Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 11-29-23

8 I NEWS I
November 29, 2023
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE
@MIDRIVERS_NEWS
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
REGIONAL MAKERS • DESIGNERS • ARTISTS AT THE FOUNDRY ART CENTRE
12/1 from 5pm to 8pm & 12/2 from 11am to 5pm
foundryartcentre.org
The 505 Foundation donated $8,000 to the St. Charles County Police Department in memory of Sgt. John C.
Bush on Nov. 13. Presenting the award are members of Bush’s family.
(Source - both photos: St. Charles County)
NEWS
BRIEFS
O’FALLON
Road project funding,
plans remain tabled
Funding and plans for the new intersection
at Tom Ginnever Avenue and North
Cool Springs Road remain on hold until
Dec. 14.
O’Fallon has been seeking to use external
funds to help with the reconstruction
and replacement of the Tom Ginnever
Avenue and North Cool Springs Road
stop-controlled intersection with a roundabout
to mitigate congestion and delays,
and to improve safety through this intersection.
The project also would address
pedestrian improvements including the
installation of new 10-foot, shared-use
path sections within the intersection project
limits.
The total project cost is estimated to be
$1,518,000. The city has proposed to use
$986,700 in federal funding (65% of the
estimated project total) for all items that
are eligible for federal reimbursement.
Bill No. 7596, sponsored by Mayor Bill
Hennessy, would authorize an agreement
to use MoDOT Congestion Mitigation
and Air Quality Funding (CMAQ) for this
project. CMAQ funds actually are federal
funds passed through the East-West
Gateway Council of Governments and
MoDOT.
The City Council had planned to do a
second reading and a vote for passage of
the bill at its Oct. 26 meeting. However,
the bill was tabled in order to collect more
information and address concerns from
residents, especially related to the planned
roundabout.
At the Nov. 16 pre-council meeting workshop,
intersection plans were reviewed
in detail and discussed with the council,
focusing specifically on the proposed new
roundabout. However, at the regular council
meeting, the bill was left on the table.
Asked after the meeting about the bill,
Mayor Bill Hennessy explained, “It was
left on the table because both (Ward 1)
council members were excused from the
meeting and this is in their ward. I do
expect that the bill will removed from the
table at the December (14) meeting and
will be voted on.”
City sets 2023 property
tax rate
O’Fallon had established a 2023 general
property tax levy rate of $0.2917 per
$100 assessed valuation. However, the
city’s assessed property value after Board
of Equalization review increased by
$7,462,882 as compared to the information
used to calculate the initial tax levy rate.
Consequently, O’Fallon had proposed
legislation (Bill No. 7598) that would
reduce the general tax levy rate to $0.2909
per $100 assessed valuation. The higher
valuation and the lower rate would yield
the same amount of tax revenue. The debt
service tax levy rate portion of the property
tax would remain the same.
At its Nov. 16 meeting, the City Council
approved the bill by a vote of 8-0, setting
the 2023 general tax levy rate at $0.2909
per $100 assessed valuation. Council
members Deana Smith and Ron Epps
(both Ward 1) were absent/excused.
ST. CHARLES CITY
Helping Hands
donations sought
Through Friday, Dec. 8 residents can
donate winter coats, gloves and personal
County Executive Steve Ehlmann congratulates
Director of Administration Joann Leykam on her
Lifetime Public Service Award.
care items for residents in need. The items
will be distributed at the St. Charles Convention
Center’s annual Helping Hands for
the Holidays event on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
Donations can be dropped off at the following
St. Charles locations:
Saint Charles Convention Center
1 Convention Center Plaza
(636) 669-3000
Upper-level Administrative Offices from
8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Embassy Suites Hotel
2 Convention Center Plaza
(636) 669-3000
Donations may be dropped off in the
lobby 24/7.
St. Charles City Hall
200 N. Second Street, #2851
(636) 949-3200
Donations may be dropped off in the
lobby from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through
Friday.
New Frontier Bank
1771 Zumbehl Road
(636) 940-8740
Donations may be dropped off in the
lobby during regular business hours.
St. Charles Fire Station #4
3201 Boschertown Road
(636) 949-3250
Donations may be dropped off 24/7.