County executive asks council to use RFP and shift $4.5 million to human services after food‑program dispute

County Executive Sam Page on Tuesday asked the St. Louis County Council to permit the county to use a competitive request‑for‑proposals process and to transfer $4,500,000 from the county general operating fund to the Department of Human Services to launch a countywide food‑insecurity program.

Page told the council he met with three farmers who withdrew from an earlier urban‑farming plan and urged a procurement process that is countywide and competitive rather than restricted to a single district. "I sent a letter to the council today asking members to allow the county to use the RFP process to officially get a food insecurity plan underway," Page said. "I would like the full 4,500,000.0 that was originally allotted for food insecurity to go to this project so that we can ensure it is sustainable and effective." (County Executive Sam Page)

The request followed a recent council effort to advance funding and a program focused on North County. Councilwoman Webb said the county executive vetoed the council's food‑insecurity legislation. "Doctor Page did veto the food insecurities," Webb…