point of view

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. Of the many beautiful words gifted to us by Martin Luther King Jr., this quote is my favorite. A simple statement which expresses so very much about complex & challenging topics, spanning many areas of life. Nothing bad will come from sticking with love, & we can all use a little more of it. Amanda Gadaleta, NY Sr. Account Executive

Monday - Martin Luthern King Holiday Observed - City Hall will be closed

Wednesday, noon - Chamber Luncheon

Celebrating work anniversaries today - Tricia Guarino, Personal Trainer, 5 years.

Courtney Cole has been working this week to communicate where warming centers are located to provide a way for people to stay warm during this week's cold blast. Thank you for caring so deeply.

This week the Mayor received a great letter of advice, "Where there is the 'will'... there is a way" A cheerleading moment to take a bite of the elephant & just get started to address flooding in downtown. Unfortunately, the letter was anonymous, so there is no chance to answer the letter & thank the writer or to include them as we consider options for tackling the problem. From one of my meetings this week - How do you know what you know? Data. To get people to act, they must have a sense of belonging - then they will contribute. So, this is success, the letter was written, the advice was good. We invite the community to participate in citizen engagement opportunities coming forward this year: Dry Fork Greenway, RAISE projects, Comprehensive Planning, etc.

• Capital Improvements Authority approved $80,000 in funding to match a grant to support an industrial expansion with roadway improvements at intersections & railroad crossings that were not designed to accomodate semi-trucks; we are working to submit the grant by the end of January.
• The Authority also approved $450,000 in funding to match a grant to implement the 3rd project defined in the Fishing River Watershed Study. The FRWS was completed to reduce impacts from flooding in downtown, we are currently designing the 1st project between N. Main low water bridge & the N. Marietta bridge, with construction anticipated to begin in late 2024. If funded it is expected to take 2-3 years to secure funding & design the 3rd project before work could begin.
• The Authority approved the budget from Transportation Sales Tax for this summer's street improvements.
• GIS has completed the geometry for Crownhill Cemetery, which links the GIS location of each cemetery burial plot to our searchable database, we are confirming the burial records for each plot & linking to the database. Next we will address Hillcrest Cemetery. We are creating a digital record that enables families to search records on-line.
• We are completing Requests for Qualifications for abatement of hazardous materials at Wyman & we are seeking qualifications to complete a Comprehensive Plan for the Community. Our last plan was completed in 2009. We anticipate we will be in a position to start the planning process in the spring.
• Westside CID met this week and formalized our agreement to provide matching funds to the RAISE grant.
• The Golf Course recently published their winter menu specials joining several lunch-time options offered around town. On a cold winter day, nothing sounds better than soup.
• 17 kids participated in Kids in the Kitchen offered at the Community Center.
• MO Legislature is discussing local exemptions from sales tax. Groceries are under discussion & while we understand the desire to help families, we recognize the city would lose 28.4% or $2.9Million in sales tax revenue for public investments. [$640K from GF & $320K from PSST impacts police/fire; $320K from CIP impacts community improvements; $320K from TT impacts street improvements; $640K from Community Center impacts debt payments & $640K from CID such as Vintage, Price Chopper & Westside ability to make debt payments, grant matching funds, & assist with business expansions]. Currently there are no state sales tax on food.

The BIG snow provides Public Works an opportunity to shine. Day-to-day, they quietly go about the business of making sure water, sewer, trash, storm water, construction projects and even buses all run smoothly. You don't even notice...when. it. is. all. operating. trouble-free. Thank you for everything, everyday, all day long. Your work is appreciated