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BY CAROL ARNETT

Mayor Robert Lowery gave the Florissant City Council an update on the former Our Lady of Fatima convent at the council’s executive session before last week’s council meeting. The building was purchased by the city from Johnny Londoff Chevrolet.

Lowery said the city had a lease-purchase agreement with Kevin Goldstein and Jason Morgan to buy the building for $170,000. The city purchased the building for $1,000, Lowery reminded the council, adding that the city would make $165,000 from the deal.

Councilwoman Karen McKay disagreed with Lowery on the amount of the city’s profit. She said the city’s expenses were closer to $25,000. She reminded Lowery and the council that the area around the building was residential. The property was zoned residential when it was used as a church and grade school, but had to be rezoned commercial for Lindenwood University.

City Attorney John Hessel said the council must first pass a resolution declaring its intent to sell the property, then hold a public hearing. After the public hearing, he would negotiate the contract with the buyers.

City Director of Economic Development Bob Russell said after the meeting that the city did not know what Goldstein and Morgan planned to do with the building.

Landscaping Materials Issue?

Also at the executive session, Councilman Tom Schneider brought up the issue of landscaping materials. He said the small shopping center with Family Video at the corner of Howdershell and Keeven Land has had problems with vandalism. A white vinyl fence that borders the center has several holes in it because vandals are throwing the landscaping rocks used in the center at the fence.

Schneider brought a few of the rocks to show the council. He said the fist-sized rocks were proving irresistible to vandals, who threw them at the fence. He asked the council if they could look into regulating the size of landscaping rocks.

“This may sound silly at first, but it’s not,” Lowery said. He said the cost of repairing the fence was high and the shopping centers could not repair it as fast as it is being vandalized. Lowery said the city had received a grant to pay for movable cameras that could catch vandals in the act. Lowery suggested that the council look into an ordinance regulation the size of landscaping rocks.

McKay said that the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission had already looked at the issue and did not recommend an ordinance. She said the city would be micro-managing if it tried to regulate rock size.

“I’m not touching this,” Council President Dan Sullivan said, stating that an ordinance would be difficult to enforce.

In other matters , the council:

o Held a public hearing regarding a request by Uncle Bob’s Strorage at 450 Washington to build a new 49,000 square foot building. The building would be at the rear of the property, on ground currently used for RV, boat and trailer storage. No one spoke in opposition.

o Approved a request for a full liquor by the drink license for TR Gator’s at 2778 North Highway 67.

o Passed a bill supporting the project agreement for the North Highway 67 Corridor Enhancement Project, Phase II. This will continue the improvements that were made on Lindbergh in phase I, which went from I-270 north to Washington Street.

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