Print
Share page with AddThis

2018/01/19 - Walter's Blog: Looking Ahead to 2018

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

I previously looked back at the Best of 2017, and today we look forward to 2018. Here is a summary of issues and projects that will command our attention this year:

Budget: Budget challenges will continue to be the rule for 2018. While the state government approved an annual budget in 2017, there are still significant challenges. O’Fallon’s revenues are solid, but the state government’s deficits bring ongoing uncertainty. One of the priorities in this year’s budget is to add 2-3 additional police officers to sustain the outstanding public safety in our community. The O’Fallon City Council reduced the property tax levy for 2018 to provide some tax relief.

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:

  • Family Sports Park Expansion: The all-weather baseball and softball fields will be complete this spring and 2018 will be the first full year for the eight all-weather soccer fields. Fourteen soccer tournaments are already booked this year in addition to full schedule of baseball and softball leagues and tournaments.
  • Downtown Plaza: The pavilion and parking lot will be constructed this spring and will allow for more festivals and special events in historic downtown O’Fallon.

Attracting Businesses:

  • Marriott Town Place Suites: This new hotel is under construction and will open this spring on Regency Park Drive across from the Hilton Garden Inn and Regency Conference Center.
  • Old City Hall: The vacant building in downtown O’Fallon is being remodeled and will host the Karla Smith Foundation.
  • Southern Illinois Health Foundation: This organization purchased the City-owned building at 200 S. Lincoln (formerly FirstBank) and will include new medical offices in downtown O’Fallon.
  • Southview Plaza Redevelopment: This shopping center has been declining for years and desperately needs to be redeveloped. We have been negotiating with the property owner and are hopeful there will be progress in 2018.
  • Gander Outdoors/Camping World: Gander Mountain closed in 2017 when it was purchased by Camping World. There was an announcement recently that the store will reopen this spring as “Gander Outdoors” and will look somewhat different than the former store.
  • Sugarfire Restaurant: This popular St. Louis BBQ restaurant is under construction and will open in 2018.
  • 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. We will work hard in 2018 to encourage development in that new business corridor.

Public Infrastructure: 2018 will be 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.
  • Presidential Street stormwater improvements: Phase 3 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/Central Park Drive Intersection Improvements: Extra turn lanes will be built on Green Mount Road and Central Park Drive to relieve congestion in that busy area.
  • 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.

Elections: While municipal elections were in 2017, the November 2018 elections may bring some changes to the City Council. Aldermen Matt Smallheer and Rich Meile are running for County Board seats and Alderman Andy Lopinot is running for County Treasurer. If they win their elections, three new aldermen will have to be appointed to fill their vacancies on the City Council.

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.