Florissant Council Okays Masonry Plans For New Bank;

Passes Resolutions

By Carol Arnett

The Florissant City Council held its first meeting Monday once again via Zoom and accepted a council member’s request to change his vote, heard revised plans on masonry for a new bank building coming to the city this year and passed three resolutions and three bills.
In the first action of the meeting, Councilman Joe Eagan moved to reconsider his vote on a previous bill, that among other things, regulated laser pointers. He said that “out of an abundance of caution,” he wanted to move to remove the section about laser pointers. The council accepted the motion and voted to pass the bill without the removed section.
Next, the council held a public hearing regarding a rezoning request for property at 2895 N. Hwy. 67. This is currently the 54th Street Grill. JP Morgan Chase wants to tear the existing building down and build a bank branch on the property.
When the project came before the council in 2020, several members of the council had concerns about the lack of masonry on the proposed building. Wally Johns, with JP Morgan Chase, told the council that they had “heard the feedback loud and clear.” They have come back with a more full-brick design.
Bruce LaSurs, the architect on the project, said the project was changed to reflect the councils’ concerns. Councilman Tommy Siam said that he was happy with the changes. He asked if there would be a reader sign at the project and was told that any signs would be requested at a later time.
Johns said that the bank would like to open the branch is 2021. He said that construction would start as soon as all permits were approved. He added that it usually take seven to eight months to build.
No members of the public spoke at the hearing and the council held a first reading on the bill approving the project.
The council passed three resolutions.
The first resolution congratulated Gina Walsh on receiving the Greater North County Chamber’s 2021 Zykan Family Legacy Award , Walsh recently retired after representing North County as a state representative and state senator for several years. Walsh spoke to the council and said she was honored to receive the award. Several of the council members praised Walsh for her work for the city and North County.
The second resolution provided for the adoption of the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System.
The third resolution expressed disappointment and disagreement with the St. Louis County Council decision to hold a meeting on January 5, 2021 prior to the swearing in of a newly elected council member. Council President Keith Schildroth said he would be abstaining from voting on the resolution because he is an employee of St. Louis County. He said he works for the County Clerk and County Council.
The resolution said the County Council held the meeting without the representative from Florissant and other parts of North County.
In other matters, the council:
• Postponed a request to approve a full liquor by the drink license for House of Jollof at 503 Paul Avenue. No representative from House of Jollof was present, and Councilman Paul Manganelli said he wanted to ask some questions of them.

• Passed a bill amending city code to clarify grievance procedures.
• Held a first reading on a bill that would approve an amendment of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
• Passed a bill that would add a two way stop and Cortez and Ensenada, Northbound and Southbound.

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