MLM Counties News. Notices. Need-to-know Information.

At its Oct. 3 meeting, the Board of Aldermen board unanimously chose Crystal City Councilman Jason Eisenbeis, Ward 3, as its new city administrator. He will be paid $55,000 per year plus a $300 monthly car allowance.

Jefferson County 911 Dispatch recently voted to spend $31.4 million to upgrade its radio equipment to meet federal requirements.

The Jefferson County Council approved a revised development plan and the county redistricting map at the meeting Sept. 26.

Thirteen minors were charged with possession of alcohol after a Homecoming party Sept. 16 in Festus. Some involved were enrolled at the Festus High School.

Festus has hired a new law firm after more than 20 years with the same practice.

The case involving the Neighborhood Improvement District for the Ozark Bridge in Arnold has been removed to federal court.

Adam J. Perkins, 22, of High Ridge was sentenced Sept. 15 to seven years in the Department of Corrections for involuntary manslaughter in a car accident while intoxicated, and seven years for second-degree assault for a total of 14 years.

The Jefferson County Council approved two controversial proposals at the meeting Sept. 12. One of these was for a Neighborhood Improvement District for the Mark Drive Sanitary Sewer Extension Project in Fenton. A public hearing was held in August, at which time a few residents told the council they did not want to be included in the NID. The proposed NID would divide the total cost of the proposed improvements and assess equally each parcel within the proposed district. With an estimated cost of the sanitary sewer system at $565,664.67, each of the 34 properties in the district would be assessed $16,637 each.

Pevely City Administrator Happy Welch will be returning to both his hometown and his previous place of employment — the city of Festus. Welch was appointed as the new city administrator of Festus during a closed session meeting Sept. 7. He was selected out of 25 other candidates. Welch, 50, previously served as a building official in Festus, prior to his appointment as Pevely City Administrator in 2006. He had worked for the city of Festus for 10 years. Once the contract is approved, Welch will begin work in Festus on Oct. 10. Welch will supervise his old boss, Bill Gray, director of Planning and Public Works. However, neither party sees a conflict.

The County Council is requiring all county vehicles to be parked on county property when not in use, a move that is not popular with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Councilman Don Bickowski said during the Sept. 12 meeting where the policy change was decided that due to rising fuel costs and additional wear and tear on the vehicles, it became necessary to limit the use of vehicles to county business. Sheriff Oliver “Glenn” Boyer was troubled by this new policy that he did not even hear about until the next morning. He said the vast majority of patrol cars are taken home at night.

The parents of murder victim Michael D. Crutchfield have filed a wrongful death suit against convicted killer David Ray Fugate and his wife, Jeanne.