Fully half of the Warrenton Board of Aldermen has been turned over to new representatives following April 6 elections and oaths of office that were sworn this week. It’s the most turnover a …
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Fully half of the Warrenton Board of Aldermen has been turned over to new representatives following April 6 elections and oaths of office that were sworn this week. It’s the most turnover a city board can have under normal circumstances, forecasting possible shifts in the direction of city government.
To give residents a closer look at what the future might hold, The Record asked each of the three new aldermen to share their goals and concerns they want to address in office.
New Ward 1 Alderman Larry Corder said he and his wife moved from Warrenton to the St. Charles area when they were young, and witnessed the growth of that area over several decades. Now back in Warrenton, Corder said he hopes to guide his hometown through its own growth.
“I thought I might have a little insight, by living through it, that could help out here in Warrenton,” Corder commented.
He said his first personal priority is to learn about the inner workings of city government that might not be apparent from the outside. Longer term, Corder said he wants to keep Warrenton on the path of developing its infrastructure and utilities to be prepared for an influx of new homes and businesses.
New developments and local businesses will be beneficial because they expand the city’s tax base for services, without an increase in taxes, Corder added.
One item Corder said is on his wish list for the future is to encourage a vocational or technical school to come to Warrenton. He said that would help encourage local growth and support the needs of local, independent employers.
On the subject of working with his fellow new aldermen to represent the diverse viewpoints in Warrenton, Corder said his goal is to make decisions that can benefit everyone.
“We all have new ideas we want to bring forth,” Corder said. “I want to do it as a team and build consensus as a board.”
New Ward 2 Alderman Steven Cullom said he didn’t start off with any intention to run for office. But over the last few year, he disagreed with several decisions made by the city government, and didn’t see alternate viewpoints being represented.
“No one else ever runs, so I thought, ‘Well, if no one else is going to run, I’m going to run and make a change,’” Cullom commented. “I don’t agree with the direction we’ve been going here lately.”
Cullom said he has questioned some recent decisions, such as retaining former City Administrator Terri Thorn as a consultant. He also feels the city hasn’t been responsive to public feedback on issues.
“It doesn’t seem like the current administration listens to what the people want. A lot of it seems like ... they’ve already got a preconceived idea in their minds, no matter what the people say,” Cullom commented. As an example, he cited a recent decision to allow higher-density development along Sunnyside Road, despite three hours of opposing testimony.
Cullom said he wants to introduce a proposal to prevent aldermen from voting on an ordinance or resolution at the first city board meeting where it’s discussed. He said citizens should have more time to provide feedback on issues, and then aldermen would vote at a subsequent meeting.
Cullom concurred that managing growth will be an important job for aldermen in the near future, and said he actually doesn’t think Warrenton has met its growth potential. He wants to find more ways to encourage and attract new businesses.
He also said he thinks aldermen should take a more active role in directing the city government, and he believes past aldermen gave away too much control to appointed city staff.
New Ward 3 Alderman Jeff Jaspering said he isn’t coming into office with a particular agenda, but had feedback from community members that they were ready to see a change in their city government.
“I’m looking to put my 2 cents in and be the voice for everybody else in Warrenton, not just in my ward,” Jaspering said.
Feedback from residents has been that they want to see various types of business come to town, Jaspering noted, commenting that Schnucks and Rural King have been the only major developments in decades. But at the same time, Jaspering said people don’t want development to “blow up” like it did in nearby Wentzville and O’Fallon.
“They would like to see all those businesses in Warrenton, just not on one road like O’Fallon’s Highway K or (Wentzville’s) Pearce Boulevard,” Jaspering said. “You can still have all those things and still have your small-town community if you spread everything out. We don’t need to splat everything on Highway 47.”
Jaspering said he also feels the city government should do a better job of communicating information to the public, rather than making citizens have to search for information.
Before setting any specific goals, Jaspering said he wants to get introduced to his new position and learn about what goes on behind the scenes.
“It’s a new job, basically. You go into it and tackle it the best you can. You adapt to it and grow,” he commented.
