To assist voters to make informed choices in the June 2 municipal election (rescheduled from April) and to accommodate those who wish to cast absentee ballots, the Leader will present its Voters Guide on its website. Each day, a new contested race or ballot issue will be posted at myleaderpaper.com.
Absentee voting for the June 2 election is open now. Absentee voters can cast their ballots at the Jefferson County Administration Center, 729 Maple St., Hillsboro, or by mail. The deadline to request a mail-in absentee ballot is May 20. To request a mail-in ballot or for other information concerning the election, call the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office at 636-797-5486.
Today, we focus on a tax increase proposal sought by Byrnes Mill, as well as profiles of candidates for that city’s Board of Alderpersons. Tomorrow, details about a proposal concerning the future of Olympian Village’s wastewater treatment plant.
Byrnes Mill residents all over the city will have a decision to make on June 2, as they will go to the polls to decide on whether to approve Proposition Public Safety, a 1-cent sales tax for public safety improvements.
Voters in Ward 2 will have an additional decision to make concerning a representative on the Board of Alderpersons.
In Ward 2, Cynthia Davies is trying to serve a fourth straight two-year term but faces a challenge from Bob Mahlandt, a former member of the Public Water District No. 2 board.
Races for other board seats are unopposed this spring.
Both Ward 1 seats are up for election. Glenn LaVenture will be sworn in to a second full term as he has no opponent, and Terry Keehn will serve the final year of a term after he was appointed to replace Bob Prado.
In Ward 3, Jason Matthews is seeking his first full term after he won election in April 2019 to serve the final year of a seat held by Rob Kiczenski, who is now mayor.
Board members are not paid.
Byrnes Mill residents will be asked to approve for a 1-cent sales tax increase on June 2.
The city currently has a 1 1/2-cent sales tax.
The ballot measure, called Proposition Safety, needs a simple majority to pass.
City Administrator Debbie LaVenture said the proposition would generate approximately $200,000 a year.
City officials said revenue from the proposed sales tax increase would be used to improve safety by beefing up the Byrnes Mill Police and Public Works departments.
“Our primary focus is police, but there are other pieces of safety,” Kiczenski said.
He said some of the funds generated by the sales tax increase would go to increase police officer pay and to hire additional police officers. Some of the revenue also would be used to hire another Public Works employee and to change the code enforcement officer position from part time to full time, Kiczenski said.
The city currently has six full-time police officers, three part-time officers and two unpaid reserve officers, Byrnes Mill deputy city clerk Ashley Jennewein said.
She said the Public Works Department has two full-time employees paid by the city and another employee who works at the recycling center and is paid through a grant.
The starting pay for a Byrnes Mill Police officer is $37,674 a year.
Kiczenski said he also would like to see the city increase police officer pay so it is competitive with the pay at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and other local police departments.
WARD 2
DAVIES, 75, lives at 6355 Franks Road. She and her husband, Ronald, have three children and three grandchildren. She is retired after working as the manager of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in St. Louis County.
A 1963 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, she attended Florissant Valley Community College.
MAHLANDT, 71, lives at 3535 Gravois Road. He and his wife, Cathie, have two children and four grandchildren. He has owned Mahlandt Properties LLC, a property management company, for 40 years. He also worked for 33 years for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad, most recently as a manager.
He received an associate degree from Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Ill., in 1968 and a hazardous material technician license from Texas A&M University in 1990.
What experience do you have that might serve you well in this position?
Davies: I am the current Ward 2 alderwoman and represent the board on the Planning and Zoning board. I am a former president of the Home and School Association.
Mahlandt: As a member of the Ainad Shriners of Southern Illinois for 45 years, I was in involved in many activities helping children at Shriners Hospital. I was on the board of Public Water District No. 2 in High Ridge for five years, managing million-dollar water projects along with plant and water main infrastructures, managing yearly budgets, approving contracts and issuing bonds.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Davies: We need funding to support our Police Department to provide for these officers, and also for our Public Works Department to support upcoming projects and road maintenance.
Mahlandt: The city’s image, property values and the Police Department.
The city has a very negative image in northwest Jefferson County. The police department has earned a bad reputation for many previous acts, which has caused a 20 percent decrease in property values. Home values cannot be accurately calculated due to having multiple ZIP codes within the city limits. This is a seller’s market and we are currently seeing decreased home values because of city mismanagement.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Davies: I am proud to be an alderperson and represent the residents of Ward 2 and the city. My goal is to work for passage of Proposition Public Safety to provide more equitable salaries for our Police Department and additional staff for the Public Works Department.
Mahlandt: I promise you that I will not go into this position as a “yes man.” My goal is to change the negative image of this city. I will work hard to increase home property values and reduce the city budget. I will give the residents a chance to vote on replacing the Byrnes Mill Police Department with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. This change would help the city’s image and increase property values and make it a more desirable place to live.
Do you support Proposition Public Safety, the proposed one-cent sales tax increase on the April ballot to improve the Police and Public Works departments? Why or why not?
Davies: I definitely support this 1-cent sales tax increase.
Mahlandt: I do not support this proposition until the city addresses its image. Give the voters the chance to vote on contracting with Jefferson County for police protection. Once the people decide on who should protect them, we can then decide on this tax.