Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Department Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Des Peres Public Safety Commission hears budget, hiring and response updates; minutes approved
Summary
Commissioners unanimously approved the April 20 minutes. Chief Eric Hall reported the department budget is trending at 53.86% remaining with small overages in overtime and tools, said the department has 12 applicants to replace a retired lieutenant, described a garage fire caused by a discarded cigar, and said the building project is nearing close-out.
At the June 15 meeting the Des Peres Board of Public Safety Commission unanimously approved the minutes of its April 20 meeting after a motion from Commissioner Robert Ashcraft and a second from Commissioner Caitie Zimmerman.
Chief Eric Hall summarized department operations. He said the budget is "trending at 53.86% remaining," with slight overages in overtime and in hardware and hand tools but no current concerns. The chief reported that, following Lt. Preuss's retirement, the department reviewed candidates and after initial screening has 12 applicants for the vacancy and plans to schedule pre-interviews.
Hall described an emergency-response call to a garage fire on White Rock Drive that occurred Sunday night; the department traced the cause to a cigar tossed into a garage trash can and received praise for the response from Commissioner Matt McGrath. He also said the department's building project is nearly complete, with final close-out documents and a few punch-list items remaining.
In other business, Alderman James Kleinschmidt reported a local bank purchase of an adjoining property and said the city will study visibility concerns about an exterior street sign at Manchester Road and Lockett Road; he also encouraged residents to complete the city's master park plan survey online. Chief Hall added that Cheesecake Factory plans to open at West County Center in October or November 2026.
The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
