Let's Do the Time (Capsule) Warp Again!

Found this story on the lost time capsule completely funny.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/9390B8A96D7B0C54862575DA007FB6B2?OpenDocument

Go to the Post's site and read the story. Comment there or here (or both). Below is the first few paragraphs of the story.

Buried history — Overland can't find its 50-year-old time capsule

OVERLAND — Chuck Boone jammed a metal rod several feet into the ground in front of City Hall.

He pulled it out, shook his head and stabbed the grass again.

With only two days left until the celebration, he had to work fast. It was a little after 8 a.m. on Thursday, and sweat was dripping from Boone's forehead. A few feet away, a city employee was taking a smoke break and chatting on her cell phone. "Chuck's out here looking for that time box thing," she said. Then she called out to Boone, "Any luck yet?"
"Not yet," said Boone, 64.

A Sad Day in Overland

The Suburban Journal is reporting that our City Clerk, Linda Downs has passed away. Linda was a font of knowledge of all things Overland. She was always pleasent to deal with at City Hall or before Council Meetings when I would have a question about an agenda item or proprosed ordinance.

Rest in peace, Linda. And, to the Downs family, our sympathies are with you.

Overland Shenanigans Round #1055

Deserving of front page status:

Overland Sailor said...
Just when you think Overland has turned a new corner we see the same dishonest and ILLEGAL political Tactics. Whether it was Phil Paul Directly (which I doubt) or some of his supporters, the bottom like is that election laws have once again been broken with a last minute dishonest mailing that violates election laws by not properly identifying who paid for it.The only way to try to end these dishonorable and IMHO un-American tactics is to not reward them. If you were on the fence when it comes the the Ward 1 Council Election let these dishonorable tactics be a lesson to you. Don't return power to the people who would do such things. Vote to Re-Elect Eddie Cuminale and help keep these criminals away from city hall.

"The Grant Fairy" doesn't stop here

Remember back in the last mayoral race when Schneider claimed we couldn't use a "grant fairy" to improve our city. I guess he meant that.

The following website we e-mailed to me yesterday. It lists all the cities asking for help in the federal stimulus program. No listing of a request for Overland.

http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/MO

Pine Lawn asked for funds. Wellston asked for money. Florissant, too. Even rich Clayton has many requests in the hopper. But zero, nada, zilch, bupkus for Overland.

This, in light that the Federal government is moving jobs OUT of Overland. Overland was founded as city for people on their way somewhere else. I guess that image can continue.

AND...What's Old is New Again

I have the list of those running for city council in the April elections. The first name is going to blow your mind!

PHIL PAUL! Yes, the man who Ward One thought was too old to hold the office when voted out 5 years ago is back! Back with his old ideas. With his old cronyism. I feel like I have travelled back in time--or basically, what is old is new again. After that, I'm just surprised that perennial has-been Nancy Allison didn't throw her hat in the ring.

Here's the complete list:

Ward 1
Phil Paul
Edie Cuminale

Ward 2
Mary Beth Conlon

Ward 3
Peggy Keller
Michael Oakes

Ward 4
Tim Jones

What's New is Old Again

Alas, I hate to say it but the city get's a big FAIL for the website. Back in September, we applauded the news that the city had a new website. They might as well have kept the old one if they are never going to update this new one.

We were excited that they had an RSS feed. We plugged that into the right side of the page on OVCC. Alas, you don't get to see any "bells and whistles" because it is all dependent on the city updating the website.

For the Monday, 1/26 CC meeting--there was not an agenda posted. Yet, they have an entire section of the website devoted to meeting agendas and minutes. The page is there, it just lacks substance.

Filing for the April 2009 election recently closed. Yet, there is nothing on the website that states who the candidates are in the upcoming election. I guess we will have to wait for our Localite and its ads to find out what is happening in our town.

What is it going to take for the city to jump into the 21st century and start communicating with the citizens via its online presence?

And how much did we pay for the website redesign? I hope it was zero or next to nothing with as little as it is used.

A Predator is coming to Overland

Dear Friend in Overland,

Something very distrurbing came to my attenion on a recent visit to city hall for a Overland Farmers Market meeting. Posted on the notices board near the front door was an announcement and agenda for an upcoming Board of Adjustment meeting. One of the items on the agenda was the bringing of a “Title Max” to Overland.

Are you familiar with Title Max and like companies? Title Max is one of the various companies that will loan one money at interest rates that would make a loan shark shudder using one’s car title as collateral. Not only do they charge outrageous interest rates, often people end up losing their car (and thus their way to the job they do have to pay the bills).

The Title Loan companies can be grouped with check cashing places, payday loan establishments, and signature loan businesses as PREDATORY LENDERS. I have very strong feelings about companies such as these that take advantage of those in need, people who often end up in more dire straits than when they walked through the doors of these establishments. In these uncertain financial times, many people will be false lured into thinking there problems can be solved via these businesses. Do we want to invite a company that’s sole purpose is to prey upon the people of our town?

Secondly, having this Title Max business on Page Ave creates an image problem for Overland. Inviting in predatory lenders basically dis-invites better businesses to our city. Our city recently went through months of reviewing and updating our comprehensive plan. I don’t recall them saying these were the types of businesses we hope to attract. In fact, many business planners will see the predatory lenders in a city and think “oh, its one of those cities” and not bring their business here. Is this moving in the right direction?

We can take action now before this goes any further. I will be sending letters to my City Council members and the mayors. Unfortunately, I have to work the night of Wednesday, December 10 or I would attend the meeting of the Board of Adjustment. In my place, I am sending a registered letter to city hall and requesting that it be read into the record as a citizen statement.

I urge you to join me in taking action.

• Write your council members and mayor.
• Attend the December 10 meeting or write the Board of Adjustment.
• If you know any members of the Board of Adjustment (below), I recommend you bend their ear on the subject.
• Forward this to other Overland residents who will share our concern about a Title Max coming into Overland.
  

Members of the Board of Adjustment per city website:

• Tom Eckert
• Bob Aston
• Rudolph E. Kuhlmann
• Jack Arnold
• Dennis Hageman
• Jon Seal (Alternate)