Brentwood Aldermen Reject Locking City Into Using The Heights

An hour-long meeting of the Brentwood Board of Aldermen held on Monday to make progress on the Recreation Center resulted in more discussion and a failed motion.

The Brentwood Rec. Center is due for a rehab, but some residents would like to see it include more than an ice rink, possibly a workout facility. Recently the Warren Poll gave the city the results from its poll of Brentwood residents on the facility.

Much of the discussion Monday centered around whether Brentwood should have its own workout facility or should continue using the Heights in the 3-city agreement Brentwood has with Richmond Heights and Maplewood.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Maureen Saunders made a motion that the final plan state that Brentwood residents use the Heights workout facility, as it has in the past, and that Brentwood will not supply that for residents.

“I think we’ve gone around and around on this workout facility,” she said. “We have to make a decision in some direction.”

Ward 2 Alderwoman Cindy Manestar agreed, and seconded the motion. “I feel like we have a workout facility available, and it’s called The Heights,” Manestar said. She said there are workout facilities in the area, and they’re all busy, at certain times.

Ward 3 Alderman Keith Robertson pushed for a workout space.

“This won’t be a recreation center if we don’t have a workout space,” Robertson. “People want a town center. I don’t know what the problem is with a small workout room. We’re not saving any real money by not having a workout room.”

Ward 4 Alderman Kramer said he wasn’t present for the vote to keep the ice rink, and would have voted against it.

“I think there’s an emotional tie to that,” Kramer said of the rink. He said the Warren Poll indicated residents want a workout area more than an ice rink.

 In the vote, Aldermen Lee Wynn (Ward 2) and Patrick Toohey (Ward 4) joined Kramer and Robertson to defeat the motion that would have tied Brentwood to using The Heights for a workout space. Saunders, Manestar and Andy Leahy (Ward 3) voted for the measure. Ward 1 Alderman Anthony Harper was absent.