Council approves funds for Hillyard Technical Center, Noyes tennis court lighting

By Cameron Montemayor

St. Joseph’s growing Hillyard Technical Center will get a boost with American Rescue Plan Act funds approved by city council members on Monday, one of several items included in a packed agenda. 

Councilmembers unanimously approved a grant agreement to provide $150,000 in ARPA funds for the facility as it works to complete several high-profile construction projects. Funds will help purchase essential equipment for its new simulated manufacturing facility, a 22,000-square-foot center that opened in August and is now in its final phases of construction. 

“This is a real asset for St. Joseph and just the opportunity that it provides our young students and even individuals who are wanting to get back into the market for a different trade,” said Clint Thompson, interim city manager. “These additional funds tonight actually will help get this project over the finish line.”

Monday’s meeting also saw elected officials sign off on changes to the city’s code of ordinances to raise the registration fee for cats and dogs. Currently, the registration fee for an altered animal — one that has already been spayed or neutered — is $5. The cost for unaltered animals is $15 and for vicious animals, $50. Newly proposed rates would be $10 for altered animals and $25 for unaltered animals. 

An infusion of American Rescue Plan Act funds and the acceptance of a federal grant Monday will help benefit operations within the St. Joseph Fire Department going forward. Close to $19,000 in ARPA funds will be used to purchase and integrate digital fire inspection and preplan software while a separate grant for $79,944 will help purchase fourteen fire truck gas monitors and a pipeline emergency simulation training program. 

Councilmembers also gave their stamp of approval for $275,000 in parks sales tax funds for the purchase and installation of a new lighting system for the Noyes Tennis Center and horseshoe courts adjacent to it.

“It’s going to be better. It’s LED lighting. It’s going to be more energy efficient,” said Chuck Kempf, director of Parks, Recreation of Civic Facilities. “The lights we had were functional, they worked, but this was just a really nice improvement to both the horseshoe courts and the tennis courts.” 

New lighting at the Noyes tennis center was one area that did not receive enhancements as part of widespread upgrades previously carried out in 2019. 

Other items approved Monday include $60,000 in ARPA funds for development of a Felix Street Market in Downtown St. Joseph as part of a grant agreement with the Chamber of Commerce. Funds will be used to partially pay for the cost of a feasibility study and to develop schematic designs and construction renderings for the market on the lower level of the Felix Street parking garage. 

City OKs early agreement for potential property development on Frederick Avenue

City leaders took the next steps toward potential development of a hotel and event center at 4016 Frederick Avenue — the site adjacent to the former Applebee’s and Whiskey Creek restaurants —  by authorizing a memorandum of understanding with Craig Realty group on Monday expressing a desire to publicly assist. 

“The public-private partnership between the city and the actual developer and the owner of that property really is a step towards being able to determine whether or not this site is a location that can support the hotel and proposed event center,” Thompson said. 

The MOU states the city will receive $25,000 in funds from Craig Realty to allow them to conduct a feasibility analysis on the property, including assessing early projections for expenses, revenues and any potential gaps on project funding. 

“Depending on that analysis, we would come back to the council at a later time to actually work through those economic developments,” he said. 

Next wave of City Hall upgrades on the way

Council members gave the OK for the next line of investments to City Hall and Civic Center Park, including $272,241 for a masonry project contract with Mid-Continental Restoration Company to repair crumbling stonework on the ADA ramp and a thorough cleansing of the entire City Hall building.

A second resolution will see the purchase of new period lighting from StressCrete Group using $69,594 in previously-approved ARPA funds. Period lighting will match the same lighting used throughout much of Downtown. 

Rosecrans project change orders approved

Monday’s council meeting included ordinances for change orders with E.L Crawford Construction for two key projects at Rosecrans Memorial Airport. 

The first change order for the new air traffic control tower project will allow for badge reader access control and a new pedestrian gate in the amount of $46,670 and an overrun credit for auger cast pole tests in the amount of $19,091 for a net amount of $27,669 using aviation budget funds. 

The second change order was requested to install thin brick for the retaining walls and stairs for the terminal building project utilizing funds from an aviation grant from the Missouri Highway and Transportation commission, all in the amount of $101,283. 

Resolutions adopted by city council

• A resolution authorizing execution of a $45,220 contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to provide maternal and child health services within the community.

• Filing of an application with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency for the FY23 emergency management performance mini-grant in the amount of $46,289 to provide funds for seven portable Moswin interoperable radios and programming to enhance emergency management operational coordination and communications.
• A resolution authorizing the issuance of a purchase order in an amount not to exceed $384,000 for various concrete street repairs from the 4000 block to the 6000 block of Stockyards Expressway, using the master agreement with J.D. Bishop Construction, LLC.