2011-10-24 Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Christopher Jones, 849 Westgate #303 Mr. Jones lives in condominium across the street from the proposed fire station. He opposed the fire station for three reasons:  It will reduce his family’s quality of life with the additional noise. He said they will hear diesel engines, sirens, maintenance done on trucks, employees coming and leaving, washing of vehicles, and garage doors opening & closing.  It will lower the property value of the residents with property next to the fire station, therefore decreasing the tax base which results in lower tax revenue.  It will expose the City to costly litigation expenses. He considers the potential fire station a legal nuisance and his wife purchased the home without knowing of the plans for the new fire station. Edward McCarthy, 7101 Princeton Mr. McCarthy was against the firehouse being built at this location, with these methods and this procedure. He stated he was not against a new firehouse but asked if it was needed and if other possibilities were looked at. He said it is not the firehouses that save people but rather it is the people in the firehouse. Mr. McCarthy said just because the City gets free land, it does not mean you have to build a building, as it won’t be free when finished. He noted he has the right to question Council, City Management, at any time. Al Beamer, 894 Leland Ave Mr. Beamer said on behalf of the 65 residents and 90-plus staff of Ackert Park Skilled Care, they are in favor of having the new firehouse as their neighbor and thought it could not be a better place to put it. Judith Conoyer, 849 Westgate Ms. Conoyer said she was new to the community and was aware of the possibility of a new firehouse going next door when she purchased her house. She said she understood the positive aspects but was concerned about the level of noise and the loss of property value. Ms. Conoyer asked the City to do everything in their power to mitigate the noise, exhaust fumes or anything else that might be a nuisance to the neighbors. Keevin Feely, 7320 Colgate Mr. Feely was in favor of a new fire station. He said the previous City Manager stated that the grant plus the City’s $200,000 match would get the City a new fire station. Mr. Feely said the current fire station would not withstand any major earthquake. He said he understood that it may not be the perfect location but there will not be a perfect location in U City. st Hazel Erby, St. Louis County Council 1 District, 8340 Fullerton Ms. Erby urged the Council to move forward with the construction of the new firehouse. She said this would provide improved response time, updated facility and new jobs. Ms. Erby asked that the jobs on the construction of the new facility reflect the diversity of the community and the Council needs to hire a Project Manager. She also asked that the positions within the fire department become more reflective of the community. 4