The Warrenton Board of Aldermen met on April 16 and approved a site plan and conditional use permit for a new business as well as a zoning change. Before those measures the board took time to recognize outgoing Alderman Gary Miller. 

Miller was defeated in the April 2 election by incoming Alderman Brandon Lang. He lost that election by one vote, as Lang garnered 129 votes to Lang’s 130.

Miller was awarded a plaque by Mayor Eric Schlueter and recognized for his years of service to the city. He was also appointed to fill an open seat on the Warrenton Planning and Zoning Commission later in the meeting. 

The board met with Josh Hall, who plans to open a pet store, Royal Pets on Booneslick Road. Hall was seeking a conditional use permit to open his business and the approval of his proposed site plan for the store. 

Those measures passed through the planning and zoning commission with a few conditions,  the store cannot breed, kennel or groom dogs or cats on the property nor can it sell them. Hall was not concerned with the conditions as he said he plans to focus the store on smaller animals like fish and reptiles. 

Nevertheless, Alderman Roger Romaker asked for assurances that the store would not be purchasing any animals from puppy mills. Hall was quick to confirm that it would not be an issue. 

“We won’t have any cats or dogs,” Hall said. 

The board approved both the conditional use permit and site plan for Royal Pets and Hall will be moving forward with opening his business. 

They also approved a zoning change to a property on the north side of North Service Road East on the west side of Highway W. The 337 acre tract of land was recently annexed by the city and is currently owned by the Hickory Ridge Family LLC. 

The land is vacant and was previously zoned as agricultural, aldermen approved the change and rezoned it to M-1 light industrial which will allow for more extensive development on the property. 

Several changes to the city code regarding outdoor pools were also considered during the meeting, City Administrator Brandie Walters brought the first of those measures to the board’s attention. 

She said the planning and zoning commission had previously discussed the city’s swimming pool regulations and what measures could be taken to enforce them. 

“While we were digging into this we did find we do have enforcement however, we also had two separate codes, one from 2003 and one from 2018 that were conflicting,” Walters said. 

That code change was designed to clarify two other line items in city ordinances that were conflicting. A later measure was introduced to further manage the construction and maintenance of outdoor pools. 

That measure outlined the required setbacks for outdoor pools and their maintenance equipment from property lines. Eight feet of setback would be required from property and building lines for outdoor pools and the pumps and other equipment that come with them. 

Alderman Scott Schulze felt there were some inconsistencies in the language of the measure and while the board felt they would approve it, they postponed a vote to their next meeting so that the language could be adjusted. 

Aldermen also voted to reorganize their board and certify election results from the April 2 election. Following the certification it was decided that Alderman Jack Crump will continue to serve as board president.

John Struckhoff, director of operations, gave a report of some of the upcoming events and important dates in the city. Those included the City Cleanup day on May 18 and the blood drive on July 2.