Family Cemetery Request Moves Forward at Jefferson County Council Meeting
André and Lisa Gallet De Saint Aurin sought permission to bury their infant grandson on their Cedar Hill property as residents also raised Highway 30 safety, municipal boundary and HOA concerns.
By The Jefferson Review Staff
JEFFERSON COUNTY — A Cedar Hill family’s emotional request to establish a cemetery on their property led the Jefferson County Council’s July 27 meeting, where council members also heard concerns involving Highway 30 safety, an alleged discrepancy in Peaceful Village boundary records and private homeowner associations.
André Gallet De Saint Aurin told council members that his family had suffered the loss of a three-month-old grandson. The child’s mother requested that he be buried on the family’s 10-acre property.
The council unanimously advanced legislation accepting a portion of the property in trust for the establishment of a family burial ground.
The Jefferson County Council also advanced legislation supporting infrastructure near Ameren’s Big Hollow Energy Center and approved several ordinances involving roads, county commissions and public safety programs.
Family Burial Ground Request Advances
Bill 26-07200 would accept property in trust from André Gallet De Saint Aurin and Lisa Gallet De Saint Aurin for the establishment of a family burial ground on their Cedar Hill property.
During public comment, André Gallet De Saint Aurin thanked county officials and employees who had helped the family through the approval process.
He said the funeral home had agreed to hold his grandson’s body while the family waited for the request to move through the county’s legal process.
A council member expressed support for the family and encouraged the council to approve the measure.
The bill advanced on its first reading by a 6-0 vote.
Peaceful Village Resident Raises Boundary and Election Concerns
Danielle Shannon, an elected trustee and village clerk for Peaceful Village, told the council that the municipality no longer has the staff, funding or professional resources necessary to address the challenges it faces.
Shannon focused much of her presentation on a disputed 2022 annexation. She said county records did not appear to contain the petition referenced in the annexation ordinance, meeting minutes, public notices, conflict disclosures or a completed legal description supporting the action.
She also alleged that there is a discrepancy between the county’s boundary map and voter registration records.
According to Shannon, the county map appears to show the disputed property outside Peaceful Village, while individuals associated with the property may still be registered as village voters.
“The county map says they are outside the village, while the voter registration records appear to say that they are inside of it.”
Danielle Shannon
The alleged discrepancy was raised during public comment and was not independently confirmed or resolved by the County Council during the meeting.
Shannon said the distinction could become especially important because a proposal to dissolve Peaceful Village is expected to appear on the November ballot.
She asked county officials to investigate whether the annexation was legally completed, compare the village boundary map with voter and precinct records and correct any improper voter assignments before the election.
Shannon also asked Jefferson County to begin preparing for the possibility that residents could vote to dissolve the village and return the area to county jurisdiction.
She described Peaceful Village as a municipality with no full-time professional administration, planning department, building department or legal department.
“Our residents need professional departments, enforceable standards, accurate records, qualified election administration and a government with the resources to protect everyone equally,” Shannon said.
Peaceful Village is an incorporated municipality governed independently from Jefferson County. The Jefferson County Council does not control the village government, its elected officials or its internal decisions.
Any dissolution and transfer to county jurisdiction would have to occur through the legally established municipal dissolution process.
Residents Raise Private HOA Concerns
A resident from the Williams Creek subdivision told the council that homeowners have experienced significant fee increases, limited access to financial records, poor communication, threats of litigation and liens placed against homes.
She said many residents are elderly or living on fixed incomes and feel intimidated about challenging HOA decisions.
She also told the council that disagreements involving HOA fees and ongoing litigation have created problems for some residents attempting to sell their homes.
The allegations were presented during public comment and were not independently evaluated or resolved by the council during the meeting.
Private homeowner associations are governed by their recorded agreements, governing documents and applicable state laws.
Jefferson County does not operate or control homeowner associations and cannot decide private disputes involving association fees, liens, elections or access to financial records.
Linda Schroeder also spoke about broader problems involving homeowner associations, condominium boards and private roads.
She asked county and state officials to consider stronger transparency requirements and easier ways for residents to obtain association records without going to court.
Schroeder said some associations can be controlled by a small number of related individuals or property owners who hold enough votes to approve substantial fee increases.
She also discussed Mall Drive and Industrial Drive near Highway 30, where deteriorating private roads have generated complaints.
Schroeder said a road maintenance agreement had previously existed but was dissolved after some property owners failed to contribute, leaving a smaller number of owners responsible for the costs.
Because the roads are privately owned, the county does not have the same responsibility or authority it has over county-maintained roads.
Highway 30 Safety Draws Renewed Attention
Dan Schaefer, who identified himself as a candidate for state representative, asked the county to work with the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to address dangerous intersections along Highway 30.
Schaefer said approximately 40,000 vehicles travel portions of the corridor each day.
He also cited information presented during a previous MoDOT meeting, including reports of 12 fatalities during the previous year and a significant increase in crashes handled by the High Ridge Fire Protection District.
He said red-light violations and serious side-impact collisions remain a major concern.
Schaefer asked the county to determine whether advanced traffic detection technology has been installed and is operating at Highway 30 intersections.
The technology is designed to detect vehicles approaching a red light at a dangerous speed and delay cross traffic until the intersection is clear.
He also proposed placing law enforcement monitoring cameras at selected high-crash intersections.
Schaefer emphasized that he was not proposing automated tickets or a countywide surveillance system. He said the cameras could instead help law enforcement document dangerous driving and investigate serious crashes.
Highway 30 is a state-maintained roadway under MoDOT’s jurisdiction, although county law enforcement and emergency responders regularly handle incidents along the corridor.
Big Hollow Energy Center Infrastructure Moves Forward
The council also advanced Bill 26-07199, which would authorize agreements, planning and construction connected to county-maintained roads and infrastructure serving Ameren’s Big Hollow Energy Center development.
A council member said county officials had responded to questions about whether eminent domain might be required for the project.
Based on the response provided to the council, he said eminent domain did not appear likely to be needed in the foreseeable future.
The bill advanced to perfection by a 6-0 vote.
Valley Oaks Repairs and Public Safety Funding Approved
Council members gave final approval to an agreement allowing Jefferson County to perform limited street repairs in the Valley Oaks subdivision.
The legislation authorizes the county to enter the subdivision through a right-of-entry agreement with the Valley Oaks Subdivision Association.
A council member thanked county staff and subdivision representatives for working through what he described as a difficult and lengthy process.
The council also approved budget amendments involving additional funding for a drug incinerator for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and a multidisciplinary training program within the Juvenile Office Division.
Both measures passed unanimously.
Revised Entertainment Development Plan Approved
The council gave final approval to a revised development plan for WOW Entertainment in Council District 2.
Bill 26-07179 passed with five council members voting in favor, none opposed and one abstaining.
The council also approved ordinances renewing county conflict-of-interest disclosure procedures and establishing attendance fees for members of the Board of Parks Commissioners and the County Code Commission.
Appointments and Tax Sale Surplus Payments
Several resolutions were approved during the meeting, including measures authorizing surplus payments from the 2025 delinquent tax sale to eligible applicants.
The council also approved the appointment of Laura Taylor to the Jefferson County Mental Health Fund and the reappointment of Jamie Guinn, representing emergency medical services, to the Jefferson County Public Safety Commission.
Council members also declared certain county property surplus or scrap and authorized its disposal.
During discussion of Guinn’s reappointment, a councilman Crow praised his service to the community and his work with BackStoppers of Jefferson County.
The council concluded the meeting without entering a closed session.
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