St. Louis Rams

Only about $56 million of the $159 million in funding for the county has been allocated to projects so far.

Officials in charge of the Dome at American’s Center in Downtown St. Louis approved a plan to merge with Explore St. Louis in hopes of shaking up the management of the two complexes.

Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s office released an audit Wednesday criticizing St. Louis County’s process for choosing which projects get Rams settlement funds, while also noting the authority that oversees the Dome lacks funding to maintain the building.

The organization, which previously operated the county shelter, plans to build its new location southwest of the intersection of Benham Road and Redman Road. Meanwhile, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page is requesting nearly $21 million for improvements to the county shelter facility.

St. Louis had $300 million and 16,000 ideas from the public on how to spend it at the beginning of this legislative session. A year later, the Board of Aldermen has made no progress.

After a little more than two hours of discussion, members did not agree to perfect any bill, instead moving proposals to the board’s informal calendar.

Alderman Joe Vollmer said he is considering legal action after Board of Aldermen President Megan Green accused him of being drunk during Friday’s tense debate over the Rams settlement.

The Board of Aldermen was preparing to question Ward 7 Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, one of the bill’s sponsors, when Green gaveled the meeting into a recess, a move some members later questioned as possibly not being in accordance with the rules of the body.

This compromise bridges the remaining gaps between Ward 7 Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier’s proposed Transform STL Act and Ward 13 Alderwoman Pamela Boyd’s alternative.

The separate proposals by Ward 7 Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier and Ward 13 Alderwoman Pamela Boyd have some similarities but also have differences that need to be resolved.