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BY CAROL ARNETT

The Florissant City Council held a public hearing on a proposal to put another used car lot in the city at the last council meeting.
GMT Auto Sales is asking the city for permission to open the lot at 370 North Highway 67, the corner of Lindbergh Boulevard and Washington Street. This is a former gas station in front of Handyman Hardware and Dierbergs.

Councilman Tom Schneider asked Glenn Travers, who spoke on behalf of GMT, if the company would keep its other location on the other side of Lindbergh. Travers replied that the company would keep the existing lot open.

Council President Tim Lee said he was concerned about GMT’s plan to block access from Lindbergh to the business. GMT plans to use large flower pots to block the curb cut from Lindbergh. The business would have only one entrance, from Washington Street. “I would rather have the Lindbergh access open,” Lee said.

Travers responded that GMT wants the space used by the curb cut for car display. “It’s important to a business like this that the cars are seen,” he said. “People see them and then want them.”

Glenn Otto, whose business Handyman Hardware, owns the property, spoke to the council to say he was in favor of the flower pots blocking the access. “This is an extremely difficult piece of property to lease,” he said. He added that the flower pots could be removed for another tenant if necessary.

“I like the flower pots,” said Councilman Mark Schmidt. He added that the entrance would be right around the corner off Washington.

Travers said that GMT had a similar situation at an auto lot in Hazelwood, near the Outback restaurant, and the flower pots had worked well.

Councilwoman Karen McKay said she had been on the committee for the Lindbergh beautification project. One of the goals of the beautification project was to cut down the number of curb cuts. McKay cautioned that if GMT permanently removed the curb cut, it would be extremely difficult to put it back at a later date.

The council held a first reading on a bill approving the project.

IN OTHER MATTERS:
Mayoral candidate Andrew Podleski, who lost to incumbent Robert Lowery, told the council that the 43% of voters who voted for him should be listed to. He said that the election should have been a “wake-up call” to the city that not all people are happy with the city government.

Lowery responded that he was calling for unity in the city.. He said most citizens were happy with the direction the city was going. “Was the election a mandate for me? I think it was.” He received 57% per the vote.

IN OTHER ACTION, THE COUNCIL”
•Passed a resolution of support for the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District’s Grand application for funding from equipment from the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company.
•Continued a request for a full liquor by the drink license for TKO Sports Bar and Grill at 3315 North Highway 67. The council will take up the matter at the next council meeting on April 23.
•Approved a request to renew a permit for Richard Hill to keep one pot belly pig at 2165 Teakwood Drive.

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