09-19-13 - St. Joseph, MO

City Weekly
September 19, 2013
St. Joseph, Missouri
City news & information....
The Pony Express Championship
www.stjoemo.info
Channel 19
(816) 279-4YOU
by April Wyatt, Bode Ice Arena Concessions Manager
This weekend, the St. Joseph Figure Skating Club (STFSC) will host the 33rd Annual Pony Express Championships Competition with participants from fourteen clubs in Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Arkansas, and
Kansas. Skaters will have the opportunity to compete and earn medals (and bragging rights) in a variety of
events. Beginner skaters will be able to get a feel for performing in front of others. The public is invited to
come watch; you will be amazed by the poise and talents these skaters display. Admission is free and the
competition runs September 20 - 22; Friday 9am - 5pm, Sat 8am - 6pm, and Sunday features final rounds
from 8 - 11am, followed by basic skills rounds from noon - 2pm.
The Pony Express competition is the main annual SJFSC
fundraiser and supports the annual Spring Show with
skaters performing under bright spotlights in bedazzled costumes and a live
audience, plus many other club activities. Every year for Christmas, the club
skaters, along with basic skills skaters, entertain with another ice show for the
Mayor’s Christmas Party here at Bode Ice Arena.
Past SJFSC skaters have performed internationally on U.S. Junior World Teams,
the Dorothy Hamill Show, toured with Ice Capades and Disney on Ice. The SJFSC
has also been represented at National Collegiate Championships, both sectional and national Synchronized Championships, and the Special Olympic World
Games in South Korea. And, of course, there is Ryan Bradley, the 2011 U.S. National Figure Skating Champion.
Basic skills skating classes are offered at Bode Ice Arena in 6-week courses. The SJFSC welcomes skaters to join them and participate in competitions, seminars, and activities promoting the sport of skating.
It’s not just a rumor that Bode Ice Arena and the St. Joseph Figure Skating Club are two of St. Joseph’s best kept secrets. We encourage all to share this wonderful facility provided by the George Bode, Jr. Benevolent Trust. For information on the SJFSC, visit their
website at www.stjosephfsc.org. Come back, skate, and bring a friend. It is the coolest place in town.
Downtown TIF Application
by Clint Thompson, Planning & Community Development Director
The city has received a request from R&M Machine, LLC for approval of the Gilmore Building project at
107 South 6th Street located within the St. Joseph Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) redevelopment area that was approved by the City Council on June 29, 2009. The proposed project involves the
rehabilitation and restoration of an existing building at 107 South 6th Street for the development of retail
space and market rate apartments. The project is located within Redevelopment Project Area One of the
TIF redevelopment area within the Downtown TIF Redevelopment Plan area. The total cost for this project
is estimated at $1,883,457. This application requests TIF assistance in the amount of $291,000 for reimbursable project expenses. The remaining project costs will be funded by $1,007,457 in private costs incurred
by the developer and $585,000 in tax credits and grants.
Since there is an already established TIF Plan in place for this
particular project area, city staff’s review of this proposal was
different from previous reviews of TIF Plan applications. With
the approval of the Downtown TIF Plan, city staff determined
the application to be in conformance with applicable city
policies and state statutorily requirements in accordance
with Chapter 99 RSMo. This application seeks to capture TIF
assistance to finance only approximately 15% of the total
project costs. Without the assistance of this incentive, the
project is not financially feasible and renovation of this property will not occur. Even with these incentives, the developer
is projected to only receive a minimal return on investment.
The applicant is not seeking the issuance of TIF bonds to finance this project, but will be reimbursed on a “pay as you
go” basis that requires the applicant to front the initial cost of
the project and get reimbursed for eligible expenses as the
property generates TIF revenues in the future. It is the hope
that this project will be a catalyst to encourage other redevelopment within the TIF redevelopment area as the Uptown TIF Plan
envisioned. This is the second application the city has received for TIF assistance as part of the Downtown TIF Plan redevelopment
area.
Fire Prevention Hydrants
by Mike Dalsing, Fire Chief
Fire prevention is a part of development review and some of the most frequently asked questions
have to do with water supply and hydrant locations. If you want to build a new home or business, you
must have an adequate water supply and a hydrant within a certain distance. The city uses the International Fire Code as part of our building codes. For most business and residential facilities, you need
to have a hydrant within 400 feet of the structure. This is not as the crow flies, but as measured by an
approved route around the exterior of the facility or building. The distance from the hydrant must be
measured as the fire truck would drive to get to the structure. We have had hydrants within eye site of
the building, but not within the 400-foot distance due to hills, valleys, fences, or lack of access roads.
R-3 occupancies (single family residences) need to have a hydrant within 600 feet. A
building with a properly installed automatic sprinkler system can have the hydrant distance increased to
600 feet. A single family residence (R-3) with an approved automatic sprinkler system can be built with a
distance of 1,000 feet of the hydrant with the permission of the fire chief. Developers of housing tracts
could save considerable costs by not having to install hydrants at the 600-foot distance and homeowners should get a break on their house insurance for having a residential sprinkler system. This has also
been helpful to residents in the more rural areas of the city where hydrants are not as likely to be within
the required distance.
A couple of years ago, we requested, and the City Council approved, an exception for the Group U
structures (barns, outbuildings, sheds etc). Group U structures that are located in agricultural settings
(three acres or more) can be 1,000 feet from a hydrant and, in certain circumstances, that distance requirement may be lengthened with the permission of the fire chief. Again, this has been beneficial to
residents that live within the city, but in rural areas as they can now build barns or sheds that don’t meet
the normal distance requirements.
What’s Happening?
City Manager’s Office...
Next week is Employee Appreciation Week, and as a
part of the activities, employees will be recognized
for years of service. Employees are recognized in increments of 5 years of service starting at 10 years. The
83 employees to be recognized have a total accumulation of 1,645 years of service to the city. Congratulations and thank you for your dedication.
Administrative Services...
• Building maintenance received a total of 39
applications for the part-time custodian position.
Staff will plan to start interviews with the top five
candidates.
City departments at a glance...
Fire Department...
Staff visited the Conrad Repair Facility in
Olathe, Kansas to view several new Pierce
trucks that were recently built for the Wichita
Fire Department.
Police Department...
The police department would like to
congratulate Sergeant Ron Gordon on his
retirement. Sergeant Gordon will take a
position in the department as a computer
systems administrator.
Planning & Community Development...
• Human resources has been busy working on
distributing notices... Medicare Part D, Affordable
Care Act, and vacation balances have been sent out.
• Steve Hofferber traveled to Fremont, Nebraska to learn
about their anti-litter campaign.
• Social Media Stat of the Week: The city has 1,774 Likes
on Facebook (www.facebook.com/stjoemo) and 832
followers on Twitter (www.twitter.com/citystjoemo).
• Chief building official, Austin Rice, along with inspectors
Steve Petrovick and Tony Zuchowski attended the Keller
Fire Safety Training this week in Kansas City.
Parks, Recreation & Civic Facilities...
A broken water main forced the closure of the Remington
Nature Center earlier this week. Luckily, the break was outside of the building and no displays were damaged. Crews
were able to make the necessary repairs and the facility
was able to reopen for business on Wednesday.
Legal Department...
Damon Cross, a representative with American Traffic Solutions, visited with city prosecutor, Rebecca
Spencer and Sgt. Richard Ketchem with the police
department traffic unit earlier this week for purposes of reviewing the functionality of the city’s
red light camera procedures since going “live.”
Health Department...
Public Works & Transportation...
Water Protection administration and staff attended the 1st Annual Missouri Water Environmental Association (MWEA) Stormwater/Watershed Management Conference this week in Columbia. The conference discussed best management practices to channel and control stormwater runoff as well as national trends and pending
limits for quality standards of the runoff.
• Animal Control & Rescue was awarded $62,000
through Petsmart Charities for a program which will
focus on underserved areas within the community.
The majority of the funding will go directly to spaying and neutering dogs and cats in the target areas.
Funding will be available that will pay for vaccinations and microchips as well as free vaccination clinics in the target area.
• Congratulations to Connie Werner on her promotion
to clinic supervisor.
Money, Money, Money Did You Know?
• On average, a Zamboni machine travels close to 2,000
miles each year in the course of resurfacing, at a blazing
speed of 9 miles per hour.
A resolution was approved authorizing the purchase of
one trash truck from Elliott Equipment Company for the
amount of $81,323 for the Parks, Recreation & Civic Facilities Department. The department provides trash collection
for each of its parks, facilities, and boulevard system daily.
CIP
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
Your Tax
Dollars At Work
• The city-initiated Downtown TIF District was created to
encourage private re-investment back downtown as
part of the DREAM Initiative.
• The first American building code was enacted in 1631
by Governor John Winthrop of Boston, Massachusetts,
and outlawed the building of wooden chimneys and
thatched roofs on homes.
Creature Feature
The wall sheeting is being installed at Fire Station #4. This
project is scheduled to be completed October 2013.
Zip is a 1-year-old, neutered
male pointer and graduate
of the Puppies for Parole
program. The cost associated with adopting him is $15
(adoption $10 and city tag
$5. He is current on vaccines
and has a microchip).
For information call 271-4877
Hours of operation:
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 1:00 - 5:30pm
Wednesday 1:00 - 6:30pm
Friday & Saturday 1:00 - 4:30pm
Property Maintenance Update
116 Division
The owners of 116 Division were
contacted requesting the removal
of all trash and debris from the property. Upon re-inspection, the owner
had not complied, so the property
was cleaned by the work crew and
the bill was sent to the owner.
BEFORE
AFTER
To Your Health
Whooping Cough
Whooping cough cases are escalating in the United States,
and many American adults are unknowingly exposing vulnerable babies to the potentially deadly disease because
their vaccinations are not up-to-date.
Whooping cough easily spreads within households, day
care facilities, schools, and neighborhoods. Most deaths
from whooping cough occur in children younger than three
months old, and most infants who get whooping cough are
infected by an older child or adult with the illness.
Parks, Recreation
& Civic Facilities
Featured Activities...
Hyde Park
Southside Fall Festival
Expectant parents should have a conversation about the
vaccine with their family and close friends before the baby is
born, to allow time for them to get their vaccine up-to-date.
If parents begin to take this approach, it may have a very
positive impact decreasing the number of newborns who
become severely ill or die as a result of whooping cough.
Whooping cough recently reached its highest level in the
United States in 50 years. The disease can be serious or fatal
in unvaccinated newborns.
Public Safety Corner
Arson
Arson is defined as the intention to start a hostile fire which
threatens harm and has no socially condoned purpose. In
2007, 32,500 intentional structure fires were set, causing
$733 million in property damage and over 250 deaths.
Through State Farm’s Arson Dog Program, the St. Joseph
Fire Department has a valuable resource that can have an
immense impact on deterring arson related crimes as well
as providing educational opportunities to their communities. The Arson Dog Program was established in 1993 and
more than 250 arson dog teams have been placed in 43
states and Canada since its inception. The fire department
received Phoenix in 2011.
Each arson dog team (K-9 and handler) is required to complete a five-week training class and pass a series of tests to
be certified as an arson dog team. All K-9s for the program
are Labrador Retrievers or a lab mix. Labs are chosen due
to their superior ability to discriminate scents, their outgoing personality, and their love to work attitude. Just as dogs
have been trained for years to detect bombs and narcotics,
arson dogs are trained to detect accelerants or flammable
liquids such as gasoline and kerosene that arsonists use to
start fires.
Dates:
September 20 - 22
Times:
Friday, Noon-10pm (festival)
Saturday, 9:30am, 5K Run/Walk
Saturday,10am, parade
Saturday, 10am-10pm (festival)
Sunday, 9:30am - 5pm (festival)
Website:www.facebook.com/southsidefallfestival
The Southside Fall Festival celebrates 25 years this weekend with “25 Years of Memories.” Grand Marshalls this yearare Fred and Randi Banker, who have worked tirelessly for
many organizations in our community. Favorite local entertainers will be on stage throughout the weekend with music ranging from bluegrass, rock, country, and classic with
fireworks on Friday night. Craft booths are a huge hit and
the food is outstanding! You don’t want to miss this one!
JRP Senior Center...
Weekly Cafeteria Menu
Located at 100 South 10th Street - St. Joseph, MO
CAFETERIA HOURS:
Tuesdays - Fridays from 11am - 12:30pm
CAFETERIA OPEN TO ALL AGES
Meal is $4.00 and includes entree, two side dishes,
bread, and coffee or tea.
MENU September 24 - 27
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday Friday
Ham & Beans
Beef & Noodles
Liver & Onions
Pork Roast
Menu Subject to Change
Groups of 7 or more, call for reservations.
Get Connected
DATE
TIME
City of St. Joseph public meeting information ...
EVENT
LOCATION
September 24
4pm
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Council Chamber, City Hall
September 26
7pm
Planning Commission
Council Chamber, City Hall
Full-Time City Job Opportunities
Visit www.stjoemo.info for more information ...
POSITION
WAGE
DEPARTMENT
DEADLINE TO APPLY
Firefighter
$31, 233 - Annually
Fire
Applications taken year-round
Police Officer
$14.51 - Hourly
Police
Applications taken year-round
Part-Time City Job Opportunities
Visit www.stjoemo.info for more information ...
POSITION
WAGE
DEPARTMENT
DEADLINE TO APPLY
Fitness Class Instructor
$15 - Hourly
Parks, Recreation & Civic Facilities
Open Until Filled
Council Week In Review
Your mayor and council members community involvement ...
DATE
EVENT
WHO ATTENDED
September 10
Pony Express Community Bank Golf Outing
Mayor Falkner
Y-Fry Reunion
Mayor Falkner
September 11
Patriot Day at the National Military Heritage
Museum
Mayor Falkner
September 12
Edmund J. Eckel Exhibit Opening
Mayor Falkner
September 13
Paint It Gold Friday
Mayor Falkner, Jones
Informational Segments
Current video segments running on Channel 19 ...
TOPIC
DEPARTMENT/ORIGINATOR
Combined Sewer Overflow
Public Works & Transportation
Get Connected
General
St. Joe FIT!
• Channel 19 •
Parks, Recreation & Civic Facilities
Neighborhood Watch
Police Department
School Busses
General
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Public Works & Transportation
Around Town...
Take advantage of what our community has to offer...
DATE
TIME
EVENT
LOCATION
September 19 - 22
varies
Pony Express Figure Skating Competition
Bode Ice Arena
September 20 - 22
varies
Southside Fall Festival
Hyde Park
Irish Festival
Coleman Hawkins Park at Felix Street
Square
Bluegrass Battles Hunger
Coleman Hawkins Park at Felix Street
Square
September 21
September 27 - 28
11am - 7pm
varies
September 28
10am - 5pm
Smithsonian Museum Day - Free Admission
Remington Nature Center
September 28
11am - 3pm
Make and Take Craft - Bats!
Remington Nature Center
September 28
8pm
PAA presents Cirque Zuma Zuma
Missouri Theater
October 5
8am
Paint The Parkway Pink
Hyde Park
October 5
10am
Josephine Expo
Civic Arena
October 5
7:30pm
St. Joseph Symphony presents Brilliance of Brass
Missouri Theater
October 6
2pm
Crop Walk
Hyde Park
October 11 - 13
varies
PumpkinFest
Patee Park
October 12
9am
American Crown Pre-Session Nationals Wrestling Tourna- Civic Arena
ment
October 12
9am - 3pm
October 19
October 19 - 20
Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collection
Event
Remington Nature Center Parking Lot
10am
St. Joe FIT - Zumba Block Party
Bartlett Park
varies
Big Buck Classic Gun Show
Civic Arena
enjoy your weekend at the
Southside Fall Festival!
Cable Channel 19
St. Joseph 2010 - 2014 City Council
Mayor Bill Falkner
(816) 271-4640 • [email protected]
Deputy Mayor Byron Myers Sr.
(816) 273-3108 • [email protected]
Donna Jean Boyer, Councilmember-At-Large
(816) 279-5259 • [email protected]
Jeff Penland, Councilmember-At-Large
(816) 341-4502 • [email protected]
Pat Jones, District I
(816) 244-6229 • [email protected]
Joyce Starr, District II
(816) 244-3906 • [email protected]
PJ Kovac, District III
(816) 261-2934 • [email protected]
Gary Roach, District IV
(816) 341-4506 • [email protected]
Barbara LaBass, District V
(816) 233-9838 • [email protected]
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Phone...
279-4YOU
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TV...
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“City of St. Joseph MO”
Front (L-R) Bill McKinney-Parks, Recreation & Civic Facilities; Chris Connally-Police
Channel
Middle (L-R) Carolyn Harrison-Administrative Services;
Debra Bradley-Health; Lisa Robertson-Legal
Back (L-R) Mike Dalsing-Fire; Bruce Woody-City Manager; Online streaming of live and archived City Council and Planning
Jody Carlson-Public Works and Transportation; Clint Commission meetings available at www.stjoemo.info/media
Thompson-Planning and Community Development