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March 29th, 7PM @ Park Hill High.

Living Large

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
January 18

You might have seen the Mayor's summary of the 2015 audit of the City finances in the Weatherby Lake Living Newsletter.  What you didn't see were some of the numbers in the report (available at City Hall or from your Alderman).
Rob Wilson of Accounting Solutions presented the audit information at the meeting.  One fact that might have slipped past the audience (and the Board) was Wilson's statement regarding net revenue for year...$67,000.  While a good thing in general, it does speak to the fact our sources of revenue are limited and not subject to growth over time...while City expenses are bound to increase as inflation rises.  City employees were given a 3% across the board pay increase for 2017 causing some heartburn among a few of the aldermen.  

Free Advice

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
January 18 

Aldermen's Comments

Continuing a tradition of seeking free legal assistance (a la Stevenson) Alderman Richmond brought up a potential issue in West Ridge, where he lives.  His concern is getting information about the West Ridge developer and the requirement (or not) of the retention pond maintenance.  Some discussion ensued with the request the City Attorney look into it.

Odd because the City really has no standing on the issue.  As you may or may not know, West Ridge has its own Home Owners Association (HOA).  Until the development is complete (which looks to be soon) the developer is the defacto responsible party for the HOA.  After that the residents in the HOA become responsible.  All this is spelled out in the HOA covenant which each homeowner has or should have.

(Background...the original developer, at that time it was called Sonoma Ridge, was sued by a group of residents on West Side Drive, during the efforts to replat and develop the property.  The City of WL was also sued as part of the litigation.  In the end there was an out of court settlement, the developer got to proceed, with some stipulations, the citizen group was paid their legal fees by the developer and the City (you and me) was left with legal bills of around $20,000...funny how that works)

New Faces

If you paid any attention to the City election last April, you probably remember Mayor Botbyl touting the need for "new faces" on the Board of Aldermen.  Turns out, the two most vocal Board members who had issues with the Mayor, Steve Clark and Tanya Finn, were up for re-election.  I presume Dee Surma on the East and Red McLaughlin on the West were recruited to remove the thorns from Botbyl's...side.  That didn't work out too well as both Clark and Finn prevailed.

Wonder how the Mayor feels about "new faces" now?  Rick Footer and Daniel Berglund are certainly new faces, both in appearance and generation, facing off with Surma (once again) and the incumbent Richmond.  The April election could indeed change the landscape of the City going forward.  The Mayor might be right, time for New Faces.  Stay tuned.

Pardon The Interruption (This is for West Siders Only, East Siders, You Are Excused)

My fellow West Siders...have you ever noticed the Monuments at the East Side entrances have lighting at night?  The East Side Barry had been experiencing some electrical issues but apparently has been fixed.  The East Side City Hall, lights at night.

What about the West Side Monuments?  No lighting @ Potomac, West Side or Kerns, at least not as of last night...and they seem to have been completed months ago.  Strange.

I am sure the Mayor can help, 816 741-5545.