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8/7/2019 Catholic Schools Week WKT
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10 Webster-Kirkwood Times January 28 - February 3, 2011
by Don Corrigan After a judge nixed the stormwater control ser-
vice-use bills imposed by the Metropolitan St. LouisSewer District (MSD) this summer, Ann Bauer of North Signal Hill Drive in Kirkwood felt vindicat-ed.
We never got bills from MSD before, said Bauer.Weve been here for 60 years with a septic tank forsewage and plenty of acreage for stormwater absorp-tion. Then MSD went to this new system of billingfor runoff and we started getting these bills from outof nowhere.
Sixty years with no MSD bills, and then theyslapped us with fees based on our driveway and roof runoff, explained Bauer. When the lawsuit wasdecided this summer, we stopped getting the bills. I
hope it stays that way. I hope MSD does not appealthe ruling against this billing.
In fact, those bills could return to the Bauer homeand other residences in the area that never beforereceived MSD billing. Thats because MSD has,indeed, decided to appeal the ruling which wasdecided in Lincoln County Circuit Court in July.
In its July ruling, the court decided that thecharge was a tax, not a fee, and violated the statesHancock Amendment. The amendment to theMissouri Constitution requires that any new taxmust be approved by state voters.
The sewer district began imposing the fee on its500,000 customers more than two years ago. TomSullivan, a consumer advocate and frequent critic of MSD, said the new fee system was an obviousattempt at an end-run around the restrictions of theHancock tax lid.
The Hancock Amendment went into effect in1980, and then MSD went into court to challenge it,said Sullivan. Since 1980, MSD has spent millions
trying to get around it. A better option might be totry to build public trust, so voters would approvewhat is needed. I think the public would respondfinancially, if it was convinced there is a legitimateneed.
Its no surprise that MSD is appealing the latestruling, because its not really their money beingspent to fight in court, added Sullivan. They nowwant this Hancock interpretation overturned; theywant no liability to return money collected by thenew system of charges; they do not want to beresponsible for lawyers fees from the firm that wonthe case against their system of charges.
MSD Fires BackOfficials with MSD respond to critics like Sullivan
by arguing that user charges do not constitute a tax,and therefore should not be subject to Hancock
Amendment restrictions.They also emphasize that they face other litiga-
tion, including a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lawsuit that requires a much betterwastewater system for the area. The district must
find the funds to address the deficiencies.System deficiencies during spring flooding and
wet weather periods cause overflows allowing sew-age to spill into creeks and streams. MSD is hardpressed to find the financial resources to addressEPA complaints and to meet EPA requirements.
In 2007, MSD was required to post sewage over-flow signs at the behest of the EPA. The signs offeredadvisories against playing, swimming or fishing. AnMSD map of overflow locations shows danger sitesalong Deer Creek in the Webster Groves and onGravois Creek in Crestwood and Affton.
Additional sites can be found along Manchester,Big Bend and Gravois roads. At the time of the post-ings, MSD spokesperson Lance LeComb said thedistrict would have to hike bills to pay for infrastruc-ture needs and to address EPA requirements.
We have a big, costly problem with an inadequateand deteriorating system, said LeComb. To makethings right, people are going to have to see someimpact on their household budgets. Sewer rates aregoing to have to go up to put the system right, sothat sewage is not mixing with stormwater.
The Common GoodShawn and Anne Daniels have lived in the Fenton
area for almost a quarter century and never receivedMSD billing. Thats because, like several thousandresidences in MSDs jurisdiction, they have used aseptic tank system on their property and not thedistricts sewer lines.
For the bulk of area residences that have usedMSDs sewer lines, the new charge for handling ser-vice water was folded into their regular billing. Butfor residents like the Daniels, who had never receivedMSD charges before, the bills were a shock.
Homeowners Support Court Ruling Against MSDMSD is appealing ruling thatstormwater service use billsare a tax, not a fee, andrequire voter approval
Stormwater empties into a creek in Webster Groves.photo by Diana Linsley
cont. p. 12
CelebratedJanuary 30 - February 5, 2011
Building His Kingdom One Child at a TimeExceptional Catholic Education Pre-K8 in the heart of Webster Groves
Enlightening Minds Enriching Hearts Embracing Community Empoweri
Holy Redeemer School An Enduring Tradition of Excellence Since 1901
341 E. Lockwood wEbstEr GrovEs Mo 314-962-8989 www.hoLyr.orG
Alive In Christ Celebrating Catholic Schools Week
St. Dominic Savio Catholic SchoolWhere Every Child Is Known By Name7748 Mackenzie Rd. Affton314-832-4161 stdominicsavio.org
Open HouseSunday, January 30 11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m.
Flexible Pre-K ScheduleFull Day KindergartenAftercare until 6 p.m.
Now accepting early registration for Pre-K and Kindergarten
Providing Excellence in Catholic Education
St. Paul CatholiC S Chool
OPEN HOUSESunday, Feb. 13, 2011 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.465 New Smizer Mill Rd., Fenton, MO 63026
636-343-4333 [email protected]
Strength in Faithand Family
pre-K through 8Offering a challenging
curriculum that stimulates development
of the whole child.educating the whole child with
STE. GENEVIEVE DU BOIS SCHOOL314.821.4245 www.stegenschool.org
Jesus first Others second Yourself lastJO Y
S T E
. G EN E V I E V
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d u B O I S S C H O O
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Visit us online at
www.corjesu.org10230 Gravois Road 842-1546
Cor Jesu Academy
i t d o e s t h e s t u d e n t b o d y g o o d !
g o t s p i r i t ?
8/7/2019 Catholic Schools Week WKT
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January 28 - February 3, 2011 Webster-Kirkwood Times11
Transforming the world,one child at a time.
A CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN THE SACRED HEART TRADITION FORYOUNG WOMEN GRADES 7-12 AND BOYS AND GIRLS AGE 3-GRADE 6
801 s. spoede road, st. louis, missouri 63131 314.432.2021 www.vdoh.org
Please contact us at
314.810.3566 or [email protected]
to schedule a visit.
425 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131314-993-4400 chaminade-stl.org
Educating Young Men in Grades 6-12 A Catholic School in the Marianist Tradition Over $1.6 Million in Financial Aid Available Day and Resident Students 25 AP/College Credit Courses offered Student Laptops
LEARNING TO LIVE
REMARKABLY
mary queen ofpeace school
catholic schools week C e l e b r a t e s
s d 1/29 & s d p d 8 G ds d 1/30 e r d m
1 s a s m s
m d 1/31 a s m /D v D t d 2/1 s s D
Math Olympiad Grades K-4Academic Trivia Grades 5-8
Wednesday 2/2 Family Lunch - Bingo
t d 2/3 s d m c vFriday 2/4 Class Act Music Presentation 3rd Grade...encouraging each students moral, spiritual and academic growth
with a commitment to stewardship.Mary Queen of Peace 680 W. Lockwood Webster Groves 314-961-2891
Pancake Breakfast & Open HouseSunday, Jan. 30 10:30 - 2:30
bright
futures T h e
so
Call 314-961-0149 for a tour, or visit www.stmmschool.com
Manchester Road at Brentwood Blvd.
At Saint Mary Magdalen, our high academicstandards are matched only by our desire to realizeGods role in our daily lives. Serving students age 3through grade 8, we offer experienced, dedicated staff,current methods and SMART Board technology at surprisingly affordable tuition. Our central location,before- and after-care, and online grading system areconvenient for busy families.
Fr. Jack Siefert, Pastor Mrs. Amy Sauer, Principal
Children currently being accepted for Grades K-8Registering for the 2011-2012 School Year
Sunday, February 6 (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.)Weekdays, February 7-11 (9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
Come and see what SGM has to offer your children religiously and academically! Come and learn about our redesigned all-day kindergarten program!
Come and see us in action!
To schedule a tour or receive additional information, call or stop by...
Rooted in Faith, Grounded in Excellence,Prepared for Success!
Saint Gerard Majella School2005 Dougherty Ferry Rd., Kirkwood,63122 314-822-8844 ext. 2
New and expanded facilities availablefor start of 2011-2012 school year.Visit our parish/school website:www.stgerardmajellaparish.org