Council paves way for new fleet of police SUVs, animal shelter contracts introduced
By Cameron Montemayor
City Council gave the green light on Monday to provide funds for a new fleet of SUVs for the St. Joseph Police Department.
Council members authorized a contract with Don Brown Chevrolet of St. Louis to use $1,071,440 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase 20 sterling grey 2025 Chevy Tahoes, allowing the department to replace a significant number of aging and outdated models.
A secondary contract was also approved to purchase an additional Tahoe for the police department’s school resource officers.
Monday’s meeting also saw the introduction of two contracts related to development of a new animal shelter on South Belt Highway, putting St. Joseph on course for construction potentially next spring.
The council agenda included a $228,395 contract with Auxier Construction, Co. for renovation work to the future animal shelter site at 3405 South Belt Highway. Renovations will include engineering and reconfiguration work for construction of new parking areas and play yards for the $5 million 13,000 square-foot facility.
A second contract worth $143,578 to purchase new cages and kennels from Midmark was also introduced. The two animal shelter agreements are now set for an official vote at the Dec. 9 meeting.
City officials are aiming to have the animal shelter project bid out for construction by late November or December
Contract to move forward Eastowne Business Park development
Councilmembers gave the OK on a large $2,995,243 contract with CP Excavating, LLC. using Capital Projects funds for the Eastowne Business Park, a massive 350-acre site for mixed office and industrial development in east St. Joseph.
This project will enhance the industrial zone by building a new pump station at the end of Pickett Road. The main goal is to connect utility assets including water, wastewater, sanitary sewer, and a lift station to the Eastowne Business Park. The construction will take place along Pickett Road between Riverside Road (Route A/C) and Riverside Terrace.
Much-needed improvements will benefit businesses and residents in the area when bridge replacement work takes place on Riverside Road over Highway 36 in the near future.
Craig Parkway Project approved for $4.8 million
A multi-million dollar project aimed at improving a key corridor to eastside industrial development was approved on Monday.
Council members authorized a $4,833,170 contract with CP Excavating for the Pickett Road & Craig Parkway Project using Capital Projects funds.
The project is designed to improve the roadway for Pickett Road from Riverside Road to Craig Parkway and Craig Parkway from Pickett Road to Highway 36
Bids for the project were also received from MCON, LLC ($5 million) and Amino Brothers Co., Inc. ($6.5 million).
Council OKs new community improvement districts
The creation of two new community improvement districts for the Shoppes at North Village were approved by council members on Monday.
The new districts operate by imposing a one-cent CID sales tax on the property to fund the construction, reconstruction, repair, and replacement of sidewalks, asphalt, common area amenities and landscape improvements.
Properties included in the district are all owned by BMA North Village LLC and Cole PC and included businesses like HomeGoods, Rally House, Bath and Body Works, Spencers, Crumbl Cookies and Buckle.
Restaurants at the North Shoppes like Chick-Fil-A and Chipotle would not be impacted by the tax due to different property ownership.
The district will be in existence for a minimum period of 27 years and may be extended by the City Council for two consecutive ten year periods.
Parking study coming
for Downtown
Council members authorized a $23,500 agreement with SP+ Consulting Services for a parking study of Downtown St. Joseph.
The study will help determine whether the current parking supply can meet current and anticipated future demand. In addition, SP+ will provide a recommendation summary, offering potential strategies to improve parking accessibility and efficiency.
Local golf course to see equipment upgrades
Councilmembers signed off on a contract to provide the next few years of reliable equipment for the Fairview Municipal Golf Course.
Approval on Monday of a four-year lease agreement worth $599,408 with Van Wall Equipment and Deere & Company will help reduce issues from improperly operating or broken-down equipment used to help maintain the golf course.
Parks Sales Tax funds will be used to pay for the contract.
The agreement allows for Fairview to purchase the equipment for $1 at the end of the four-year lease.
Other agenda
items approved
Amendment to section 4-13 and the addition of a new article titled “chronic nuisance businesses” to chapter 15 “exterior property maintenance” of the code of ordinances to provide for regulations for chronic nuisance businesses.
$21,574 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase and install four large spotlights for the Civic Arena from Full Compass Systems.
$101,400 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to repair the Patee Market Health Center roof using agreement with Robert’s Roofing.
Agreement to accept the donation of 10.3 acres of property from Herzog Contracting Corporation located along South 22nd Street near the intersection of Garfield Avenue and Southwest Parkway valued at $132,000.
