Q & A Session With Ladue's New Mayor Nancy Spewak

Nearly one month into the new job, Nancy Spewak lays out her vision for the City.

On April 2, Council member Nancy Spewak was elected the 11th Mayor of the City of Ladue. Spewak owns Property Enhancements, an interior design and home-staging firm. She is married to Dr. Bob Spewak, a pediatrician who’s practiced childhood medicine in St. Louis Hills for more than 30 years. Spewak grew up in Ladue on Terry Lane at the corner of Dielman and Ladue Road and graduated from Ladue High School and the University of Arizona.  Her degree was in speech communications with a double minor in marketing and journalism. She began her career with the St. Louis Business Journal working in circulation. She worked briefly for the Business Journal paper in Pittsburgh then moved back to St. Louis where she became a community volunteer, …

• Photos (1)

Ladue Council Approves Budgeted Items for Police, Road Projects

At same time, Fire Department is closer to finding a project manager for new construction.

Not since the 1990s has the Ladue Police had a target range to sharpen and maintain their shooting skills. Chief Rich Wooten took care of that by putting an upgrade into the City of Ladue Capital budget. The city council approved the purchase of target retrieval system with Action Target for $24,265.00. The Ladue Police have a range in the basement level of their building at the city hall complex. This range is 25 yards in length and provides the proper and safe facility so the officers can maintain and upgrade their side arms shooting skills. “Our officers shoot at targets at different distances,” said Ladue’s chief Rich Wooten. Action Target was the only company who meet the requirements and were the only bidder for the project. Roads, …

• Photos (1)

Olivette's John Bailot Was Just Named Ladue's Next Fire Chief

Chief Bailot runs the 21-man department for the neighboring city of Olivette.

Patch has learned that John Bailot, fire chief for the city of Olivette, was offered the same position in Ladue by the Ladue City Council in executive session last night. This was confirmed by Michael Woolridge, the city's administrator. Bailot has served Olivette in the top position for several years. Prior to that, he was deputy chief of the Kirkwood Fire Department. Bailot has extensive HazMat training and will bring a wealth of experience to Ladue. The chief had this to say about the new appointment: "I am very excited to work with young and talented department." Bailot replaces Eric Hinson, who resigned last fall. He has been indicted by the Federal Court of Eastern Missouri for numerous charges while handling funds for the St. Clair…

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Need For a New Olivette Fire House: The Big Story of the Week

Chief John Bailot explains how the department outgrew its space years ago.

On Aug. 7, residents in the City of Olivette will vote on two propositions to authorize city bonds to acquire and build new public safety and parks and recreation facilities in the City.   Proposition “S” authorizes nearly $9.4 million of City of Olivette General Obligation bonds to relocate the City Hall and Police Station and to build a new fire station in the current City Hall location. The primary focus of this proposition is improving public safety facilities and capacity for Olivette residents and businesses.   Proposition “P” authorizes $3 million of City of Olivette General Obligation bonds to redevelop and rebuild Warson Park for a comprehensive outdoor athletic and recreation complex.   The two bond referendums are separate from …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)
• Videos (2)

Chief: Failure to OK a Fire House in Olivette Could Be a Matter of Life or Death

Proposition S is on the ballot August 7 for new fire, police and administrative facilities for the city.

On Aug. 7, voters in the City of Olivette will vote on two propositions to authorize city bonds to acquire and build new public safety and parks and recreation facilities in the City.   Proposition “S” authorizes nearly $9.4 million of City of Olivette General Obligation bonds to relocate the City Hall and Police Station and to build a new fire station in the current City Hall location. The primary focus of this proposition is improving public safety facilities and capacity for Olivette residents and businesses.   Proposition “P” authorizes $3 million of City of Olivette General Obligation bonds to redevelop and rebuild Warson Park for a comprehensive outdoor athletic and recreation complex.   The two bond referendums are separate from …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (5)
• Videos (2)

Leif Hauser

9:51 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012

I'm curious to hear your explanation of where a fire station should be located that would better be able to provide adequate response times to Olivette residents, even if part of a regional fire district, than 9473 Olive Blvd. Whose home would you suggest burn several minutes longer with a fire station located outside the city?   more ›

The Baer Facts

Time for Olivette to Modernize its Public Safety Facilities

Propositions "S" and "P" will provide for a new administrative center; a new fire house and additions to the Parks. Vote is August 7

On August 7, Olivette residents will be asked to decide the future of the city by voting either for/or against two major propositions, Prop S for Public Safety and Prop P for Parks. Both initiatives total a little over $12 million dollars. Currently, Olivette has absolutely no bond indebtedness. Olivette pretty much has two distinct constituencies. First, there are the 7,500 residents who have called it home now and even before the 1950s. The second group is comprised of the public servants who provide for the first group. That would be police, fire, administrative staff; court staff, public works and the parks department. Some 75 or so career employees fall into that category. In the year 2000, I ran for public office in Olivette. I was …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (4)

St Louis County to Test New Sirens for First Time on Labor Day at 11 a.m.

St Louis County will only be activating the new siren system. This will be the first activation of this system

St. Louis County will test its new, $7.5 million outdoor warning siren system. The test will last three minutes. 

From both a landmass and population percentage perspective, the network of 185 speakers – each mounted on a 55-foot-high tower - will provide substantially more coverage to St. Louis County residents when a tornado is barreling their way. “This is a program that could very well literally save lives,” observed St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. “Much of the old siren system was built in the 1960s, and reached fewer than 90 percent of our residents. With the new sirens, we have very nearly 100 percent coverage.” 

Because the old system was installed prior to the heavy subdivision build-up of South and West County, …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (4)

Cole Kelley

9:06 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011

After the devastating spring Missouri had, I am glad to see that improvements were made to the old system. Many (including myself) did not take the sirens seriously, but now understand the need to take safety to a whole new level.   more ›