By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, Mo. – St. Charles County Executive Joe Ortwerth has been named chair of the East West Gateway Coordinating Council. That's the group that decides which local transportation projects to fund with state and federal money. Ortwerth will succeed John Barisevic, the Chair of the St. Claire County Board, on January First.
His selection is a slight derivation from the past. Traditionally, the chairmanship is rotated between the St. Louis City Mayor, St. Louis County Executive, and the chairs of the Madison and St. Clair County Boards in Illinois.
The council also passed a resolution, asking state lawmakers to name the St. Louis County portion of the Page Avenue extension after the late St. Louis County exective, Buzz Westfall.