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09/14/15 - Walter's Blog: Milburn School Road Construction

If you live or travel in northern O’Fallon, I’m sure you noticed that a portion of Milburn School Road is closed (the road is scheduled to open in December). The closure has caused some traffic problems and inconveniences, but the project is the result of our community’s growing pains.

For many years, Milburn School Road was adequate as a rural road for farmers and a small number of rural residents. Then a major school and five new residential subdivisions were built, causing greater traffic demand and need for a better road.

The City of O’Fallon initially received state grants to rebuild Milburn School Road from Simmons Road to Milburn Parkway and construct a roundabout. We now have an urban road with curbs, gutters, drainage, and turn lanes. We later received state grants to rebuild the remainder of Milburn School Road from Milburn Parkway to Old Collinsville Road.

Due to challenges with right-of-way acquisition, we were forced to break up the remaining reconstruction into two phases. The first of these phases is underway from Old Collinsville Road east. The new road will be similar to the previous reconstruction.

Next year will involve further construction on Milburn School Road: finishing the last piece of the road between Old Collinsville Road and the OTHS Milburn Campus and the construction of roundabouts at Old Collinsville Road and Simmons Road. Some may ask why we don’t do all of the work at once and there are two primary reasons:

  1. Grants: We do not have enough money to rebuild the road and must apply for grants to assist with the funding. These grants often pay for 75-80% of the projects, so they provide significant savings for O’Fallon taxpayers. However, the grants are assigned for specific fiscal years and we have to apply for smaller grants over multiple years to complete the entire road.
  2. Property Acquisition: Once we receive the grants, we have to negotiate with property owners along the road for right-of-way and easements. These negotiations are usually constructive and lead quickly to resolution. However, one uncooperative property owner can hold up an entire project and delay construction for weeks or months.

I understand this is a lot of work and inconvenience over successive years, but the result will be a road that can handle the traffic demands of our growing community. This area of O’Fallon will continue to grow and our infrastructure must grow to accommodate. In the meantime, thank you for your patience and we will do our best complete the project as soon as possible.

 

Actions from Monday’s City Council meeting:
  • Resolution to replace HVAC replacement units at City Hall in an amount of $168,350: the existing units are old and at the end of their life cycle.
  • Resolution for the design of the State Street Water and Sewer Rehabilitation Project in an amount not to exceed $61,000: This is to replace old water and sewer lines near the Public Works Compound.
  • Resolution to proclaim support for the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Scott-Troy Road and Old Vincennes Trail: Traffic studies support a signal at the intersection but the intersection is under the jurisdiction of St. Clair County.
  • Resolution to replace the Community Park Restroom Facilities in the amount not to exceed $66,929: The restrooms near Blazier Field are old and obsolete and this will replace them.
  • Ordinance amending the Tax on Sale of Food and Beverages Prepared for Immediate Consumption: Staff discovered loopholes in the existing ordinance so these changes will ensure all businesses are treated fairly with the tax.
  • Ordinance approving the Final Plat for Four Points Center, Phase 1: This is the final plan for ice rink and aquatic complex at the Hwy. 50/Scott-Troy Road intersection.
  • Special Event for the Peel Restaurant Oktoberfest: event will be held on September 19 in downtown O’Fallon with food, drinks, and entertainment.
  • Motion to purchase a Slope Mower in an amount not to exceed $88,840: The City’s current slope mower broke down.
  • Motion to purchase a boring machine including a trade in the amount of $45,135: The City’s current boring machine needs to be replaced.