merger will have to resemble Louisville/Jefferson County. Keeping the small town identities intact, but have the clout of 1 million + city to attract businesses/people while shrinking government and redundant services.
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<A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... 64F6">Slay begins 2nd term on optimistic note</A>
BY JAKE WAGMAN
Of the Post-Dispatch
04/18/2005
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay will be sworn in today, surfing the same wave of optimism that sent him safely to a second term.
One comment in the draft of Slay's speech could raise some eyebrows: an apparent reference to a city-county merger.
"In four years, (St. Louis County Executive) Charlie (Dooley) and I may share fire engines, airports, a health district, a bond issue, a tax base or - even - an office," the text reads. "Or, we may not."
Aides to Slay said that while a merger might be something for discussion, they didn't see it as a political reality for the near future.
<A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... E8001D64F6">>>> read more</A>
BY JAKE WAGMAN
Of the Post-Dispatch
04/18/2005
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay will be sworn in today, surfing the same wave of optimism that sent him safely to a second term.
One comment in the draft of Slay's speech could raise some eyebrows: an apparent reference to a city-county merger.
"In four years, (St. Louis County Executive) Charlie (Dooley) and I may share fire engines, airports, a health district, a bond issue, a tax base or - even - an office," the text reads. "Or, we may not."
Aides to Slay said that while a merger might be something for discussion, they didn't see it as a political reality for the near future.
<A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... E8001D64F6">>>> read more</A>
- 1,054
Slay as Governor? Well, if that happens then we can be assured a merger and maybe better state actions than the current administration.
City-County merger may just happen in 4 years?
Well, Dooley and Slay seem pretty buddy buddy about entertaining the idea. On KMOV TV news at 5:00pm - Dooley said that he agrees with Mayor Slay and will work with him in creating a city county relationship in services and merger.
The merger would make STL one of the largest populated cities in the country - enhance and supplement larger federal money for both as well.
Well, Dooley and Slay seem pretty buddy buddy about entertaining the idea. On KMOV TV news at 5:00pm - Dooley said that he agrees with Mayor Slay and will work with him in creating a city county relationship in services and merger.
The merger would make STL one of the largest populated cities in the country - enhance and supplement larger federal money for both as well.
- 1,517
Even though Slay's comment was more or less facetious, it's definitely positive that he mentioned it. I truly feel that combining the assets of the City and the County will help everyone in the long term.
And...of course...if Slay does get any of that done in four years, he deserves to be President of the U.S., not just Governor of Missouri.
And...of course...if Slay does get any of that done in four years, he deserves to be President of the U.S., not just Governor of Missouri.
- 377
By Jake Wagman
Of the Post-Dispatch
04/19/2005
St. Louis and St. Louis County could some day be happily remarried, but don't save the date just yet.
Past and present elected officials reacted with caution when Mayor Francis Slay hinted at such a coupling in his inaugural address Tuesday.
The city-county merger is the "magic bullet" theory of local politics. It surfaces every few years, each time with new twists and darker conspiratorial tones. Former Mayor Vincent Schoemehl entertained the idea, as did late County Executive George R. "Buzz" Westfall.
Current St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley embraced the notion of making the city part of the county. That appears to differ from Slay's vision, which sounded more like a power-sharing setup.
The county already has 92 municipalities, Dooley noted - "We could have 93," he said after the inauguration ceremony.
"I would love to see the city back in the county," Dooley said. "We know it needs to happen. When it's going to happen, I couldn't even begin to tell you."
The city split from the county in 1876.
Financially, a merger could make sense by combining services such as fire and police protection. The county also could absorb more of the costs for parks and stadiums used by residents from all over the region.
But politically, county officials might wonder what's in it for them. The most significant hindrance could be overcoming the perception that inheriting the city would mean inheriting more poverty and crime.
The state Legislature would likely have to be convinced. So would city voters - at least 60 percent of them - to approve a change in the city's charter. The proposal would have natural enemies among city officeholders who perform county functions, jobs that would presumably vanish under a merger. In November, some of those city officeholders flexed their political muscle by beating back a series of ballot questions that would have reorganized city government and eliminated some patronage positions.
"We talked about a city-county merger a long time ago," former St. Louis Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. said. "It's not something the people are ready for yet."
Whether those in the audience at City Hall during Slay's speech appreciated his mention of merger is difficult to say. Toward the end of his 20-minute speech, Slay made his pitch.
"In four years, Charlie and I may share fire engines, airports, a health district, a bond issue, a tax base - or even an office," Slay said. "Or, we may not."
But was the applause that followed for the merger suggestion, or for Slay backing away from it?
Board of Aldermen President James Shrewsbury quipped that the merger could happen "when the Arabs and Israelis stop fighting."
He did give Slay credit for at least floating a politically thorny idea.
"If we don't start talking about today," Shrewsbury said, "it's never going to happen."
The rest of Slay's speech was more predictable: The city must build on recent progress by focusing on adding jobs and developing the riverfront.
"The city has learned to walk," Slay said. "Now, it's time to run."
Slay, the 45th man to occupy the mayor's office, took the oath from Circuit Court Judge Jack Garvey.
Former television news personality Julius Hunter emceed the ceremony, which he called a "constellation of federal, state and local officials." Gov. Matt Blunt headlined a group of five statewide elected officials in attendance. Three ex-mayors, two former U.S. senators and several state legislators were there as well.
Comptroller Darlene Green was also sworn in on Tuesday, beginning her third full term. She took the oath from Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronnie White.
Of the Post-Dispatch
04/19/2005
St. Louis and St. Louis County could some day be happily remarried, but don't save the date just yet.
Past and present elected officials reacted with caution when Mayor Francis Slay hinted at such a coupling in his inaugural address Tuesday.
The city-county merger is the "magic bullet" theory of local politics. It surfaces every few years, each time with new twists and darker conspiratorial tones. Former Mayor Vincent Schoemehl entertained the idea, as did late County Executive George R. "Buzz" Westfall.
Current St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley embraced the notion of making the city part of the county. That appears to differ from Slay's vision, which sounded more like a power-sharing setup.
The county already has 92 municipalities, Dooley noted - "We could have 93," he said after the inauguration ceremony.
"I would love to see the city back in the county," Dooley said. "We know it needs to happen. When it's going to happen, I couldn't even begin to tell you."
The city split from the county in 1876.
Financially, a merger could make sense by combining services such as fire and police protection. The county also could absorb more of the costs for parks and stadiums used by residents from all over the region.
But politically, county officials might wonder what's in it for them. The most significant hindrance could be overcoming the perception that inheriting the city would mean inheriting more poverty and crime.
The state Legislature would likely have to be convinced. So would city voters - at least 60 percent of them - to approve a change in the city's charter. The proposal would have natural enemies among city officeholders who perform county functions, jobs that would presumably vanish under a merger. In November, some of those city officeholders flexed their political muscle by beating back a series of ballot questions that would have reorganized city government and eliminated some patronage positions.
"We talked about a city-county merger a long time ago," former St. Louis Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. said. "It's not something the people are ready for yet."
Whether those in the audience at City Hall during Slay's speech appreciated his mention of merger is difficult to say. Toward the end of his 20-minute speech, Slay made his pitch.
"In four years, Charlie and I may share fire engines, airports, a health district, a bond issue, a tax base - or even an office," Slay said. "Or, we may not."
But was the applause that followed for the merger suggestion, or for Slay backing away from it?
Board of Aldermen President James Shrewsbury quipped that the merger could happen "when the Arabs and Israelis stop fighting."
He did give Slay credit for at least floating a politically thorny idea.
"If we don't start talking about today," Shrewsbury said, "it's never going to happen."
The rest of Slay's speech was more predictable: The city must build on recent progress by focusing on adding jobs and developing the riverfront.
"The city has learned to walk," Slay said. "Now, it's time to run."
Slay, the 45th man to occupy the mayor's office, took the oath from Circuit Court Judge Jack Garvey.
Former television news personality Julius Hunter emceed the ceremony, which he called a "constellation of federal, state and local officials." Gov. Matt Blunt headlined a group of five statewide elected officials in attendance. Three ex-mayors, two former U.S. senators and several state legislators were there as well.
Comptroller Darlene Green was also sworn in on Tuesday, beginning her third full term. She took the oath from Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronnie White.
- 10K
Despite Bosley's claims that people aren't ready for a merger, it seems like for the first time, people are actually seriously talking about it.
I think that the idea of creating a regional health department is a good one, as is consolidating services in the City and County. Those will be good first steps towards a merger.
I think that the idea of creating a regional health department is a good one, as is consolidating services in the City and County. Those will be good first steps towards a merger.
Bosley has always been more for segregation that inter/intragation if you ask me. He ran the city that way and he prefers it in his actions and words.
- 835
It would be great to see the City and County become one again, but I wouldn't want the current city boundaries to change (not they would anyway). There was a proposal floated in the '60s that would have remarried the City and County under which the City of Saint Louis would have annexed some inner suburbs as buroughs. It would be so cool if Clayton, U. City, Maplewood and Richmond Heights could be part of St. Louis City and still keep their own identities and boundaries.
Merger is seen as way to ease jurors? burden
By Clay Barbour
Of the Post-Dispatch
05/01/2005
...In his inaugural speech last month, Mayor Francis Slay suggested it might be time for the city and county to reunite. St. Louis split from the county in 1876.
Rejoining the two could save money for both by combining services such as fire and police. It would also go a long way in helping officials share the burden of parks and stadiums enjoyed by residents across the region.
But perhaps nowhere would such a merger be more welcomed than in the city's courts, where the average juror repeats service every 39 months. That kind of civic burden is unheard of elsewhere in the St. Louis area...
By Clay Barbour
Of the Post-Dispatch
05/01/2005
...In his inaugural speech last month, Mayor Francis Slay suggested it might be time for the city and county to reunite. St. Louis split from the county in 1876.
Rejoining the two could save money for both by combining services such as fire and police. It would also go a long way in helping officials share the burden of parks and stadiums enjoyed by residents across the region.
But perhaps nowhere would such a merger be more welcomed than in the city's courts, where the average juror repeats service every 39 months. That kind of civic burden is unheard of elsewhere in the St. Louis area...
- 1,649
<A HREF="http://www.westendword.com/moxie/news/c ... ">Thinking the unthinkable</A>
By Kara Beightel
Posted Wednesday, April 27, 2005
St. Louis, it seems, has mergers on its mind.
While Clayton and Richmond Heights officials explore the pros and cons of a merger between their cities, the idea of a merger between the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County has resurfaced recently in several unrelated venues.
In early April, Dennis DeSantis, senior director at the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, broached the subject in a presentation on regional retail at an annual market forecast for the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors.
<A HREF="http://www.westendword.com/moxie/news/c ... rger.shtml">>>> read more</A>
By Kara Beightel
Posted Wednesday, April 27, 2005
St. Louis, it seems, has mergers on its mind.
While Clayton and Richmond Heights officials explore the pros and cons of a merger between their cities, the idea of a merger between the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County has resurfaced recently in several unrelated venues.
In early April, Dennis DeSantis, senior director at the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, broached the subject in a presentation on regional retail at an annual market forecast for the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors.
<A HREF="http://www.westendword.com/moxie/news/c ... rger.shtml">>>> read more</A>
- 2,005
^I don't think they Clayton/Richmond Hts merger will get much farther than the talking stage. It's a good idea, but too much has to happen to make it work.
The City tax is 1 percent and parking here is much cheaper than say Chicago. I went to the Sears Tower last week and it cost $18 to park 1 hour. Now that's expensive!! If your're willing to walk parking is $1 to $3 (all day) and if you pay up at the garages it's usually no more than $5 a day.
I don't think St. Louis can handle as many people as he says either. Granted the City was big in the 40s and 50s it may have been too big. I think 650,000 would be fairly manageable with our existing infrastructure(and some street cars).
Dennis DeSantis=uninformed
The city of St. Louis, on the other hand, has several things working against it, including its earnings tax, the state of the city?s public schools and the fact that downtown workers must pay for parking, DeSantis said. He refers to the 1.5 percent earnings tax as a disincentive for moving to or working in the city. The city of St. Louis? infrastructure is designed to support a population of between 800,000 and 900,000, DeSantis said. Currently, the population of the city is hovering at just less than 350,000.
The City tax is 1 percent and parking here is much cheaper than say Chicago. I went to the Sears Tower last week and it cost $18 to park 1 hour. Now that's expensive!! If your're willing to walk parking is $1 to $3 (all day) and if you pay up at the garages it's usually no more than $5 a day.
I don't think St. Louis can handle as many people as he says either. Granted the City was big in the 40s and 50s it may have been too big. I think 650,000 would be fairly manageable with our existing infrastructure(and some street cars).
Dennis DeSantis=uninformed
When did they add another .5% on the earnings tax?
I, along with MattdropstheH, went the city managers association meeting in Richmond Heights a couple of weeks ago. The topic of the meeting was sharing services, and the merger of RH and Clayton. They started off with how Maplewood, RH, and Clayton shared services, then moved to actuall merger talk. I have all sorts of papers that I haven't had a chance to look at yet, but the two City Managers sounded pretty serious. Will it happen? I don't know, but they sounded serious.
I, along with MattdropstheH, went the city managers association meeting in Richmond Heights a couple of weeks ago. The topic of the meeting was sharing services, and the merger of RH and Clayton. They started off with how Maplewood, RH, and Clayton shared services, then moved to actuall merger talk. I have all sorts of papers that I haven't had a chance to look at yet, but the two City Managers sounded pretty serious. Will it happen? I don't know, but they sounded serious.
- 1,282
Future suture? Merging the city and county is easier said that done
By Clay Barbour
Of the Post-Dispatch
05/15/2005
Just mentioning the word "merger" to some St. Louis County residents makes them nervous.
Perhaps a chill ran down St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley's back last month when St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay broached the topic in his inaugural speech.
Slay said that within four years, he and Dooley could be sharing fire engines, airports, a health district, a bond issue, a tax base and even an office. Or not.
Supporters of a merger point to several possible merits. Combining services such as fire and police protection could save everyone money. Plus, the county also could absorb more of the costs for parks and stadiums used by residents from all over the region.
But in the county, the idea carries some heavy baggage.
"There is a long history of resisting any kind of merger out here," said John Temporiti, a longtime St. Louis politico and current chief of governmental affairs for the county. "The fear of merger in the county is so real that conspiracy theories develop all the time. Someone just mentions the idea and people start getting upset."
St. Louis split from the county in 1876 in what became known as the "Great Divorce." At the time, the city had 350,000 residents while the county was mostly rural farmland with 40,000 people scattered about.
Today, a million people call the county home and only about 350,000 live in the city. Both areas are mostly urban; their populations are increasingly similar demographically.
Every so often, the prospect of reunification is brought up and shot down.
That's at least in part because people fear the uncertainty of mergers, and most area residents like their local governments as accessible as possible, says Don Phares, professor of economics and public policy at the University of Missouri at St. Louis.
The county has 91 municipalities, second only to Pittsburgh County, Pa., based on population, Phares said. He said selling a merger "is an uphill battle."
No one knows that better than officials in Clayton and Richmond Heights. The cities agreed in March to conduct a study on merging their municipalities.
"Just getting that study approved was tough," said Clayton City Manager Michael Schoedel.
Dooley has said that he believes the city and county eventually will reunite. The question is whether the city becomes the 92nd municipality, or an equal partner in a new form of government.
Until then, he likes the idea of the city and county sharing services and combining some agencies.
"He is looking at some moves that will save money for people in the county," Temporiti said. "That's the kind of merger he's interested in."
Reporter Clay Barbour writes about St. Louis County government for the Post-Dispatch.
Reporter Clay Barbour
E-mail: cbarbour@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-727-6234
By Clay Barbour
Of the Post-Dispatch
05/15/2005
Just mentioning the word "merger" to some St. Louis County residents makes them nervous.
Perhaps a chill ran down St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley's back last month when St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay broached the topic in his inaugural speech.
Slay said that within four years, he and Dooley could be sharing fire engines, airports, a health district, a bond issue, a tax base and even an office. Or not.
Supporters of a merger point to several possible merits. Combining services such as fire and police protection could save everyone money. Plus, the county also could absorb more of the costs for parks and stadiums used by residents from all over the region.
But in the county, the idea carries some heavy baggage.
"There is a long history of resisting any kind of merger out here," said John Temporiti, a longtime St. Louis politico and current chief of governmental affairs for the county. "The fear of merger in the county is so real that conspiracy theories develop all the time. Someone just mentions the idea and people start getting upset."
St. Louis split from the county in 1876 in what became known as the "Great Divorce." At the time, the city had 350,000 residents while the county was mostly rural farmland with 40,000 people scattered about.
Today, a million people call the county home and only about 350,000 live in the city. Both areas are mostly urban; their populations are increasingly similar demographically.
Every so often, the prospect of reunification is brought up and shot down.
That's at least in part because people fear the uncertainty of mergers, and most area residents like their local governments as accessible as possible, says Don Phares, professor of economics and public policy at the University of Missouri at St. Louis.
The county has 91 municipalities, second only to Pittsburgh County, Pa., based on population, Phares said. He said selling a merger "is an uphill battle."
No one knows that better than officials in Clayton and Richmond Heights. The cities agreed in March to conduct a study on merging their municipalities.
"Just getting that study approved was tough," said Clayton City Manager Michael Schoedel.
Dooley has said that he believes the city and county eventually will reunite. The question is whether the city becomes the 92nd municipality, or an equal partner in a new form of government.
Until then, he likes the idea of the city and county sharing services and combining some agencies.
"He is looking at some moves that will save money for people in the county," Temporiti said. "That's the kind of merger he's interested in."
Reporter Clay Barbour writes about St. Louis County government for the Post-Dispatch.
Reporter Clay Barbour
E-mail: cbarbour@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-727-6234
Just mentioning the word "merger" to some St. Louis County residents makes them nervous.
or is it...
Just mentioning the word "merger" to some St. Louis City residents makes them nervous.
And then there is the question "WHY" does it make you nervous?
Clay Barbour (writer) and the infamous STL Post Disptach negative anti-city rheteric strike again...
One thing I found interesting is that the city spent over 2.5 million doallers on homeless shelters/care/education last year etc..., yet STL CO spent less than 100,000 dollars last year on homeless shelters/care/education (even with 4 times more people than the city). AND, you may not know that St. Louis city services about 60 percent of the county homeless due to the city having the homeless facilities.
Go tell Clayton to put their own homeless shelters up and see what they say!
No wonder it makes countians "nervous"... they wouldn't be able to keep sending their problems to the city and out of their own neighborhoods and pay higher taxes to take care of them!
God forbid St. Louis City should share a snow plow or two... But then again... if the city did share a snow plow from the county... three or four county homeless people would be hitchin' a ride to the city funded shelters on it!
Always a no-win situation for St. Louis City.
- 1,054
The merger discussion came up at mt step's graduation picnic
The opinions shared are over countians not wanting to to jury duty for a community that it ten miles away. Countians see this as unfair since we are more than two-thirds in this merger deal. StL county holds the power, not the City. St. Charles might be on par with the City.
If we do a Louisville style merger, okay, but schools, fire, police, trash, sewage, water, snow removal, etc... are another matter that the County gives more than it benefits. So this "Merger" needs to be advertised, marketed, and argumented in favor of being more beneficial to the County.
Just because STL County does not spend much on homeless does not mean faith-based groups do not make up for the remainder. In Pattonville the Community Helping Ministries services the impovershed with food, tax services, job searching, and more. To say that the County just sends their poor to the City is false. If the poor migrate to the City than who is to say that a church group should hunt them down and send them back to our area without their consent? Let's be logical.
Granted I agree that several areas in the County both STL, St. Chuck, and JeffCo. need to be more active in addressing these problems and not shying away from helping or seting up shelters. A shelter should have next to it a grocery store, major church, and decent mass transit service/bus stop. That kind-of excludes much of Westco. and parts of Southco. . I think Florissant/Hazelwood/Black Jack area have the most active, helpful, and outreaching faith-based group to service the homeless and impovershed.
The opinions shared are over countians not wanting to to jury duty for a community that it ten miles away. Countians see this as unfair since we are more than two-thirds in this merger deal. StL county holds the power, not the City. St. Charles might be on par with the City.
If we do a Louisville style merger, okay, but schools, fire, police, trash, sewage, water, snow removal, etc... are another matter that the County gives more than it benefits. So this "Merger" needs to be advertised, marketed, and argumented in favor of being more beneficial to the County.
Just because STL County does not spend much on homeless does not mean faith-based groups do not make up for the remainder. In Pattonville the Community Helping Ministries services the impovershed with food, tax services, job searching, and more. To say that the County just sends their poor to the City is false. If the poor migrate to the City than who is to say that a church group should hunt them down and send them back to our area without their consent? Let's be logical.
Granted I agree that several areas in the County both STL, St. Chuck, and JeffCo. need to be more active in addressing these problems and not shying away from helping or seting up shelters. A shelter should have next to it a grocery store, major church, and decent mass transit service/bus stop. That kind-of excludes much of Westco. and parts of Southco. . I think Florissant/Hazelwood/Black Jack area have the most active, helpful, and outreaching faith-based group to service the homeless and impovershed.