2020/12/28 - Mayor's Column: Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021!
An Open Door to O’Fallon”
A Weekly Note from Mayor Herb Roach
Many will say it is good to see 2020 come to an end and welcome to 2021. Here in the City, we are conservatively planning to continue to move O’Fallon forward.
Like everyone else, we have certainly had our challenges of keeping everything moving forward and looking out for our Staff, our Citizens, and our Businesses. And unfortunately, we had to do without some of our parades and festivals that we all enjoy.
The City Staff and City Council have stayed on top of not only the day-to-day functions, the new infrastructure work, the redevelopment of some sites that needed attention, and keeping us safe, but also continuing the forward progress of the City.
For the third year in a row, we will have issued over 475 building permits. This is the first time that this has happened in over 13 years. Incredible to think that this happened again this year with the pandemic. The last three of these years rank as some the best for number of building permits since we started keeping records of it, over 30 years ago.
2020 also marked the development of the new industrial area on Reider Road (Called the Mid America Commerce Center). It also marked the successful completion of the Vine Street Market, new lighting, a facade program, and a mural in the Downtown area. O’Fallon received several national and regional recognitions for our growth and being a good, safe, and affordable lace to live and to raise a family and much more.
But MOST IMPORTANTLY was YOU, our citizens, for your continued involvement during this trying time in the Community and your continued input and support of our churches, schools, businesses, charitable organizations and the City.
On behalf of the City Council and our City Staff, I would like to wish you and your family a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021!
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 (virtually, at least)!