<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=32tSwr_1H03GpuN00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=32tSwr_1H03GpuN00" width="576" height="571" ></figure>The Festus City Council briefly discussed changing some of its rules of decorum during Monday’s work session, including shortening the amount of time people from outside city limits could speak.Following mounting tensions over a CRG data center development project, the council in August changed some rules of decorum, such as the deadline for visitors to sign up to speak. Since the project became public knowledge a year ago, it has become a source of controversy, leading many residents to speak against it at meetings.On Monday, Ward 1 Councilman Karl Weekley said he would like for speakers at meetings to tell the council what ward they live in when they come up to the podium. Festus has four wards, with the data center project falling in Ward 4.“Your name and ward,” he said. “I don’t really need your address. I just need to know your ward.”Weekley then asked if the council would discuss the legalities of a five-three rule, where city of Festus residents would be granted five minutes to speak, but those who live outside city limits would have three minutes.Council members in August discussed reducing how much time people would be allotted from five minutes to three but left the time limit unchanged when revising the rules of decorum.Many of the speakers against the data center development live close to CRG’s property where the data center will be built but live outside city limits. The project spans roughly 360 acres north of Hwy. 67 and west of Hwy. CC.Many of those in attendance at the work session exclaimed their displeasure with the proposed five-three rule with boos and shouts with some saying it would go against their First Amendment right.Brian Malone of Lashly and Baer, the city’s law firm, said the conversation about changing the rules of decorum should be done in a closed meeting.“In terms of restricting who is eligible to speak at meetings, I think having a separate rule based on the speaker’s residence is probably something I want to discuss further within a closed session,” Malone said.Weekley could not be reached for further comment before the Leader’s print deadline.<h2>Other business</h2>Public Works Director Michael Christopher shared with the council details of the city’s recent application to East-West Gateway Council of Governments’ Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STP).The city proposes rehabilitating Main Street from North Mill Street to Brierton Lane in 2029 with a construction budget of $2.5 million. Federal funds would pay for $1.5 million of the costs.“I think to be realistic, just with the way inflation is going, I think these prices are going to go up,” Christopher said. “We’ve talked about this and how we can prepare for those increases in prices, and that we can hold some money aside and kind of have some from the county (road and bridges tax) funds to make sure that as the project may increase in cost, we still have that money available so that the project is not at risk.”Christopher said downtown Main Street is where the city “desperately needs” ADA improvements for the sidewalks. Under the proposed plan, the sidewalks would be graded and widened to 10 feet on both sides of the street and the light posts would be updated. The street would also be repaved, he said.One of the plans the city is exploring is eliminating parking on the south side of Main Street but leaving all street parking on the north side of the street. He said this would allow for 10-foot sidewalks on both sides of the street, but there would be a loss of 47 on-street parking spaces.Ward 3 Councilman Kevin Dennis said he was concerned about handicap accessibility. By limiting parking to only one side of the street, people with wheelchairs may have to park further away from their destination, he said.Christopher said there is still time to tweak the plan.“There are obviously areas where we can find some flexibility,” he said. “I think that’s a good comment to bring up with the engineers whenever they start to design.”Interim Park Director Shain Dollar told the council that the city’s original budget for two new playgrounds, one at William Earl Cook Sr. Park and the other at Crites Park, would not be enough for quality, safe and fun equipment for children.The city had budgeted $90,000 for a new playground at William Earl Cook Sr. Park and $100,000 to replace the city’s oldest playground, located near Pavilion 11 at Crites Park.Dollar said he was quoted $176,000 for just one of these playgrounds.“I quickly found out after getting some quotes that $100,000 is not enough money for a playground,” Dollar said. “Not if you want a playground that’s large enough for several kids to have fun. I don’t know if any of you know how much money we spent on that Sunset Park playground. That thing is the size of a pickup truck, and it was still almost $30,000.”Dollar said the city should consider building one playground.“Instead of building two small playgrounds, we combine that money and build a larger, much nicer playground that’ll have the pour-in-place surface that we have at the large playground at Crites, so it’ll be safer, have much more features to it and be a better playground all around,” Dollar said.</div></body>

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The Festus City Council briefly discussed changing some of its rules of decorum during Monday’s work session, including shortening the amount of time people from outside city limits could speak. Following mounting tensions over a CRG data center development project, the council in August changed some rules of decorum,...

Festus council considers altering decorum rules

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The Festus City Council briefly discussed changing some of its rules of decorum during Monday’s work session, including shortening the amount of time peopl

Festus council considers altering decorum rules

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