McKay: Experienced Council Member is Residents' Liaison

Ward 7 Councilwoman Karen McKay said nothing beats experience when it comes to serving on the Florissant City Council.

McKay, who's served the ward for 12 years, is against challenger on the April 3 ballot. 

Experience is critical now, she said. “I really believe that our future will be based on the decisions we make today,” McKay said.

For instance, while economic development is critical, she said cities often use tax incentives needlessly. McKay did not support tax increment financing (TIF) or a .

She said she’s studied the issue “and other states have not overused incentives the way we have in Missouri.” McKay said cities follow guidelines, but much is left up to elected officials’ judgment calls.

She said new council members often lack experience in such issues.

“Experience comes with sitting in and being part of the process through the years,” she said.

Meeting residents

Being in touch with residents helps, she said. Email and phone calls can’t replace meeting residents face-to-face, she said.

“I hold so many meetings—ward meetings, N meetings, or meetings I invite administration to come to get information to residents,” McKay said.

When robberies on Grenoble and Robert in her ward attracted media attention, she called a neighborhood meeting inviting police officials.

Residents involved in Neighborhood Watch called her and told her police had already solved the crimes. She set up a meeting with police and neighbors, including the victims.

Neighborhood Watch is critical to public safety. She encourages people to put their noses to the window and be mindful of their surroundings.

“Why would you see a truck pull up to your neighbor’s house and not know your neighbor did not sell their house?” she asked. “Why would you not call the police?”

Streets, property values

Good streets and neighborhood aesthetics are important to residents.

“The thing neighbors call the most about is the house down the street with the trash can sitting out or the house with the derelict car,” McKay said.

Housing stock is aging and foreclosures hit Florissant like other cities. The city has to enforce its codes or see property values decline, she said. She encourages residents to call her with complaints if they won’t contact the city directly.

are the next most frequent complaint.

“I see the complaints out on websites about the streets. I disagree with a lot of it,” McKay said. “Over the winter, the streets get torn up. You get potholes. But in the spring they’re fixed and maintained.”

The city could do a $30-million- to $50-million bond issue to replace aging infrastructure, she said.

“But I want input from the citizens and I want them to have information on what that would entail,” McKay said. “Is it a top priority for citizens? That’s something I’ll put out there at my ward meetings. Everything costs money.”

Budget and public safety

Citizens often question how the city spends money.

“Our budget is very hard to read. I’ve complained about it for years,” she said. McKay said the police department budget is easy to read. She believes other departments should mirror the police for transparency.

She also said the police department needs to grow, especially if the city grows or expands by annexation.

“If we add to our city, I believe we need more officers on the street,” she said.

McKay said she’s lived in Florissant for 60 years.

“We were born here. Our morals and our religious background were formed here,” she said. “It’s a great place to be and it’s a great place to be from.”