Council approves funds for Hillyard Technical Center, Noyes tennis court lighting (copy)
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 his was just a really nice improvement to both the horseshoe courts and the tennis courts.”
Lighting at the tennis center was one area that did not receive new improvements as part of widespread upgrades 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.
