Ladue to Swear in New Mayor at Council Meeting this Afternoon

Nancy Spewak takes over for the retiring Anthony Bommarito

Nancy Spewak, alderwoman will be sworn in as the mayor of Ladue this afternoon at 4 p.m. She will take the gavel from retiring mayor Anthony "Tony" Bommarito who just completed his two-year term. A former alderman, he decided not to seek re-election this year. The city will officially recognize Bommarito for his lengthy service. Spewak is the owner of Property Enhancements, LLC which specializes in residential interior design and home staging.   She has served on the Ladue City Council for four terms (8 years). She is the 11th mayor since Ladue was founded, the 4th female in that succession. In a Zoning & Planning matter, Community School, 900 Lay road is seeking a special use permit to add a two-story addition to their school building. A …

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The Baer Facts

Happy New Years to the Crew in Ladue & Frontenac

Best wishes to one and all and lots of luck in 2013.

We Hope everyone wants to read the L-F Patch in 2013. Hmmm, I could mail greetings to one and all. Lets see, that would be .38 cents times some 11,000+. I think I will just pass out my wishes for a new years by posting on the Ladue-Frontenac Patch. Here we go: Mayor Anthony Bommarito, City of Ladue--Thank you for serving as mayor and as councilman for an additional 10 years. A lot was accomplished on your watch. Mayor Keith Krieg, City of Frontenac--Here’s hoping that eyesore of the corner at Lindbergh and Clayton roads finally take on a whole new look. Mike Woolridge, Ladue City Manager--A lot of cooperation once more from your staff. Bob Shelton, Frontenac City Administrator--A prosperous development on the old Wright School property and…

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Mayor Anthony Bommarito Declines to Run for Re-Election. Nancy Spewak Will Run However

Councilwoman Nancy Spewak said she is running for the Ladue mayor's seat in the April 2 elections.

Mayor Anthony "Tony" Bommarito announced at the regularly-scheduled meeting of the Ladue City Council that he would not seek a second term. Bommarito has served one term as mayor and 10 years on the Ladue City Council.  "I've enjoyed serving the city (of Ladue) but I do not want to run for a second term and I wanted to make sure there is enough time for someone else to file (for this office)," he said. Bommarito won a spirited election in a landslide over newcomer Mary Berner just two years ago. Bommarito took the reins from retired Mayor Irene Holmes. Bommarito said after the council meeting that the city was facing new challenges and wished he could have accomplished more. "The council needs new life," Bommarito said, without elaborating…

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Rock Hill Quarry Special Use Permit Extended for 5 More Years

Ladue City Council promotes Jeff Johnson to Acting Fire Chief. Hires retired Fire Captain Andy Brown as Johnson's deputy chief.

The Rock Hill Quarry, located at the extreme southwest corner of Ladue off Old Warson Road and McKnight Road will have an amended special use permit for the next five years. Quarry officials asked for a 10-year extension, but following a 7-4 recommendation of the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission, the council settled on five. Rock Hill officials appealed they have always been good neighbors, having met the rigid licensing standards of local regional and state-wide governing agencies. The 19 acre site is filled with non-sanitary waste, mostly construction dirt, and building material debris such as dry wall, lumber and similar materials. The Quarry has existed almost as long as anyone can remember pre-dating the 1950s or even before the …

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Ladue Appropriates $14,500 to Search For a New Fire Chief

Former candidate for mayor takes strong exception to this decision.

The fact is, the City of Ladue has appropriated $14,500 to the Chicago-based firm McGrath Consulting to conduct an executive search and assessment services to find a new fire chief. Previous Ladue Fire Chief Eric Hinson abruptly retired from his position several weeks ago at the age of 43. He was entitled to pension benefits from the city. Hinson is under investigation for some $500,000 missing in funds from the St. Clair, Missouri Fire Protection District. He served in dual capacities as chief in both communities. One person who strongly objected was Mary Berner, resident of Foxboro Road who was defeated in her bid to win the seat as mayor of Ladue over present chair holder Anthony Bommarito. “If they (St. Clair Fire District) are …

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Bulletin: Ladue Fire Chief Resigns. Last Day is Sept. 7

Chief Erin Hinson under investigation for financial irregularities with his other position, chief of the St. Clair Fire Protection District.

Less than a year into the job, Ladue Fire Chief Eric Hinson has abruptly resigned as chief of the Ladue Fire Department. He replaced long-time Chief Ted Jury who retired and took over the reigns of the Brentwood Fire Department. Chief Hinson served in dual roles as chief of the St. Clair, Missouri Fire Protection District. The Hinson family has been associated with fire fighting duties in this small town in Missouri for as many years as anyone can remember. The Washington Missourian newspaper e.Missourian.com reports on the entire episode. Ladue Mayor Anthony Bommarito and Michael Woolridge, chief administrator for the city were in a meeting and unavailable for comment.

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James Baer

10:11 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Ladue has now lost its fire chief twice in the last year. What is going on?   more ›

Ladue Council Approves Safety Measures for the Ladue Middle School Traffic Zone

Another step taken towards financing two new fire houses in Ladue.

Most everyone in Ladue knows that traffic on Clayton Road at Conway Road can be somewhat dangerous. That’s coupled with the fact this is the location of a very busy Ladue Middle School as well as the district headquarters building on those grounds. Cars tend to drive way too fast through the middle school zone and also,  there’s a rather severe bend in the road at the intersection of Clayton and Conway. Parents have voiced concerns and the City of Ladue Council took action. The council approved a cost a cost of $7,643.03 to add two school zone speed beacon assemblies with mounting poles at both ends of the school grounds. A  school zone warning sign will be placed as far east as the entrance to Ladue Chapel on Clayton Road. One middle …

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Is Ladue Planning on Building a Dog House Without Having a Dog?

A literal translation of how much is needed in terms of room, etc. for two newly proposed fire houses.

Ladue Mayor Anthony Bommarito called a special work session to review the costs of building two new fire houses in the community. Only thing is, the city council never broached the subject of costs. As council member Walter Stern said, attending the meeting by teleconference, “Figuring that out will be up to our finance committee. Our job will be selling it (two new fire houses) to our citizens.” That is true. Mostly, there was a spirited back and forth about whether both fire houses will have two bays apiece and what to do with a backup pumper truck and ambulance. Presently, Ladue’s back up pumper resides at the maintenance building on the city hall grounds. Chief Eric Hinson revealed that the city’s ambulance was down for three weeks …

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Ladue Council to Review Costs of Two New Fire Houses This Afternoon

Mayor Bommarito calls for special work session to deal with this issue; the position of Public Works Director.

Ladue Mayor Anthony Bommarito has called for a work session today (Thursday, August 16) 4 p.m. at City Hall to review the cost options for the replacement of two fire houses with one or two equipment bays at house No. 2. At this meeting, the city council will review the practice of maintaining a reserve ambulance plus review the Public Works Directors' position and a review of the city organizational chart. Sixty people weighed in on a poll earlier this year concerning the necessity of two new fire houses in Ladue.

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Money Issues Dominate Discussions at Ladue's Council Meeting

A large number of citizens rally for sidewalks in the community.

Several issues have plunged Ladue into wrangling over the use of diminishing funds. Several citizens still believe the federal government will ride in on a white horse to fund sidewalks and other projects. Those funds have long dried up. The budget for 2012-13 was approved at the regular meeting of the city council Monday night, but not without a battle over some projects favored by Mayor Anthony Bommarito. Ward 1 Councilman John Fox took the mayor to task, insisting that $55,000 worth of appropriations be dropped from the new budget. Those funds ($30,000 for communications help, $25,000 for graphic design and $5,000 for web development) were axed by voice vote of the council. “We have the finest city in the state, but our website is not …

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