St. Charles Business Briefs: December 20, 2005

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Author: Mike Trask

Story Type: News

U.S. Title & Guaranty Co. Inc. is making plans to move some of its corporate operations into new digs at Fountain Lakes Commerce Center, according to sources familiar with the deal. A spring move is in the works. Because of new technology, title company offices no longer need to be located near the recorder of deeds or other county offices located in downtown St. Charles. U.S. Title is the largest title insurance company operating in St. Charles County and has offices in St. Louis City and in St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, Warren and Lincoln counties.

The company has been contemplating a move for some time. U.S. Title has been leasing buildings at Fifth and Jefferson streets in St. Charles from developer Jerry Scheidegger. Last year Scheidegger, once an owner of U.S. Title, became an owner of competitor Assured Title Co. with offices in O'Fallon, St. Charles and Warrenton. Assured Title recently moved its O'Fallon operation into a larger office building at 801 S. Woodlawn.

Let's do it again: Last month's first annual Women in Leadership summit drew good reviews from the more than 100 women who attended the event at St. Peters City Centre, said Sally Faith, one of the event's organizers. The 10 women who participated in the first panel discussion, including Faith, represented the political, civic and philanthropic arenas. Faith is a Republican state representative from St. Charles.

As a result, Faith has scheduled a follow-up summit for early next year. That summit is scheduled to run 8-9:30 a.m., Feb. 17, in the St. Charles Community College Rotunda at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. She said representatives from the political, civic and philanthropic fields again will serve on the panel.

Another summit is planned for the fall of 2006. Panelists participating in that summit will represent different fields of endeavor, Faith said. The date and location of that summit has not yet been determined.

Speaking of: A number of local elected and appointed leaders take themselves way too seriously, but there are some here who can laugh at themselves - for example, Rep. Faith and Greg Prestemon, president of the Economic Development Center of St. Charles County.

Representatives of area chambers of commerce recently met to discuss economic development and transportation matters, and Faith let it slip that she wanted a seat on the House's transportation committee and would one day like to chair that committee. She then remembered the press was there and remarked that sometimes she thinks she's the female version of Jon Dolan, the former state senator known for his eccentric, off-the-wall remarks.

Prestemon did notice a reporter's presence and asked if his remarks would stay off the record. When told no, Prestemon smiled and said he would forego his remarks on stem cell research and tax-increment financing. Actually, Prestemon was at the meeting to speak about work force housing.

Just wondering: In a couple of years, what will be the more popular attraction in St. Charles County: the Foundry Arts Center in St. Charles or the National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation's Hall of Fame in Wentzville?

My mistake: In my last column, I reported that St. Charles denied a rezoning request by car dealer Jim Trenary so that he could relocate his business to a more advantageous site inside the city. City Councilman Bob Kneemiller recently reminded me that is technically false since Trenary, in the face of harsh criticism by some city officials, withdrew his request before it reached the council. But Kneemiller agrees that for all intents and purposes, the city chased Trenary out of town.

Also, Shreves' Engine Rebuilders is a tenant of the shopping center on Veterans Memorial Parkway near Highway 94. I incorrectly said a restaurant would be the only remaining tenant when Big Lots moves from the center.

(c) 2005 Dolan Media, all Rights Reserved.