They Meet Again

More than 60 people and members of the North St. Louis County Republicans Club attended the group’s monthly meeting for a second .

The candidates faced five questions, which the club pulled from audience members, that dealt in the possibility of moving into the area, eminent domain and keeping the bodyguard and car allowance of the mayor.

Several residents came out to listen to the views of the six candidates and get a better perspective on whom to vote for April 5.

Florissant resident Steve Meitz said it was interesting, but the candidates appeared to have comparable goals.

“It didn’t seem like much difference between goals,” he said. “I think it’s going to come on experience.”

Meitz said that the forum changed his mind on who he’s going to select for the next chief administrator. He named Robert Garrett, Mark Behlmann and Tom Schneider as those with appealing qualities and experience for the position of mayor. 

Florissant resident Mary Parks chose a slightly different three.

Parks thought candidates Garrett, Andrew Podleski and Susan Geerling stood out in the forum, especially in their firm beliefs of serving in government.

She said, however, that her decision remained the same as before she entered the forum.

Here’s a number of highlights from each candidate from last night’s forum: 

• Behlmann said he helped to fight against Walmart previously, and he and other residents were successful. He stated firmly that he’s against giving a TIF or CID, and that Walmart would have to work on their own dime.
• As far as eminent domain is concerned, Behlmann said it’s a tough issue, and he’s not interested in taking someone’s property. He did mention that there could be use of eminent domain in instances such as the city taking a non maintained property after trying several venues.
• As far as the feasibility of selling assets to be able to put more funds into the rainy day fund, Behlmann briefly pointed to the city’s golf course as having a loan on it that has to be paid, and there’s no market to sell it right now. 

Robert Garrett

• Garrett said that if Walmart wants to comply with all ordinances, that the city could not stop them from moving into town; however, he said the city could make it not easy.
• Garrett believes the salary is appropriate for the strong-mayor government that the city of Florissant has. He doesn’t have plans to use a bodyguard, but he pointed out that the city of Kirkwood possibly thought the same thing.
• As far as the city’s cable channel, Garrett pointed out that the city council meetings are played several times a week and can be seen online. He said he would like to improve the sound quality, which has been bad in recent months.

Susan Geerling

• Geerling said she’s not in favor of taking property for profit-seeking developers in regards to eminent domain, but she could see its usefulness in rare situations.
• If elected mayor, she said she plans to use her own car and move the bodyguard back to the police department to be an officer. She again pleaded with council members to discuss the possibility of reducing the mayoral salary at the March 28 meeting.
• Geerling wasn’t interested in a marina for Sunset Park, and she doesn’t foresee the golf course making money in the future and offered it as a possibility to sell for additional revenue for rainy day fund.

Andrew Podleski

• Podleski said he doesn’t believe there’s any real possibilities that the city would use eminent domain as it’s to be used for public good such as hospitals, schools and streets.
• Podleski said in regards to selling assets such as the golf course that it could be a conversation, but he wants to see about the efficiencies of management of the golf course and what else could be done first.
• In regards to the city council meetings on the cable channel, Podleski would want to televise the executive sessions, which are currently not recorded. He advocates speaking with companies in the area to interest younger families in moving to Florissant.

• Schneider said he prefers not to see a Walmart in Florissant, and he wants them to spend their own money for the store. He also doesn’t want to put the city at risk for lawsuits for preventing someone to build in the city.
• He said eminent domain needs to be used sparingly, but you never want to say never.
• Schneider has a positive outlook  with regards to gaining more money for the rainy day fund. He said that while the city has pockets of property, he believes the economy is going to start coming back before selling needs to occur.

Michael Spreng

• Spreng said he’ll do everything in his power to prevent Walmart from getting curb cuts and coming into Florissant.
• He said that he’ll usually oppose eminent domain, unless it’s of the utmost importance for the city.
• Spreng said it’s always a possibility of selling assets for the rainy day fund as long as it’s beneficial for all involved parties, and he said there will never be plans for a marina in Sunset Park.