2018/12/26 - Walter's Blog: Best of 2018

As we come to the end of another year, it is common to see “Best of” lists in newspapers, magazines, and web sites. I am not too proud to jump on the bandwagon, so here is my “Best of the City of O’Fallon 2018” (not necessarily ranked in priority order).

Economic Development

In the wake of the state government’s financial insolvency, we have focused 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:

• Family Sports Park Expansion: The all-weather baseball and softball fields completed the first full year for the eight all-weather soccer fields. Fourteen soccer tournaments were held this year in addition to a full schedule of baseball and softball leagues and tournaments.
• O’Fallon Station: The downtown pavilion and parking lot opened in November and hosted several holiday events. The pavilion will allow for more festivals, markets, and special events in historic downtown O’Fallon.

Attracting Businesses:

• Marriott Town Place Suites: This new hotel is under construction and will open soon on Regency Park Drive across from the Hilton Garden Inn and Regency Conference Center.
• Old City Hall: The vacant building in downtown O’Fallon opened this year and houses the Karla Smith Foundation.
• Southview Plaza Redevelopment: This shopping center was demolished this year and we are hopeful it will be redeveloped in 2018.
• Sugarfire Restaurant: This popular St. Louis BBQ restaurant opened in O’Fallon to rave reviews.
• Downtown Redevelopment: In addition to O’Fallon Station, downtown O’Fallon continued to revitalize itself with the construction of a new storefront on First Street, the Outdoorsman Lounge expansion, and the renovation of two structures.

Public Infrastructure: 2018 was another busy year for construction. Here are some highlights:

• Milburn School Road/Old Collinsville Road Roundabout: This is the last of the road improvements on Milburn School Road and opened in August.
• Presidential Street stormwater improvements: Phase 3 included drainage, sewer, and road improvements along East Jefferson and adjacent alleys. This is funded through the voter-approved Proposition S ½-cent sales tax.
• Green Mount Road/Central Park Drive Intersection Improvements: Extra turn lanes are under construction on Green Mount Road and Central Park Drive to relieve congestion in that busy area.
• Pavement Management Program: Following a comprehensive study, 2018 was the first year of our new asphalt paving program that will our streets in good condition.

CityFest

O’Fallon had been without a major community festival for several years. In 2018, a group of passionate volunteers revived the concept with CityFest in August. CityFest was an overwhelming success and plans are already underway for next year’s festival.

Recognition

Long-time Fire Chief Brent Saunders retired in 2018. He served with the O’Fallon Volunteer Fire Department for 35 years and had been Fire Chief since 2009. Chief Saunders prepared the Fire Department to handle O’Fallon’s growth and he will leave a lasting legacy. After a national search, O’Fallon Fire Department Lt. Brad White was selected as the new Fire Chief to carry on the Volunteer Fire Department’s proud tradition and position the department for the future.

Finally, we said goodbye to four elected officials in 2018. Alderwoman Courtney Marsh resigned from the City Council in July. In the November elections, Aldermen Matt Smallheer and Rich Meile were elected to the St. Clair County Board and Alderman Andy Lopinot was elected to be County Treasurer.

All four of these individuals are thoughtful public servants who love O’Fallon and devoted many hours to making O’Fallon the special community it is today. I am grateful for their service and O’Fallon is better because of them.