Mayor Lambi Bids Farewell, Leaves City Love Note of Sorts

Mayor Paul Lambi

NOTE FROM WENTZVILLE MAYOR LAMBI

Wentzville 2004-2012—Eight Years of Growth and Accomplishments Highlights

It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve as Wentzville’s Mayor for the past eight years, and a privilege to work alongside our professional City staff and Aldermen as we serve our residents. As I look back to where the City was when I was first elected in 2004 and where Wentzville is today, I can’t help but feel fortunate that I was part of the amazing progress our City has made.

When I pass the baton to the City’s next Mayor in April, I will do so with confidence, knowing that my legacy of service is a City that is stronger and more dynamic today than it was when I was sworn into office in April of 2004. Below are a few of what I consider to be the most significant accomplishments the City has made during my terms as Mayor.

The most amazing change over the past eight years has been our growth. Wentzville experienced a 322- percent population growth from 2000 to 2010. The 2000 U.S. Census listed our population at about 6,700. The 2010 Census set Wentzville’s population at a little over 29,000. This phenomenal growth has caught the attention of everyone. In 2007, the Gadberry Group, a company that provides some of the top companies in the U.S. household and population data, named Wentzville as one of seven of the most notable places in the U.S. Then in 2008, Wentzville was named Missouri’s Boomtown.

As thousands of new residents began moving to Wentzville and new homes sprang up year after year, our City’s elected officials and staff were challenged to make sure our infrastructure and services met our growing needs. But just keeping up with growth isn’t enough. To ensure the roads, water, sewer, and other amenities were in place and operational when they were needed, we had to plan on how to stay ahead of the growth curve.

UPDATE (VIDEO) Wentzville Red-Light Cameras To Go Dark -- Vote Appears Unanimous Against RedFlex Renewal, Stokes Says "No" to "Woo"

In spite of the Wentzville Police Chief Harrion's strong recommendation to keep the cameras, the aldermen were not swayed and voted to terminate the RedFlex red-light camera contract.

At one point, City Attorney Paul Rost warned the aldermen that voting out RedFlex would result in RedFlex attempts to "woo" the aldermen to change their opinions.

The current contract doesn't appear to run out until 2013, but the aldermen decided to vote it down tonight nonetheless.

Some aldermen cited the necessity of officer discretion at traditional in-person red-light traffic stops, while Mayoral candidates Nick Guccione and Leon Tow referenced the inconclusive nature of Police Chief Harrison's red-light camera accident prevention data.  Cheryl Kross added that the city or Missouri Department of Transportation need to extend yellow-light times and seek conformity throughout the city signal systems.

Mayoral candidate Darrel Lackey was present and his physical demeanor seemed to indicate agreement with the RedFlex contract termination.

City Attorney Paul Rost Warns of Coming RedFlex "Woo"ing of Aldermen

Wentzville Mayor Lambi Fights Guilty-Until-Proven-Innocent $15000 Check Debacle -- Calls Out Patch.com's Joe Scott & Suburban Journalist Raymond Castile

Wentzville's Mayor Paul Lambi took his aldermanic Mayor's report time this evening to prevail upon journalists Joe Scott and Raymond Castile to properly report investigative information Lambi provided them during the meeting concerning a $15000 check written from the City of Wentzville to Westplex LOC -- a company the mayor helped cofound.

Aldermen Cris Gard had allegedly brought the check into question.

See YouTube video -- may need to copy and paste in your browser.



Pics below show Journalists Castile and Scott getting the report from Lambi

POSTED FROM MOBILE UPLINK

Diminutive Ron Paul Serves Up Giant Serving of Liberty Talk

Attending the Ron Paul caucus training at Lindenwood University in St. Charles Missouri today was a sure ticket for Ron-Paulians to get premium seating in Lindenwood's Hyland Arena to see the Doctor at 3 p.m.  Many fervent Ron Paul supporters refer to him as the "Doctor" or "the Good Doctor."

Dan Stewart

Dan Stewart, a distribution specialist, was there and simply said he was "here to see Ron Paul." "It's neat to see the crowd grow and grow," he added.  Dan wasn't into chanting when the "Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul" mantra ebbed and flowed; rather, he seemed to be curious about the event and interested in what type of people came to a Ron Paul speech. Stewart asked if this reporter had read any of Ron Paul's books and added that if I needed one or two, I could borrow his.

Diminutive Ron Paul

When Ron Paul entered "stage left," this reporter was a bit surprised. On television Congressman Paul doesn't come off as a WWE wrestler, but his diminutive 120 pound frame is more noticeable in person.  However, it is noteworthy that Paul's suit was a good fitting one as opposed to some he wears that appear a bit over sized.

Regardless of suit size, it is readily apparent that the crowd sees Paul only as a giant of their cause and thinks his message of liberty, self-direction and government constraint is "bigger than the city lights down at Times Square." said one on-looker.  Pretty sure that is a quote from a 1990's Notorious B.I.G. song. However, the gentleman did not sing it.

Fake Rand Paul Son

Paul's speech lasted about 40 minutes and he did not allow the press much time once finished.  He had to "get on a plane to Springfield in about a half hour," chimed a staffer.  One fellow that remained close to Paul throughout the event looked suspiciously like Ron Paul's son Rand; however, he was much taller than the Pauls, so it's just conjecture. Have a look to the right ------>


Cynthia Davis, Constitution Party candidate for Missouri Lieutenant Governor, was at the Lindenwood Ron Paul event.  Indeed, she was there from the very beginning, starting with caucus training at 1 p.m. Central.

Lt. Gov. Candidate Cynthia Davis

One has to wonder if Davis will attend the St.Charles County caucuses next Saturday morning the 17th to win delegates for Ron Paul.  She is the former chair of St. Charles County's Republican committee who Ron Paul's camp fears will possibly oversee Robert's Rules of Order during this year's caucuses.  Paul's supporters seemingly over-ran the St. Charles County caucuses in 2008 and had to battle the GOP establishment to ensure that Paul's delegates were properly awarded.

On the floor for Ron Paul -- He Will Be Filling the Void Shortly at Lindenwood University

Ron Paul is curiously absent from the Lindenwood gymnasium floor. The crowd is swelling. Caucus training before the main event was well organized and felt like pre-battle preparations more than informational seminar.

New Wentzvillian Headed To Ron Paul Caucus Training and Town Hall Now

The New Wentzvillian will be on site for Ron Paul's Caucus Training and the St. Charles County Town Hall at Lindenwood University from noon-ish throughout the rest of the day (roughly 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. we would guess). E-mail carter@NewWentzvillian.com if you have any questions, thoughts or otherwise.  We will be checking it regularly.  Or, you can leave a comment on this blog.

We assume that we will be close to the stage during the Town Hall as preferred seating is given to those attending the caucus meeting at 1 p.m.  The New Wentzvillian is working on press credentials for the press pool.  We are meeting event organizer Brent Stafford on site.

Steve's Poke Is Deep -- Takes Time For Journalists, Academics, Citizens and Politicos To Weigh In

New Wentzvillian readers.  Do not despair. We are not taking lightly our story on Suburban Journalist Steve Pokin.  A fair and objective piece takes a while to tackle -- think professional vs. sandlot journalism.   Our directive is to explore the relationship between opinion columnist and objective reporter; can one person successfully and responsibly do both?

Here are some exciting tid-bits involving our coming Steve Pokin piece:

1) At least 4 prominent local politicos have done or agreed to do interviews concerning Pokin;
2) The Missouri School of Journalism is weighing in;
3) Journalists working throughout Missouri have a say;
4) Steve Pokin himself, interestingly, has declined an interview thus far, but we have information about his education, experience, past-written stories and interests -- maybe even a photo or two;
5) The Patch.com has seemingly weighed in on Pokin's community influence.
6) Several St. Charles county citizens share commentary.
7) Steve Pokin may have changed his name several years ago.



If any of our readers have questions or insights, please share them quickly as I hope to get this out Monday morning, the 12th of March, 2012.

carter@NewWentzvillian.com