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2018/12/24 - Mayor's Column: 2018, Take a Bow!

“An Open Door to O’Fallon”
A Weekly Note from Mayor Herb Roach
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Wow! We have already reached the end of 2018. As another successful year comes to a close, I would like to say THANK YOU to all of our residents, businesses, visitors, elected officials, schools, and O’Fallon employees for helping to make it an exciting year for O’Fallon. 

It was my second year as Mayor of O’Fallon, and I have to say that things just keep getting better and better!

There is so much to say about what was accomplished over the last year, but that may take all of 2019! So here is a list of some of the positives that have been achieved here in O’Fallon during 2018 by YOU and for YOU.

  • The City’s portion of the property tax rate was lowered for the second year in a row.
  • O’Fallon Station in downtown O’Fallon was opened.
  • The city-wide celebration “City Fest” returned with great success.
  • New residential construction exceeded last year’s results by approximately 20%.
  • Two new hotels began construction, another is being proposed.
  • Plans were approved for a new 40,000 sq. ft. cancer treatment facility on Regency Park.
  • Construction of HSHS’s new rehabilitation center started at the McKendree Metro RecPlex.
  • Construction began on Aberdeen Village, a new 240+ luxury townhome complex and retail stores, across from the RecPlex.
  • The Marching Panthers made the finals for the first time at the Band of America Competition.
  • The OTHS baseball team was one of the top ranked teams in the nation. 
  • The OTHS girls bowling team finished 2nd in the High School Nationals which were hosted here in O’Fallon for the first time at St. Clair Bowl.
  • For the first time in many years, a new building in downtown O’Fallon began construction.
  • O’Fallon held one of the BEST Christmas Parades around.
  • O’Fallon maintained its AA+ bond rating, the best bond rating in the Metro East Area and among the top 10% in the State of Illinois.
  • The O’Fallon Police Department received ILEAP accreditation.  They are only one of twenty-eight departments in the entire state and one of two cities south of Champaign to have the accreditation.
  • For the first time in the history of O’Fallon, the City went out to bid for the best rates for the investment of our city reserves and created a five-person committee to oversee investment decisions.
  • The City of O’Fallon added three new police officers for the first time in many years, bringing our staffing up to 50 officers, our highest level ever.
  • The city paved and lighted approximately 125 new parking spots in the downtown area.
  • Southview Plaza has begun redevelopment.
  • Several new businesses have opened in O’Fallon and numerous others have expanded.
  • A new office park is being proposed on Green Mount Road & several others are being worked on.

I would like to wish everyone and their families a very happy and prosperous new year. I am confident that 2019 will be even better!    

As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open!