American Eagle Credit Union Wants Moving Reader Board Sign

Post author:independentnws
Post published:October 8, 2009
Post category:Florissant
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BY CAROL ARNETT

The Florissant City Council held a public hearing on a proposed electric reader board sign for the new American Eagle Credit Union, on Lindbergh near St. Ferdinand Street.

The Credit Union included a sign in the original proposal that was presented to the city council and approved. However, they have since changed the specifications for the sign. They are currently asking for a sign with a light up, moving reader board.

Michael Schutte represented American Eagle Credit Union at the council meeting.

Councilman Andrew Podleski noted that there was a lot of traffic on that stretch of Lindbergh, and wondered if the reader board was a good idea. “We don’t need another distraction,” he said.

Schutte said he had been to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P and Z) several times about the sign. “The first time they complained about the size, then the style, then the reader board,” he said. He also reminded the council that there were similar signs elsewhere in the city. “You accept these in the city, but not at our location,” he said.

Councilman Keith English said he had driven to the American Eagle branch on Highway K in St. Peters, and asked Schutte how the two signs would compare in size. Schutte said that the Florissant sign would be shorter and narrower.

“I would ask the council to approve this,” English said. “This is a smaller version of the one on Highway K, which looks fine.”

Mayor Robert Lowery said there were concerns about traffic when Dierbergs put up a reader board sign further south on Lindbergh. “There are not a lot of accidents there,” Lowery said.

Council President Tom Schneider said that the council does not take P and Z’s recommendations lightly. “Occasionally we disagree with P and Z, but we appreciate their service,” he said. But, he continued, “we are the elected representatives and we must do what we think is best for the city.”

In other news, Lowery presented his proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 to the council. According to the city charter, the mayor presents a proposed budget and the council reviews and suggests changes before voting to approve the budget. The council will also hold public hearings on the budget and solicit citizen input in upcoming council meetings.