One of those complaining about the existing management of the district is developer Dan Devereux, a property owner long interested in preparing the area for development with infrastructure. He was the first to stand up at the meeting Tuesday and criticize the board for a "disconnect" with property owners and poor debt management.

Devereux was president of the district and on its payroll a decade ago when the district financed the installation of some of that infrastructure — a cost that has not yielded development, some reminded him Tuesday.

Stemme, the district president, said Devereux is still upset after being pushed out as president and wants to cast the levee district in a bad light. And, Stemme said, Devereux is close to Moeller. Devereux has donated some $8,500 to the municipal mayor since 2017.

Moeller said the city has always been pro-development in the area and the contributions have nothing to do with his concerns about the levee district management. Devereux called the mayor a "conscientious" public servant of a well-run city.

In any case, the levee is open to working with the city on a TIF as a possible way to alleviate their financial woes and pay for infrastructure, Stemme said. However, Stemme said the levee isn't keen on handing management over to Maryland Heights.