By MIKE ANTHONY

Executive Editor

An ordinance establishing an Economic Development Commission was adopted last week by the Crestwood Board of Al-dermen.

The Board of Aldermen also recognized outgoing City Clerk Carol Schneiderhahn at the Nov. 23 meeting and appointed Kim Cottle, who currently serves as administrative office manager, as the new city clerk.

Board members voted unanimously — with Ward 3 Alderman Don Maddox and Ward 3 Alderman Jerry Miguel absent — to approve the ordinance establishing the seven-member Economic Development Commission.

The seven commission members will be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the Board of Aldermen. The mayor also will appoint an aldermanic representative to serve on the panel in a non-voting capacity. In addition, the city’s economic development specialist will be an ex-officio member of the commission who will attend all of the panel’s meetings.

Commission members will be city residents, owners, managers or employees of Crestwood businesses or owners of property within the city.

The Board of Aldermen also voted 6-0 to adopt a resolution recognizing Schneider-hahn for her service to the city and its residents for more than 23 years.

Schneiderhahn, who has served as city clerk since Feb. 22, 1983, announced in October that she planned to retire before the end of the year. She was hired Jan. 5, 1981, as an administrative secretary for the city’s Public Works Department.

The resolution noted that the city clerk “is a vital part of the daily operations of a city, providing assistance and information to residents, staff, elected officials and other individuals.”

The resolution concludes by stating, “Now, therefore be it resolved by the mayor and Board of Aldermen of the city of Crestwood, Mo., and on behalf of the citizens of the city of Crestwood, that Carol Schneiderhahn is hereby publicly recognized and offered this symbol of deep appreciation for her history of service to the City of Crestwood, its residents, visitors and others.”

In a separate matter, the board voted 6-0 to adopt two ordinances approving the lease of software for the city’s Finance De-partment.

ACS/Springbrook’s bid of $113,200 was the lowest of four submitted and includes software licensing, data conversion and training/installation. As proposed, the annual amount of the five-year lease, which carries a 4.25 percent interest rate, would be $28,354.28.

Ward 3 Alderman Jerry Miguel, who previously had voted “no” on the two ordinances, was not present Nov. 23. In an e-mail to aldermen, Miguel explained that he had voted “no” because “in addition to ex-penditures of approximately $200,000 over five years, the request lacked: 1) a cost/benefit analysis and 2) a project plan.”