18:30The announcement from the Library Director marked a notable moment in the meeting, as she expressed her gratitude to the community, council, and her colleagues for their support throughout her tenure. Her dedication to transforming the library into a vibrant community hub was acknowledged by the council, with one member noting that her successor would have “very big shoes to fill.” The library board is reviewing applicants and is expected to make a decision soon.

0:28The council meeting also tackled a change order for the White Lakes Wellness and Recreation Center, presented by Chad Bman from SE, which highlighted three main modifications to the original project plan. These included a $2,600 adjustment for sliding front door hardware to meet emergency egress requirements, over $21,000 for building permit costs, and $1,720 related to winter conditions that delayed the project start. Though the council was not pleased with the change order, they understood the necessity due to external factors and approved it without further debate.

18:30In addition to the library and recreation center discussions, the council approved a home occupation permit for a daycare on Kent Road. This decision followed a Planning Commission meeting where the applicant was the sole public attendee. The council recognized the daycare’s importance for local families and approved the permit unanimously.

The acquisition of a loader for the Public Works Department was another topic discussed, with the council approving the contract after learning of cost reductions due to market changes. The meeting further addressed temporary easement requests from St. Louis County for the Kennedy Memorial Drive project, with assurances that the county would reimburse the city. Despite a citizen’s concern about a highway project, the council approved the easements without dissent.

Hiring practices were a recurring theme during the meeting, particularly concerning paramedic and part-time firefighter positions. The council agreed to interview and hire two new paramedics, Emily Jager and Stephanie Zimmer, who had recently passed their exams. A council member raised concerns about the hiring process, questioning if all city employees should be interviewed, but the director assured adherence to policies. The council voted in favor of hiring Jager and Zimmer.

For the fire department, discussions centered on hiring Julie and Keith as casual part-time firefighters. Julie, already affiliated with the department, was approved without further checks, while Keith’s hiring hinged on additional background checks and drug testing. The council engaged in a debate about potential conflicts of interest, referencing previous instances involving family members in the department, but ultimately moved forward with the hiring recommendations.