St. Joseph

By Cameron Montemayor

City Council approved $278,274 for the purchase of 57 mobile data terminals for use in police vehicles. Funds were directed from the general fund, police sales tax fund and public safety tax fund for the purchase. 

Council members also approved an ordinance authorizing a contract with Ambrozi Contracting and an amendment to the capital projects budget not to exceed $642,328 for the 2024 Urban Trail System Maintenance Project. 

Design work on a new Northside Complex at Krug Park and Hyde Park Aquatic facilities is ready to move forward after council members OK’d an ordinance to transfer $500,000 in ARPA funds to the park sales tax fund for design services. 

In addition to design services for the two aquatic facilities, councilmembers also approved a resolution laying out the 2024 schedule for Capital Improvements Program projects. Nearly $40 million in projects are scheduled for the upcoming fiscal year, including construction of a new southside fire station, renovations to fire headquarters and Eastowne Business Park infrastructure. 

Resolutions for adoption:

• Up to $147,384 for installation of a major drainage infrastructure at 36th and Sacramento streets with Sprague Excavating. 
• $22,098 in Transient Guest Tax funds for purchase of a public address system from Lanham Music for the Bill McKinney Softball Complex at Heritage Park. 
• $36,103 for repair work to the deck at Phil Welch Stadium from Auxier Construction Company. 
• $21,412 for application for bulletproof vest partnership grant for St. Joseph Police Department. 

Bills for first reading:

• Ordinance authorizing execution of agreement with Friends of the Animal Shelter and amendment to animal control budget both in the amount of $1.6 million for designing and constructing a new animal shelter. 
• Ordinance approving proposition on Aug. 6 ballot to extend the existing Use Tax on out-of-state purchases at the same rate as the sales tax rate for 10 years.