For those not wanting to see a QuikTrip next to the Maplewood Richmond Heights high school and middle school, yesterday was one step toward that goal.

Powell and Ken Cohen turned in petitions containing 1,099 signatures to the Maplewood city clerk Thursday afternoon.

"It's one step in a marathon," organizer Tonya Powell said.

They’re hoping that of those, the St. Louis County Election Board will validate 1,038, which would trigger the referendum process on the ordinance that allowed QuikTrip to move from its location on Big Bend Boulevard to the northwest corner of Big Bend and Manchester Road.

Powell and Cohen are part of a group not wanting a generation four QuikTrip built on the corner, mainly for reasons of student safety, they say.

The election board will have 20 days to review the signatures. If any are incorrectly signed, such as a middle initial not included, the petitioners will have five days to make corrections. Powell said all signers are registered voters in Maplewood, which is required.

She said people were generally in favor of signing, but it depended on the neighborhood.

If at least 1,038 validated signatures remain after the validation process, the city council will be forced to take another vote on the issue.

If they vote against it the second time the ordinance is dead. If they vote the same way they voted originally, to pass it, then the ordinance will go to the voters in the April general election. The ordinance passed 7-1 in the first vote.

More in Patch on the possible QuikTrip move:

• Councilman Barry Greenberg: QuikTrip Move Would "Benefit the City and Citizens"
• MRH School Board Protests QuikTrip Move in New Letter
• Petition for Referendum - So Many Questions!
• Pro QuikTrip Flyer Hits Maplewood Mailboxes, Heats Up Conversation