Mayor and City Council Update
Mayor and City Council Update Friday, January 29, 2010
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St. Joseph Police Department Special Response Team (courtesy of Captain J. Wilson)… The St. Joseph Police Department’s Special Response Team (SRT) is committed to serving our community and carrying out its mission of saving lives. Mission success is accomplished through dedication, professionalism, and constant adherence to adopted safety priorities: o o o o
Hostages Innocent Persons/Citizens Police Officers Suspects
This philosophy allows the team to operate in a way that provides the most protection to involved personnel while providing the greatest degree of safety possible for the public and suspects. The Team The tactical team currently includes one commander, team leaders, marksman observers, and tactical operators. The team commander is responsible for overall leadership to the team and the procurement of equipment based on input from the team members. The team leaders are responsible for tactical planning, training schedules, and ensuring that all equipment is properly maintained and inventoried. Appointment to the team involves a rigorous selection process. Before an officer is eligible to apply, he/she must have at least two years experience as a police officer. After submitting a letter of intent, candidates participate in a series of tests which evaluate their physical fitness levels, firearm proficiencies, and their ability to work in a team setting. Candidates then appear before an SRT interview board consisting of the team commander, team leaders, and several team members. Questions about motivation, leadership, and hypothetical situations are posed with particular emphasis upon sound decision-making. As a final step the candidate’s most recent performance evaluation is examined. Currently the team is staffed with members from the Police Department, Buchanan County Sherriff’s Department, and the Drug Strike Force. Service to the tactical team is a collateral assignment. Officers serve in a variety of capacities throughout the two departments allowing for a great deal of operational experience, and law enforcement expertise throughout the team.
Training The team commander and team leaders meet to establish a schedule for training days with a special emphasis on compliance with standards established by the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Crisis negotiators train with the team on a yearly basis. In 2010, the team will implement a tactical medic program by utilizing department personnel with prior paramedic experience who are trained as tactical medics. Missions The St. Joseph Special Response Team responds to the following types of special missions: o o o o o o o
Barricaded suspects/hostage situations High-risk warrant services Dignitary protection Arrests of dangerous subjects High risk surveillances High-risk special events/crowd control Threats of armed suicide
In 2009, the team conducted thirteen high-risk search warrant operations. The team was also called out nine times to respond to barricaded subject incidents and conducted multiple demonstrations at civic gatherings throughout the year. Whether in support of neighboring agencies, executing a high-risk search warrant, or bringing a barricade situation to a peaceful resolution, members of the St. Joseph Police Special Response Team have been called upon to perform a wide variety of unusual tasks, requiring effective training and sound decision making. Team members are dedicated to providing a secure environment for the community. •
Recycling Center to Relocate (courtesy of Andy Clements)… Planning proceeds with the project to relocate the recycling center. The new facility will be located at 3405 S. Belt Highway (the site of the former Collision Center). The new facility will be a joint-use location where water protection line maintenance operations move. Work will involve substantial site paving, construction of a new 40' x 50' building addition, electrical work, and interior renovations. Although the schedule is not final as yet, preliminary scheduling suggests that the new facility may be ready to relocate both operations in September, 2010. Customers of the recycling center will find the new location much more accessible and convenient than the temporary location being utilized currently.
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Fewer Traffic Crashes in 2009 (courtesy of Sgt. Bill McCammon)… The following is a comparison between 2008 and 2009 on the number of traffic crashes in the city of St. Joseph. Total Traffic Crashes Classification Property Damage Crash Injury Crashes Injured Persons Hit & Run Crashes Fatal Crashes Fatalities Total Crashes (all types)
2008 1300 563 884 716 4 5 2583
2009 1223 587 921 621 3 3 2434
% Change 6% Decrease 4% Increase 4% Increase 13% Decrease 25% Decrease 40% Decrease 6% Decrease
Overall, St. Joseph saw a 6% decrease in traffic crashes in 2009 from the previous year. •
Technology Services to Install Email Archiving Product (courtesy of Mark Townsend)… The city of St. Joseph recently purchased an email archive product from EMC called SourceOne and will have it installed February 24, with no down time to the current mail server.. The main force driving our decision to purchase an archive product was to improve the production of our mail server and to have all emails in a centralized location for more efficient management. Many of our users’ mailboxes were getting very large and taking up a vast amount of hard drive space on our mail server. As a result, the server has to work harder and longer to process emails, and a full backup to tape was taking almost an entire day. Quotas could have been administered on inboxes, but that leads to other issues such as users deleting emails that maybe they shouldn’t in order to make room for more emails, or they would archive emails themselves to a PST file that is stored on their local hard drive. Archiving emails takes the emails out of the user’s inbox, off the mail server, and moves it to an email archive server to be centrally managed. The user will still see the email in their inbox, the only change being the small little icon that is to the left of the message. It will change to an icon indicating an archived email. There will be rules that will need to be set up as to when emails get archived, what emails get archived, and things such as that. There can also be rules set on the archive server as to how long emails need to be kept. Having emails centrally managed, such as this allows for easier searching, back-up, and recovery and it improves our ability to find emails for litigation or compliance/audit issues. This leads to another reason for email archiving, gathering all PST files and putting them in one place. PST files stored on user’s computers can cause nightmares. A lot of the times these files do not get backed up, so if a hard drive goes bad, the emails stored in a PST file could be lost. If emails need to be searched for litigation purposes, then many computers may need to be individually searched, which will cost time and money. Gathering up all the PST files, putting them in one place, and indexing them makes for easier searching, back-up, and recovery from a disaster.
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Fire Station 12 Project Update (courtesy of Mike Dalsing)… Most of the design phase is complete and construction documents are being prepared for the renovation and addition to fire station 12 on St. Joseph Avenue. The project includes pitched metal roofs for the old and new buildings, individual bedrooms, unisex bathrooms, a large community/training room, exercise room, two apparatus bays, and a concrete safe room for protection in the event of bad weather. There will be a rain garden to help with drainage and the parking lot will use porous pavement that allows water to drain through it. If all goes well, the project should be open for bid in late March or early April, with construction starting in June or July. When this project is complete, St. Joseph will have a more modern, efficient, and functional emergency response facility. An artist’s rendering of what the station will look like when completed is below.
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2010 St. Joseph Polar Plunge for Special Olympics (courtesy of Rita Ketchem)… You may ask … what is a Polar Plunge? The Polar Plunge is one of many events hosted by law enforcement to benefit their charity of choice, Special Olympics Missouri. This event is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, schools, and businesses to support local Special Olympics athletes by jumping, walking, or crawling into the sparkling, frigid waters of Missouri. Since its inception fifteen years ago, 12,151 Missourians have taken the plunge in lakes across the state, raising $2,418,524.00. If you’re too chicken to make the splash, be a fan by making a pledge to a braver soul. Proceeds support year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than 15,000 children and adults with mental disabilities who participate in Special Olympics Missouri. The St. Joseph Polar Plunge will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2010, at Lake Contrary. Registration for the event will begin at noon, with the plunge beginning at 2:00 p.m. So come out, enjoy some food, view the costumes of the participants, and have fun. If you would like more information regarding this event or wish to make a pledge or donation, please go to www.somo.org/stjoeplunge. 4
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Patee Market Water Damage Update (courtesy of Robin Rhodes)… On January 11, health department staff discovered water leaking in the basement of Patee Hall. It was subsequently discovered that a backflow prevention valve had failed causing water to fill the pit where the boiler, water heater, and related equipment are located. It is speculated that the water sprayed on various electrical circuits tripping a GFI circuit which caused the sump pump to fail, causing the pit to fill to the top and eventually flooding the floor of the basement. Although not completely submersed, the boiler burner and controls were submersed, as well as the water heater burner. There were also various records and supplies that were soaked with water. Computer equipment and records that were stored on the opposite side of the room from the failed valve were sprayed and soaked with water. This put Patee Market Health Center without heat and hot water until repairs could be made. As such, services were suspended for the day and most staff was sent home. Gas and water had to be shut off to the building, and electrical circuits to the basement were shut off at the electrical panel. The director of health, assistant director and the custodian continued their day at Patee Market to facilitate recovery and repairs. City yards assisted in getting the water pumped out of the basement utilizing a hydraulic pump. Repairs to the water heater and boiler began after we could access the area; however, most of these repairs required a few days to complete. We reopened for services on Tuesday, January 12. IHP was able to make the repairs to the water heater very quickly, but the boiler unit required substantial attention. Electric motors and controllers that were submersed, as well as the entire burner assembly, had to be thoroughly dried out. Once dried, it was discovered that some of the parts needed to be replaced as they were no longer functioning. By Wednesday afternoon, heat was restored to the building. While checking the facility over the weekend, it was discovered that the boiler was not functioning. On Monday, January 18, IHP returned and replaced another part that also failed. Health Department services were not interrupted due to observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday. There were many records, materials, and supplies that were destroyed; however, health department staff continues to work on salvaging and clean-up to minimize our losses. The insurance carriers have been contacted and inspections conducted.
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Great Northwest Day at the Capitol Scheduled for Next Week (courtesy of Steve Johnston)… Great Northwest DaySM at the Capitol began as a way to promote awareness through unifying and working together. The communities of Northwest Missouri found it was a better way to present issues to legislators. It is a regional effort to influence legislation that will benefit all of Northwest Missouri and the state as a whole. A graduating class of Leadership Northwest Missouri originated the event in 2003.
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Goals and Objectives: Vehicle for northwest Missouri to meet face-to-face with our Legislators Set priorities as a region React to legislation impacting Northwest Missouri Emphasize Northwest Missouri as a region while highlighting Northwest Missouri participating communities o Create collaboration and communication throughout the northwest region o o o o
The Great Northwest initiative exists as a cooperative effort by Northwest Missouri communities to unify and enhance our region's image in Jefferson City and to pursue issues and legislation beneficial to the Great Northwest. Participating communities in Missouri include Albany, Andrew County, Atchison County, Bethany, Brookfield, Buchanan County, Caldwell County, Cameron, Chillicothe/Livingston County, DeKalb County/Maysville, Grant City/Worth County, Holt County, Marceline, Maryville/Nodaway County, Mercer County, St. Joseph, Savannah, Sullivan County, and Trenton/Grundy County. This year’s participants from the city of St. Joseph are Deputy Mayor Donna Jean Boyer, Council members Jeff Penland, Bill Falkner, and Mike Bozarth, City Manager Vince Capell, Police Chief Chris Connally, Director of Property Maintenance and Technology Services Steve Hofferber, Health Director Debra Bradley, Communications Manager Mary Robertson, and Project Manager Chuck Kempf. •
American Recovery Reinvestment Act (ARRA) – St. Joseph Transit (courtesy of Andy Clements)… It has been a year since the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly referred to as the “Stimulus Plan.” Of the total $787 billion dollar ARRA package, $48 billion was allocated for investment into transportation infrastructure which included $8.4 billion for transit capital improvements. To date, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has obligated $7.2 billion to 690 grantees that applied for funds for their ‘shovel ready’ projects. The Mass Transit (Transit) division of the Department of Public Works and Transportation developed a prioritized list of 51 projects that were ‘shovel ready.’ This list was trimmed to 25 projects when the projected $3,000,000 that was possible was reduced to $1,378,000 in the final grant approved for Transit. 6
The 25 projects are 100% funded by the FTA, with no local match required. The approved projects included: o Repair and replacement of transit buildings, property and equipment o Enhance transit security for passengers, employees and property o Enhance the transit passenger information and scheduling system; As of January 28, 2010, twenty-one projects have been completed and two, of the four remaining, are slated to start in February 2010. The remaining two will be completed by June 2010. The ARRA plan was designed to stimulate the economy through creating/retaining jobs and purchasing products or equipment. All transit projects were subject to stringent FTA bidding guidelines that dictated how projects were awarded. Of the $1,276,866 awarded to date, 20%, or $258,697, was awarded to local contractors for labor and materials. An additional 4% or $51,120 was awarded to regional, Kansas City area, contractors. The remaining $967,049 was awarded to out of area contractors and was for products and services not available in the local area or state. The projects that have been completed are: o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o •
Oil/Water Separator Repair Facility Painting Facility Digital Surveillance System Bus Drive Train Facility Access and Timecard Control Repair of North Wal-Mart Transfer Center Repair of Building Parking Lot and Driveway Landscaping repair Relocate IS Components Replace Fire System Compressors Relocate Main Air Compressor Replace Administrative Building Carpeting Replace Administrative Building Ceiling Tile Replace Bus Wash Brushes Upgrade Parts and Fuel Inventory System Upgrade Radios to Analog/Digital Radios.
Wear Red Day (courtesy of Nancy Langemach)… Circle February 5 in red on your calendars. That’s the day to join the American Heart Association (AHA)’s fight against heart disease by participating in Wear Red Day. We encourage everyone to participate by wearing red to work to help the AHA raise women’s awareness of cardiovascular disease and empower women to reduce their risk.
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We are proud to be joining the AHA and concerned companies and organizations across America in the fight against the #1 killer of women – as well as of men. Wear Red Day is a chance for us to arm ourselves with knowledge about this devastating disease. Did you know one in three women suffers in silence, and almost one woman dies every minute of this largely preventable disease? Too many women die each year because they are unaware of this vital statistic. By wearing red, we can bring a voice to this silent killer. We can listen to what our hearts are telling us, talk to our doctors, and spread the word to our family, friends, and community about making the right choices and taking action. We must shatter the silence by choosing to speak up about heart disease and help save lives. Learn more about the national cause to increase awareness and help women reduce their risk of heart disease at GoRedForWomen.org. •
Fairview Clubhouse Update (courtesy of David Simpson)… Renovations continue on the Fairview Golf Course clubhouse. The installation of the new metal roof has slowed down due to recent cold, wet weather. Inside the clubhouse, work is progressing rapidly with all new wall framing in place and a good amount of the electrical and plumbing work completed. The drywall contractor has about half the sheetrock installed and work continues on installation of the HVAC ductwork. Most of the fire sprinkler piping is in place and the new windows and doors are being installed. Substantial completion of the work is currently set for March 31, 2010. The picture below left shows work in the area in the southwest corner of the existing clubhouse. The picture below right is looking inside from the area that was previously the player’s lounge.
The purpose of this project is to renovate and add on to the existing club house. This would include interior and exterior renovations and a new building addition for banquets/meetings. The present clubhouse is 60 years old and there is virtually no room for banquets, luncheons, or meetings. The
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project is being paid for with funds from both the 2003 and 2008 CIP Sales Tax. The contractor is E.L. Crawford Construction and design was provided by Ellison-Auxier Architects. •
Section 106 for Public Comment (courtesy of Scott Des Planques)… The city of St. Joseph is seeking public comment on the proposed city-ordered demolition of the following dangerous buildings listed below. The properties listed below were brought into the May 20, 2009, Dangerous Building Hearing, at which time the city's chief building official, after hearing all the evidence, ordered these properties to be demolished. Should you have any questions or comments about the proposed demolition of these properties, including information on any historical or architectural significance, please send them to me in writing or by e-mail. In order for your information and/or comments to be considered they must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 5, 2010, so city staff can include them with the Sec. 106 report that will be sent to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). o o o o
1515 Henry Street 1727 St. Joseph Avenue 1316 N. 8th Street 409-411 N. 16th Street - this residence is a contributing structure located within the boundaries of the Harris Addition National Historic District and its demolition will have an irreversible adverse affect on a National Register of Historic Places listed district as described in the Code of Federal Regulations 36CFR800(5).
Please do not attempt to enter these buildings without owner consent because they are private properties and the city of St. Joseph has designated them as dangerous structures. •
Torch Run T-Shirts Available (courtesy of Rita Ketchem)… This is the 25th Year of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics so make sure you get your 2010 commemorative shirt (pictured at right). Short sleeve shirts are $10 and long sleeve are $15. Youth sizes are available in medium and large short sleeve styles only. Adult sizes are available from small to 3XL in short sleeves and small to 2XL in long sleeves. If you are interested in purchasing a Torch Run shirt, please contact me at [email protected] or call (816) 271-4701. Thank you for supporting Special Olympics.
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Public Notices (courtesy of Carol Flury)… Bid Request for Roof Replacement Project for Patee House Museum - Sealed bids for roof replacement project for Patee House Museum will be accepted by the purchasing agent of the city of St. Joseph on the second floor of City Hall, 1100 Frederick Avenue, Room 201, St Joseph, Missouri 64501, until February 9, 2010, at 3:00 p.m., at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The work consists of a major roofing project. A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on February 1, 2010, at 9:30 a.m., at the Patee House Museum located at 12th and Penn Streets St., Joseph, Missouri 64501. Copies of the specifications may be obtained from the office of the purchasing agent for the city of St Joseph at the above listed address or on the city’s website at www.stjoemo.info under bid opportunities. Bid Request for One Air Compressor - Sealed bids for one air compressor will be accepted by the purchasing agent of the city of St. Joseph until, February 5, 2010, at 3:00 p.m., at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Copies of specifications may be obtained from the purchasing division, 1100 Frederick Avenue, Room 201, St. Joseph, Missouri, by calling (816) 271-4696 or the city’s website at www.stjoemo.info under bid opportunities. Bid Request for Walk-In Storage Cooler - Sealed bids for a walk-in storage cooler will be accepted by the purchasing agent of the city of St. Joseph until February 8, 2010, at 3:00 p.m., at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Copies of specifications may be obtained at the purchasing division, 1100 Frederick Avenue, Room 201, St. Joseph, Missouri, by calling (816) 271-4696 or on the city’s website at www.stjoemo.info under bid opportunities.
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St. Joseph Police Department Special Response Team (courtesy of Captain J. Wilson)… The St. Joseph Police Department’s Special Response Team (SRT) is committed to serving our community and carrying out its mission of saving lives. Mission success is accomplished through dedication, professionalism, and constant adherence to adopted safety priorities: o o o o
Hostages Innocent Persons/Citizens Police Officers Suspects
This philosophy allows the team to operate in a way that provides the most protection to involved personnel while providing the greatest degree of safety possible for the public and suspects. The Team The tactical team currently includes one commander, team leaders, marksman observers, and tactical operators. The team commander is responsible for overall leadership to the team and the procurement of equipment based on input from the team members. The team leaders are responsible for tactical planning, training schedules, and ensuring that all equipment is properly maintained and inventoried. Appointment to the team involves a rigorous selection process. Before an officer is eligible to apply, he/she must have at least two years experience as a police officer. After submitting a letter of intent, candidates participate in a series of tests which evaluate their physical fitness levels, firearm proficiencies, and their ability to work in a team setting. Candidates then appear before an SRT interview board consisting of the team commander, team leaders, and several team members. Questions about motivation, leadership, and hypothetical situations are posed with particular emphasis upon sound decision-making. As a final step the candidate’s most recent performance evaluation is examined. Currently the team is staffed with members from the Police Department, Buchanan County Sherriff’s Department, and the Drug Strike Force. Service to the tactical team is a collateral assignment. Officers serve in a variety of capacities throughout the two departments allowing for a great deal of operational experience, and law enforcement expertise throughout the team.
Training The team commander and team leaders meet to establish a schedule for training days with a special emphasis on compliance with standards established by the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Crisis negotiators train with the team on a yearly basis. In 2010, the team will implement a tactical medic program by utilizing department personnel with prior paramedic experience who are trained as tactical medics. Missions The St. Joseph Special Response Team responds to the following types of special missions: o o o o o o o
Barricaded suspects/hostage situations High-risk warrant services Dignitary protection Arrests of dangerous subjects High risk surveillances High-risk special events/crowd control Threats of armed suicide
In 2009, the team conducted thirteen high-risk search warrant operations. The team was also called out nine times to respond to barricaded subject incidents and conducted multiple demonstrations at civic gatherings throughout the year. Whether in support of neighboring agencies, executing a high-risk search warrant, or bringing a barricade situation to a peaceful resolution, members of the St. Joseph Police Special Response Team have been called upon to perform a wide variety of unusual tasks, requiring effective training and sound decision making. Team members are dedicated to providing a secure environment for the community. •
Recycling Center to Relocate (courtesy of Andy Clements)… Planning proceeds with the project to relocate the recycling center. The new facility will be located at 3405 S. Belt Highway (the site of the former Collision Center). The new facility will be a joint-use location where water protection line maintenance operations move. Work will involve substantial site paving, construction of a new 40' x 50' building addition, electrical work, and interior renovations. Although the schedule is not final as yet, preliminary scheduling suggests that the new facility may be ready to relocate both operations in September, 2010. Customers of the recycling center will find the new location much more accessible and convenient than the temporary location being utilized currently.
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Fewer Traffic Crashes in 2009 (courtesy of Sgt. Bill McCammon)… The following is a comparison between 2008 and 2009 on the number of traffic crashes in the city of St. Joseph. Total Traffic Crashes Classification Property Damage Crash Injury Crashes Injured Persons Hit & Run Crashes Fatal Crashes Fatalities Total Crashes (all types)
2008 1300 563 884 716 4 5 2583
2009 1223 587 921 621 3 3 2434
% Change 6% Decrease 4% Increase 4% Increase 13% Decrease 25% Decrease 40% Decrease 6% Decrease
Overall, St. Joseph saw a 6% decrease in traffic crashes in 2009 from the previous year. •
Technology Services to Install Email Archiving Product (courtesy of Mark Townsend)… The city of St. Joseph recently purchased an email archive product from EMC called SourceOne and will have it installed February 24, with no down time to the current mail server.. The main force driving our decision to purchase an archive product was to improve the production of our mail server and to have all emails in a centralized location for more efficient management. Many of our users’ mailboxes were getting very large and taking up a vast amount of hard drive space on our mail server. As a result, the server has to work harder and longer to process emails, and a full backup to tape was taking almost an entire day. Quotas could have been administered on inboxes, but that leads to other issues such as users deleting emails that maybe they shouldn’t in order to make room for more emails, or they would archive emails themselves to a PST file that is stored on their local hard drive. Archiving emails takes the emails out of the user’s inbox, off the mail server, and moves it to an email archive server to be centrally managed. The user will still see the email in their inbox, the only change being the small little icon that is to the left of the message. It will change to an icon indicating an archived email. There will be rules that will need to be set up as to when emails get archived, what emails get archived, and things such as that. There can also be rules set on the archive server as to how long emails need to be kept. Having emails centrally managed, such as this allows for easier searching, back-up, and recovery and it improves our ability to find emails for litigation or compliance/audit issues. This leads to another reason for email archiving, gathering all PST files and putting them in one place. PST files stored on user’s computers can cause nightmares. A lot of the times these files do not get backed up, so if a hard drive goes bad, the emails stored in a PST file could be lost. If emails need to be searched for litigation purposes, then many computers may need to be individually searched, which will cost time and money. Gathering up all the PST files, putting them in one place, and indexing them makes for easier searching, back-up, and recovery from a disaster.
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Fire Station 12 Project Update (courtesy of Mike Dalsing)… Most of the design phase is complete and construction documents are being prepared for the renovation and addition to fire station 12 on St. Joseph Avenue. The project includes pitched metal roofs for the old and new buildings, individual bedrooms, unisex bathrooms, a large community/training room, exercise room, two apparatus bays, and a concrete safe room for protection in the event of bad weather. There will be a rain garden to help with drainage and the parking lot will use porous pavement that allows water to drain through it. If all goes well, the project should be open for bid in late March or early April, with construction starting in June or July. When this project is complete, St. Joseph will have a more modern, efficient, and functional emergency response facility. An artist’s rendering of what the station will look like when completed is below.
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2010 St. Joseph Polar Plunge for Special Olympics (courtesy of Rita Ketchem)… You may ask … what is a Polar Plunge? The Polar Plunge is one of many events hosted by law enforcement to benefit their charity of choice, Special Olympics Missouri. This event is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, schools, and businesses to support local Special Olympics athletes by jumping, walking, or crawling into the sparkling, frigid waters of Missouri. Since its inception fifteen years ago, 12,151 Missourians have taken the plunge in lakes across the state, raising $2,418,524.00. If you’re too chicken to make the splash, be a fan by making a pledge to a braver soul. Proceeds support year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than 15,000 children and adults with mental disabilities who participate in Special Olympics Missouri. The St. Joseph Polar Plunge will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2010, at Lake Contrary. Registration for the event will begin at noon, with the plunge beginning at 2:00 p.m. So come out, enjoy some food, view the costumes of the participants, and have fun. If you would like more information regarding this event or wish to make a pledge or donation, please go to www.somo.org/stjoeplunge. 4
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Patee Market Water Damage Update (courtesy of Robin Rhodes)… On January 11, health department staff discovered water leaking in the basement of Patee Hall. It was subsequently discovered that a backflow prevention valve had failed causing water to fill the pit where the boiler, water heater, and related equipment are located. It is speculated that the water sprayed on various electrical circuits tripping a GFI circuit which caused the sump pump to fail, causing the pit to fill to the top and eventually flooding the floor of the basement. Although not completely submersed, the boiler burner and controls were submersed, as well as the water heater burner. There were also various records and supplies that were soaked with water. Computer equipment and records that were stored on the opposite side of the room from the failed valve were sprayed and soaked with water. This put Patee Market Health Center without heat and hot water until repairs could be made. As such, services were suspended for the day and most staff was sent home. Gas and water had to be shut off to the building, and electrical circuits to the basement were shut off at the electrical panel. The director of health, assistant director and the custodian continued their day at Patee Market to facilitate recovery and repairs. City yards assisted in getting the water pumped out of the basement utilizing a hydraulic pump. Repairs to the water heater and boiler began after we could access the area; however, most of these repairs required a few days to complete. We reopened for services on Tuesday, January 12. IHP was able to make the repairs to the water heater very quickly, but the boiler unit required substantial attention. Electric motors and controllers that were submersed, as well as the entire burner assembly, had to be thoroughly dried out. Once dried, it was discovered that some of the parts needed to be replaced as they were no longer functioning. By Wednesday afternoon, heat was restored to the building. While checking the facility over the weekend, it was discovered that the boiler was not functioning. On Monday, January 18, IHP returned and replaced another part that also failed. Health Department services were not interrupted due to observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday. There were many records, materials, and supplies that were destroyed; however, health department staff continues to work on salvaging and clean-up to minimize our losses. The insurance carriers have been contacted and inspections conducted.
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Great Northwest Day at the Capitol Scheduled for Next Week (courtesy of Steve Johnston)… Great Northwest DaySM at the Capitol began as a way to promote awareness through unifying and working together. The communities of Northwest Missouri found it was a better way to present issues to legislators. It is a regional effort to influence legislation that will benefit all of Northwest Missouri and the state as a whole. A graduating class of Leadership Northwest Missouri originated the event in 2003.
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Goals and Objectives: Vehicle for northwest Missouri to meet face-to-face with our Legislators Set priorities as a region React to legislation impacting Northwest Missouri Emphasize Northwest Missouri as a region while highlighting Northwest Missouri participating communities o Create collaboration and communication throughout the northwest region o o o o
The Great Northwest initiative exists as a cooperative effort by Northwest Missouri communities to unify and enhance our region's image in Jefferson City and to pursue issues and legislation beneficial to the Great Northwest. Participating communities in Missouri include Albany, Andrew County, Atchison County, Bethany, Brookfield, Buchanan County, Caldwell County, Cameron, Chillicothe/Livingston County, DeKalb County/Maysville, Grant City/Worth County, Holt County, Marceline, Maryville/Nodaway County, Mercer County, St. Joseph, Savannah, Sullivan County, and Trenton/Grundy County. This year’s participants from the city of St. Joseph are Deputy Mayor Donna Jean Boyer, Council members Jeff Penland, Bill Falkner, and Mike Bozarth, City Manager Vince Capell, Police Chief Chris Connally, Director of Property Maintenance and Technology Services Steve Hofferber, Health Director Debra Bradley, Communications Manager Mary Robertson, and Project Manager Chuck Kempf. •
American Recovery Reinvestment Act (ARRA) – St. Joseph Transit (courtesy of Andy Clements)… It has been a year since the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly referred to as the “Stimulus Plan.” Of the total $787 billion dollar ARRA package, $48 billion was allocated for investment into transportation infrastructure which included $8.4 billion for transit capital improvements. To date, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has obligated $7.2 billion to 690 grantees that applied for funds for their ‘shovel ready’ projects. The Mass Transit (Transit) division of the Department of Public Works and Transportation developed a prioritized list of 51 projects that were ‘shovel ready.’ This list was trimmed to 25 projects when the projected $3,000,000 that was possible was reduced to $1,378,000 in the final grant approved for Transit. 6
The 25 projects are 100% funded by the FTA, with no local match required. The approved projects included: o Repair and replacement of transit buildings, property and equipment o Enhance transit security for passengers, employees and property o Enhance the transit passenger information and scheduling system; As of January 28, 2010, twenty-one projects have been completed and two, of the four remaining, are slated to start in February 2010. The remaining two will be completed by June 2010. The ARRA plan was designed to stimulate the economy through creating/retaining jobs and purchasing products or equipment. All transit projects were subject to stringent FTA bidding guidelines that dictated how projects were awarded. Of the $1,276,866 awarded to date, 20%, or $258,697, was awarded to local contractors for labor and materials. An additional 4% or $51,120 was awarded to regional, Kansas City area, contractors. The remaining $967,049 was awarded to out of area contractors and was for products and services not available in the local area or state. The projects that have been completed are: o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o •
Oil/Water Separator Repair Facility Painting Facility Digital Surveillance System Bus Drive Train Facility Access and Timecard Control Repair of North Wal-Mart Transfer Center Repair of Building Parking Lot and Driveway Landscaping repair Relocate IS Components Replace Fire System Compressors Relocate Main Air Compressor Replace Administrative Building Carpeting Replace Administrative Building Ceiling Tile Replace Bus Wash Brushes Upgrade Parts and Fuel Inventory System Upgrade Radios to Analog/Digital Radios.
Wear Red Day (courtesy of Nancy Langemach)… Circle February 5 in red on your calendars. That’s the day to join the American Heart Association (AHA)’s fight against heart disease by participating in Wear Red Day. We encourage everyone to participate by wearing red to work to help the AHA raise women’s awareness of cardiovascular disease and empower women to reduce their risk.
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We are proud to be joining the AHA and concerned companies and organizations across America in the fight against the #1 killer of women – as well as of men. Wear Red Day is a chance for us to arm ourselves with knowledge about this devastating disease. Did you know one in three women suffers in silence, and almost one woman dies every minute of this largely preventable disease? Too many women die each year because they are unaware of this vital statistic. By wearing red, we can bring a voice to this silent killer. We can listen to what our hearts are telling us, talk to our doctors, and spread the word to our family, friends, and community about making the right choices and taking action. We must shatter the silence by choosing to speak up about heart disease and help save lives. Learn more about the national cause to increase awareness and help women reduce their risk of heart disease at GoRedForWomen.org. •
Fairview Clubhouse Update (courtesy of David Simpson)… Renovations continue on the Fairview Golf Course clubhouse. The installation of the new metal roof has slowed down due to recent cold, wet weather. Inside the clubhouse, work is progressing rapidly with all new wall framing in place and a good amount of the electrical and plumbing work completed. The drywall contractor has about half the sheetrock installed and work continues on installation of the HVAC ductwork. Most of the fire sprinkler piping is in place and the new windows and doors are being installed. Substantial completion of the work is currently set for March 31, 2010. The picture below left shows work in the area in the southwest corner of the existing clubhouse. The picture below right is looking inside from the area that was previously the player’s lounge.
The purpose of this project is to renovate and add on to the existing club house. This would include interior and exterior renovations and a new building addition for banquets/meetings. The present clubhouse is 60 years old and there is virtually no room for banquets, luncheons, or meetings. The
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project is being paid for with funds from both the 2003 and 2008 CIP Sales Tax. The contractor is E.L. Crawford Construction and design was provided by Ellison-Auxier Architects. •
Section 106 for Public Comment (courtesy of Scott Des Planques)… The city of St. Joseph is seeking public comment on the proposed city-ordered demolition of the following dangerous buildings listed below. The properties listed below were brought into the May 20, 2009, Dangerous Building Hearing, at which time the city's chief building official, after hearing all the evidence, ordered these properties to be demolished. Should you have any questions or comments about the proposed demolition of these properties, including information on any historical or architectural significance, please send them to me in writing or by e-mail. In order for your information and/or comments to be considered they must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 5, 2010, so city staff can include them with the Sec. 106 report that will be sent to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). o o o o
1515 Henry Street 1727 St. Joseph Avenue 1316 N. 8th Street 409-411 N. 16th Street - this residence is a contributing structure located within the boundaries of the Harris Addition National Historic District and its demolition will have an irreversible adverse affect on a National Register of Historic Places listed district as described in the Code of Federal Regulations 36CFR800(5).
Please do not attempt to enter these buildings without owner consent because they are private properties and the city of St. Joseph has designated them as dangerous structures. •
Torch Run T-Shirts Available (courtesy of Rita Ketchem)… This is the 25th Year of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics so make sure you get your 2010 commemorative shirt (pictured at right). Short sleeve shirts are $10 and long sleeve are $15. Youth sizes are available in medium and large short sleeve styles only. Adult sizes are available from small to 3XL in short sleeves and small to 2XL in long sleeves. If you are interested in purchasing a Torch Run shirt, please contact me at [email protected] or call (816) 271-4701. Thank you for supporting Special Olympics.
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Public Notices (courtesy of Carol Flury)… Bid Request for Roof Replacement Project for Patee House Museum - Sealed bids for roof replacement project for Patee House Museum will be accepted by the purchasing agent of the city of St. Joseph on the second floor of City Hall, 1100 Frederick Avenue, Room 201, St Joseph, Missouri 64501, until February 9, 2010, at 3:00 p.m., at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The work consists of a major roofing project. A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on February 1, 2010, at 9:30 a.m., at the Patee House Museum located at 12th and Penn Streets St., Joseph, Missouri 64501. Copies of the specifications may be obtained from the office of the purchasing agent for the city of St Joseph at the above listed address or on the city’s website at www.stjoemo.info under bid opportunities. Bid Request for One Air Compressor - Sealed bids for one air compressor will be accepted by the purchasing agent of the city of St. Joseph until, February 5, 2010, at 3:00 p.m., at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Copies of specifications may be obtained from the purchasing division, 1100 Frederick Avenue, Room 201, St. Joseph, Missouri, by calling (816) 271-4696 or the city’s website at www.stjoemo.info under bid opportunities. Bid Request for Walk-In Storage Cooler - Sealed bids for a walk-in storage cooler will be accepted by the purchasing agent of the city of St. Joseph until February 8, 2010, at 3:00 p.m., at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Copies of specifications may be obtained at the purchasing division, 1100 Frederick Avenue, Room 201, St. Joseph, Missouri, by calling (816) 271-4696 or on the city’s website at www.stjoemo.info under bid opportunities.
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