Find out why I won’t be giving any donations to the Red cross for a while. Maybe you might be inclined to join me and write a letter.

DEER ACCIDENTS continue to go up over last year.

From the latest Board of Aldermen meeting. New commission appointments aren’t that new.

Skip Mange wants us to pay for his lunch and dinner.

Fred Meyland-Smith back in the saddle and over regulates a church.

Emergency fireworks.

Fitness trail.

Trailers move into T&C.

If you live on or off Ballas Road read why you will be facing snow issues this winter.

An old business is not open and a new business going that should not generate much in sales tax.

Read about overflowing trash cans and over growing honeysuckle.

Read about the local opposition to Outlet Malls in Chesterfield getting special sales taxes to pay for construction and how the City Council reacts. It may remind you a little bit about the Longview Park parking issue…city leaders who do not want to listen.

Finally as usual cartoons.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 52.

April 10, 2012 -- This Newsletter almost has almost too much information.

DEER
The car-deer accident rate keeps climbing.  It is now 25% higher than in the first quarter of 2011…see where the accidents are happening. Still too many deer.

ELECTION WRAP UP
Get the inside info on the upsets at the polls last Tuesday.

LONGVIEW PARKING
The Parks Director spins a presentation in favor of paving for more parking spaces, but does not point out the obvious problem.

FIRE STATION SHUTTING DOWN
Read how long the city fire station will be closed for major remodeling and where it will be temporary located.

THE CHURCH SIGN DEBATE CONTINUES
Lynn Wright wants to make sure the Lutheran church doesn’t put up Green and red colors on their new sign at Christmas time. Mayor Dalton blows smoke, then makes some sense…while another alderman seems to be sensible but the newest alderman makes the most sense.  Read about it.

EMAILS THAT SHOULD MAKE YOU LAUGH
Read some emails I got last week about the election and deer that were pretty funny.

READ ANOTHER INTERCEPTED EMAIL ABOUT HOW MARIETTE PALMER PLANS TO ATTACK AN ALDERMAN
Yep someone forwarded to me an email they got from Mariette, about her plans to force Fred Meyland-Smith to quit.  Then read the first shot fired in her attack on Meyland-Smith.

SEE AN UPDATE ON LAWSUITS
We explain how a Chesterfield resident is suing the city and the Planning and Zoning Board and the Akin (as in Todd) family farm.  Also there is an update on the sexual discrimination lawsuit, plus a former alderwoman who does not know where to go to see lawsuits.

SOLAR PANELS ARE BACK
The controversy over the solar panels at the end of Town and Country Lane are back see what it is about.

CHARLIE BRENNAN STARTS A FUED
Read my column in response to Charlie Brennans’ 12 things to do in St. Louis list…then read about Charlie attacking me for having a different opinion.

At the end as usual CARTOONS.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 50.

Read how Police Commissioner Dorothy Rogers was forced off the police commission for a very inappropriate remark (she is famous for odd or bad taste remarks). Rogers blamed this newsletter for her removal. However Police Commission chair Nancy Avioli who was present when the remark was made, said the mayor’s action was appropriate.

The city continues to jerk the Trinity Lutheran church around by continuing the church’s sign variance, for a sign they already have up. I don’t know if Steve Fons doesn’t like churches or Lutherans or this Lutheran Church because Fred Meyland-Smith goes there and Fred is not voting for Fons this year…but Fons is showing his ass toward the Church.

There is a new member of the Gangs of Town and Country with a very exclusive address.

Read how the widow, that Jon Dalton helped snatch her business and land through eminent domain, still has not been paid despite a jury verdict and a Court of Appeals ruling.

Town and Country is not only being sued by a former woman police officer for sex discrimination but is also being sued by Congressman Todd Akin’s family.

Sign placement…is it a good idea to put your campaign sign in the yard of someone just convicted in Federal Court? Al Gerber apparently thinks so.

UNSUAL CAMPAIGN FLIER CONTINUES LIES AND APOLIGIZES FOR SOMEONE ELSES FLIER: If you missed it, read the subject of Al Gerber’s last mailer before the election.

Finally read about the Candidate’s forum.  Find out if anyone said anything stupid (of course they did!)

At the end as usual CARTOONS.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 49.

The reason is…in this newsletter is the petition filed in St. Louis County Circuit on March 12 against Town and Country.  The lawsuit was filed by Town and Country’s only female police officer against the City for employment discrimination and sexual harassment.  It is very long and at times X-Rated. I included it at the end of newsletter just before the comics.

We start with a review of false claims by Al Gerber against his opponent in the April 3 election.

Then it is on to the St. Louis County Municipal Parks Grants Commission meeting held on Monday, where none of the commissioners wanted to hear from the public. Without any discussion or examination of the merits of applications the commission approved eight grants, including one for an engineering report on the Longview Park Parking expansion plan.

As outrageous as the lawsuit against the city is (I didn’t say not justified…just outrageous) one comment at the Tuesday Police Commission meeting was unbelievably sick and outrageous. See who said it, what it was and what happened next.

As usual we finish with cartoons.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 48.

How many deer died on the T&C roads and highways in February.

Read what three places have gone or will soon go about of business.

There was a drop in attendance at the Wine, Art and Music event and someone didn’t want to talk about it.

There is lots of Longview Park news.  A hearing about the Parks Grant request for the first phase of expanding the parking lot will be held at noon Monday March 19 at the Creve Coeur City Hall.

The city was less than honest in its application for the grant.

What is making all the noise at Longview?

Alderman Steve Fons doesn’t want the church message board to have too much message.

Read our analysis of campaign fliers from Al Gerber and Steve Fons.

Before the cartoons is a column I wrote on trying to decide what GOP congressional candidate to vote for.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 47.

How the City continues to refuse to admit churches are basically exempt from zoning codes, regardless what the Missouri and US Supreme Courts think.

How the city’s Green Team Commission had a speaker on a subject that is in violation of city law…housing chickens. We make a suggestion for a possible new topic for the Green Team.

Expanded parking at Longview Park…apparently the train has left the station for more parking spaces at the park despite clear and overwhelming opposition .  The next stop is a meeting on April 9, that has all the earmarks of another sham…like most of the other meetings on this issue.

Town and Country State Rep John Diehl recently wrote in a blog how he is “working for you.” We found a number of large out of town companies that have given Diehl a lot of money, making us believe that he might be working for them before he is working for us…see the list.

Town and Country’s other State Rep…Sue Allen got some not so nice press recently…read what it was and you might find that for once you agree with a Post-Dispatch editorial.

See who is contributing to Al Gerber’s reelection campaign.

Also see who is the newest member of the Gangs of Town and Country and what subdivision now has the most members.

Finally there are lots of cartoons!

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 46.

The deer report is in.  Read which by wards where the deer were killed.  Despite killing 288 deer city wide, the car-deer accident rate increased in January.  Read what subdivision is still overrun by deer.

The Board of Aldermen ignored another large turnout against expanding parking at Longview Park.  In fact several aldermen want the Parks Director to discontinue her programs to reduce overflow parking so a more accurate survey of parking can be done. I know that doesn’t make sense, but it is what they did!  Read all the comments on both sides of the issue.

The Board of Alderman again throws the Bill of Rights under the bus and is discussing what to do about a church sign, that the Federal Courts and Supreme Court say in protected by the constitution.

One alderman is at a loss of words…by reads us his opinion for over a minute.

There is a new controversy involving a local merchant who asked a Town and Country mom to leave and to take her handicapped child with her.

We review the mayor’s latest “State of the City” and point out what he failed to tell us.

There are brief reviews of the recent Arts Commission and Conservation Commission meetings.

Read how much money we were cheated out of in 2011 by the Fire Dispatching Center.  It will be better in 2012 but we will continue to pay too much.

See all the money that Jane Cunningham and John Diehl collected in the last quarter and where it came from. Not much actually came from within their districts.

Check out chickens, long gone B-B-Q and where there will be some great music on Saturday night.

Plus don’t forget about the cartoons.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 45.

January 11, 2012 -- Ex Alderman Newsletter is mostly deer related.  The stuff not directly about deer is about Alderman Fred Meyland-Smith having a very bad night at the Board of Aldermen meeting last Monday.

It seems that Fred violated the heck out of his Code of Conduct that he produced in 2009,  in an attempt to silence this newsletter back in the days when it was the “Alderman Newsletter.”

Remember this time last year Fred was the victim in the e-mail scandal.  This January he appears to be anything but the victim.

One alderman came out of the closet about his eating habits.

Also a reminder or a maybe plea…no one has filed against Al Gerber in Ward 2 or Steve Fons in Ward 3.  There are only six days left to file.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 42.

December 27, 2011 -- We ring in the New Year with Ex Alderman Newsletter #41.

A long time city official retires.

Meet the candidates for the Board of Aldermen…SO FAR!  We are praying there will be more.

Deer sharpshooting is under way.

Municipal Court judge is a finalist for the Circuit Court.  Quite a jump from reducing speeding tickets for area rich people to parking violations to letting serious drunk drivers off with no record probations and now possibly dispensing justice for all of St. Louis County.

The Fire District is laying off women employees and blaming Town and Country.

Read my Father Time column from the Chesterfieldpatch.com to welcome in the New Year.

And of course comics!

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 41.

December 13, 2011 -- In Ex Alderman Newsletter #40 we report how the mayor is upset with a column and a new one is written.

The Board of Aldermen are taking up weather forecasting to the tune of $50,000.

I can’t tell you who is behind the ugly blue lights at the Longview Park farmhouse this year, I might get sued. Read the threatening letter.

The mayor and four aldermen vote against a sign variance for a well known company wanting to relocate to Town and Country.

Alderman Steve Fons votes against a competing company despite having a clear conflict of interest.

Employees get 2.5% raises despite another deficit budget.

Sit in on the most recent City Conservation Commission meeting.

Read what businesses are leaving town and how the recession is still hanging around.

Sing a song of good bye to Albert Puljos. Plus Cartoons.

And don’t forget if you enjoyed the show at the Lisa O’Brien benefit concert in August, one of the great entertainers at that show was Dean Christopher.  Dean is putting on his annual Rat Pack Christmas Show this Friday at 7pm at the Unity Church on Butler Hill Road. I have recently heard from people who have seen the Rat Pack show at the Fox…they all say Dean Christopher’s show is much better!

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 40.

November 30, 2011 -- In Ex-Alderman Newsletter 39 read the back story on how the elderly widow Opal Henderson fought back after some greedy investors led by Town and Country Mayor Jon Dalton, used eminent domain to take her family business that she had been running for 50 years.

Read how Town and Country state rep John Diehl in 2010 ran unopposed in the primary and general elections, but raised well over $400,000 in contributions from special interest groups from all over the country. This year with no elections being held Diehl is raising even money. See how much!

The Board of Aldermen receives a report from the Longview Parking Committee.  They are recommending killing three trees for 15 parking spaces.  Read what the new parking spaces will not help.

If you attended our benefit for Lisa O’Brien you will want to see where and when Dean Christopher is putting on his Rat Pack and More Christmas show.  It is the same night as the one at the Fox, but it will be cheaper, funnier with free parking.

We also mention two more inductees into of Gangs of Town and Country and a third possible nominee.

All this plus cartoons.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 39.

November 18, 2011 -- In Ex Alderman Newsletter 38, John clears the smoke and dims the lights to counteract all the smoke and mirrors and takes a close look at the proposed 2012 budget. Don’t wear red glasses because it will be hard to see all the red ink.

Click HERE to download the proposed 2012 budget.

There is proposal for Town and Country to move some of its border back to the east so all of the new section of Hwy 141 will be in Chesterfield and not a large part of it in Town and Country.  T&C leaders are not sure why this is happening, but the folks in Chesterfield explain why.

Click HERE to download a map of the proposed boundary changes.

Also covered is how members of the city Conservation Commission think poison is a good way to kill animals but shooting them is not.

The latest on DWIs and a closer look at Town and Country’s Serial DWI driver and what has happened and what hasn’t happened to him this month.

Click HERE to download the police report from Dan McLaughlin's 2011 accident and DWI.

A trip to the Police Commission revealed the city is afraid to enforce a safety ordinance and how one commission member thinks residents who live off Mason Ridge Road are getting special treatment.

Finally John takes a whack at Charlie Dooley’s 2012 budget trying to keep a few more parks open.  See what he would cut.

And of course lots of cartoons.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 38.

November 8, 2011 -- In Ex-Alderman Newsletter #37, we look at how Pulte Homes just a month after getting approval to built a subdivision of 69 modestly priced new homes on 30 acres next to the target Store parking lot, have withdrawn their building application.

We also take a look at how the mayor is having trouble filling the commissions he created to kiss up to the liberals in town. 

Our latest visit to a Conservation Commission meeting shows the chairman is feeding his deer loving members false information.  One commissioner for the second time has exclaimed how he thinks people who live in Town and Country are more special and better than everyone else in St. Louis. He wants to spend $2,600 per sign for eight signs to prove it.  The same commissioner wants sharpshooters to check deer for their age before pulling the trigger.  These meetings are highly entertaining and I am amazed how I am the only person who goes to them.

Check out the recent tweet going out to girls at Parkway West.

See which alderman’s probation term with the Ethics commission just expired.

All this, plus a couple great photos and cartoons.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 37.

October 24, 2011 -- There was so much from the last Board of Aldermen meeting that we had to save some of it for this newsletter.  Read how the Mayor turned into a four flushing lobbyist at the start of the October 10 meeting, singing the praises of State Senator Jane Cunningham (left).

We also look at recent votes by our local State Reps on resolutions concerning our national defense.

Next year’s budget appears to be in the red again, but we are betting the mayor will spin it into the black by the time the next city newsletter is mailed.

Read how the city will take money from a fund supported by sales tax for the Parks and Storm Water projects.  Also read about the timeline for the new sidewalk on Clayton Road and the resurfacing of Clayton Road.

Then read about the great deal that our Town and Country Serial Drunk Driver, Dan McLaughlin (right) got out in Chesterfield and how he screwed it up.

CBC was a hot topic of the Police Commission this month.  Read why.

I got my free flu shot from Missouri Baptist Hospital, I wonder if any poor people did.

Last Saturday the mayor started the day by riding in the 11-mile bicycle tour around town and ended the day by parking in a handicapped parking space.

Then there were the deer…at the October 24 meeting a longtime member of the city’s Conservation Commission called the mayor and all the alderpersons (except two) WEASELS.

Finally it was of little surprise the special Longview park Parking Committee voted to add more parking against recent public sentiment against additional parking spaces at Longview.

All this and cartoons!

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 36.

October 10, 2011 -- In this edition of the Ex Alderman’s Newsletter…find out how the lethal deer management vote went.  (It passed).

Also find out how Alderman Steve Fons is still saying one thing and then voting the opposite way.

We review the “save a deer and give a deer a sterilization operation” postcard and the bad math used by Aldermen Al Gerber.

We also take a look at the latest city newsletter and play a form of “Where’s Waldo” trying to find how many photos of Mayor John Dalton are in the newsletter.

Also we take the city administrator/police chief to task for insulting his predecessor in the newsletter.

We also reveal the facts of Town and Country Serial Drunk Driver and Cardinal Broadcaster Dan McLaughlin’s (right) first DWI arrest in 2010.  That was not a big enough wakeup call because he was arrested again a year later on a Chesterfield street the same week a popular high school teacher was killed by a drunk driver in Chesterfield.   According to the police report the first time he was a jerk accusing the officers of wanting to ruin his career.  The report also mentions that McLaughlin may have ruined a pair of pants.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND READ THE 2010 DAN MCLAUGHLIN DWI POLICE REPORT NOW.

Also I posted an a column that ran in the Chesterfield Patch three weeks ago about a backroom secret Town and Country meeting that effected all the cities in St. Louis County.We have been gone for four weeks so there are lots of comics.  The last one is my favorite.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 35.

September 13, 2011 -- Newsletter 34 only has four main themes…Deer, Trash, The Lost of a Talented City Employee and Dogs’ Best Friends.  However, there are several subplots, which include how Alderman Al Gerber is trying to save deer going against the Wildlife experts and using a new type of math.

Gerber also believes that dead deer hit by cars should not be counted as traffic accidents unless the driver makes a police report or the deer makes a dying declaration.

Last week two police officers became two dogs’ best friend.  Three months earlier one of the officers was also a reckless driver’s best friend.

This is our last newsletter of September.  However there will be a Board of Aldermen meeting on September 26 which we can’t attend where deer management should still be a hot topic.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 34.

September 2, 2011 -- In this newsletter we cover the city Conservation Commission meeting and their attempt to take over deer management.

On December 20 the Board of Aldermen voted to have the city administrator designate a person to prepare a report on short term and long term deer management. At the same time a motion to have the city Conservation Commission be involved in the planning was voted down. Apparently the Commission chair Al Gerber and Mayor Dalton who appoints commissions didn’t get the message.

Read the hilarious comments and outright lies told at this meeting.

Also we report on the success and failure of the music benefit held for the small children of Police Dispatcher Lisa O’Brien who died on July 18.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 33.

August 23, 2011 -- New Pro Bambi signs are popping up around town.  See who is behind them.

Speaking of deer…read how Alderman Steve Fons apparently believes deer are going to the side of the road to die and have not been hit by cars. Alderman Al Gerber continues his fight to save all deer.

Read what two aldermen don’t really understand the legislative process and want to change the record two weeks too late.

Capt. Gary Hoelzer continues to get dump on.  He has to run the police department and deal with crazy Al and write bills.  Aren’t aldermen suppose to be writing bills? Not anymore apparently.

Town and Country is listed as having the most earnings, but not very charitable.

Finance Director reports we will not be “in the money” anytime soon.

Mayor Dalton is about to appoint a new Task Force.

Don’t forget about the concert this Friday…it will fun for everyone and raise some money for a good cause to help the family of someone who helped us for 10 years.

Plus cartoons in the Ex-Alderman’s Newsletter #32.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 32.

August 9, 2011 -- Attention:  Please wait a moment for Ex-Alderman’s Newsletter #31 to open.  It has a number of photos and will take a minute to download.

In this newsletter read when, where, who is playing and how much for the benefit concert to for Police Dispatcher Lisa O’Brien’s children.

It is official; Ugly Homes were okayed for Town and Country at the last Board of Aldermen meeting. Read which aldermen felt their opinion of what makes a pretty house is better than a local builder wanting to build moderately priced homes overlooking the Target store’s parking lot.

Read which former alderman wants you to move into a loft downtown, but he is staying put out here.

The numbers of us getting ripped off by the fire dispatching folks are in and it is worse than ever.  That should change next year. See how much we were overcharged in 2010.

Also the fire and ambulance calls continue to drop, despite scary predictions from the fire district how they would be going up and up.  In fact they are going down, down and down some more.

In this non-election year see how many campaign contributions for over $1,000 State Rep and former T&C alderman and Mayor Jon Dalton’s good pal, John Diehl has been raking in.  If you are worried about health and life insurance rates going up, farm land being polluted by waste run off from super sized hog farms owned by a Virginia corporation or predatory payday loans, Diehl might not be the legislator to go to.

Finally just before the cartoons is my unedited column that was supposed to run last week on an area website, explaining why it is no fun voting for some local Republican candidates.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 31.

July 26, 2011 -- Unfortunately we start this newsletter with tragic news of the sudden death of a 10-year veteran police dispatcher, who at 31-years-of-age leaves behind an infant daughter and a 5-year-old son.  Also a very popular city employee is recovering from a heart attack.

In other city news…read how the new Fire Contract was secretly placed on the agenda of the July 11 meeting after the meeting was over.  The contract was passed on July 25.  Read the terms of the contract.

There is a big disagreement among the aldermen about whether a home builder should be allowed to built homes that are “too ugly” for Town and Country next to the Target Store’s parking lot.

We attended half of the Conservation and Historic Building Commission meeting.  Read about the thoughts of Alderman Al Gerber about deer and his definition of when Town and Country was founded.  See how Al would like to spend our tax money. 

After having attended one aldermanic meeting in a row Alderwomen Nancy Avioli’s streak has been broken.  Read how she is receiving full pay for attending just 57% of the meeting.

Is there an alderman who is possibility violating Missouri license plate and car titling laws?  See who it might be.

Read about my week of going back and forth at the customer service desk at Charter Communications.

Finally we posted a few cartoons that made us chuckle.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 30.

July 14, 2011 -- There is lots of news for the middle of the summer.

In Board of Aldermen news, Alderwoman Nancy Avioli is on an attendance streak…after missing four straight meetings she if 1-for-1 in July.  I wonder why Tim Welby wants to resign as President of the Board of Aldermen?  Read about a recent incident involving Tim at a pool party.

Crime Doesn’t Pay…read the background on the arrest of the crook from St. John that has been terrorizing cars and garages in West County.

Hero report…a Town and Country Police Officer gets a Valor Award for rescuing a man from a burning car.  For the first time find out who was rescued and why he needed to be rescued.

More Town and Country residents in the news…The Post-Dispatch within hours reported how one T&C resident was getting free tickets from a lobbyist and how another former T&C resident was indicted for a car bombing.

With half the summer gone the scientific study is missing data over parking for half the summer due to an equipment problem. The chair of the Longview parking committee said a five month study had to be done.  The Public Works director admits that most of the car counts he has are useless in determining overflow parking.

The city doesn’t notice and then ignores damage being done to trees at a local park.

At the end there is a column I wrote for the Chesterfield Patch.com on how our congressman needs to make up his mind about who is a liberal and if they hate God.

Finally there are the comics!

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 29.

June 29, 2011 - The Deer Report has been delivered to the Board of Aldermen.  A very balanced and fair report was delivered by Police Capt. Gary Hoelzer.  Unfortunately most of the Deer Lovers who were present at the last two meetings were not in attendance.  I predict they will return in ignorant bliss at future meetings.  Read what was presented to the Board of Aldermen.

Alderwoman Nancy Avioli is now 0-for-May and June and has missed 42% of the Board meetings this year.  She did manage to work a police commission meeting into her schedule but nobody else showed.

What’s more important in Town and Country; people’s safety or fireworks?  It was fireworks over safety last weekend.

This, questionable remarks by the mayor and more cartoons in Ex-Alderman’s Newsletter 28. 

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 28.

June 14, 2011 -- In this newsletter we report which Town and County state rep accepted a $1,000 campaign contribution from an out of state corporation right before voting yes on a bill that helped the corporation but hurt Missouri landowners.

Also read where many people who contributed money to Sen. Jane Cunningham ended up having the money go to a candidate from Ladue.

Find out which recent Town and Country armed robbery victim is getting little sympathy from the general public.

We revisit one of Mayor Dalton’s statements from 2006.

There is a real estate report that includes which lots in town are slated for sale on the courthouse steps.

I review the latest City newsletter and point out inaccuracies. I also have an opinion piece of the DARE programs.

Finally we give a report on the latest Board of Aldermen meeting.   This plus more and cartoons in Ex-Alderman Newsletter #27.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 27.

May 25, 2011 -- In this newsletter, we say goodbye to Congressman Todd Akin, who has moved from Town & Country to Wildwood.

The Deer Lovers stormed city hall last Monday outraged at what Capt. Gary Hoelzer had said at a Conservation Commission meeting. Read who slandered Capt. Hoelzer again and who threatened to keep him from ever getting promoted.

Alderwomen Avioli returns to her ways of old by failing to show up to meetings.  She is 0-for-May.

A resident is frightened and could find anyone at the police station to talk to.  Where was everyone?  Find out.

A street collapses in a subdivision with no homes.  KA-Boom…Lay off cops in October and spend $7,600 on fireworks in June.

There is another new venue to compete for the party business with Longview.  Queeny Park now offers three places with no noise or catering requirements.  Still a few people think more parking spaces is the answer at Longview Park.

There are also two links to opinion pieces on passive parks I wrote for a AOL website and how the West County legislators sold out Missouri family farmers.

This and more plus cartoons.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 26.

May 25, 2011 -- John Hoffmann comments on family farms versus corporate farms in a guest commentary in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch entitled, "The Pigs Have Come Home." CLICK HERE TO READ IT NOW on the stltoday.com website.

May 16, 2011 -- Tim Welby set the election results right, then Steve Fons talks about the “Smackdown” at the last Board of Aldermen meeting.

The Board of Aldermen eliminated that pesky “First Saturday in June” required Strategic Planning and Land Use meeting.

The mayor appears to be fishing for the next photo op, while Lynn Wright and Fred Meyland-Smith play an amazing game of talking about the Public Forum on Parking at Longview Farm without saying anything.

Speaking of games, guess who the person is from their recent bio connected with a no-pay blog.

The police department has purchased four more state of the art RADAR units.  Thank goodness, maybe they can figure out how to write some speeding tickets on the interstates now.

See where the new baseball stadium will be in town next year and see which former alderman has vanished along with his house.

Why is the T&C and Creve Coeur Police golf tournament being held in Illinois, when Creve Coeur has its own golf course that city fathers are trying to get more people to use?

Check the asking price of a former TV news anchorman’s house on the east coast.

All this plus cartoons in Ex Alderman’s Newsletter 25.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 25.

May 4, 2011-- At the latest meeting of the Park Committee (or as I like to call it POP Committee…Pave our Park) four of the five members ignored the overwhelming turn out at the Public Forum that was against expanding parking at Longview Park.  Instead they voted to do a 5-month parking study.

The new Clayton Road sidewalk construction from Mason Road to beyond Topping Road seems to be delayed.  Christmas could not save one clothing store at Town and Country Crossing.  Read which one bit the dust.

Read which local state elected officials got Christmas hams from Smithfield Farms and then voted for legislation very favorable to a huge Smithfield hog farm operation which takes away certain legal and property rights of the neighboring small famers and land owners.  It appears as if some Republicans have done a 180 from Ronald Regan position of, “what we don’t need is more government.”

Finally read how a T&C resident is suing a person who set up websites complaining about his Internet Investment companies.

The cartoons are at the end.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 24

April 22, 2011-- Parking and more parking are the topics of this newsletter.  We have a recap of the Public Forum concerning adding additional parking spaces at Longview Park.  84% of those who spoke were against the idea. Read what they have to say and how some officials seem to want to ignore them.

Meanwhile at another nearby park the city decided during Easter Week to start storing road construction equipment that took up more than half the parking spaces.  At one park it’s “We must have more parking spaces.  We need to pave more of the park and create more parking spaces.”  While at the other park it is “Parking spaces?  You don’t need to stinking parking spaces.”

Former Town and Country alderman and current state rep who was at the lobbyist trough 75 times last year for more than $3,000 worth of goodies, including Christmas dinner, has turned on man’s best friend and 61% of the voters he represents.

Also read about the Q&A at a recent ward-2 Neighborhood meeting between residents and aldermen.

Don’t forget about the cartoons.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 23.

April 12, 2011-- I am changing my name to Frank Skeffington and there should be no more elections.  It was either that or change it to Harold Stassen.

Read the election results and notes from election day.

The Longview Parking Lot issue was one sided at a neighborhood meeting.  Read what happened.  Do Not Forget the forum on the Longview parking lot expansion is this Thursday at City Hall beginning at 6:30.  It should be fun.

Speaking of Longview…if you haven’t noticed the ghost of Eva Gabor has visited Longview in the form of Lisa Douglas, the wife of Oliver Wendell Douglas, who resided on a farm just past Hooterville and not far from the Shady Rest Hotel.  Read and see what she has left.

In this rather short newsletter, the cartoons at the end might be the best.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 22.

March 29, 2011-- There is an election after all!  At Least if you live in Ward 2. 

At the very last minute I filed as a write-in candidate against Tim Welby.  Ex-Alderman newsletter #21 explains why and how you can vote a write-in ballot on April 5.

Also we critique the Mayor’s 5 pages of claims in the latest city newsletter.

Westminster Academy gets another variance.

An old Town and Country gadfly has popped running for office in Franklin County, see who.

The Public Forum on the expansion of the Longview parking lot has a new element.  See why you won’t want to go home after the forum.

We received some feedback from two regular readers and perhaps a new reader.

We have included a nice Spring photo plus cartoons.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 21.

March 17, 2011-- Ex-Alderman Newsletter #20 is shorter than many but pretty interesting.

Read about the final outcome of the Solar Panel case.

Shoddy construction plagues the Longview Farmhouse.  Read about it and see the photos.

Yes there is a recession, but the Arts Commission is excited about designing a new City Logo and raise money for sculptures. Let’s not do anything drastic and raise money for the people in Japan.

Read about the first meeting of the Committee to Study Expanding the Parking Lot at Longview Park. Or the POP committee as I like to call them…Pave Our Park.  They are using phony numbers to justify the need of more parking and wanted to hold an illegal meeting.  They did float a very interesting compromise plan that deserves a look.

Read the latest deer-car accident figures.

Our favorite ex-con former drug dealer has started a new business.  Look at the photo of his newest hedquarters and tell me if you think the office might be a little cramped.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 20.

March 2, 2011-- In the Ex-Alderman Newsletter 19 read how former mayor Skip Mange is back in city politics.  He has been appointed to the P&Z Commission and a new committee to study adding parking to Longview Park.

Get the latest on the Tree House case that has gained regional attention.

Despite voting for a special prosecutor to go after David Karney on the email capers no one has been hired or interviewed.

The mayor’s special fire committees were good at closing meetings to the public, but bad at issuing reports, taking votes or giving any advise. Read what I had to do to get a straight answer.

Was the mayor looking for new lobbying business in Ballwin?  You be the judge.

Sales tax revenue hits a new low!

Catch up on some business news in town…see what events the local firefighters are attending on duty… read the latest population figures for West County…see what city streets are getting repaved this summer… and finally read what new business the local former drug dealer has launched.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 19.

February 17, 2011-- This edition of the Ex-Alderman’s newsletter reports on how the Board of Alderman refused to vote on the Conditional Use Permit cases on the Solar Panels and for a tree house.  For the third and second times respectfully Aldermen dodged their job and voted to continue hot button neighborhood issues.  Both issues are in Ward 1 and Alderwoman Nancy Avioli was missing at the last meeting.  Something that has been a regular occurrence over Avioli’s time on the Board.

The Tree House Case actually got hot and involves two well known residents who both serve on local commissions.

Although the Board of Aldermen voted to hire a special prosecutor to continue the investigation into the threatening email sent from Alderman David Karney’s computer, no one has been hired.

TRAFFIC STATS are broken down in detail.  Read where the accidents happened and where the tickets were written in 2010.  Accidents on city streets increase in 2010, but citations decline on the city streets while increasing on the Interstates.

Also read where only perhaps August Busch IV got worse publicity than Town and country so far in 2011.

Finally lots of cartoons.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 18.

David Karney throws in the towel and withdraws from the April election. Why you ask?  Here is why:

Board of Aldermen voted to hire a special prosecutor to further investigate the threatening email sent from Karney’s computer to Alderman Fred Meyland-Smith.

The Board of Aldermen are changing the city harassment law to include written electronic messages from anonymous person or persons using aliases or assumed names. I call it the “Jeff Storehouse Bill.”  It is directly aimed at Karney.

The Deer votes will change on the Board as Karney withdrawing means Jon Benigas is the lone candidate in Ward-4.  Bengias is an outspoken proponent to kill deer to reduce the overpopulated herds.

Read what the city prosecutor did to draw the ire of the Missouri Supreme Court.  Then ask yourself if he should really be working for Town and Country.

The solar panel case won’t end.  In more Breaking News Mayor Dalton has finally voted on something.  Unfortunately his vote to break a tie meant there would be no vote on the solar panel issue.  Instead it will be sent back to the P&Z Commission for a second time.

The cops get more new cars…AAA gets larger signs, Mason Ridge School gets school zone markings.

Finally read how a city commission in its zeal to throw a party will violate the fire code if they reach their goal.  Also find out when 200=150.

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 17.

• January 14, 2011 -- Town & Country's Case Of The Mysterious, E-mailing Woman (John Hoffmann, TownandCountry-Manchesterpatch.com / AOL)
• January 12, 2011 -- Civility Takes A Hit In Dignified Suburb (Bill McClellan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• January 9, 2011 -- Alderman Receives Threatening E-mail That Leads To Another Alderman's Censure (John Hoffmann, TownandCountry-Manchesterpatch.com / AOL)
• Town & Counrty Police Report on the Karney emailgate investigation.