Kirkwood Pulse • December 01, 2025

Autogenerated on Monday, December 01, 2025 at 12:08 UTC • 8 stories from the last 36 hours.

Kirkwood Pulse • December 01, 2025

issue: The Webster Groves Municipal Court discovered that approximately 4,500 arrest warrants are inaccurate and unreliable due to clerical errors and system transition problems. cause: -: Transition to new court administration system (Show-Me Courts) in 2020 without proper cancellation of old warrants. -: Use of two separate systems (REJIS and Show-Me Courts) causing discrepancies. -: Inconsistent adherence to procedural standards by previous court personnel. actions: -: Cancellation of all 4,500 existing warrants. -: Re-entry of only verified true and accurate warrants. -: Priority review and reissuance of about 300 warrants related to violent and serious offenses (assault, property damage, DWI). -: Comprehensive review cross-referencing REJIS, Show-Me Courts, and paper files. -: Development of standardized workflow to prevent future errors. officials: court_administrator: Tina Flowers municipal_judge: James Leritz police_chief: Vincent Acevez city_manager: Marie Peoples support: police_department: Supports warrant cancellation and requested officers not arrest based solely on municipal warrants. state_agency: Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator may provide assistance. timeline: discovery: October 30, 2025 (memo date) court_administrator_start: July 2025 remediation_duration_estimate: Up to six months impact: Potential risk of false arrests and liability due to inaccurate warrants; some warrants remain active despite case resolution or payment of fines. additional_notes: Two former court clerks from 2020 no longer work for the city; city officials unavailable for further comment before Thanksgiving holiday. retirement: official: Russell Hawes position: Chief Administrative Officer retirement_date: 2025-12-19 years_of_service: 11 background: 20 years public sector experience from South Carolina interim_replacement: David Weidler, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer replacement_search: status: upcoming process: facilitated by outside firm expected_timeline: hiring hoped by spring 2026 recent_related_retirment: official: Mark Petty position: Kirkwood Electric Director retirement_date: mid-October 2025 achievements_during_tenure: -: Completion of Kirkwood Performing Arts Center -: Adoption of Kirkwood 2035 Comprehensive Plan -: Implementation of Vision Zero Action Plan for transportation safety chief_administrator_duties: -: Development and administration of municipal budget -: Operation of all city departments including municipal electric and water utilities utilities_update: electric: recent_upgrade: total system upgrade and modernization completed financial_status: deficit: 13000000 cause: project costs and rising energy purchase costs rate_increase: 14.8% effective Nov 1, 2025 recovery_time_estimate: up to 5 years audit: status: ongoing next_meeting: 2025-12-02 official_comments: mayor: name: Liz Gibbons remarks: -: Russell has done a great job and will be hard to replace -: Assistant Chief Administrative Officer David Weidler to serve interim -: Hope to expedite hiring process due to many ongoing city projects hawes_response: No comment received by press time city_council_meeting: discussion: Neither audit nor Hawes’ retirement discussed attendance: Hawes present and participated event: Open house hosted by Webster Groves Parks and Recreation Department purpose: To gather public feedback on proposed upgrades to Ivory Crockett Park proposed_upgrades: -: New splash pad -: Shaded area -: Public restrooms replacing existing ones project_goals: -: Improve park flow -: Enhance safety and visibility for parents -: Modernize playground facilities location: Ivory Crockett Park, Bell and Almentor avenues, northeast Webster Groves community_feedback: resident: Emily Jenkins comments: Supports improvements, highlights need for splash pad and playground updates funding: initiative: Prop W 'Destination WG!' bond_amount: 22100000 voter_approval: Over 66% estimated_cost_for_ivory_crockett_upgrades: 400000 background: park_creation_year: 1971 original_name: Central City Park renamed_for: Ivory Crockett, 1974 world record 100-yard dash track star from Webster Groves High School completed_projects_under_prop_w: -: New water park -: Upgrades to ice rink facility

Vibe-O-Meter

• Score (0-100): 50
• Sentiment (-100..100): 0
• Mood: Even Keel
• Why: Mix of 0 positive, 8 neutral, and 0 negative stories. Average sentiment lands at 0.

Stories worth a look

• Municipal Court To Throw Out 4,500 Arrest Warrants (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — issue: The Webster Groves Municipal Court discovered that approximately 4,500 arrest warrants are inaccurate and unreliable due to clerical errors and system transition problems. cause: -: Transition to new court administration system (Show-Me Courts) in 2020 without proper cancellation of old warrants. -: Use of two separate systems (REJIS and Show-Me Courts) causing discrepancies. -: Inconsistent adherence to procedural standards by previous court personnel. actions: -: Cancellation of all 4,500 existing warrants. -: Re-entry of only verified true and accurate warrants. -: Priority review and reissuance of about 300 warrants related to violent and serious offenses (assault, property damage, DWI). -: Comprehensive review cross-referencing REJIS, Show-Me Courts, and paper files. -: Development of standardized workflow to prevent future errors. officials: court_administrator: Tina Flowers municipal_judge: James Leritz police_chief: Vincent Acevez city_manager: Marie Peoples support: police_department: Supports warrant cancellation and requested officers not arrest based solely on municipal warrants. state_agency: Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator may provide assistance. timeline: discovery: October 30, 2025 (memo date) court_administrator_start: July 2025 remediation_duration_estimate: Up to six months impact: Potential risk of false arrests and liability due to inaccurate warrants; some warrants remain active despite case resolution or payment of fines. additional_notes: Two former court clerks from 2020 no longer work for the city; city officials unavailable for further comment before Thanksgiving holiday. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• City’s Chief Administrator To Retire Dec. 19 (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — retirement: official: Russell Hawes position: Chief Administrative Officer retirement_date: 2025-12-19 years_of_service: 11 background: 20 years public sector experience from South Carolina interim_replacement: David Weidler, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer replacement_search: status: upcoming process: facilitated by outside firm expected_timeline: hiring hoped by spring 2026 recent_related_retirment: official: Mark Petty position: Kirkwood Electric Director retirement_date: mid-October 2025 achievements_during_tenure: -: Completion of Kirkwood Performing Arts Center -: Adoption of Kirkwood 2035 Comprehensive Plan -: Implementation of Vision Zero Action Plan for transportation safety chief_administrator_duties: -: Development and administration of municipal budget -: Operation of all city departments including municipal electric and water utilities utilities_update: electric: recent_upgrade: total system upgrade and modernization completed financial_status: deficit: 13000000 cause: project costs and rising energy purchase costs rate_increase: 14.8% effective Nov 1, 2025 recovery_time_estimate: up to 5 years audit: status: ongoing next_meeting: 2025-12-02 official_comments: mayor: name: Liz Gibbons remarks: -: Russell has done a great job and will be hard to replace -: Assistant Chief Administrative Officer David Weidler to serve interim -: Hope to expedite hiring process due to many ongoing city projects hawes_response: No comment received by press time city_council_meeting: discussion: Neither audit nor Hawes’ retirement discussed attendance: Hawes present and participated Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Public Input On Ivory Crockett Park Upgrades (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — event: Open house hosted by Webster Groves Parks and Recreation Department purpose: To gather public feedback on proposed upgrades to Ivory Crockett Park proposed_upgrades: -: New splash pad -: Shaded area -: Public restrooms replacing existing ones project_goals: -: Improve park flow -: Enhance safety and visibility for parents -: Modernize playground facilities location: Ivory Crockett Park, Bell and Almentor avenues, northeast Webster Groves community_feedback: resident: Emily Jenkins comments: Supports improvements, highlights need for splash pad and playground updates funding: initiative: Prop W 'Destination WG!' bond_amount: 22100000 voter_approval: Over 66% estimated_cost_for_ivory_crockett_upgrades: 400000 background: park_creation_year: 1971 original_name: Central City Park renamed_for: Ivory Crockett, 1974 world record 100-yard dash track star from Webster Groves High School completed_projects_under_prop_w: -: New water park -: Upgrades to ice rink facility Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Lion Health Fails To Meet City’s Definition Of A Hospital (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — issue: Lion Health System's appeal to be recognized as a hospital was dismissed by the Des Peres Board of Adjustment. details: Lion Health sought to convert the former St. Luke’s Hospital site into a for-profit wellness facility focused on substance abuse treatment. The city zoning officer determined the facility did not meet the city's definition of a hospital, making it ineligible for a conditional use permit transfer. Lion Health lacked property ownership, which the city argued meant it had no standing to appeal. The board dismissed the appeal citing lack of standing and precedent requiring ownership for permit transfer applications. city_response: City staff recommended a more thorough review due to the facility's unique clinical focus, as current ordinances restrict the site to a general-purpose hospital with emergency room services. The city emphasized that changes in use require planning and zoning commission involvement. next_steps: Lion Health was advised to purchase the property before reapplying for a permit transfer and to expect a more detailed review process. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Public Works Building Renovation Costs Could Double To $9.5 Million (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — project: Renovation of Public Works building at 545 Leffingwell Ave. initial_purchase_cost: 12500000 initial_renovation_estimate: 4000000 updated_renovation_cost_estimate: without_dispatch_center: 7850745 with_dispatch_center: 9550109 design_services: firm: Archimages contract_increase: 526614 total_contract_amount: 862894 reason_for_increase: New electrical system, partial roof replacement, and other code compliance upgrades construction_management: firm: Navigate Building Solutions contract_amount: 421000 role: Design and construction phases representative timeline: bid_release: January 2026 construction_start: April 2026

  official_comments:
  name: Mayor Liz Gibbons
  comment: Current building is a fire hazard and no longer accepted; contract increase includes necessary upgrades.
  -:
  name: City Councilman Mark McLean
  comment: Need to be very careful with costs going forward.
  -:
  name: Public Works Director Chris Krueger
  comment: Renovation project will go out for bids in January 2026 with construction starting in spring. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more

• Calls Proposed Webster Sales Tax Hike “Ludicrous” (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — James Cunningham from Webster Groves criticizes the proposed sales tax increase from 1.5% to 2.25%, calling the 55% hike 'ludicrous.' He argues that net sales tax revenue should naturally increase with overall sales growth, and if sales are declining, the issue should be addressed through means other than raising taxes. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Thanks For Our Community Events (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — The Webster Groves community expresses gratitude for the support and participation in their eight annual events, which include art shows, music festivals, and community gatherings. Six of these events focus on the arts, reinforcing Webster's identity as the 'City of the Arts.' The community highlights the unifying and uplifting power of the arts. Plans are underway for a ninth event next year to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Horticulture Program Cited (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — industry_growth: state: Missouri context: Marijuana industry flourished since 2022 recreational use approval ranking: 5th in marijuana sales among adult-use states comparison: Surpasses Colorado in sales education: institution: St. Louis Community College-Meramec, Kirkwood program: Horticultural program specializing in marijuana cultivation recognition: One of Missouri's best in marijuana horticulture certificate: name: Certificate of Specialization in Cannabis and Hemp Production approval: Missouri Department of Higher Education courses: -: Introduction to Cannabis -: Cannabis and Hemp Cultivation -: Cannabis Extraction features: Hands-on learning with on-site hemp cultivation for labs student_body: Almost 200 students degree_awards: More horticulture degrees annually than all other two- and four-year Missouri schools combined panel_discussion: event: St. Louis AgriBusiness Club meeting at Meramec date: October 2025 coverage_area: Five Missouri counties and eight Illinois counties

  panelists:
  name: Ryan Schepers
  role: Assistant Professor of Horticulture, Meramec
  focus: Cannabis uses, strains, and medical applications
  background: Former Bayer Crop Science plant biologist; degrees in environmental science and cellular/molecular biology
  -:
  name: Brian Riegel
  role: Owner, Riegel Dairy Inc. and South Point Hemp Inc.
  focus: Intersection of traditional farming and hemp industry; pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid products
  advocacy: Supports sensible marijuana regulations and hemp grower opportunities; Missouri Hemp Trade Association Board member
  -:
  name: Chris Chesley
  role: Retail Operations Advisor, Proper Cannabis
  focus: Business development, regulatory compliance, government relations
  contributions: Helped draft Missouri adult-use cannabis legislation; adjunct professor at Saint Louis University; Missouri Cannabis Trade Association Dispensary Committee representative

industry_insights: public_perception: Cannabis still misunderstood and over-regulated by some legal_status: recreational: Legal in 24 states and Washington, D.C. medical: Allowed in 40 states and Washington, D.C. legislative_challenges: Ongoing battles to overturn voter-approved medical marijuana laws; federal classification as dangerous drug taxation: missouri_approach: Moderate taxation praised to avoid driving customers to illicit market advocates: Panelists support sensible regulations and fair taxation Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more

Keep an eye on Municipal Court To Throw Out 4,500 Arrest Warrants from Webster-Kirkwood Times – News.