Candidate filing closed Tuesday for a number of governmental positions that are up for election April 6, setting up several competitive races across South County. One of the trends this year is that many incumbents did not file to run again, so there are a number of new faces across local city and school boards.
Filing began at 8 a.m. Dec. 15, and ran through 5 p.m. Jan. 19.
The Mehlville fire board and the Green Park mayoral seat will see competitive races this year. Incumbent fire board Treasurer Bonnie Stegman is being challenged by a former firefighter.
Aldermanic seats in Crestwood, Green Park and Sunset Hills are also up for election, along with three seats on the Grantwood Village Board of Trustees. Green Park and Crestwood will have a number of new faces on the Board of Aldermen, but no competitive races, while Sunset Hills will have competitive races in all four wards. And for the first time in recent memory, Grantwood Village will have competitive races.
The Mehlville Fire Protection District renewed its health insurance contract with United Healthcare this year, but employees seeing higher deductibles will get assistance from the district.
The Board of Directors unanimously voted Nov. 18 to offer employee insurance from United Healthcare in 2021 and to establish a Health Reimbursement Arrangement, an employer-funded health benefit plan that reimburses employees for qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Chief Financial Offi cer Brian Bond told the board in October that agent USI Insurance Services increased health-care renewals by 37 percent in 2021, equating to $672,000 in additional premiums for this year.
“Unfortunately that’s just not sustainable for the 2021 budget,” said Bond. “To find a more fiscally palatable option, USI presented an option that involves increasing the deductible.”
Candidate filing closes Tuesday, Jan. 19 for a number of governmental positions that are up for election April 6. Filing began at 8 a.m. Dec. 15, and ends at 5 p.m. Jan. 19. Judging by candidates who have filed so far, the Mehlville fire board and the Green Park mayoral seat will have competitive races..
The Mehlville Fire Protection District will be adding a new ambulance to its fleet after the Board of Directors, comprised of Treasurer Bonnie Stegman, Secretary Ed Ryan and Chairman Aaron Hilmer, unanimously approved a bid with Osage Ambulances.
The district was due to purchase a new ambulance as part of its apparatus replacement plan, Chief Brian Hendricks said at the Nov. 18 board meeting.
The new ambulance will cost $270,406, which is slightly less than what the district had originally budgeted, in part because the district is adding onto an order with St. Charles County. The ambulance will be similar to the other ambulances the district always orders, however the new ambulance will have a Ford 550 chassis, while the rest of the district’s fleet ride on a 450 chassis.
Mehlville Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Dan Furrer will be retiring at the end of December, rounding out over 30 years of service in the district.
“Chief Furrer has given the Mehlville Fire Protection District 34 years of service. From the chief’s perspective, I’m happy to be able to say that … it’s my belief that we have some of the finest deputy chiefs the county has,” Chief Brian Hendricks said at the Nov. 18 board meeting where Furrer was recognized for his service. “We run more fires, we run more calls and it’s the day to day things that deputy chiefs are responsible for. It’s a huge, huge undertaking and that’s why the men that currently fill those spots are, without question, some of the best line personnel we have.”