St. Charles County Task Force to Study School Safety

The task force will study and make recommendations lto improve safety at local schools and colleges.

In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, CT. that killed 20 students and six adults last week, the St. Charles County Council is taking a closer look at local school safety.  The council passed an emergency ordinance Monday night, establishing a task force to study and make recommendations to improve safety procedures at local public, private schools and colleges “We need to hear from the schools and law enforcement and everyone involved,” said County Executive Steve Ehlmann, in a news release. “If we talk about this, and everyone shares their ideas, I think it could lead to some new procedures. We’re not saying we’ll solve the problem. We’re just saying we need to talk about it.” The St. Charles County …

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Ehlmann Vetoes $1.2 million Voting Machine Purchase

The county executive said the county should get more than one bid for such a large purchase.

County Executive Steve Ehlmann vetoed a bill Wednesday that would spend nearly $2 million for new election machines. Director of Elections Rich Chrismer requested the expenditure in late February. Councilman Joe Cronin, R-District 1, was the only council member to vote against the bid. One of his objections was the absence of competing bids. “I believe that the director of elections should be given deference in determining the need to replace equipment and which machines to purchase,” Ehlmann said. “However, under the Charter, they are subject to county government regulations when it comes to personnel and purchasing.” Ehlmann said the issue is not with voting machines or with Chrismer, but with getting one bid for such a large purchase. …

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County Executive Vetoes Raises for Sheriff's Deputies

Steve Ehlmann vetoes a part of the bill as he adopts the 2012 St. Charles County Budget.

Wentzville GM Plant Adding 1,600 Jobs, New Truck Line

Expansion at the plant will accommodate the production of the Colorado mid-size pickup truck.

GM celebrated the 100th anniversary of its Chevrolet brand by announcing a rebirth at it's Wentzville truck plant. The plant, which lost its second shift in 2009 and didn't have a product guarantee beyond 2012, will add a second shift on its van line and be the home of the Chevrolet Colorado mid-size pickup truck. Officials from General Motors and the United Auto Workers announced an investment of $380 million in the Wentzville plant and the addition of 1,260 new jobs to build the Colorado. Those jobs will likely come online in 2013, once the expansion of facility is complete. The second shift on the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size van lines, which will include over 400 additional workers, begins running Jan. 3, 2012. The …

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Update: County Executive Vetoes Bill to Put Smoking Ban on 2012 Ballot

The St. Charles County Executive says he won’t pick winners and losers in smoking bans; councilman said he will submit a bill without exemptions.

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann vetoed a bill that would place a countywide smoking ban proposal on the November 2012 ballot. Ehlmann said his main objection was the inclusion of exemptions for casinos, cigar bars and 20 percent of all hotel rooms. “It’s about picking winners and losers,” Ehlmann told Patch.com Tuesday. “We rant about picking winners and losers through TIFs (tax increment financing). I’m not going to turn around and pick winners and losers when it comes to competing for entertainment dollars. “If it’s a health issue, it ought to apply to everyone,” he said. Councilman Joe Cronin, R-District 1, of St. Paul, said he respects Ehlmann’s decision and that he explained his reasoning for the veto in his letter to the …

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