Warson Woods appears to be ending its bid for merging its police services with that of neighboring Glendale after Glendale backed out of the proposal earlier this week.
âThe city of Warson Woods has been considering contracting our policing services with the city of Glendale. The ability to do so is no longer available to Warson Woods,â Warson Woods Mayor Larry Howe said in a statement on Monday, June 7.Â
Glendale City Administrator Benjamin DeClue said the city needed to fill a police officer position as soon as possible.
âDue to the need to move forward with filling our existing police officer vacancy, which has been held open for over nine months, Glendale has notified Warson Woods that it is rescinding the proposal,â DeClue said in a statement.Â
For Glendale officials, ensuring safety for emergency responders and others is worth continuing the long-time practice of the city paying for and performing snow removal on private streets.
The Glendale Board of Aldermen recently agreed to postpone the cityâs annual JazzFest until sometime in the fall â possibly Oct. 11 â though no exact date has been set.
The free festival, which began in 1999, is typically held the Friday before Memorial Day on the grounds of Glendale City Hall, located at 424 N. Sappington Road.Â
âWe want to have a safe and successful event, and I think giving everyone a few extra months to get vaccinated will help us with that,â City Administrator Benjamin DeClue said during the Glendale Board of Aldermen meeting on Monday, Feb. 1. Â
âI anticipate a very large attendance once people can get out and return to large outdoor gatherings,â he added.
The Glendale Board of Aldermen on Dec. 7 unanimously agreed to have Kirkwood provide its fire chief, assistant fire chief and a fire department administrative associate to Glendale, with service starting on Jan. 1, 2021.
On Jan. 1, Glendale also begins its full dispatching and ambulance service agreement with Kirkwood, which runs through Dec. 31, 2025.
Glendale has been without a permanent fire chief since October 2019 when part-time chief, Curtis VanGaasbeek, left to become assistant fire chief for the Valley Park Fire Protection District, according to Glendale City Administrator Benjamin DeClue.
âOn our own, Glendale would not be able to afford a full-time chief, assistant chief and administrative associate,â DeClue said. âBy partnering with Kirkwood, weâre able to get service we otherwise would not be able to afford and make use of the economy of scale (coordination of certain purchases together, etc.) of their larger department.