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2016/12/13 - Walter's Blog: An Honor to Serve Under Mayor Graham

Democracy on the Front Lines
City Administrator’s Blog
Walter Denton

December 13, 2016

Mayor Gary Graham recently announced he will not be running for re-election in the April municipal election. He has served as mayor for almost 20 years and has made a significant impact on the City of O’Fallon. I have worked for him as city administrator for 14 of those years and it has been an honor and a privilege.

Over the years, we have a kept a list of the City’s major projects and achievements. Here is a summary of what has happened over the past 20 years under Mayor Graham’s tenure:

Public Safety:

  • New O’Fallon Public Safety Facility
  • Two new Fire Stations, including a new Fire Headquarters
  • Crime Free Rental Housing Program
  • Joint 911 Dispatch Center with Fairview Heights and Shiloh

Public Works/Infrastructure

  • Green Mount Road Interchange
  • Central Park Drive
  • Seven Hills Road Reconstruction
  • Kyle Road Reconstruction
  • Simmons Road Reconstruction
  • Milburn School Road Reconstruction
  • Old Collinsville Road Reconstruction
  • 5 Roundabouts
  • Asphalt Paving Program
  • Presidential Street stormwater improvements
  • Southview Gardens stormwater improvements
  • Automated water meter reading
  • Three new water storage tanks
  • Water booster pump station
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion

Parks and Recreation:

  • O’Fallon Family Sports Park: baseball and soccer fields, Splash Pad, walking trail, playgrounds, pavilions.
  • Thoman Park
  • Rock Springs Park, Nature Reserve and Dog Park
  • Illini Bike Trail
  • O’Fallon Skate Park

Economic Development:

  • Regency Conference Center
  • Commercial Development along Central Park Drive and Green Mount Road: hotels, restaurants, Menard’s, Gander Mountain, auto dealers
  • HSHS-St. Elizabeth’s Medical Campus ($300+ million construction)
  • Construction and expansion of Exit 16 & Exit 21 at Interstate 64
  • Downtown O’Fallon revitalization
  • Four Points Center/McKendree Metro Rec-Plex

Recognition

  • President, Illinois Municipal League.
  • Third Best City in Illinois to raise a family.
  • Named the 5th best city for Illinois Families in 2016 by WalletHub.
  • Ranked as the 2nd best city in Illinois for young families in 2013.
  • Ranked the 103rd overall best small city in America and 30th in education and health out of 1,268 cities with a population between 25,000 and 100,000 by WalletHub.
  • Ranked as the 5th happiest city in Illinois by CreditDonkey, based on restaurants, crime levels, commute time, and household income.
  • Received the coveted Abilene Trophy in both 2012 and 2014 for the region’s support of Scott Air Force Base.
  • Scott Air Force was listed as the top place to be stationed and to live in the country by the Air Force Times.
  • The National Citizens Survey (2016) showed widespread satisfaction from the O’Fallon Community. The report states that “Almost all residents rated the quality of life in O’Fallon as excellent or good” and “almost all said that the city was an excellent or good place to live.”
    • 94% rate the Police Department as “Good” or “Excellent.”
    • 97% feel safe in their neighborhood.
    • 96% feel safe in Downtown O’Fallon.
    • 90% have an overall feeling of safety in O’Fallon.
    • 96% of residents rated O’Fallon as a good place to raise children.
    • 96% rate O’Fallon as a good place to live.
    • 90% rate the overall image of O’Fallon as “Good” or “Excellent.”
    • 88% rate their neighborhood as “Good” or “Excellent.”
    • 79% rate recreational opportunities as “Good” or “Excellent.”
    • 93% rate City parks as “Good” or “Excellent.”
    • 86% rate the Public Library as “Good” or “Excellent.”
    • 74% rate O’Fallon’s sense of community as “Good” or “Excellent.”
    • 94% would recommend O’Fallon to someone who asked.

Community Development

  • Home Rule Designation
  • 20 Years of Balanced Budgets and Operating in the Black
  • AA+ S&P Bond Rating, highest in southern Illinois
  • Population grew from approximately 15,000 residents to over 30,000
  • Trash and Recycling Contact with Waste Management
  • Municipal Electrical Aggregation Program
  • Long-Term Agreement with Illinois-American Water for Wholesale Water Rate
  • Fastest growing community in Southern Illinois
  • Joint Land Use Study and anti-encroachment plan in cooperation with Scott Air Force Base