Creve Coeur Mayor Praises Outgoing Council Members; Urges Volunteerism

The following column by Creve Coeur Mayor Barry Glantz is republished with permission. It can be found in the City of Creve Coeur monthly newsletter. 

Last month, I mentioned how optimistic I was that spring was “just around the corner,” yet some late season storms gave our snow removal crews the opportunity to show another high-quality service the city provides to our residential streets; I thank them for their continued dedication to our community. 

The disparity of snow removal service was quite apparent on Olive Street Road, Lindbergh Boulevard and Ladue Road (west of I-270). The maintenance of these state roadways (within city limits) is the responsibility of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). I have asked our city staff to work in conjunction with MoDOT to maintain the safety of our major common thoroughfares (especially during snow events).

The beginning of April is always an exciting time in the city as we hold our annual municipal elections. Government at the local level provides the opportunity for personal involvement in our community, and I encourage everyone to exercise the most basic right in our democracy by voting!

Managed transitions (annual local elections) are also important in our community. I look forward to serving with the newly elected representatives of Wards 1 and 2 and with the rest of the City Council.

I want to thank Beth Kistner for her 10 years of service to our community. While I have only had the pleasure of serving with her for a year, she is incredibly smart, articulate and dedicated to serving her Ward 1 constituents. For years, she led the effort to bring a stoplight to the Graeser/Olive intersection while also recognizing her responsibility to the entire Creve Coeur community. 

Tara Nealey is not seeking re-election after serving the residents of Ward 2 for over 4 years. Likewise, she is incredibly bright and has an amazing grasp of “the big picture.” In fact, she orchestrated our very successful deer management ordinances, enabling the city to proactively resolve this issue in a very timely manner and at no cost to the residents of our community!

I wish Ms. Kistner and Ms. Nealey all the best – each will be missed! 

April is also National Volunteer Month. Over the next few months, there will be opportunities available to serve on various city committees, boards and commissions. And on Saturday, April 20 (at 10:00 a.m.), I hope that you will join me in Millennium Park as we conduct a honeysuckle removal day as part of Volunteer Day at the Park.

Similar future volunteer events will be held in the summer and fall at other park locations within the city.

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Whether working on a street crew, voting in an election, serving your community or volunteering your time and expertise – we should never minimize the impact each of us individually can have on the greater good.