Politics & Government

Mayor: Chesterfield's Future is Bright

As his term draws to an end, outgoing Mayor Bruce Geiger looks back on the how far the city has come since forming in 1988.

In a column published in a recent edition of the city's official newsletter, the Chesterfield Citizen, outgoing Mayor Bruce Geiger reflected on Chesterfield's history and his time as an elected official. 

June 1, 1988. On that day, twenty five years ago, the City of Chesterfield became a reality. The St. Louis County Executive appointed the first Mayor and eight City Council members. There was no City Hall, no Police, Public Works or Parks & Recreation Department; no citizen committees, and just one employee, our City administrator, Mike Herring. Nor was there a mechanism in place to provide funds needed to sustain city operations. At the first City Council meeting, hundreds of ordinances, copied from St. Louis County, were read and approved so that the City would have legal standing.

The first election for a Mayor and City Councilmembers was held in April 1989. Seven employees were hired initially, including our Police Chief, Ray Johnson, and Mike Geisel, who now serves as our Director of Public Services.

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The City assumed Public Works responsibilities, including snow removal, from St. Louis County, on Oct. 1, 1988. Many of our trucks and plows were purchased used from the City of Maryland Heights. The Chesterfield Police Department came into existence on June 1, 1989 when 48 individuals were sworn in. A half-cent sales tax was passed to fund a comprehensive plan to replace or upgrade streets throughout the City. The flood of 1993 devastated what was then called Gumbo Flats, and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) was utilized to help with the recovery and installation of public infrastructure. Development flourished.

Through an effort initiated by the City and its partners, “Gumbo Flats” faded from our vocabulary and has been replaced by what is now known simply as “The Valley.” Our residents then passed a half-cent parks sales tax, and we now have one of the finest parks and recreation systems in the County. From the very beginning, the objective of your government was to provide quality services, at a minimal cost, to our residents and to have a City government you can be proud of.

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Chesterfield is now home to more than 47,000 residents and 2,100 businesses. Property values in Chesterfield have grown to an assessed valuation of approximately $1.8 billion. We have an internationally accredited police department and a nationally accredited parks department. Total tax revenues generated within Chesterfield now exceed $225 million annually, benefitting the State of Missouri, cities throughout the county, as well as our public schools and the Monarch Fire Protection District. In short, we have become a city providing a high quality of life for our residents and an economic engine for the region.

Only a small portion of those taxes actually stay with the City of Chesterfield. In fact, the property tax that you pay directly to the City of Chesterfield represents less than half of one percent of your total property tax bill, and that tax is obligated for debt service on a previous bond issue.

That was our first 25 years. Now fast forward to June 1, 2013 when we kick off our next quarter century. We invite all of our residents and friends to help celebrate our 25th anniversary with a special day of activities and free concerts at the amphitheater, followed by a fireworks extravaganza. We have many other special activities and surprises planned throughout the year, and some are described elsewhere in this newsletter. I hope you will take part in our year-long celebration;

I know you will enjoy all that is planned. While we have accomplished much in our short history, I continue to believe our best is still ahead of us.

As I write this, it is with the knowledge that this will be my last Mayor’s message as I have decided not to seek re-election. These past two years have been some of the most active and successful in our short history, highlighted by the following:

• The dedication of the Chesterfield Amphitheater

• The opening of Eberwein Park & the Dog Park

• The addition of the Riparian Trail near Central Park

• Additions to the Monarch-Chesterfield Levee Trail system

• Increased funding to the arts

• Expanded partnerships with the Parkway Schools and the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce

• Approval of the Mercy and RGA developments

• The construction of two outlet malls with openings this August

• Stabilization of our budget with expectations that both 2012 and 2013 will produce small surpluses

• Maintained our Aaa bond rating

• Budgeted to add five new staff in 2013, two police officers and three people in the parks department –the first staff additions in five years

It has been my honor and privilege to be the Mayor of our great city these past two years. I thank each and every one of you for your thoughts, suggestions and support. I leave knowing our City is financially strong, has an outstanding City Council and an exceptionally talented staff. I will always look back on my 12 years as an elected official with pride and cherish the many friendships I have made. With the successes realized these past twenty five years, I am confident the future is very bright.


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