O’Fallon Update The Official Quarterly Publication of the City of O’Fallon, Missouri Spring 2016 • www.ofallon.mo.us
Make a difference, become a Parks Partner Key vendors named for new Justice Center Soon, bulldozers and earth movers will dominate the landscape along Bryan Road just south of Veterans Memorial Parkway as ground preparation for the new O’Fallon Justice Center will begin this spring. When completed, the state-of-the-art 80,000 square foot facility will be the new home of the O’Fallon Police Department and Municipal Court. The City has chosen Wilson Estes Police Architects as the architect and McCarthy as the construction manager acting as the owner's agent for the project. The facility is in the final design stages and bidding for the first construction activities is anticipated to begin soon. The $28 million project is slated for completion in late 2017.
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Municipal News Upcoming Events Public Works Police Bulletins Veterans Corner Roscoe’s Den Rascals Baseball City Calendar
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he fun and excitement of spring is here and O’Fallon has so much going on. Popular events such as Food Truck Frenzy and the RSC 5K Challenge Run are back this spring, and check out our Parks & Rec Guide to see some of the new programs we are offering! This year, we’re combining two of our most popular spring events, Founders’ Day and Garden Expo, into one great day of fun at Fort Zumwalt Park. Come out on Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and experience the history of O’Fallon and the fantastic spring air with live demonstrations, kids' activities, gardening experts and more. O’Fallon’s Public Works Fair is on Wednesday, May 18, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the parking lot at T.R. Hughes Ballpark. This is a great opportunity for young kids to see big trucks and machinery up close and play games that teach traffic safety. Also, we recently launched a new Parks Partner program that gives our residents the chance to have a larger stake in our Parks and Recreation activities. Residents who choose to be a Parks Partner will be able to help shape the future of O’Fallon’s parks and be eligible for special discounts and perks. To sign up as a Parks Partner, register for free at www.ofallon.mo.us/parks&rec. As I close, I would like to ask all O’Fallon voters to consider supporting Proposition B on the April 5th ballot. This important ballot issue will ensure that our local car dealers, who provide a large number of jobs for O’Fallon residents, are not put at a competitive disadvantage when residents go shopping for cars. Please understand, this is not a new tax! This ballot issue simply allows the City to continue to collect sales tax on all vehicles regardless of where they are purchased. The only reason it is on the ballot is to close a court-created loophole that could seriously impact our local businesses. If you have questions about this issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me or your Councilmembers. We will be happy to answer them. Thank you for all you do to keep this City a great place to live! We wish you the best and hope to see you shopping and dining in O’Fallon as the spring weather arrives.
Bill Hennessy, Mayor
O’Fallon #7 on national “2016 Best Cities for Young Families” list For its child-friendliness, low crime, high-quality education and affordable housing, O’Fallon ranked 7th on the “2016 Best Cities for Young Families” list and scored an A+ rating as one of the nation’s top communities. The online site ApartmentList.com compiled the report using F.B.I., Department of Education and Census statistics. With more than 84,000 residents, O’Fallon is the only Missouri community in the top 50.
Catch River City Rascals baseball on page 11.