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Feeding Frenzy

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Westfall says he sees no point in continuing the buyout moratorium. "I don't know why the airport agreed to it in the first place," he says. "It was unfair to the people who live there now and want to leave. No one is going to buy their home except the airport. Essentially they are trapped in horrid conditions. Why? So a city that has no chance of survival doesn't lose hope?"

Within minutes, the meeting turned contentious. "I told him quite bluntly he was doing a disservice to Kinloch and misleading his citizens because he is holding out for a pot at the end of the rainbow that is simply not going to be there," Westfall says. "The best thing for Kinloch would be to become a part of the neighboring municipality." He suggested a merger with Ferguson or Berkeley. "I would prefer Ferguson because it has a more stable government," Westfall says, "but I wouldn't care if they decided to merge with Berkeley. That's up to Kinloch."

Conway wasn't entertaining any such option and told Westfall that all Kinloch had to do was hold on for another two or three years, until the development was under way. Westfall then informed Conway that Trammell Crow was seeking a "super-TIF' from the state, a provision under which the state turns over half of its share of the incremental sales and income taxes from the development to pay for project-related costs.

That came as a surprise to both Pulliam-Jones and Conway. "We had no idea," Conway says. "None at all. We really felt like our own developer was going behind our back." But Branstetter downplays the significance of the plan, saying no formal application has been made for a super-TIF and none can be made without Kinloch's approval.

Conway says the meeting got downright ugly toward the end, when Westfall mentioned that the county would sell its park in Kinloch for development. "You are trying to choke us out," fumed Conway. "Why don't you just put a noose around our neck? Hell, Buzz, our children play in that park."

"They shouldn't be there," Westfall retorted.

"This is nothing more than a land grab," Conway says now.

"We are so close and have moved so far ahead," says Pulliam-Jones. "To give up now would be absurd. This city has endured for 20 years through worse conditions. Why are you trying to push us out now? I'll tell you why. The county has an incredible amount to gain. If we are gone, the county could control the development without the influence of a municipal government."

Westfall disagrees. "I am not looking for any revenue out of this for the county government," he says flatly. "I am not looking for any more responsibility to have by way of police and fire protection. I'm just doing what is best for the people of Kinloch and I'm trying to find a way to make this a more coordinated effort by way of development."

The push to get Kinloch to disincorporate is clearly fueled by concern for the development. In April, Kinloch voters passed a $200,000 bond issue to buy a new fire truck, but the city was unable to float the bonds because its assessed valuation of $3.5 million was too low to borrow the amount.

Asked whether Kinloch's financial picture would be a deal-breaker when it comes time to seek financing or find insurance for the development, Coleman, the county's economic-development director, is more diplomatic than Westfall. "We have been encouraging Kinloch to look at alternatives," he says. "We can't force them into doing anything they don't want to do. We have discussed with them the need to take a hard look at their ability to provide city services, not only for a significant business-park development but to their current city residents. I don't know how much of an issue it will become. Only time will tell. "

The day after the meeting, Westfall says, he called Conway and changed his position on the sale of the park: "I told him if children play in that park I will take his word for it and that we would continue to keep it open."

Nevertheless, Conway has strong words for Westfall.

"They got a plan, [and] I am not planned into it and neither is Kinloch," Conway says. "They accuse me of misleading people and spreading false information. Well, Mr. Westfall, let me tell you something -- how do you expect me to give them accurate information that I don't have? You are meeting with the city and airport, making decisions about our city without us even being there. You are supposed to be representing us, but we have no part in what you are talking about. If I am supposed to lead them the right way, give me the right information, because I am not just going to take your word on it, because I don't trust you, so your word doesn't mean jack to me."

So much mistrust simply means that any development project is a long way from getting done, says Coleman. "It is a little early to be squabbling over who is going to develop what land when no one is on the same page as to what type of development will occur," he says. "To say it is very complex to get [three cities] to work together is an understatement, really. The best-case scenario is that the municipalities understand they can't build anything without acquiring the land and we all understand we need each other to move forward and come up with a plan that produces maximized benefits for everyone. The worst-case scenario is that everybody runs and hides in their own little corner and nothing gets developed."

Ultimately, the St. Louis Airport Commission may hold all the cards. The 17-member commission comprises six members appointed by the St. Louis mayor, five appointed by the St. Louis County executive and one each by the county executives of St. Clair and St. Charles counties, plus four ex officio members. Griggs serves as chairman.

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