Brentwood Mayor Pat Kelly said he was approached to run for state senate at one time, but turned the group down because the job didn’t pay enough.
He covered that, and many local matters at his monthly coffee with residents at City Hall Friday morning. A few more than a dozen attended.
In chronological order, some points Kelly covered:
- Drury Hotel is planning a Sept. 17 ribbon cutting. They plan on burying the telephone lines that run in front of the hotel, at a cost of $450,000.
- Kelly said he’s been lobbying for an online sales tax, as a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. He said online shopping hurts smaller retailers more than big box stores.
- Arhaus recently signed a 10-year lease extension at Brentwood Square. Micro Center, at the Promenade, reached $60 million in sales in five years.
- Covering the recent city tree survey, he said it’s expensive for the city to request a resident to remove a tree on private property because the city hires an arborist to evaluate the tree and take that to a judge, who tells the resident to take down the tree. He said the city contracts an arborist, even though there’s one on on staff, because it alleviates the issue of “big bad city.”
- Kelly said he was against proposed ordinances that would have restricted Manhasset Village construction traffic because it would also restrict any delivery traffic to Brentwood Forest. His proposal is to place “no construction traffic” signs on side streets like High School Drive.
- It’s getting late in the year for the county to start building new curbs for Brentwood Boulevard, which was promised.
- He said he would like to remove the building in front of the Public Works garage to the left, which the city owns, or look at buying the Teson Farms lot, for a “mid-county” farmers market. He said the Schlafly Farmers Market has been very successful.
- The site of the former Sports Attic is for sale and almost unbuildable considering its size and building restrictions.
- The approximately five acre hill along Deer Creek that if removed, could have reduced flooding on Manchester Road, can’t be removed. It was part of the former Petrolite site, and there is a fear of contamination if the dirt is removed.
- He’s for bringing back red light cameras. He said he’s witnessed drivers going around traffic and through red lights.
- Kelly was asked if he had ever considered running for a state-level position in government, and he said a group asked him to run for state senate before current State Senator John Lamping ran. “They had money; they were going to support me to do that, but at that time I was going to have to take a cut in pay to do that,” he said. “They only pay or state legislators $32,000 a year, and I don’t have a job where I can take off half the year.”
- There are some streets that need to be repaired, but it’s a cycle that cities go through. He said the goal, now that some previous bonds are paid off, is to start roadwork without a property tax. Louis Avenue is the worst street in Brentwood, in his opinion, but Parkridge Avenue is the first street planned for renovation, because the aldermen “don’t stay out of it.”
It is interesting that a Brentwood Alderman is bringing forward ordinances which would impede construction of brand new apartments next to his outdated crappy Brentwood Forest rentals! The Brentwood cronies are at it again. Protect their own interest and forget about the rest of us.
FYI..The water company is replacing the pipes on Parkridge right now. The water co. began replacing pipes two weeks ago and are moving up the street. Staff said they would repair Parkridge Ave as soon as the water company finishes.
Jim Nahmenson, Public Works Department Head, recommends which streets should be repaired based on an engineering study of each street, which the city paid engineers to conduct. It is similar to the tree inventory except the streets are being evaluated. Jim Nahmenson did not schedule Louis Ave to be repaired in the past two years. Jim decided that one block, between White and Pine Ave on Parkridge Ave should be repaired in 2014. However, Bola Akande, City Administrator, said Parkridge was not included in the 2014 budget. I wonder why staff didn’t include Louis Ave? And is the block on Parkridge being repaired in 2014 or 2015? Mayor Kelly didn’t say anything about Louis when the budget was adopted. Professional staff make the recommendations regarding streets, not the aldermen.
I disagree with the online purchase taxes, unless there is a correlate reduction in the local and state taxes. I do not mind paying product taxes, but the rate should not be 10%. Employees at Maplewood Common and Brentwood Promenade both said the exact same thing: we have one of the highest tax rates in the Metro area. If you don’t want the higher rates, a lot of other places tax at a lower rate.
There’s an app that should be developed: City comparative taxation rates! Then let the free market work.
Is it possible that Louis Ave was not on the list because the water company was replacing the pipes last year which dig up the street and has now made it even worse?
Sorry I meant…dug up the street
Mayor Kelly, Love the idea of a farmers market. I also agree with Brandon, Cheryl and Pam. Excellent ideas for the comprehensive plan update.
Maureen Saunders
I called the Mayors office and left a message with my support of the idea and an offer to help in any way that he can find for me.
It’s a great idea, but isn’t the lot a bit small?
The old teson farms lot is actually a pretty decent size. The building is no good, so it’ll have to be torn down. Every bit as large an area as the schlafly farmers market and maybe as big as the Kirkwood market (I’ve only been to the Kirkwood market once a couple years ago, so it’s hard to remember exactly.)
I do the Creve Couer Farmers Market every Saturday. This is the first year for it and there are only 15-20 vendors so that would be a good sight for it. I would want to be part of the Brentwood one if it opens.
Great idea to establish a farmer’ market here. Anyone know the reason the mayor conducts these Coffees on a weekday morning when most of us working stiffs cannot attend?
I looked into that very spot 2 years ago with the idea of a sustainable learning center/farmers market.
What a great idea, a mid-county farmer’s market is just what Brentwood needs!
I agree Brandon. What a neat idea! Wish we had more small individually owned restaurants and retail shops like Maplewood, instead of chain businesses.
I so agree with you Cheryl!! I miss the old neighborhood feel that we used o have!!
I love his idea of a farmers market at the old teson farms site. Hopefully he can make that happen.
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