Week In Review: City Administrator Fired, School Safety Task Force Meets and Splash Station Budget Overruns

Too busy last week to stay up to date on all the news happening in and around St. Charles County? Not to worry. Patch has your back.

In case you missed them, here were some of the top headlines from the four St. Charles County Patch sites — St. Charles Patch, St. Peters Patch, O'Fallon Patch and Wentzville Patch — over the last few days:

O'Fallon

O'Fallon City Administrator Keith Riesberg Fired

• O'Fallon City Administrator Keith Riesberg was terminated from his position on Thursday. Assistant City Administrator Lenore Toser-Aldaz will be acting City Administrator until this issue is resolved.

Mayor Hennessy Delivers ‘State of the City Address’ 2013

• Mayor Bill Hennessy took a look back at city accomplishments in 2012 and shared what’s in store for this year, during his State of the City Address. Hennessy stressed that it is the efforts of both residents and city staff that keep O’Fallon earning national recognition for nearly a decade.

O'Fallon Police Seek Public Help With Recent Rash of Vacant Home Burglaries

• The O’Fallon Police Department is requesting the publics help after a rash of vacant home burglaries during the past month. O’Fallon Police ask that anyone witnessing suspicious activity near a vacant home in O’Fallon contact the department, at (636) 240-3200.

Update: O'Fallon Buffalo Wild Wings to Open New Location Jan. 18

• The new Buffalo Wild Wings location is expected to open on Friday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m.  The restaurant is relocating to the former Old Country Buffet building in front of Target at Laura Hill.

St. Charles

Filing for April Election Opened in St. Charles

• Filing for St. Charles City Council seats opens today with six council seats up for election in April 2013. Council seats in wards 6 through 10 are up for election, and the incumbents for most wards have said they plan to file for reelection.

Woman Injured in Condo Fire

• A woman sustained minor injuries in a condo fire that started early Monday morning. The fire spread to several condominiums in the Sherman Oaks Condominium. Complex.

St. Charles Prostitution Sting Lands Woman in Jail

• A Washington, Mo., woman who advertised online faces a prostitution charge in St. Charles.  A St. Charles County Sheriff's deputy said the woman advertised sex for hire online. The woman said she would continue in prostitution after being released from jail.

St. Charles to Focus on Webster Park in 2013

• St. Charles Parks and Recreation Department hopes to open new park in 2013. The city developed a master plan for the property, located at 2201 South River Road, in 2005. 

St. Peters

St. Peters Menards Store Set to Begin Hiring Process in February

•  The national hardware store is opening a St. Peters location later this spring. The store plans to being the hiring process on Feb. 20.

Truman Student From St. Peters Accused of Faking Cancer to Appear on 'Dr. Phil'

• A Truman State University student from St. Peters is facing charges she forged a letter claiming she had cancer. While awaiting trial, the student, Victoria Marut is making plans to appear on the "Dr. Phil" show. 

• A new task force designed to address the issue of school safety met for the first time this week. The task force listened to presentations on mental health, preparations and the roles of school resource officers. 

St. Peters Adding Red-Light Cameras at Intersection of Jungermann and McClay

• More red-light enforcement cameras are coming to St. Peters. The city will now have eight cameras. 

Wentzville

Wentzville Hires New City Administrator

• The Wentzville Board of Aldermen has chosen a new City Administrator, T. Michael McDowell, and will review the proposed contract at next week's regular meeting. McDowell is currently serving as the City Manager for Olivette.

Board Considers Options After Splash Station Overruns Top $190K

• At a special meeting of the Wentzville Board of Aldermen on Wednesday night, the board considered their options after hearing that the Splash Station aquatic park construction project had incurred $190,074 in cost overruns. That figure was a considerable increase from the $90,000 figure mentioned at their last meeting in December 2012 when the board was first informed that excavations had run into rock that hadn't been indicated in geological surveys.

Wentzville Looking for Volunteers for City Advisory Boards and Commissions

• Interested residents may apply online or submit an application to the city clerk's office.

• Lake Saint Louis Police arrested a man who burglarized a neighbors home and stole items from three cars on Jan. 2.  Officers found the items in a secret compartment in the man's home, Lake Saint Louis Police said.