2017/01/17 - Walter's Blog: Looking Forward to 2017

January 17, 2017

I previously looked back at the Best of 2016, and today we look forward to 2017. Here is a summary of issues and projects that will command our attention this year:

Municipal Elections: 2017 will bring significant changes to the O’Fallon political landscape. After 20 years in office, Mayor Gary Graham is retiring. In addition to a new mayor, April’s municipal elections will bring a new City Clerk and at least three new aldermen.

Budget: Budget challenges will continue to be the rule for 2017. The state government still has not approved an annual budget and it is impossible to know what will be done (if anything). Amid this uncertainty, we will continue to be conservative in our budgeting. 2017 looks to be another challenging year financially, but we will continue to focus on proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars and to provide high quality services to O’Fallon residents.

Economic Development: In the wake of the state government’s financial insolvency, we must focus on economic development to improve our local economy. Destination O’Fallon is a comprehensive economic development strategy to create destinations to attract visitors to O’Fallon and to attract new businesses to locate in O’Fallon to grow the local economy.

Creating destinations:

• St. Elizabeth’s Hospital: The new hospital and medical office building are scheduled to open in November.
• McKendree Metro Rec-Plex: The ice rink, aquatic center, and fitness center recently opened and will attract hockey tournaments, swimming meets, and other events.
• Family Sports Park Expansion: A new complex with all-weather athletic fields will attract regional and national tournaments and more visitors to O’Fallon.
• Downtown Plaza: A community event space will allow for more festivals and special events in historic downtown O’Fallon.

Attracting Businesses:

• Marriott Town Place Suites: This new hotel will be located on Regency Park Drive across from the Hilton Garden Inn and Regency Conference Center.
• Old City Hall: The vacant building is being remodeled for commercial use in historic downtown O’Fallon.
• Downtown Redevelopment: City-owned properties on 1^st Street and Lincoln are being sold for commercial redevelopment.
• Southview Plaza Redevelopment: This shopping center has been declining for years and desperately needs to be redeveloped. We are hopeful a project will begin in 2017.
• Central Park Drive: Several vacant properties remain along this prominent retail commercial corridor and the City Council recently approved an economic development strategy to attract new businesses to O’Fallon.
• Bike Surgeon: The popular store is relocating to the old Scott’s Power Equipment building in historic downtown O’Fallon.

Public Infrastructure: 2017 will be another busy year for construction. Here are some highlights:

• Milburn School Road: The last section of the road should be completed in 2017. We received a state grant for this project.
• Presidential Street stormwater improvements: Phase 2 will include drainage and road improvements through the older part of town. This is funded through the voter-approved Proposition S ½-cent sales tax.
• Green Mount Road: As part of the St. Elizabeth’s Medical Campus improvements, Green Mount will be widened to five lanes with landscaped medians between Regency Park Drive and Hwy. 50. Construction began in 2016 and should be complete for the opening of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in November 2017.
• Rieder Road/I-64 interchange (Exit 21): This is not a City project, but will provide economic development opportunities along Rieder Road and Shiloh Valley Township Road. Completion is anticipated in 2017.

We live in an attractive and safe community with great neighborhoods, schools, and parks. The best of O’Fallon is yet to come and we will continue to work hard to provide exceptional services to our residents and to maintain O’Fallon’s superior quality of life.