County Executive Page Issues Executive Order to Halt All Lease...
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Plan calls for placing employees in other County sites
County Executive Page Issues Executive
Order to Halt All Lease Negotiations
Order calls for plan to place Clayton employees in other County facilities
, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page signed an
executive order directing the Department of Transportation and Public Works (TPW) to halt all lease negotiations for new building space as the County Council has chosen to not pursue new sources of revenue or adjust the property tax levy by the October 1 deadline.
Executive Order No. 5 instructs TPW to develop a plan to use existing County-owned and leased spaces to accommodate employees currently working in the Roos Administration Building in Clayton. Some of those spaces include recreation centers and newly available areas in Police Headquarters following the
opening of the Mid County Public Safety Complex in Maryland Heights.
“With no new sustainable revenue, leasing new or existing buildings is simply not possible,” said Dr. Page. “We must use the resources we have, evaluate our current leases, and examine our square footage to see what can be reduced. The loss of the use tax opportunity and the decision by the Council to not seek new revenue leaves us no choice.”
The executive order goes into effect immediately and requires TPW to:
- Review all available County spaces and leases for opportunities to consolidate and reduce costs.
- Prioritize the use of existing facilities and partner spaces.
- Develop a practical relocation plan for employees and functions affected by the impending December 31, 2027, deadline to vacate the Roos Building due to City of Clayton fire safety code requirements.
“Our first priority is to protect St. Louis County employees and the core services of County government,” said Dr. Page. “Our communities were built by working families and the unions who fight for them, and
we must honor our collective bargaining agreements with our employees. It’s not
Ehe buildings that respond to 911 calls, pave roads, or fix playgrounds. It’s the people who live and work in our community.”
The County will also continue to explore options for remote and hybrid work, building on lessons learned during the pandemic to remain mobile and agile. TPW will provide an initial Space and Workforce Continuity Plan Report by November 1, 2026.
