Councilman Dave Hammond's Blog

Crime continues to be a concern for many of us in St. Charles County. St. Charles County and our municipalities continue to step up operations to combat crime coming to our county. I'm concerned that St. Charles County will not have the resources to meet the needs of our citizens in the near future. 

The County police department is the largest part of the County budget. Since the County budget relies only on sales tax for employee salaries and benefits, something needs to be done. The best solution would be a Proposition "P" that would solely help support the police department. This proposition would be a small new property tax rather than an increase in sales tax. I'm on a fixed income and don't like any tax increases, but Proposition "P" is the only choice that I see that would insure funding for a police department capable of fighting crime in our county. If we have a bad sales tax year, the County will be laying off employees rather than hiring additional police officers. The County is currently short of police officers as it is.

I would like to hear from you if you would support a Proposition "P" to support our police department. Please email me at dhammond@sccmo.org. If you disapprove please tell me why or if you have a better idea I would like to hear from you.

One of this month’s top newsletter stories is about BikeFest 2022 on Aug. 6-7 at Kinetic Park in Dardenne Prairie. And while that park isn’t in my district, it’s close, and this event is well worth some extra coverage.

This is the second consecutive year that Kinetic Park has been chosen to host the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championship Qualifier, and that is quite an honor for St. Charles County. No other park in Missouri will be holding the event this year and people from across the United States – and internationally – will be coming to our county to compete. 

For the first time, we’ll also be hosting the USA Pump Track National Series. While the Red Bull qualifier is for those 17 and up, this new event is for ages 5 and up. It’s truly a family event, and that’s what Kinetic Park is all about. 

While there, participants and spectators alike can enjoy all the park has to offer. Not only is the pump track the largest in the U.S., but the outdoor skate park is the largest in Missouri. A bike playground and skills course now is open, and at Bikefest, there will be special activities and vendors from around the community you won’t want to miss!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to the St. Charles County Parks Department staff. With the opening of the new exhibit at the Heritage Museum [link], the Dardenne Creek Blueway opening [link] and a myriad of events and programs, they have been extremely busy. BikeFest weekend is an all-hands-on-deck event and I’m certain it will be a great success.

If your kids are already saying they’re bored this summer, take a look at what all our parks have to offer! And don’t forget to mark your calendars for BikeFest 2022!

Parents have recently attended St. Charles County Council meetings to express their anger and frustrations about COVID-19 mask mandates and quarantine policies of local school districts. Many blame the St. Charles County Public Health Department, but the department is required by state law to follow requirements set by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). It is also important to note that school districts, similarly, are regulated by the state (the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education), and County government has no regulatory authority over them. 

Some of the school districts also blame the County health department; however, the school districts are required to send the names of students who test positive or may have been in close contact with a student who tested positive for COVID to the County health department. The blame game goes on and on. Recently, DHSS has given some flexibility to county health departments and school districts to reduce or eliminate quarantine requirements for close contacts. Credit should be given to the St. Charles County Executive’s office for their efforts in encouraging DHSS to change the quarantine requirement. Thank you, County Executive Steve Ehlmann.  

The way I witnessed it, this is the truth of what's going on, folks.