2 weeks Ago By Stephanie Kim
The Desloge Board of Aldermen met for their monthly meeting last week. The meeting was filled with worried citizens and gaps of silence. It began with a concerned resident asking if a vote could be taken to end the impeachment of the mayor, and later asking if this could be added to the agenda.
Mayor Pete Pasternak replied saying, “That would be up to the Board of Aldermen.” Upon hearing from the resident, Alderman of Ward III Deb Kester made a motion to end the impeachment. After much silence, the motion died due to no second on the motion.
This led to multiple residents speaking up on the thousands of dollars worth of costs for the impeachment process. Public comments started with resident Ginger Williams, who said, “I just want to say we’re here asking that this impeachment be dropped, we’re asking for a vote for that tonight. So far, you have run us $9,500 in attorney fees–Pete’s seat comes up in 6 months, now I honestly believe that if he chooses to run, because of all this, he’s going to have a landslide win.
Regardless, let the voters be the ones to say whether we lose this mayor or not. I am asking you to please be sensible, take your personal feelings out of it, and let’s vote tonight to drop this. Do this for us, do this for the city.
” Williams went on to say, “Most of us (the residents) feel like the things you have listed as the reasons for impeachment are petty and it is personal. If we go another 6 months, is this going to be $25,000-$30,000 in law fees? This city has too many other things that (money) needs to be spent on.” Terry Cole stepped up to speak and asked the board, “Was the impeachment budgeted? Did we set any money aside for an impeachment? So where is the money coming from?” He later went on to say, “I just don’t think it (the impeachment) is a good use of money, I just really don’t.
Impeachment is a serious offense, I’m looking at the articles.” Cole spoke on hypocrisy and how everyone should be held to the same standards that the mayor is being held to. A resident on Brim Street addressed the board and said, “I’ve been down here for 15 years trying to get a water problem fixed.
Nobody does anything. Pete’s the only man that bothered to come look at my water, at 3 in the morning. You guys had a $70,000 budget set back for a water study, what’d you do? Shot it down.
” Alderman of Ward I Mark Bonney responded saying, “Some things you have to fix on your own. It’s not my water.” Other residents who spoke agreed with Williams and asked the board to drop the case.
Residents also voiced concerns about fencing issues, the pickleball court design, extending the library hours, water issues, and picking up yard waste more often. Farmington and Ste. Genevieve both have sites where residents can drop off yard waste, which was posed by a resident as a possibility for Desloge.
Additional topics covered The next meeting will be Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.
in the Desloge City Hall. Stephanie Kim is the editor of the Daily Journal. She can be reached at skim@dailyjournalonline.
com..
