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Florissant City Council: Formally Opposes
BetterTogether Merger
City Honors Retiring Fire Chief
By Carol Arnett
The Florissant City Council issued a proclamation honoring Fire Chief Scott Seppelt on his retirement. Mayor Tom Schneider praised the close relationship the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District and the city had under Seppelt’s leadership.
The council also held two public hearings and passed two resolutions including one unanimously passed opposing unifying the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County into a new form of government. The resolution says that the statewide vote would disenfranchise St. Louis City and County voters by submitting a local matter to a state-wide referendum.
Florissant joined University City as the first two municipalities to approve resolutions opposing a city-county merger. Other cities are considering it also. Also the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis is expected a formal proposal objecting to specific parts of the Better Together Plan. The Municipal League is gathering signatures to force the mayor of St. Louis and the county executive to nominate league members to a board of freeholders, which could come up with some other government reorganization, but would require voting on any plan only in St. Louis City and County.
Florissant’s first public hearing on Feb. 25 was about a request to authorize a special use permit for an adult day care center for the property located at 119 Flower Valley Shopping Center. Derek Kemp Sr. spoke to the council at the meeting. He is the contractor on the project
The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P and Z) recommended approval of the project, with the addition of a second restroom.
Councilman Joe Eagan asked Kemp if he knew about their hours, number of clients or number of staff. Kemp said they would have up to 20 clients, but he was not sure about employees or hours. Eagan said he did not like to approve without that information.
Councilman Gerard Henke agreed. He said that since Kemp was not going to be able to answer their questions, he moved that they continue the hearing until the next meeting on March 11. The council voted to continue.
The second public hearing was also about an adult day care center, this one at 58 Grandview Plaza Shopping Center. Kemp also spoke at this hearing. P and Z also recommended approval for this center.
Nicole Williams also spoke for the center. She is a co-owner with Ashley Hall. She said there would be 25 clients. If the center was at capacity, the center would employ six people, including a nurse. Councilman Tim Jones asked about medication. Williams said that there would be medicine there and it would be kept in a locked box. Hall said that she has worked with the elderly for over ten years. She said that most residents would be dropped off at the center. Food would be catered. Hours of operation would be 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Councilman Joe Eagan had questions regarding drop-off and pick-up. Williams said that there were several handicap parking spots in front of the center. There is also a back door. Eagan said he was concerned that cars would block the fire lane during drop-off and pick-up.
Councilwoman Jackie Pagano said that she thought the space was not big enough for the 25 clients and staff. She also said that city ordinance prohibits child day care centers in shopping centers and she is not sure about having adult centers in them.
Several council members said they would like to visit the center before voting on it. The council voted to continue the hearing.
In other action, the council:
- Passed an ordinance amending the section of the city code dealing with the Citizen Participation Committee.
- Passed a resolution authorizing the mayor of the City of Florissant to make application under the Municipal Parks Grant for planning services at Koch Park to include updated restrooms, playground, picnic areas and accessible paths to all amenities.
- Approved a request to transfer a special use permit from Land West #7 LLC to Dunn Mart for the location of a ground sign at 1395 Dunn Road. The council also held passed a bill authorizing the transfer.
