Sunset Hills Alderman Has Business Connection to Petro Mart Developers

A Sunset Hills alderman has business ties to a company currently working to construct a new gas station and convenience store south of Interstate 44, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

In early December the Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen approved a conditional use permit and preliminary plan for Land West 7 to construct a 24-hour Petro Mart on the former Bob Evans property on Lindbergh Boulevard. Sunset Hills Mayor Bill Nolan broke the votes to allow Petro Mart to proceed with the project. Ward I Alderman Richard Gau voted in favor of Land West 7.

Gau recently confirmed to Post-Dispatch that his company, John Henry Foster, does approximately $8,000 in annual business with Western Oil, a company connected to Land West 7. 

Ward I resident Kathy Tripp revealed the potential conflict of interest to local media following a meeting with Gau at City Hall, which Post-Dispatch said was recorded by Tripp.

"On the recording, Gau says a Western Oil official tied the future of the firm’s relationship with John Henry Foster to Gau’s support of the PetroMart project," Post-Dispatch reported.

Read the full story, including statements from Gau, on St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Read comments from Sunset Hills Mayor Bill Nolan on South County Times.

Tripp said at previous Sunset Hills aldermanic meetings she felt that the concerns of herself and her neighbors were not being addressed in regards to the Petro Mart project.

Related articles:

• Sunset Hills Board Gives Green Light to Petro Mart--Minus the Traffic Signal
• Resident in Favor of Sunset Hills Petro Mart: 'Anything Is Better Than a Vacant Building'
• Resident Petition Opposes Petro Mart on Lindbergh Boulveard
• Sunset Hills Planning Commission Recommends Petro Mart Changes Despite Concerns of Neighboring Businesses