Active Investigation: METG314 is currently investigating the St. Charles County Port Authority's vendor selection practices related to a $4.2M riverfront development contract awarded December 2025. Four Sunshine Law records requests are outstanding. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.
Powers & Responsibilities
The St. Charles County Port Authority is a public body corporate and politic established under Missouri Revised Statutes §§ 68.010–68.095. It operates as a quasi-governmental entity with broad powers to promote economic development, manage port facilities, and issue tax-exempt revenue bonds. Its board is appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council, with no direct electoral accountability to the public.
Port OperationsManage and develop port facilities along the Missouri River corridor
Revenue Bond IssuanceIssue tax-exempt bonds to finance industrial and commercial development
Land AcquisitionAcquire, hold, and lease real property for port-related uses
Vendor ContractingEnter contracts for development, consulting, engineering, and operations
Economic DevelopmentPromote industrial and commercial development to attract jobs and investment
Grant AdministrationApply for and administer state and federal economic development grants
Board Members & Officials
| Name | Position | Term Expires | Method | Employer / Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Schaefer | Board Chair | Dec 2027 | Appointed | Schaefer Real Estate Partners, LLC |
| Carol Westfield | Vice Chair | Dec 2025 Holdover | Appointed | First Commerce Bank — VP Commercial Lending |
| Dale Hutchins | Secretary/Treasurer | Dec 2026 | Appointed | Retired — Former County Administrator |
| Patricia Nguyen | Board Member | Dec 2027 | Appointed | MidAmerica Logistics Group — Director of Operations |
| James Kovacevic | Board Member | Dec 2026 | Appointed | Kovacevic & Associates — Civil Engineering |
| Sandra Pruitt | Board Member | Dec 2025 Holdover | Appointed | St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce — President |
| Marcus Green | Board Member | Dec 2028 | Appointed | Lindenwood University — VP External Affairs |
| Karen Tolliver | Executive Director (Staff) | N/A — At-Will | Hired | Full-time Port Authority Staff |
"Holdover" indicates term has expired but member has not been replaced or reappointed as of April 2026. Board terms are 4 years per § 68.030 RSMo.
Meeting & Action History
March 18, 2026 — Regular Meeting
Approved Resolution 2026-07: Engineering Services Sole-Source Contract Extension
Board voted 5-2 to extend Kovacevic & Associates' engineering contract by 18 months without competitive bidding. Board Member Kovacevic recused. View Minutes →
February 18, 2026 — Regular Meeting
Awarded Riverfront Development Consulting Contract — $4.2M
Contract awarded to Gateway River Solutions, LLC. Only one bid received. Agenda did not list contract award; action taken under "Other Business." METG314 filed Sunshine request for bid documentation Feb 22. View Minutes →
January 21, 2026 — Regular Meeting
Annual Budget Review and FY2026 Appropriations
Approved FY2026 operating budget of $12.4M. Capital expenditure increase of 22% over prior year. Budget documents not posted to website until 14 days after approval. View Minutes →
December 17, 2025 — Regular Meeting
Executive Session — Real Property Acquisition
Entered closed session per § 610.021(2) RSMo to discuss potential land acquisition. Return to open session minutes do not reflect any action taken. Duration of closed session: 73 minutes. View Minutes →
November 19, 2025 — Regular Meeting
Approved $2.1M Industrial Development Revenue Bond for Midwest Logistics Hub
Bond financing approved for new logistics warehouse project. Project received tax abatement through Chapter 100 bond structure. Bond counsel fees: $84,000. View Minutes →
Related Investigations
Active — Monitoring
Port Authority Vendor Selection — Riverfront Development Contract ($4.2M)
METG314 is examining whether Gateway River Solutions, LLC received preferential access to the bidding process for a $4.2M riverfront development contract. Records show the firm was the only vendor invited to submit a proposal. Partial records received Feb 2026 indicate the vendor's principal has prior business relationships with a Port Authority board member.
Closed — No Action
FY2023 Bond Counsel Fee Review
Review of bond counsel fees for 2023 industrial revenue bond. Records obtained showed fees were within normal market range. Investigation closed with no referral.
Ethics & Sunshine Records
| Date Filed | Record Requested | Status | Received | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2026 | Board member financial disclosure statements, 2024–2025 | Pending | — | Acknowledgment overdue |
| Mar 10, 2026 | All communications with Gateway River Solutions, 2025 | Overdue | — | No response after 18 days |
| Feb 22, 2026 | RFP/bid documents for Riverfront contract | Received | Mar 5, 2026 | Partial — pre-award docs only |
| Feb 14, 2026 | Vendor selection committee communications | Partial | Feb 21, 2026 | 68 pages withheld under §610.021(14) |
| Jan 15, 2026 | Meeting minutes — all 2025 meetings | Received | Jan 22, 2026 | Complete |
| Sep 3, 2024 | FY2023 bond counsel engagement letters | Received | Sep 14, 2024 | Complete — filed for closed investigation |
Known Vendors & Contracts
| Vendor | Contract Description | Amount | Award Date | Method | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gateway River Solutions, LLC
⚑ Under Investigation
|
Riverfront Development Master Plan & Consulting | $4,200,000 | Feb 18, 2026 | Sole Source | Active |
| Kovacevic & Associates | Civil Engineering Services — Port Infrastructure | $890,000 / yr | Jan 2022 (ext. Mar 2026) | Sole Source | Active |
| Midwest Environmental Partners | Environmental Compliance Monitoring | $240,000 / yr | Mar 2024 | Competitive Bid | Active |
| Thompson, Hebert & Cole LLP | Bond Counsel Services | Per engagement | Ongoing since 2015 | Professional Services | Active |
| Allied Security Services | Port Facility Security — Night & Weekend | $128,000 / yr | Jun 2025 | Competitive Bid | Active |
| Delta Dredging & Marine, Inc. | Channel Maintenance Dredging | $1,850,000 | Aug 2023 | Competitive Bid | Completed |
| Latitude 3 Communications | PR & Communications Consulting | $72,000 / yr | Apr 2024 | Direct Award | Active |
Contract data sourced from records received under Missouri Sunshine Law requests and publicly posted documents. Amounts may not reflect change orders or amendments. "Sole Source" indicates no competitive bidding was conducted.
Related News
Open Concerns — METG314 Assessment
1
Sole-Source Contracting Pattern: Three of seven active vendor contracts were awarded without competitive bidding. Missouri law does not require competitive bidding for port authorities, but best-practice governance standards recommend it for contracts exceeding $100,000. METG314 is documenting the pattern to determine whether procurements favor politically connected firms.
2
Board Member Conflict of Interest: Board Member James Kovacevic voted on general contracting matters while his firm, Kovacevic & Associates, holds an active sole-source contract with the authority. State ethics law prohibits officials from voting on matters in which they have a financial interest. Records show Kovacevic did not recuse on at least two relevant votes in 2024.
3
Sunshine Law Compliance: Four records requests totaling over 90 days outstanding. The authority has asserted a broad reading of the "competitive bid" exemption (§610.021(14)) to withhold vendor communications. METG314 is evaluating whether the exemption is being applied correctly and may seek Attorney General review.
4
Holdover Board Members: Two board members (Westfield, Pruitt) have been serving beyond their expired terms since December 2025, as no replacement appointments have been made by the County Executive. Missouri law allows holdover service but METG314 notes this creates governance continuity concerns and a conflict with proper succession.
5
Agenda Transparency: The February 2026 contract award for $4.2M was placed under "Other Business" rather than listed as a specific agenda item. Missouri's Open Meetings Law (§ 610.020.1) requires that meeting notices include a description of tentative agenda items. METG314 is researching whether this practice has occurred previously.
Know Something About the Port Authority?
If you have information about Port Authority operations, contracting, or board member conduct, METG314 wants to hear from you. Tips can be submitted anonymously.