The Innsbrook Board of Trustees sought to replace two members of their Planning and Zoning Commission, Cheri Joyce and Virgal Woolfolk, whose terms had expired according to P&Z board chairman Allen Huddleston during their Aug. 13 meeting. 

Huddleston said that the village website stated that Woolfolk and Joyce’s terms were set to expire in 2024 and they have since been removed.

Michael Caton spoke up during public comment and contended that at least Woolfolk’s and potentially Joyce’s terms were cut short by the board and in violation of the village ordinances. 

“There’s some confusion, and some, I think, lack of conformance with ordinance 261 with the appointment and removal of P&Z commissioners, and so I went back and I looked at the ordinance. I went back and I looked at the minutes from the meetings and I don’t think you guys are complying with the ordinance the way it’s written,” Caton said. 

The Village of Innsbrook Ordinance 261 lays out the duties, powers and responsibilities of planning and zoning commissioners. It also enumerates requirements for term lengths and says that unless otherwise specified members are to be appointed for four-year terms. Since Woolfolk was appointed in April of 2021, his term would not technically be over. 

“You guys voted, and Virgal was appointed, no term was specified, so I think under the ordinance it’s a four-year term,” said Caton. “So this term should not expire until 2025.”

While Joyce was not interested in continuing her time on the board according to Huddleston, Woolfolk has expressed his desire to remain on the board. 

Huddleston claimed that he had offered Woolfolk the opportunity to be sworn in for another term numerous times, which he said Woolfolk had refused. 

Woolfolk however, disagrees, and felt that since the July Planning and Zoning Meeting was canceled he was deprived of that opportunity before his removal. 

He contended that either his term has not expired, or he continued to serve past his term’s expiration and should be sworn in for another term. 

He also said that he has expressed his desire to remain on the P&Z board to Huddleston on multiple occasions and feels that his removal is retaliatory for his comments at previous board meetings. 

He has been an outspoken critic at recent meetings of the board’s recent decisions including the denial of the Wags and Whiskers Animal Shelter’s amended site plan, the construction of the new village hall and especially of Board Chairman Dan Reuter. 

Reuter said that criticism did not play any part in the decisions made at the board meetings and said that if it was found that Woolfolk’s term ends in April of 2025 then he would remain on the board. 

Village Attorney Chris Graville agreed with Caton that there may be some issues with records and that his firm would have to take a closer look at the village’s ordinances and records to see if Woolfolk’s term was expired or not. 

At the time of publication, Reuter said there had been no updates on Graville’s progress on the matter. 

Huddleston had chosen two candidates to fill the perceived vacancies on the P&Z board, John Schaefer and Ken Hanne. Schaefer is the owner of the Railhouse Pub in Wright City and an Innsbrook resident. Hanne operates a horse farm on Highways F and M and Huddleston hoped he would be able to provide an agricultural perspective on P&Z issues. 

Only Schaefer was available to be sworn in for a two-year term during the August board meeting leaving two potential vacancies still on the board that may be occupied by Woolfolk if the village finds that he is still under term.

There are avenues in the village ordinances for the board to remove members of the P&Z board, either through a majority vote of the board, or by the chairman with the board’s consent, although Reuter said they had not exercised those avenues. 

He did say that if it is found that Woolfolk should remain on the board, and Huddleston felt that Woolfolk was not fit to serve on that board, he would move forward with the board to hold a hearing on his tenure. 

Woolfolk has said he will continue to serve if it is found he was removed before his term has expired. 

“We need to do what’s right for the community and that’s why I served in the first place,” said Woolfolk.