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2020/01/30 - Walter's Blog: Looking Forward to 2020!

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

I previously looked back at the Best of 2019, and today we look forward to 2020. Here is a summary of issues and projects that will command our attention this year:

Recreational Cannabis: The City of O’Fallon will have an advisory question on the March 17 election whether there should retail cannabis stores in the city limits. While the vote is only advisory, the City Council is interested to know the opinions of the community on this important question. Even if you do not care in the primary election, please make your voice heard on this advisory question.

Census: The federal government conducts a Census every ten years. Getting a complete count of O’Fallon residents is important for many reasons: it determines representation for local, state, and federal elective offices and functions as a baseline for state and federal funding to local governments and school districts. The Census will be online this year, and we strongly urge you to complete Census forms when they are sent to you.

Economic Development: We will continue to focus on economic development to improve our local economy. We have new websites for economic development and the Downtown District to drive interest in doing business in O’Fallon.

Creating destinations:

  • Family Sports Park: Major soccer, baseball, and softball tournaments are scheduled this year. Tournament participants spend more than $100 per day while they are here, which contributes to the local economy. We are applying for a state grant to further improve the park.
  • O’Fallon Station: Last year’s Vine Street Market was an overwhelming success, and 2020 will feature an expanded Market to meet the demand. There will also be several new events and festivals to celebrate O’Fallon’s burgeoning Downtown District.

Attracting Businesses:

  • Rieder Road development: The I-64 interchange at Rieder Road opened in 2017, which will provide a new economic development corridor just outside the gates of Scott Air Force Base. Plans are underway to extend a sewer line down to the interchange and commercial construction should begin in 2020.
  • St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Cancer Center: The new cancer center will open soon and will provide state-of-the-art cancer treatments to the Metro East.
  • Hampton Inn: This new hotel is open for business next to the Regency Conference Center.
  • Fairfield Inn: Another new hotel is planned on Central Park Drive next to Gold’s Gym. The Drake Sports Bar and Grill also is planned next to the hotel.
  • Shops at Richland Creek: Construction should begin this year on this commercial development that will include restaurants, retails, office buildings.
  • Hi-Pointe Drive Inn: The popular St. Louis restaurant is expanding to O’Fallon at the corner of Hwy. 50 and Cambridge Blvd.
  • Seven Hills Road Senior Living Project: A large senior living complex is planned that will include memory care, assisted living, and independent villas.
  • Southview Plaza Redevelopment: The last building will be demolished this spring, and we are hopeful there will be some redevelopment on the property.
  • Downtown Redevelopment: In addition to O’Fallon Station, downtown O’Fallon continues to thrive with new stores. The City’s new Façade Improvement Program will result in some nicer storefronts in 2020.

Public Infrastructure: 2020 will be another busy year for construction. Here are some highlights:

  • Seven Hills Road Resurfacing: The road will be repaved from State Street to Troy-O’Fallon Road.
  • Hwy. 50/Old Collinsville Road Intersection: The project will construct right turn lanes along westbound Highway 50 and southbound Old Collinsville Road.
  • Pavement Management Program: $1.7 million will be spent to repave and repair O’Fallon streets. This is a multi-year project that will address the maintenance of all city streets.
  • Presidential Street stormwater improvements: Phase 4 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.
  • Holliday Drive Drainage Improvements: There are numerous drainage issues in the Southview Gardens subdivision and this project will address a bottleneck behind Holliday Drive.
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements: This is not a glamorous project, but we will spend $3 million this year to upgrade the sewer plant.

Budget: Budget challenges will continue to be the rule for 2020. While the we are excited about the growth around O’Fallon, there are rumblings about a possible recession ahead and we must be prepared for downturns in the economy.

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.