Florissant City Council Approve Electrical Testing for City Buildings

The approved an ordinance Monday night that would appropriate more than $25,000 for testing electrical equipment in city buildings. But that did not sit well with all councilors or residents.

The bill had been postponed until Monday’s meeting to be able to ask the administration more questions pertaining to the need of the testing.

Mayor Tom Schneider explained that the Hartford Financial Services Group, an insurance company, strongly recommended that the city put in place a three-year electrical preventative maintenance program. He asked council to pass the bill.

Ward 4 Councilman Keith English, who is also an electrician, said that , who would be awarded the contract, is the only company in the St. Louis County area that does infrared testing and repairs in one fell swoop, which would be what would be needed for the buildings.

Ward 1 Councilman Tim Lee had some lingering questions that hadn’t been answered by the administration just yet and said he could not support passage until all questions and concerns had been answered.

Lou Jearls, director of public works, stepped in to answer any remaining questions that the council might have.

When residents got a chance to speak, a few expressed that they would like to see other bids from other companies for this type of work before the passage of the bill.

Councilors approved the ordinance, 7-2.