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Florissant City Council Meeting: Lights Up Over Signs
Cost of Digital Sign For JFK Center
Debated by Florissant City Council
By Carol Arnett
The Florissant City Council had a light agenda at their meeting Monday, with no public hearing scheduled. They did, however, pass several bills and requests, give an Eddie’s Hero award and proclaim Rosemary Davison Day. They also had a long discussion about a new digital sign at the JFK Center.
The council read a bill authorizing $21,122 from the Park Improvement Fund for a digital sign at the JFK Community Center. The sign will cost over $50,000, but $30,000 was allocated in the budget.
Councilman Andrew Harris expressed concerns about the sign. He said he heard from residents who would rather spend the money on something else. Councilman Gerard Henke said that all people will never agree on how the city spends money.
Several council members said that the sign was in discussion for several years. The city will also be putting signs on the new justice center (see story on page 6) and the police station, and they said there would be a discount for purchasing all three at once.
Harris also asked if the city had explored the possibility of co-funding the sign with St. Louis County so it could be used for road alerts and messages. He said that the RecPlex in St. Peters had co-funded their sign with St. Charles County.
Since this was the first reading on the bill, or the first time it had come before the council, it needed unanimous approval for a third reading in one night. Harris voted against a third reading, so discussion ended and the council will hold a third reading and vote at the next meeting.
The council did pass a bill authorizing $54,000 from the Asset Forfeiture Funds for the purchase of a digital sign for the police department.
Henke asked if the council could reconsider the vote on the third reading for the JFK Center, since the city wanted to buy the signs in a package deal.
Harris asked why the initial allocation of $30,000 was not enough for the sign and $21,122 more was needed. He asked how the size of the sign was determined. The council did not reconsider the vote.
Rosemary Davison Day Aug. 12
The council then proclaimed Rosemary Davison Day on what would have been her 100th birthday. Davison worked most of her adult life on historic preservation in Florissant. She was an attorney and longtime city clerk. She also founded Historic Florissant and wrote two books.
On August 12 at 1 p.m., there will be a celebration of Davison’s 100th birthday at Gettemeier House, the home of Historic Florissant. The public is welcome.
The Eddie’s Heros award was created to honor a young person in the city, said Police Chief Tim Lowery. Kaitlin Johnson was nominated by Councilman Joe Eagan. She has volunteered extensively both in and outside of the city. She will be attending the University of Missouri – Columbia. She has received the Evans Scholarship for caddies.
In other matters, the council:
- Passed a bill that would allow the expansion of Bentwood Nursing and Rehab at 1501 Charbonier Rd.
- Passed a bill that would allow the expansion of the vacuum area for Brite Worx carwash at 475 N. Hwy. 67
- Approved a request by Thomas and April Moore at their property on S. St. Jacques.
- Approved a resolution supporting a grant application for the installation of a splash pad in Koch Park.
- Passed a bill that would transfer a special use permit from Manor Care Health Services, Inc. to MC Florissant Realty, for the operation of an extended care facility. Councilman Keith Schildroth said that the transfer of ownership would not result in any changes in the facility and asked that the council pass the bill. The council did pass the bill.
- Held a first reading on a bill that would allow the change the color of painted brick for the property for Auto Body Repair of America located at 8300 N. Lindbergh.
