Tower Grove Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting

Oct. 27, 2009 7:20 p.m. 21 attendees

President Mark Froese chaired the meeting.

Tony Harris and Fred Wolfmeyer of the American Postal Workers Union (314-231-7665) discussed the proposed closing of the Tower Grove post office on Grand. This is one of nine post offices that the U.S.Postal Service proposes closing in the St. Louis area. The original list of post offices to close had 31 sites and the list was then pared to nine. The decision to close these post offices is based solely on revenue production. The Postal Workers Union is working with the residents to mount a postcard campaign against this closing aimed Representative Carnahan, Senator McCaskill and District Manager Aquiningoc. In addition, House Bill HR 658 is currently going through the legislature to have the closing of smaller post offices be based on the same criteria as that used in deciding on the closure of larger branches, such as a longer period to collect public input, reviewing the community effect that the closing would have and determining whether the closing would provide a maximum degree of effective postal service to the area, The dates of the public input period for the Tower Grove post office have not yet been determined. This time period will only be for 20 days. The Postal Workers Union will let the residents know as soon as these dates have been set. In order to help save money for the U.S. Postal Service in ways other than closing branches, the Postal Workers Union members are paying a larger percentage of their health care costs and have negotiated retirement incentives which 363 employees have accepted. This move will save over $24 million annually. It is not clear how much money will be saved by closing the Tower Grove post office. Nationally, when the public has become involved in protesting the closure of local post offices, the U.S. Postal Service has often backed off of the closure. The post cards protesting the closing and a sample letter supporting bill HR 658 were made available at the end of the meeting.

A special election to fill the 4st State Senate District Seat vacated by Jeff Smith will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Joe Keaveny, the only candidate for this office, introduced himself and discussed his candidacy. He served as 28^th Ward Democratic Committeeman and City Democratic Party Treasurer in the past. He distributed a flyer with information about his background. More information can be found at www.joekeaveny.com or he can be reached at 314-725-8500.

Jennifer Florida, 15^th Ward Alderman, reported that the City had voted 20-7 for a smoking ban that will take effect if the County smoking ban is enacted after the Nov. 3^rd election. Small bars will be exempt until 2016.

Jennifer reported that the property at 4175 Chippewa, in the Grand Oak Hill neighborhood, which had been a vacant manufacturing business, was purchased by Easy Storage. The company plans to create a mass in-house storage business there with an on-site resident manager.

The South Grand streets project lost $1 million dollars that had been part of the Grand Streets funding plan because Congress did not act to eliminate a provision in a six-year national highway funding bill that orders a “rescission” of Federal transportation money. The design team is currently working on how to phase in the safety aspects of the plan in the first phase. Construction documents will be completed by Dec. 1 and as soon as the plan is in place, Jennifer will communicate that to the neighborhood. MoDOT will give approval by Mar. 2 and then bids will be sent out to start construction in the summer.

The pervious concrete alley prototype at 3400 Cherokee and Gravois is in process. As soon as weather permits, the concrete will be poured and a demo will be scheduled.

President Mark Froese introduced the current Board members:

· David Bruns, President Elect

· Robert Ashton, Past President

· Jan Clinite, Treasurer

· Claudia Seifert, Secretary

· Pauline Ashton, Membership Secretary

· Gary Kushinsky , Director of Business

· Tom Reitenbach, Block Captain Representative

Jan is resigning after 5 years as Treasurer as of Oct. 31, 2009. David Kim has been appointed to take her place through the end of the year. Pauline is also resigning after 5 years as Membership Secretary

Elections will be held at the November meeting. The following slate of candidates was proposed:

· Marilyn Browning, President Elect

· David Kim, Treasurer

· Claudia Seifert, Secretary

· Debby Ervin, Membership Secretary

There were no other nominations from the floor.

A transition audit of the Association’s books will be held after the change in Treasurers. A member of the Board and a non-member of the Board are appointed to this duty. Robert Ashton, as the Board member, and Rich Seifert, as the non-member of the Board, will conduct this audit. The annual audit will still be conducted and David Bruns will serve as the Board member with Robert Ashton as the non-member of the Board, since his term as Past President will be expired at that time.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Claudia Seifert, Secretary