An Open Door to O'Fallon

Snowfall Recap, Record Permits, Upcoming Town Hall

I want to cover three items this week.

First, I want to give a big THANK YOU to our Public Works Staff for the around the clock work that they did during last week’s snow. They went around the clock from Saturday through Tuesday night. And then again, Friday through Sunday. They worked to plow over 170 miles of streets throughout the city.

They had about a dozen vehicles out on the streets. With the fact that many of the streets required multiple trips, they totaled well over 4,000 miles during that time.

In addition to that, many of the people on the water and sewer staff also came in when not on the trucks or tractors to take care of normal day to day work that needs to be done. 

For those that don’t know it, in cases like this the city is broken into sections and each section had staff assigned to those streets to make sure that the entire city was being covered.

The second item is that the city O’Fallon set a record for building permits issued in 2024. There were 852 permits issued with a total value of over $115 Million.

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Democracy on the Front Lines

2025 Highlights

I previously looked back at 2024 and today we look forward to 2025. It should be a busy year, so here is a summary of issues and projects that will command our attention this year:

Community Park Enhancement Project: Construction began in 2024 for a Community Park facelift including a new pool, amphitheater, community center, walking trail, and outdoor event space. The project is scheduled to be complete in June 2025, and we are anxious for an exciting first season!

Family Sports Park Improvements

· Soccer Field 9 & 10 Lights: We received a state tourism grant to install lights on Fields 9 &10, which will allow for more practice fields and larger tournaments.

· Batting cages: There will be four new batting cages to enhance player experience.

· Walking path solar lighting: Portions of the walking path are dark at night, so solar lighting will be installed for greater visibility.

Municipal Elections: The next municipal election is on April 1, 2025. Here is the list of those running for election. Mayor Herb Roach is not running for re-election, so there will be a new mayor. There were no petitions submitted for Ward 4, so that seat will be filled by write-in or appointment by the new mayor.

·    Mayor: Eric Van Hook

·    City Clerk: Jerry Mouser

·    City Treasurer: David Hursey, Ronald Zelms

·    Ward 1: Ross Rosenberg

·    Ward 2: Martha Fraier Stoffel

·    Ward 3: Roy Carney, Vern Malare

·    Ward 4: Vacant

·    Ward 5: Jim Blackburn

·    Ward 6: Jim Campbell

·    Ward 7: Jimmy Ford

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O’Fallon’s updated bike trail master plan will guide the system’s expansion to 2040

Lynn Venhaus, For the Belleville News-Democrat

December 26, 2024

More bike trails are in the works for O’Fallon, as identified in the recently adopted 2040 Bike Trail Master Plan, with hopes of better connectivity to neighboring trails in other communities.

The city has received a Metro East Recreation and Park District grant for $300,000 to help with construction of an Ogles Creek Bike Trail, from Millburn School Road to Timber Ridge Trace Drive.

The cost is estimated at $1.5 million, and construction set to begin in 2025. The city budgeted $1.2 million for the FY25 project. Baxmeyer Construction’s low bid of $1,070,337.77 was approved by the O’Fallon City Council Dec. 16, and state motor fuel tax funds will be used, too.

Read the full BND article here

O'Fallon honors fallen City Marshall Benjamin B Schmitt 108 years after his death

Tanya Scherschel, O'Fallon Weekly

January 8, 2025

City Council committees met on Monday evening to address some of the last-minute business before the holidays.

During the Community Development Committee meeting, they considered a proposal for a new business to be located within the old Auffenberg Auto Mall site, Richline Motorsports.

Jackie Davis of Richline Motor has filed to use about 1.83 acres of land as an aftermarket vehicle parts and accessories store. This request includes the rezoning of the subject property from B-1 “Com­munity Business District” to B-1(P) “Planned Com­munity Business District”. Any new “Auto Repair or Service Garage” use in the City of O’Fallon is required to obtain planned use ap­plication approval prior to operating at any site in the municipality.

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