Politics & Government
County Leaders Drop Labor Agreement on New Command Center in Chesterfield
Agenda item nixed that would favor union laborers in building a new emergency command center in Chesterfield.
St. Louis County Council members agreed to drop from its agenda the adoption a project labor agreement in constructing an Emergency Communications Center in Chesterfield by 2013.
Councilman Michael O’Mara, D-Florissant, said he feared the legislative process would delay progress on the project.
“Taking into consideration the time constraints imposed by the FCC, I believe it would be prudent to withdraw the PLA (project labor agreement) request at this time,” O’Mara said.
Find out what's happening in Chesterfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
One priority in completing a new emergency command center is a 2013 federal deadline that requires the installation of new emergency equipment, Chief William Karabas said during .
Karabas heads a committee to get the facility operating.
Find out what's happening in Chesterfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But the labor proposal plan sparked opposition, including from James Knowles III, the eastern Missouri director for Associated Builders and Contractors.
Knowles told the council if the project became “union only,” it would “discriminate against the vast number of contractors and workers in the industry.”
There was no word from Karabas at Tuesday's meeting.