West Newsmagazine 5-22-19

8 I NEWS I
May 22, 2019
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
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Town & Country’s new Town Square is nearing completion and will be ready
for its grand opening on June 22 as part of the city’s Fire & Ice celebration.
[Photo courtesy of Brinkmann Constructors]
news
briefs
BALLWIN
City adopts fraternization policy
The city of Ballwin has adopted a fraternization
policy with a goal to “maintain
clear boundaries between employee personal
and business interactions.”
As noted in the policy statement,
adopted by unanimous vote at the May
13 Board of Aldermen meeting, the new
rule doesn’t prevent the development
of friendships or romantic relationships
between co-workers. But it does set
boundaries on how relationships are conducted
during working hours and in the
workplace environment.
City employees in supervisory or managerial
roles and those with authority over
others are subject to stricter requirements
under the policy due to their status as role
models, their access to sensitive information
and their ability to affect the employment
of subordinates.
The policy lists 11 procedures and guidelines
that include prohibiting inappropriate
physical contact on city premises during
working hours or not. While employee offduty
conduct generally is regarded as private,
an exception is a romantic or sexual
relationship between a supervisor and a
subordinate, the policy states.
Under the new procedures, any supervisor,
executive or other city official in
a sensitive or influential position must
disclose the existence of a romantic or
sexual relationship with a co-worker either
to an immediate supervisor or the human
resources coordinator.
If it is determined a conflict of interest
exists, the city will work with those
involved to consider options to resolve the
problem, including making sure the individuals
no longer work together on matters
where one is able to influence or take
action on the other.
If one or both parties “refuse to accept
a reasonable solution, such refusal may
be cause for termination,” the policy says,
adding that the new provisions apply
regardless of the sexual orientation of
those involved.
Aldermen approved the policy statement
with little debate or discussion.
Standing committee
members named
Ballwin Mayor Tim Pogue has named
members of the city’s Board of Aldermen
to standing committees for the 2019-20
year. The appointments include:
Finance and Administration – Frank
Fleming [Ward 3], chairman; Mike Finley
[Ward 1]; Mark Stallmann [Ward 2]; Ray
Kerlagon [Ward 4].
Public Works – Jim Leahy [Ward 3],
chairman; Mike Utt [Ward 1]; Kevin
Roach [Ward 2]; Ross Bullington [Ward 4].
Parks and Recreation – Stallman, chairman;
Utt; Leahy; Bullington.
Public Health and Safety – Finley, chairman;
Roach; Fleming; Kerlagon.
Police department to
update dispatch system
The Ballwin Police Department soon
will have a new computer-assisted dispatch
system offering the latest technology
to replace equipment department leaders
describe as “outdated, inefficient and problematic.”
The need for a new system had become
apparent when problems with the existing
system began to increase at a troubling rate.
Although a new set-up was not budgeted,
Ballwin aldermen recently authorized the
department to seek bids for the upgrade.
Two companies ultimately submitted
proposals. After personnel from the dispatch
operation, as well as command and
patrol officers, participated in demonstrations
from both firms, Soma Global won
the department’s recommendation, which
aldermen approved.
According to the Tampa, Florida-based
firm’s proposal, the new system is projected
to be up and running in 11 weeks.
Implementation costs, including training
for officers, dispatch and other personnel
using the system, will total just over
$49,000. An annual subscription price is
based on the number of users and is projected
to be $61,525.
The Ballwin center handles emergency
calls and dispatches police officers for its
own department, as well as for Manchester
on a contract basis. The total number of
users in both departments now is 107.
The new system will be cloud-based and
requires no hardware in the Ballwin dispatch
center. That feature will enable the
operation to relocate quickly in the event
of an emergency.
CREVE COEUR
New aviation club formed
STL Aviators will host an Open House
from noon-3 p.m on Saturday, May 25 at
Creve Coeur Airport [1H0] Hangar H-9.
The club’s planes, a Cessna 172 and a
Piper Archer II, will be on site. Free hot
dogs, snacks and beverages will be served.
“This event is a great opportunity for
anyone interested in general aviation to
speak with pilots and see our club planes
up close,” said Gregory Collier, president
of STL Aviators.
Founded in 2018, STL Aviators is a
501[c][7] not-for-profit, non-equity, flight
club. All members and officers are volunteers.
The club has 28 full members and 3
social members and currently has openings
for both.
ELLISVILLE
Coming to the aid of
first responders
AutoSpa Etc. of Ellisville, 8 Ellisville
Towne Centre Drive, will kick off the first
of three company events to benefit Back-
Stoppers Inc. from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday,
June 15.
The June 15 event will feature raffles,
silent auctions, live music, kids activities,
food and more. Those activities will be
mirrored in an event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
on June 22 at the company’s Oakville
location, 5439 Telegraph Road, and from
10 a.m.-2 p.m. on June 29 at its Florissant
location, 2040 N. Hwy. 67. BackStoppers
Inc. is solely a recipient of the proceeds
and not an organizer of these events.
Since their inception the AutoSpa
Etc. community events have raised over