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By Carol Arnett

Several Florissant City Council members remembered former mayor Robert Lowery at Monday night’s council meeting. The council passed a resolution honoring Lowery for his years of service to the city. Lowery’s wife, Carol, and some of his children were present at the meeting to receive the resolution.

“We’re going to dedicate a plaque on the sidewalk in September for him,”

“I’d like to thank you for giving Bob to us for 50 years,” said Councilman Keith Schildroth to Lowery’s family. “As a police man, as chief of police, and mayor. I feel very honored to have served with him.”

The last couple of weeks have been hard on the family, Police Chief Tim Lowery said. “The one thing that has helped us through is all the wonderful people in Florissant. We really appreciate everything everyone in the community has done.”

Councilman Joe Eagan said that when he was injured and hospitalized, Lowery was one of the first people to visit. He said he always asked if Eagan and the council were keeping the city safe.

Council President Jeff Caputa said Lowery was a great person to talk to. “He always had a good story to tell,” he said.

“The city of Florissant and the St. Louis area is a better place because of Bob Lowery,” Schildroth said.

Digital Sign Approved

In regular city matters Monday the council voted to appropriate $21,122 from the Parks Improvement Fund to fund a digital sign for the JFK Community Center. The issue had generated interest on social media, including some polls about it. The sign is part of a three sign package the city is purchasing.

Councilman Andrew Harris said that in addition to questioning the necessity of the sign, he and several residents question using the Parks Improvement Fund money for it. He said that residents had expressed “overwhelming dissatisfaction” with the sign. “Although the sign is located on park property, it will not be used primarily for park information,” he said. He added that city ordinances have not been updated to have information about digital signs.

Popeye’s Seeks Compliance With

Florissant Restaurant Now Operating

In new from Monday night’s city council, a public hearing about the new Popeye’s restaurant at 955 N. Hwy 67. Edin Coralic, the architect for the project, spoke to the council. He said that the company was requesting changes to the existing approval for the project.

The project has been in design for almost a year and a half, Coralic said. He has been working on it for the last three months. The building has been built. After the building was up, Coralic said they received a letter from the city that they were not in compliance with the original ordinance. The biggest things, he said, were the brick construction and a drive that was not put in.

The building was built without brick. According to Coralic, adding the brick at this time is not feasible. It cannot be done because of the extra weight it would add.

“We built the building that was on our approved plans,” Coralic said. He said that plans that did not include brick were submitted to the city and approved.

The council voted to continue the hearing until they had more information.

In a second public hearing, Juanita Gullet spoke to the council about a request to amend a special use permit to Grace and Mercy Adult Program to use the Metro Banquet Center for an adult day program at the center during the week.

The council had several questions for Gullet, including the number of clients the center would have, if drugs would be stored, and how the center will function as a banquet center and adult day program.

The council voted to continue the hearing to give the council time to gather more information.

   In other action, the council:

• Passed a bill authorizing the transfer of $5,000 from the golf course utilities account to the golf course equipment repair account for various equipment repairs and maintenance.
• Passed a bill authorizing the appropriation of funds to provide for a full time custodian position for the new court building and police annex.
• Passed a resolution allowing Rachel Scholl to keep four hens at her property on Fairmount Drive.

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