The Byrnes Mill Board of Alderpersons has a new member.
Mayor Rob Kiczenski nominated Nicole Pettis, a Ward 3 resident, to fill a vacancy on the board and the rest of the board voted 5-0 to appoint her to the position.
She replaces Roben Harris, who recently resigned her seat on the board.
Pettis, 52, will serve out the rest of Harris’ unexpired term, which ends in April 2024.
She said she’s looking forward to working on behalf of the city.
“I think it’s very important we take pride in our community, and I want to represent the people in my ward and make sure we’re doing right by the community,” Pettis said. “It’s a nice, quaint community that I want to help grow, whether that’s through developing a little bit more with businesses or bringing in more homes for people to live there. Overall, I want to be engaged and active in helping out the community.”
Kiczenski said Harris resigned this month, after being elected to the board in April 2022.
“She’s moved out of the city of Byrnes Mill, so she’s no longer able to serve as Ward 3 alderperson,” he said.
Kiczenski said he believes Pettis will serve the city well.
“Nicole has been in Byrnes Mill for over two years. She’s a good fit,” he said.
Ward 2 Alderperson Cindy Davies referred Pettis for the vacancy.
“I was kind of floored,” Pettis said. “I see so much potential in Byrnes Mill now that I just want to be able to help it grow whichever way that is.”
After an interview with Kiczenski, Pettis, who has never held a political office before, said she knew she wanted to serve on the board.
“Being that I’ve never been an alderperson, I’m kind of learning as I go,” Pettis said. “As far as goals go, our biggest goals for Byrnes Mill are to build it up, grow the community, bring in more businesses, help with our police force and bring in good police officers. I just want to bring in a different perspective for the community.”
Pettis said she has a background in real estate, graphic design and management. She currently works for the Single Family Rentals 3 (SFR3) hedge fund in St. Louis, which “buys properties, fixes them up, and makes them rentals,” she said.
Pettis said she also has a business called Nikki B Design and buys distressed properties in St. Louis County, Webster Groves and Shrewsbury, rehabs them and sells them.
While Pettis moved from Milwaukee to Byrnes Mill three years ago, she said she grew up in High Ridge and is a 1989 Northwest High School graduate.
She also graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and worked in that field for 15 years before leaving the corporate world for real estate in 2018.
Pettis and her husband, Michael Pettis, have a 12-year-old son, Logan.
“I’m a mom, I’m an artist and designer, and I’m very positive, outgoing and energetic,” she said.
Possible political future
Pettis said she hasn’t been too politically active, but the alderperson position may serve as a stepping stone for future political aspirations
“I’ve been thinking about it long and hard,” she said. “I have a really strong desire to be in a political role, but I’ve had friends who have been there and it’s not an easy road. As far as political ambition, I think about it off and on, but it’s not something I’m driven for, yet.”
For now, Pettis said she wants to dedicate her time to learning about the Byrnes Mill board functions and helping the city. Her priorities include making sure the budget is working for the city’s interests and helping the community thrive.
“I’m not going to overstep boundaries or step on toes by throwing my ideas out until I get a good feel of what the council’s direction is going to be,” Pettis said.