Clayton forum

Four of Clayton's aldermen came to Concordia Seminary tonight for an open forum in order to inform and take questions.  Two of the aldermen, actually all four were women, represent Ward 1 and two represent Ward 2.  The seminary has a foot in each of the two wards.   Governmentally, the city of Clayton is made up of three wards, the first begins at the end of the St. Louis city limits a few properties west of Skinker and ends at Big Bend.  Ward 2 begins at Big Bend and ends at Hanley and Ward 3 begins at Hanley and ends somewhere near 170 or thereabouts. 

Dale welcomed, from left-Ward 2 aldermen Cynthia Garnholz and Michelle Harris, Ward 1 aldermen Judy Goodman and Andrea Maddox-Dallas.  Each alderman took a turn at the podium and each talked on a specific topic, present and future development, city amenities, history and political structure, and events.   All the topics were engrossing and informative.  I'd venture to say most of us learned more about the city tonight than we'd ever read in any paper.

A questions many residents and non residents of Clayton have which was answered had to do with the long vacant Schnuck's store at the corner of Clayton Road and Hanley.  The ward 2 aldermen have a meeting Tuesday with a potential buyer, but that property has a number of problems, the biggest being ingress and egress.  However, it was also noted that one thing the city has no control over is price and the owners, who seem to have no great need to sell, are sticking with a price that keeps most buyers away.

Clayton has a population around 16,000 of which 3000 are students from Wash U, Fontbonne and Concordia as well as 1000 prisoners.  Whoa!  That brought a reaction.  1000 prisoners?  The County Jail which sits in downtown Clayton is able to house at any one time 1000 inmates and just as cities are able to count college students in their census, they can also count prisoners.  There aren't 1000 people jailed everyday, hopefully.

Afterward everyone stayed around for cookies and coffee and had a chance to speak to the aldermen one on one and they graciously stayed as long as anyone wanted to talk.  In the photo above, Michelle Harris and Cynthia Garnholz give an interview to the reporter for the student paper.

Andrea Maddox-Dallas talks with Dr. Jeff Gibbs

Dr. Gibbs' wife Renee had a visit with Cynthia Garnholz.

Then Judy Goodman...listens to Dale.  heh. 

Each alderman was articulate, funny, well versed in city matters and all seemed to love what they do, love their city and are proud to be representing it.  And the forecasted big snow held off.  Oh, and they brought along all kinds of handouts for everyone in attendance, lots of glossy city information packets, an informative diagram of who is who and who does what at city hall, a carry-all bag from the Center of Clayton, skoosy cups, and the cutest foam hard hats with the city logo.  After all that no one has an excuse for not knowing what is going on.

Those little hard hats are supposed to be hand exercisers, but they're so cute.

I know two little boys who might like these...if I can bear to give them up.

Comments

[Ron]

Why doesn't Collinsville City council do this?

[diane]

The ward 2 aldermen (women) mentioned that each Sunday from 4 to 5 p.m. they are available at the Starbuck's on Hanley and Wydown. Every Sunday. Sometimes residents come by to talk, sometimes they don't, but these two are always there. That is cool.

The ward 1 aldermen (women) spent a good portion of the past fall telling residents where they could be found on which day. Sometimes mornings at Kaldi's sometimes somewhere else. They all know that there will be times when no one comes, but other times when they have quite a few. But they do it regularly.