This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Sept. 16, 2011 - Officials with St. Louis County and the tiny south county village of St. George have scheduled two public meetings with residents to discuss their questions and concerns about the Nov. 8 ballot proposal to dissolve the municipality.
The meetings are scheduled for:
- 7 p.m., Thurs., Sept. 29 at the Southridge Condominiums' clubhouse;
- 10 a.m., Sat., Oct. 15 at the Affton White Rodgers Community Center.
>Sixty percent of St. George's roughly 900 voters signed petitions this summer asking for a vote on whether to dissolve and become an unincorporated part of St. Louis County. St. George eliminated its police department earlier, amid a sex scandal, and last summer did away with its municipal court (pictured).
St. George's current mayor, Carmen Wilkerson, is part of a majority on the Board of Aldermen supporting dissolution, saying it would be cheaper for residents if the county provided essential services, such as police and trash collection.
Several former mayors oppose the idea, saying St. George residents would end up with substandard services. Opponents have formed a group called "Save Our City."
One point of controversy is a now-defunct proposal late last year to have St. George contract with the North County community of Charlack for police services. That proposal was one of the issues that got Wilkerson and her allies elected in April. They swiftly pressed for dissolving St. George.
