Florissant Holds Budget, CD Block Grant

Hearings; Still Assessing Day Care Plans

By Carol Arnett

The city held public hearings on the city budget for fiscal year 2019 and for the Community Development Block Grant. But first, the council once again heard from Grace & Mercy Adult Program at a public hearing.

The Grace & Mercy program wants to set up an adult day care in Metro Event Center at 11 Patterson Plaza Shopping Center. The council continued the program from a past meeting.

Juanita Gullet spoke on behalf of Grace & Mercy.

“The city had some grave concerns with respect to operations at the banquet center,” City Attorney John Hessel said. He said that he asked Gullet to email him information about the banquet center. In response, Hessel sent a reply with more questions and had not gotten a response, he said. His advice to the council, he said, was to postpone the hearing until the city had all the information requested.

Mark Gullet, Juanita Gullet’s husband, said he had not received the email.

“The contract is being expired. We need this to be approved to satisfy the contract. Why is there so much hindrance and deterrence for us to move forward?” Mark Gullet said. He explained that he and his wife took over the management of the center and the former owner is no longer involved.

“If we allow the adult day care center to be in the same building and affiliated with Metro Events Centers, it seems to me that I’m condoning what’s happening at the event center,” Councilman Jeff Caputa said. He added that he gets phone calls from residents almost every weekend there’s an event there about noise, trash, or something else. “Residents who live around there are not for this event center at all,” he said.

Mark Gullett said that Metro will cease to exist when Grace and Mercy is open.

We don’t have confirmation that previous Metro owner is leaving,” Councilwoman Jackie Pagano said. “Why would she schedule 20 parties if lease is expiring in October?” Pagano also pointed out that the Gullets were managing the banquet center while some of the incidents with complaints happened.

“It just sounds like a big mess to me,” said Councilman Tim Jones, referring to the lease arrangements.

“We’ve asked for information and we don’t have it,” Caputa said.

Hessel explained that all applications regarding the banquet center and adult day care are in the current owner’s name. “You cannot just say that you are speaking for her,” he said. “We need something in writing.”

The council voted to postpone the public hearing.

The council also held a public hearing on the budget. The mayor submits the budget and the council makes changes and suggestions before voting to approve it. The council held work sessions on the budget and are working with the mayor to make changes. The council also held a hearing on the Community Development Block Grant.

The public can view the proposed budget at city hall and make comments until Nov. 7. After the comment period, the council will vote on the budget.

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