Another chain business in O’Fallon? National auto shop sets sights on southwest IL city

Another national chain business appears headed to O’Fallon.

Christian Brothers Automotive, an auto service center with more than 250 locations nationwide, could have its first southwestern Illinois site soon near Hartman Lane and Frank Scott Parkway.

The company has three locations in the St. Louis region — in West County, Arnold, and St. Peters.

Plans for the auto repair and service shop at 1310 Thouvenot Lane have advanced for final approval to the O’Fallon City Council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The 1.25-acre site is an undeveloped commercial property west of Rainstorm Car Wash. Applicant Billy Green of Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation is seeking a planned use designation. The 5,133 square foot shop would have a small retail space inside.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this summer, Christian Brothers Automotive was opened by local entrepreneur Mark Carr outside of Houston in 1982. It began franchising operations in 1994.

For the third consecutive time, the company was ranked first in customer satisfaction among aftermarket full-service maintenance and repair providers in the J.D. Power 2022 index study.

The plans were brought before the O’Fallon Planning Commission on July 26 and have moved forward through the committees without dissent.

For more information, visit www.cbac.com.

In other action, requests for video gaming terminals are moving forward from two local businesses — 1st Street Lounge, 119 W. First St.; and BB.Q Chicken, 1334 Central Park Drive, Suite 6.

Because both businesses have been in operation since 2020 and have a liquor license in good standing with the city for more than two years — the minimum length of time required to apply — these two requests have been recommended without objection.

Tracy Moreland, owner of 1st Street Lounge, seeks the planned use to install six video gaming terminals, while Lee KiJung of BB.Q Chicken would like to put in four to six.

There would be no change to the businesses’ hours.

The council OK’d amending the FY23 O’Fallon fire department budget to finalize the purchase of a ladder truck.

In the 2021 budget, the department made a down payment of $480,220 on a truck, which cost $960,440. They requested a transfer of $477,709 from reserves for the balance due, and to make the necessary amendments to the 2023 budget.

The council agreed to allow Vero Fiber Networks use of existing city right-of-way to construct fiber optic cable for O’Fallon Township High School District 203 and O’Fallon District 90. Vero Fiber, located in Boulder, Colorado, won the state bid for a new network buildout to connect all the schools.

Police Hiring Changes

In an effort to boost recruitment, the council has taken the first step to changing procedures the Board of Fire and Police Commission had previously followed.

An ordinance eliminating some inefficiencies could be in place after final approval Tuesday, Sept. 6.

During the council’s public safety committee meeting Aug. 8, Kirk Brueggeman, director of public safety, proposed changes to the code of ordinances to streamline the recruiting process.

Attracting more qualified candidates

One proposal scratched separate lists for lateral entry and traditional applicants, combining them into one master list the police chief can use to fill vacancies — based on operational needs.

With dwindling interest in law enforcement as a career, Brueggeman said the department currently does not have a strong pool of candidates to draw from to fill open positions. The OPD currently has 46 officers and is authorized for 50.

The new moves could help attract more qualified individuals, he said.

Mayor’s Report

In board appointments, Doug Distler was seated on the Historic Preservation Commission in O’Fallon for a three-year term expiring Aug. 15, 2025, and Valerie Hancock for a two-year term expiring in 2024.

Linda Mitchell, Linda Kahley, and Larry Morrison were re-appointed to the O’Fallon Library Board for three-year terms expiring Sept. 1, 2025.

Peyton Kreke, a sixth grader at First Baptist Academy, was Mayor for the Day.

Other city news

Police Officer Rick Orr is retiring Saturday, Aug. 20. Most recently, he was the school resource officer at OTHS and served the city for 22 years. The new SRO will be Diane Dukart, formerly Coppotelli.

Final reminder for the 2022 Citizen Survey: Responses will be accepted until midnight Tuesday, Aug. 19. Randomly selected households received an invitation to participate earlier this summer via USPS. If selected, please submit feedback prior to the deadline.

This story was originally published August 16, 2022 at 1:12 PM.