Weary-eyed residents of St. Louis County awoke Monday morning to see on their computers Stltoday.com’s editorial cartoon of County Executive Charlie Dooley caricatured as a chicken, holding an acorn and loudly exclaiming that the sky isn’t actually falling.

This interpretation of the recent budget resolution is only one of many that got County Executive Dooley’s parks-closure plan nixed, but not without compromise. As part of a deal reached Tuesday between Dooley and the County Council, at least 40 full-time county employees will be laid off by February.

Among other things, no parks will be closed and no taxes will be raised. Dooley plans to keep neighborhood snow plowing up, as well as keeping open the West County Satellite Office.

After facing opposition from the recently formed Budget Committee, started by Council Chairman Steve Stenger, Dooley had to withdraw on two proposals including a tax hike.

Dooley’s parks closure plan included cutting 50 jobs, but could not make it past concerned members of the council. Citizens also made their voice heard when they protested outside the council chambers Tuesday. Dooley made his final decision Tuesday hours after reviewing alternatives presented to him from the budget committee.

According to the County’s website, the budget committee, whose purpose was to come up with budget alternatives for Dooley, also came up with the ideas of increasing casino revenue and returning unspent 2011 funds to the 2012 budget. Dooley proceeded to negotiate with the committee, but ultimately the jobs cuts part of his plan would be kept.

Locally, the biggest effect Dooley’s proposed cuts would have had would have been the closing of the West County Satellite Office, located less than a mile from MHS. The office served as a location to pay traffic tickets, among other things. Dooley announced last Friday the office would not close.

Keeping the parks open is met with a sigh of relief from students.

Ashley Kuykendall, senior, said she frequented Lone Elk Park when she was younger.

“When I was younger I went there all the time, almost every weekend,” Kuykendall said.

All the animals, picnic areas, hiking trails, and the Wild Bird Sanctuary held appeal for Kuykendall.

“[The animals] are more in their natural environments, which is cool,” Kuykendall said.

Kuykendall said it would be sad if the parks closed.

“It would be a really big loss for the community,” Kuykendall said. “People have so many functions there. Even teams have end of the year picnics there.”

Val Mertz, science teacher, also thinks the parks staying open is a positive for the community.

“I think it is wonderful the parks are staying open,” Mertz said. “I think it provides an outlet for the community to relieve stress and provides a free place for families to do activities.”

Mertz, whose family has been involved in the Parks Department, also thinks the county could use formerly cultivated land to increase revenue.

“If the county allowed farmers to farm the formerly farmed land, then revenue for the county would increase,” Mertz said.

Additional information reported by Morgan Purdy