Safer Streets for Kirkwood and St. Louis County

11/03/2026

BID SOLICITATION ABOUT 3 YEARS LATE — NO WONDER KIRKWOOD HAS A FISCAL CRISIS!

I learned today during Kirkwood’s Citizens Finance Committee meeting that the City is facing forfeiting another $1+ million in federal funding for a transportation project — either South Kirkwood Road or Clay Avenue (yet to be decided).

The original North Clay Avenue federal grant schedule called for bids by January 2024 and construction completed by December 2024.

The recently identified bid deadlines were:

• South Kirkwood Road: October 9, 2026.
• South Clay Avenue: October 13, 2026.

The October 2026 Clay Avenue bid deadline is approximately 33 months after the January 2024 milestone for North Clay Avenue, although confirmation is needed that these are the same project.

Nothing appears to be changing. In fact, the situation only seems to be getting worse.

Kirkwood residents deserve transparency and accountability for these lost opportunities to improve our roads and sidewalks.

Many can recall the horrible street conditions eight years ago. The forecast looks to be heading in that direction again.

11/02/2026

THE COOL KIDS' CLUBHOUSE / Craig Wilde

The Webster-Kirkwood Times Newspapers ran a puff piece on Kirkwood Performing Arts Center today. It quotes the Mayor, the former Mayor, two developers, and a performer. The critics get no names. Funny how that works.

Here is what the City of Kirkwood, MO (Government) itself admits: about $1.3 million a year in debt service. Operating losses averaging more than $224,000 a year, against the $75,000 they projected. $3 million borrowed from Kirkwood Electric to build it. And the Mayor's own words: "We never said it was going to pay for itself."

KPAC is the nexus of everything. It’s why the Public Works site is being cleared for a developer. It's why the City paid $12.5 million for Leffingwell, about double what the main building was worth, and is pouring millions more into it. City officials have confirmed it was regular practice to move money out of Electric and Water to fund other projects. And the Kirkwood, MO Parks and Recreation fund never needed this burden.

One clubhouse for the cool kids. STAGES ST. LOUIS get a sweetheart deal and every resident gets the bill. That's the seed, and look at the tree it's growing: generational debt.

Has the Council even approved the Kirkwood Electric audit contract yet?

I want a full accounting of every fund, Parks included, so you can see the whole chain. You can help by signing the audit petition. Let’s get the State in to help us hold them accountable.

Our Money. Our Right to Know.




https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1744757584321250&id=100063610749270

Downtown Kirkwood is in the midst of generational transformation, and no one building embodies the polarizing dynamics of growing pains quite as well as the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.

11/01/2026

Please help spread this important information to Kirkwood residents, share and like.

Kirkwood utilities are a service, not to be treated as a hidden additional tax.

These two citizens have taken a bold step to correct a disservice that has continued and spread year after year.

Their court filing seeks a full accounting and a forensic audit of both utilities—accountability Kirkwood residents have long demanded and deserve.

Tap on the below for more. https://www.zests.ai/share/4976846597324-native_video?

https://www.zests.ai/share/4976846597324-native_video?pd=0QzUYdRP&lang=en_US&s=i16&_f=app_share&send_time=1793545974&gen_by=ios

10/30/2026

Kirkwood’s City Council contacted the Missouri State Auditor about auditing the Electric Department. The City was told a private firm could move faster because of the State Auditor’s backlog.

Now the State Auditor has quickly opened an investigation into St. Louis County’s property tax appeals.

Why was the Auditor available to act on the County issue, but Kirkwood was steered toward a private audit? Who made that call? Who used their political muscle to push Kirkwood away from a State forensic audit?

Kirkwood residents deserve to know who used that muscle—and why.

10/28/2026

It time for the citizens to step up and stop the money grab. Enough is Enough!

It asks the court to:

* Declare that utility revenue may not be spent outside the utilities without voter approval.
* Block collection of the increased electric rates unless voters approve them.
* Prohibit further use of utility revenue for non-utility purposes.
* Appoint an independent auditor to conduct a forensic audit of Kirkwood Electric and Water from January 1, 2015, to the present.
* Award the plaintiffs’ legal fees and court costs.

The petition seeks court orders and an accounting; it does not ask for customer refunds.

Tap on the photo to learn about the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges Hancock Amendment violations and seeks the suspension of the rate hike and an independent audit of utility finances.

10/28/2026

Kirkwood seeking fine for Ameren

Utility closed power plant years earlier than planned

The first ruling favored the cities: a federal court found Ameren violated the Clean Air Act at Rush Island. But the PSC later ruled against them in their damages case, and both sides sought rehearing. The cities still must prove Ameren caused their added power costs, making a full $10 million award uncertain.

Kirkwood Electric claims $4,677,814 of the five cities’ total $10,057,716 in alleged damages — about 46.5%. That’s Kirkwood’s share of the claimed losses, potentially its share of legal fees.

More legal fees🤕💰💰💰💰

https://www.stltoday.com/article_1147a6c9-99fe-513c-b337-199cbb818b28.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

Kirkwood and four other Missouri cities are asking a state appeals court to hold electric company Ameren Missouri liable for prematurely closing a major power plant, arguing the shutdown drove

10/27/2026

The four General Fund revenue sources listed below total $2.732 million in 2026/27:

Fuel Sales Tax — $1.275 million
Vehicle Sales Tax — $352,000
Motor Vehicle Fee — $135,000
County Road & Bridge — $970,000

What was the $2.7 million used for if not roads?

The first three are state motor-vehicle-related revenues restricted to eligible road, street, and highway purposes, including policing. County Road & Bridge revenue is separately restricted to road and bridge purposes, including qualifying city street work. The Missouri State Auditor has emphasized that these receipts must be tracked separately so the city can show that they were spent for allowable purposes.

For years, Kirkwood has used utility money to support street work. That history makes it especially important to trace each funding source and its expenditures. Utility support for streets does not change the restrictions on state and county road revenues. The city should reconcile these restricted receipts to eligible street, road, and bridge expenditures and identify any amounts used for other purposes.

The city’s audit should check the states position from other state audits.

Kirkwood’s 0.5% TDD sales tax is separate. It is dedicated to a separate trust for transportation improvements and is not included in the $2.732 million total.

10/26/2026

🚨 KIRKWOOD’S FORENSIC AUDIT MUST EXAMINE TYLER MUNIS ACCESS AND SECURITY CONTROLS!

Government auditors across the country have documented serious financial-system control weaknesses involving Tyler Munis and New World software.

These are official audit findings—not social media rumors.

🔴 College Station, TX: Employees could approve their own financial changes. Former employees retained system access for an average of 32 days.

🔴 Ulster County, NY: Multiple employees shared financial-system credentials, making individual accountability difficult.

🔴 Santa Fe, NM: Journal entries lacked supporting documentation in Tyler Munis.

🔴 Deschutes County, OR: Auditors identified purchasing and approval-control weaknesses.

🔴 Plumas County, CA: Incorrect Munis configuration led to financial calculations being handled outside the system.

🔴 Tulsa, OK: Auditors identified 12 payment reversals where required approvals appeared to have been bypassed. (Tyler was not confirmed as the affected system.)

THE QUESTION FOR KIRKWOOD:

Could administrators, former employees, or vendor personnel alter transactions, budgets, or journal entries without leaving a complete, independent audit trail?

Kirkwood’s forensic auditors must examine:

✅ Administrator and vendor access

✅ Former-employee accounts

✅ Budget and approval overrides

✅ Manual journal entries

✅ Changes to financial records

✅ Whether audit logs can be altered or deleted

These findings do not prove wrongdoing in Kirkwood. They demonstrate why these controls must be independently tested.

Kirkwood residents deserve more than a review of financial statements.

FOLLOW THE MONEY. EXAMINE THE SOFTWARE. VERIFY THE AUDIT TRAIL.

10/21/2026

Great News for Road Safety in Jefferson County!

MoDOT is taking a positive step toward reducing crashes along U.S. 61/67 near Imperial!

Instead of simply studying traffic on paper, MoDOT is testing real roadway design improvements at Windsor Harbor Drive and Imperial Main Street.

The demonstration includes fewer travel lanes and dedicated turning lanes, designed to reduce speeds, improve visibility, and make intersections safer.

This is exactly the kind of proactive approach we need! Safer roadway designs can reduce crashes and prevent serious injuries before they happen.

Now MoDOT needs your feedback!

If you drive, walk, or live along this corridor, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Share what works, what concerns you, and what would make the road safer.

The survey closes in early November.

MoDOT Safety Survey:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/c8ee450d128a40ceb9387a0658134353

Read the First Alert 4 report:
https://www.firstalert4.com/2026/10/20/modot-studying-safety-improvements-along-key-highway-jefferson-county/

Safer streets begin with better design—and public participation helps make it happen!

MoDOT held a safety demonstration along U.S. 61-67 in Jefferson County to gather public feedback on potential intersection improvements

10/20/2026

WATCH THIS VIDEO: Dangerous Blind Spots on Manchester Road

Please take a moment to watch the attached video. It demonstrates a serious roadway safety concern that drivers and pedestrians face every day.

This isn’t about blaming drivers or pedestrians. It’s about dangerous street design.

Along Manchester Road between Brentwood Boulevard and Kirkwood Road, utility poles and other obstructions can block drivers’ views of pedestrians, crosswalks, and warning signs.

Watch how quickly a critical safety warning can disappear from a driver’s view.

These hazards need to be identified and corrected before another tragedy occurs.

Please help by reporting dangerous blind spots directly to MoDOT:

https://www.modot.org/report-road-concern

Please also share your observations and concerns in the comments on this page.

Safer streets begin with safer design.