O'Fallon Update newsletter - Winter 2012-13 by City of O'Fallon

O’Fallon Update The Official Quarterly Publication of the City of O’Fallon, Missouri Winter 2012–13 • www.ofallon.mo.us

Thanks for another great year, O’Fallon! Westhoff Plaza is open O’Fallon residents and visitors joined Mayor Bill Hennessy in cutting the ribbon on O’Fallon’s newest park facility, Westhoff Plaza. Just off the Westhoff Park entrance at T.R. Hughes Boulevard and Cool Springs Industrial Drive, the plaza offers skateboarders, BMX bikers and inline skaters a great place to test their skills. Some of the main features incorporated in the custombuilt concrete design are grind rails and ledges, a bank ramp, a quarter pipe ramp, a stair set, hubba ledges, a mini volcano, a jump gap and a six-foot bowl.

t’s that time of year again! The days are getting shorter; the nights are getting colder; and children all over O’Fallon are going to bed with dreams of Santa Claus coming down the chimney. This is truly a wonderful time of year as we all gather with our families to celebrate our own holiday traditions. Whether it’s spending an evening baking cookies with your kids or grandkids or huddling by the fireplace to watch a beloved holiday classic, I hope everyone just takes a few extra minutes to sit back and enjoy some quiet time with your family this holiday season. And, if you’re looking for an idea for an evening out, have a great dinner at one of our local O’Fallon restaurants and then load everyone up in the car for a leisurely drive through O’Fallon’s aweinspiring Celebration of Lights. I promise kids of all ages will be amazed at the beautiful and touching displays. Of course, when you are out running around and doing that last minute holiday shopping, please remember to “Keep it in the ‘O!” You will find everything you need here and help keep O’Fallon strong. Finally, as 2012 comes to a close, I would like to say thank you! It is truly my honor to serve as your Mayor, and I am fortunate to be able to work with so many wonderful people in our great City. Our City is as strong as it has ever been, and I truly believe the best is yet to come! 2012 has been an incredible year and together we can make 2013 even better. From our families to yours, the O’Fallon City Council and I wish you the merriest of Christmases, a blessed holiday season and the best of new years!

Bill Hennessy, Mayor

In this issue 3 5

Celebration of Lights Project O’Fallon

Upcoming Events

Cabin Fever Daze

Roscoe’s Den

O’Fallon launches new, easy-to-navigate websites Have you seen O’Fallon’s new homepage, www.ofallon.mo.us, and the O’Fallon Police Department website, www.ofallon.mo.us/PD? The new sites feature expanded content, more videos, mobile capabilities, updated news and events, and quick, one-click access to almost every page. And, the homepage retains popular features of the previous website, including the Citizens First customer service center, online bill pay and O’FallonTV.

10 Police Bulletins 11 Snow Removal 12 City Calendar

See reverse for Winter Parks & Rec Guide

Elected Officials

Mayor Bill Hennessy 636-379-5500 bhennessy@ofallon.mo.us

Mayor Bill Hennessy to deliver “State of the City” address, live

Bill Gardner

O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy will deliver his annual “State of the City” address at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 11, 2013, in the O’Fallon City Council chambers at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall). The public is invited to attend the event. The address also will be broadcast live on O’FallonTV Channel 991, and via the City’s website at www.ofallon.mo.us.

636-379-5581 bgardner@ofallon.mo.us

Are you a low-income homeowner having trouble affording home repairs?

Ward 1 Councilmembers

Rick Lucas 636-379-5582 rlucas@ofallon.mo.us

Ward 2 Councilmembers Rose Mack 636-379-5591 rmack@ofallon.mo.us

Jim Pepper

The City of O’Fallon is looking for low-income homeowners in need of home repairs to apply for a no-interest, five-year forgivable loan of up to $5,000. The loans, which will be available as long as funds last, will be provided to low-to moderate-income O’Fallon homeowners who meet income and other qualifications. The loans can only be used for home repairs and to address code violations. Eligible home improvements include the repair or replacement of furnace units, water heaters, sump pumps, windows, siding and roofs. More information about the loans is available at www.ofallon.mo.us/grants, or by calling 636-379-5411.

636-379-5583 jpepper@ofallon.mo.us

Ward 3 Councilmembers Richard “Rick” Battelle 636-379-5586 rbattelle@ofallon.mo.us

John Haman, Jr. 636-379-5585 jhaman@ofallon.mo.us

Ward 4 Councilmembers Bob Howell 636-379-5587 bhowell@ofallon.mo.us

Jeff Schwentker 636-379-5580 jschwentker@ofallon.mo.us

Ward 5 Councilmembers Mike Pheney 636-379-5584 mpheney@ofallon.mo.us

NOTICE OF ELECTION AND OF THE OPENING AND CLOSING FOR FILING DECLARATIONS OF CANDIDACY FOR ELECTIVE OFFICES IN THE CITY OF O’FALLON, MISSOURI, FOR THE ELECTION TO BE HELD APRIL 2, 2013. Pursuant to Section 3.2, Article 8 and Section 4.1 of the Charter of the City of O’Fallon, Missouri, an election will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, for the purpose of electing one Mayor to serve a four (4) year term and one (1) Member of the O’Fallon City Council from each of Wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for a term of three (3) years. Pursuant to Section 115.347 of the Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri, and the O’Fallon City Charter no candidate’s name shall be printed on any official ballot unless his/her written, signed and sworn Declaration of Candidacy, including, address, age, length of residency, and the office for which he or she is running, has been filed in the office of the city clerk within the time allowed by law. You are hereby advised that the first day for filing a declaration of candidacy for the April 2, 2013, election is from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 11, 2012. Filing will close on the last day for filing for this election at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 15, 2013. A filing fee of $25.00 shall accompany each Declaration of Candidacy filed with the City Clerk. Candidates will appear on the ballot in the order they have filed. If you are the first candidate to file for a given position you will be the first candidate on the ballot for that position. The candidate or a person at least 18 years of age designated by the candidate may sit in line in the West City Hall entrance area prior to the opening of filing. At 8:00 a.m. on December 11th applications will be accepted in this location. After December 11th filing will be in the City Clerk’s office. The candidate must be the person in position at 8:00 a.m. on December 11th. All candidates must file in person; no one else can file for you.

Michael Snowden 636-379-5588 msnowden@ofallon.mo.us

Helpful Numbers

Pamela L. Clement, City Clerk

Citizens First Center 636-379-5553

City Hall 636-240-2000

For more information regarding the Declaration of Candidacy, please contact O’Fallon’s City Clerk, Pam Clement, at 636-379-5555 or pclement@ofallon.mo.us.

Police (Non-emergency) 636-240-3200

O’Fallon Senior Center 636-272-4180

Trash and Recycling 636-272-0477

O’Fallon Water & Sewer 636-281-2858

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Get involved in the fun! – Make a difference in O’Fallon as a volunteer! Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer@ofallon.mo.us or 636-379-5507.

Winter Cheer in O’Fallon Stay active with these fun, family-friendly activities

www.ofallon.mo.us/events

21st Annual Celebration of Lights Nightly, through December 30 (Closed December 25) Fort Zumwalt Park, 1000 Jessup Drive Treat your friends and loved ones to a magical tour through O’Fallon’s annual Celebration of Lights. Visitors will find the woods, picnic areas and playgrounds in Fort Zumwalt Park magically transformed by more than one million twinkling lights and holiday scenes into a winter wonderland offering surprises around every corner. There are several ways to see the sights. Here’s a breakdown of the 2012 Celebration of Lights schedule, admissions, and who to contact to reserve a special ride.

Drive-through, no reservations needed:

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6 – 9 p.m., Sunday, and Tuesday through Thursday (except Tuesday, December 11).

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6 – 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Admission: $9 for cars, $15 for commercial vans, and $1 per person on tour buses ($25 minimum).

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Tuesday Night Special – $7 for all non-commercial vehicles. Wednesday – Sunday, bring a food pantry donation of canned or boxed goods and get a $1 discount per vehicle.

Make reservations for:

Directions to Fort Zumwalt Park From I-70, take Exit 216 at Bryan Road in O’Fallon. Turn south on Bryan Road, then left at the first light onto Veterans Memorial Parkway, and continue east on Veterans Memorial Parkway for about 1.5 miles to the entrance to Fort Zumwalt Park, on the right. From I-64/Highway 40-61, take the WingHaven Blvd. exit north; continue north (as WingHaven becomes Bryan Road) for about 6 miles to Veterans Memorial Parkway (stoplight); turn left on Veterans Memorial Parkway and drive east about 1.5 miles to the Fort Zumwalt Park entrance on the right.

Horse-drawn carriage and wagon rides – Rides must be reserved in advance. Contact the Carousel Farms and Carriage Company at info@cfcarriage.com or 636-390-4403. Rides are approximately 30 minutes.

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Private carriages are $50 for the first two passengers, and $10 for each additional passenger for up to four adults.

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Private wagons are $150 for up to 12 passengers.

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Children age 4 and under ride free if seated on a paying adult’s lap.

Community wagons are $10 per passenger; passengers will be seated with other parties.

The Celebration of Lights is sponsored by the City of O’Fallon with participation by local businesses and civic organizations. A portion of the admission money goes to local charities. For more information, visit www.ofallon.mo.us/ COL or call 636-379-5614.

“Like” O'Fallon events on Facebook.

www.facebook.com/VisitOFallon www.ofallon.mo.us Winter 2012–13

Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll

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Tuesday, December 11 6 – 9 p.m., Fort Zumwalt Park Cost: $2 for ages 3 and older; younger children are free. No reservations are needed! Stroll through the Celebration of Lights display with your family and enjoy fireworks (starting at 7:25 p.m.), a visit with Santa, kids’ activities, holiday caroling, and vendors selling festival food and beverages in the park. Warm up in the historic Heald Home, where still more vendors will sell holiday crafts and décor and unique gifts. Step across the street to see the St. Charles Model Railroad Club’s elaborate display at no additional charge. The whole family will enjoy the miniature city and country scenes with working model trains, lights, bells and whistles. Visit the club’s website, www.stcharlesrailroadclub.com. No vehicles, carriage rides, pets, bikes or skateboards will be allowed in the park on this special night. Watch for signs to free parking and shuttle service from First Baptist Church, 8570 Veterans Memorial Parkway, and O’Fallon Christian Church, 9380 Veterans Memorial Parkway. For more information, visit www.ofallon. mo.us/COL.

Free Christmas tree drop-off in Civic Park and Sports Park O’Fallon residents can dispose of live evergreen holiday trees, free, between December 26 and January 14 at parking lots in Civic Park and O’Fallon Sports Park. The sites will be open dawn to dusk. Only live or natural trees with no decorations will be accepted. Please remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights, string or wire. No wreaths, shrubs, plastic bags or yard waste should be dropped off. For more information, please visit www.ofallon. mo.us/news.

Recycle unwanted holiday light strands O’Fallon residents are encouraged to drop off unwanted holiday light strands for recycling. Starting December 26 through January 14, light strands can be dropped off in parking lots at O’Fallon Sports Park and Civic Park, along with holiday trees (lights must be removed from trees). Light strands also can be dropped off at O’Fallon City Hall and the Renaud Spirit Center.

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Light bulbs from C-7 and C-9 strands, which are larger bulbs, should be removed and discarded prior to recycling the wires. Miniature light strands can remain intact.

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No string, wire, bags or packaging should be used to tie or contain the light strands. Simply drop the loose strands into the receptacle.

For more information, please visit www.ofallon.mo.us/ news.

When shopping this holiday season... Keep it in the “O”

Cabin Fever Daze

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NEW!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 25 – 27 O’Fallon Sports Park O’Fallon’s newest festival makes the most of winter fun with zany competitions, ice skating, open broomball games, ice carving and other entertainment, plus great food and beverages. See page 8 for a roster of activities.

O’Fallon Update City of O’Fallon Newsletter

e rs p p o h S li d a y o H n o l l To: a F ’ O of y t i C m: Fro

Find your shopping destination on the O’Fallon Business Map at www.ofallon.mo.us/business

Project O’Fallon Crews completing work on more than $2 million in road and street repairs City crews and contractors are wrapping up a recordbreaking year of road and street repair projects in O’Fallon’s neighborhoods. In 2012, the City spent more than $2 million replacing concrete and resurfacing asphalt streets. This resulted in: • More than 3,100 new slabs of concrete, totaling 4 miles of new concrete, on neighborhood streets.

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193 miles of cracks and street joints sealed throughout the City.

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119 miles of re-striping throughout the City.

part of a long-term plan to build the City’s identity through the installation of landscaping and informational signage throughout O’Fallon. Each year, the City Council will determine which CLIP project(s) will be funded, but the first priorities are to improve O’Fallon’s other interstate interchanges along I-64 and I-70 as well as including CLIP improvements as part of the upcoming Highway 364/Page Avenue extension project. Other future projects may include additional entrance signs along major thoroughfares, directional signage along O’Fallon’s primary roads and informational signs and monuments marking the entrances to parks and City facilities.

In addition, City crews have completed more than 2,000 work orders in 2012 alone. These are projects – both large and small – that have been generated by residents using the City’s online Citizens First Center at www.ofallon.mo.us.

2013 planning is well underway Even as crews put the finishing touches on 2012’s street and road improvements, planning is underway for the coming year. City crews have evaluated every street in the City to determine its condition using an impartial rating method that is based on visual inspections of the pavement. The evaluation rated each street using a score, called the pavement condition index (PCI), which measures the distress level of the pavement. The PCI measures the types of problems in the pavement, the severity of the issues and the overall condition of the pavement. Once inspections were completed, every street in the City was given a PCI score between 0 and 100, with 100 being a brand new street. It is O’Fallon’s goal to bring every street in the City up to a PCI of 75 within five years. With that goal in mind, crews are developing 2013’s list of street segments in need of repair. The City will then solicit bids for the repairs. Based on the bid, City crews will work with the contractor to address as many improvements as possible in 2013. Streets with the lowest PCI will be repaired first. By utilizing this method of evaluation and by strategically addressing preventive maintenance throughout all areas of the City, we can protect our City streets and keep our roads safe for generations to come.

First CLIP project completed with more planned for the coming years

Senior Corner Disabled residents and seniors (65+), save your 2012 utility receipts for tax rebates Filing for O’Fallon’s utility tax rebate is right around the corner, so be sure to save copies of your 2012 gas, electric and phone bills. To qualify for the utility tax rebate, you must be:

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An O’Fallon resident who is 65 or older, or determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration; and

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Have an annual adjusted gross income of no more than $39,450 for a single head-of-household, or $45,050 for a married (two-person) household. Social Security income is not counted.

If you qualify for the City’s tax rebates on utility bills, you will be able to file for the rebates at City Hall on weekdays beginning Monday, April 1, through Friday, May 31. Watch for more information in the Spring newsletter!

The first project in O’Fallon’s Citywide Landscape Identity Plan (CLIP) campaign is now complete at Highway K and I-64. The project, which involved the grading, landscaping and installation of an entrance sign at the intersection, is the first

www.ofallon.mo.us Winter 2012–13

Upcoming Events www.ofallon.mo.us/events 21st Annual Celebration of Lights

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Nightly, through December 30 (Closed December 25) Fort Zumwalt Park Bundle up your family and enjoy the magic of lights, music, whimsical holiday scenes and inspiring Christmas themes at O’Fallon’s annual Celebration of Lights in Fort Zumwalt Park. For specialty rides and details, see page 3 of the newsletter.

O’Fallon events are on Twitter!

@VisitOFallon O’FallonTheatreWorks’ open auditions for the comedy, Faith County Sunday, January 13, 2013 Noon, O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall) The cast for this comedy calls for three males and six females ranging in age from 25 to 70. Crew members are also needed. The play will be performed on the stage at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre over the weekends of April 19–21 and 26–28. Laced with chicken-fried humor, Faith County is set in a middle-of-nowhere southern town, where the people are all town characters, beehive hairdos are here to stay, Saturday nights are reserved for tractor pulls, and the annual county fair draws stiff competition. For more information, call 636-454-2732 or 636-454-8150. Or email dgranaas@ofallon.mo.us.

O’Fallon’s National Volunteer Donor Month V+ Blood Drive Friday, January 18 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall) During winter, the need for blood donations becomes increasingly critical. Schedule a donation of whole blood to help as many as three people survive a life-threatening trauma or health condition. Or consider a platelet or double-red cell donation, which are especially important to surgical patients and those with cancer or chronic blood disorders. Appointments are encouraged to speed the process and ensure adequate staffing; walk-ins also are welcome. Donors must be at least 17, healthy, and show a photo ID. For more information or to schedule a convenient time, call 636-3795507, or email volunteer@ofallon.mo.us.

King Day of Service

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Monday, January 21 9 a.m. – noon, O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall) Although City Hall will be closed for business in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, volunteers of all ages are invited to register in advance to participate in fun community service projects, including making paper flowers and greeting cards for residents of local care facilities. To register for the King Day of Service, contact Volunteer Services at 636-379-5507 or volunteer@ofallon.mo.us.

10th Annual Polar Plunge for Missouri’s Special Olympics Saturday, February 2 10 a.m., Lake Sainte Louise

O’Fallon Update City of O’Fallon Newsletter

Can you take the Plunge? O’Fallon residents, churches and civic organizations are invited to form a Polar Plunge team to raise funds for Missouri’s Special Olympics athletes. The perks are great! You can earn prizes for fundraising and join the party at the clubhouse along with hundreds of others jumping into Lake Ste. Louise. The event and post-jump party will be held at the Lake St. Louis Community Clubhouse. In 2012, about 460 people took the plunge, including 22 O’Fallon employees, family members and Police Explorers dressed as various cereal icons. The event netted $100,000 for Special Olympics Missouri athletes, with Team O’Fallon’s Plunge Squad raising over $6,000. For more information about how to participate or to make a donation, please email jcook@ofallon.mo.us. Or, visit Missouri’s Special Olympics website, www.somo.org.

Fort Zumwalt Park events For more information or to register for any of the programs below, call 636-379-5606 or email jhoisington@ofallon.mo.us. Or, visit www.ofallon.mo.us/HealdHome.

Ross Malone Book Signing Sunday, January 20 1 – 4 p.m., historic Heald Home, Fort Zumwalt Park Cost: $2 per person at the door; house tour included Meet author, traveler, retired teacher and historian Ross Malone, who will autograph and sell editions of his latest book, Too Good to Pass By: A Look at Some Missouri Places. Copies of his Tales from Missouri and the Heartland also will be available. The book was selected for the Missouri Life Magazine Book List, and placed in the Missouri Association of Librarians “Author’s Alley.”

Great Backyard Bird Count and Photo Exhibit

Monkey Tales Theatre Presentation: Past Imagination Saturday, March 16 1:30 and 3 p.m., historic Heald Home, Fort Zumwalt Park Cost: $5 residents, $7 for non-residents; group discounts for 10 or more; register in advance by Friday, March 1. Monkey Tales Theatre presents Past Imagination, a fun twist on the fairy tale classic, “The Frog Prince.” Written by Melissa Boyer and Tracy Bono, the play incorporates audience participation, silly antics, a fair maiden, a prince, an evil troll princess, a dragon and two fairies. And like all fairy tales, there’s a moral or two for the audience and the characters, too.

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Saturday, February 9 8 – 11 a.m., historic Heald Home, Fort Zumwalt Park Cost: $2 admission to the Heald Home Come on out and count the birds in the park. Then warm up in the Heald Home, take a tour and enjoy the O’Fallon Photo Club’s exhibit of Missouri birds. The GBBC is part of a national event that aims to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and it helps the birds. Don’t forget your binoculars!

Garden Expo – Save the date!

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Saturday, April 20 Historic Heald Home grounds, Fort Zumwalt Park Cost: Admission is free; Heald Home tours are $2

“Like” O'Fallon events on Facebook.

www.facebook.com/VisitOFallon V+ indicates opportunities for volunteers.

Contact Volunteer Services at 636-379-5507 or volunteer@ofallon.mo.us.

www.ofallon.mo.us Winter 2012–13

Focus on O'Fallon • O'Fallon Update Special Feature

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Friday, January 25, 4–8 p.m. Saturday, January 26, noon – 8 p.m. Sunday, January 27, 1–5 p.m. O’Fallon Sports Park Admission and parking are free!

ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT Ice Skating – Skate on O’Fallon’s first outdoor rink (skate rental available). Broomball – See website for open play times. Ice Carving – Watch master ice carvers create fanciful shapes from blocks of ice. Fire Performer – Prepare to be wowed!

Celebrate winter at O’Fallon’s newest festival, Cabin Fever Daze. Win prizes or just have fun by entering zany competitions, watch awesome ice carving and other exhibitions, go ice skating, play broomball, and purchase tasty winter festival food and beverages like S’Mores and hot chocolate.

For updates, please visit

www.ofallon.mo.us/cabinfever

NEW!

COMPETITIONS Human Dogsled Competition – Race for only $25 for team of 6. Please register in advance by Friday, January 18. Snowshoe Obstacle Course Fruit Cake Chuckin’ – Get rid of that dried up fruit cake left over from the holidays. Bring your own fruitcake, load the fruitcake catapult, and fire away! Soup Competition – Sample delicious soups from O’Fallon’s best restaurants.

Roscoe’s Den Trash and Recycling Announcements Christmas and New Year’s Day trash and recycling collection moves to the next day

www.ofallon.mo.us/green

Winter yard waste disposal options

There will be no change in service on Christmas Eve, December 24. Trash and recycling collection for Christmas, Tuesday, December 25, and New Year’s Day, January 1, 2013, will move to the next day. If your regularly-scheduled trash and recycling collection falls on those holidays, please put your trash and recycling collection out on the following Wednesday. For more information, visit www.ofallon.mo.us/ES.

For residents enrolled in the City’s yard waste collection, weekly service for the year ends Friday, December 14. The weekly service will resume the week of Monday, March 11. In the meantime, once-a-month yard waste collection will be available on the 4th Wednesday of the month: December, January and February. It is free by request to residents currently enrolled in O’Fallon’s optional yard waste program. Just be sure to call 636-272-0477 in advance each month to have your address listed on the collection route.

Curbside Christmas tree pickup

Residents who are not enrolled in the program have two options for disposing of yard waste:

For a $10 fee per tree, O’Fallon residents can have Christmas trees picked up from their curb. Just call 636-272-0477 for curbside service. The cost will be added to the bi-monthly bill. Only live or natural trees will be picked up, and trees MUST have all decorations removed. Do not place trees in plastic bags. Trees will be picked up on Wednesdays from December 26, 2012, through January 30, 2013. For free tree drop-off information, turn to page 4.

Too much trash or recycling to fit in your cart? O’Fallon’s Environmental Services drivers are not allowed to pick up trash or recycling that is left outside of trash or recycling carts. Here’s what you can do if you have excess trash or recycling:

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In the case of cardboard boxes, please break them down so they fit in your recycling cart.

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You can arrange to have many large items picked up at the curb by contacting Environmental Services staff at ofallonrecycles@ofallon.mo.us or 636-272-0477. The service is $20 per truck hopper for curbside collection.

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Finally, you can request an additional recycling cart free of charge, or get an additional 64-gallon trash cart for an additional $5 per month, or a 96-gallon trash cart for an additional $8 per month. To get an additional or larger cart, email staff at ofallonrecycles@ofallon.mo.us or call 636272-0477.

1. Participate in the off-season pick-up for $2 per bag, bundle or can, with a minimum of $20 for the service. Call Environmental Services at 636-272-0477 to schedule yard waste pick-up. 2. Drop off yard waste at Hansen’s Environmental Wood Resources, which is offering a special rate for O’Fallon residents. Please call Hansen’s directly at 636-379-1830 to schedule a drop-off and check the costs. Be sure to bring payment and a photo ID with your O’Fallon address. Please note, it’s illegal to dump yard waste into storm drains, or to mix yard waste with trash or recyclables. If you haven’t already, please enroll in O’Fallon’s yard waste program and reap the convenience of weekly service from March through December, and quarterly service December through February. Visit www.ofallon.mo.us/ES or call 636-272-0477.

Roscoe’s Tip: Just a reminder – Please recycle all holiday wrapping paper, cards and boxes!

Did you know that 80 percent or more of your trash is probably recyclable? Recycling cans, bottles, paper and boxes saves money and is better for our environment. For your convenience, you can dispose of recyclables in a plastic trash bag in the recycling container.

Police Bulletins O'Fallon Police Department Briefs

www.ofallon.mo.us/PD

O’Fallon’s Animal Control

Free CERT disaster response training

Lost a pet?

Friday – Sunday, March 1, 2, 3 O’Fallon Streets Division headquarters

Whether you’ve lost a pet, found a stray, or have a wildlife concern, the O’Fallon Police Department’s Animal Control Division offers several options that can help.

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Check www.facebook.com/ofallonanimalcontrol for updated information on topics related to animals in our area.

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Leave a voice message describing the problem by calling 636-240-3200; press 1 for Animal Control/Dispatch.

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Get information about reclaiming an impounded pet and City animal control ordinances and procedures at www. ofallon.mo.us/PD.

Don’t miss an outstanding opportunity to learn basic disaster response skills through O’Fallon’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, which is free. The O’Fallon Police Department will conduct the 20-hour course over a weekend:

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6 –10 p.m., Friday, March 1 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 2 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, March 3

Protect your business with O’Fallon’s free Business Watch Program All O’Fallon businesses are invited to join O’Fallon’s free Business Watch Program. The program teaches businesses how to spot and report suspicious activity, and how to build an effective neighborhood network that helps keep an eye on neighboring businesses. As a service of the O’Fallon Police Department, the Business Watch program also offers:

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Tips on catching criminals in the act and reporting effectively to the Police Department.

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Alerts and updates about neighborhood crime issues.

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Information specific to each business regarding crime prevention and detection, including shoplifting, fraud and the use of high-tech security equipment.

Citizens Police Academy

Access to up-to-date educational law enforcement resources for disaster preparedness and security issues.

O’Fallon and St. Charles County residents who are at least 18 years old are invited to apply for the O’Fallon Citizens Police Academy. The six-week program offers discussions on basic police work, hands-on training, and a chance to ride along on patrol. Class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:45 – 9:45 p.m., with one Saturday class for firearms training. For more information and an enrollment application, visit www.ofallon.mo.us/PD/CPA. Or, pick up an application at the O’Fallon Police Department, 100 North Main Street, O’Fallon 63366.

To sign up for the program, visit www.ofallon.mo.us/PD/ BWP. Or call 636-379-5563.

O’Fallon Police Department is on Twitter!

@OFallonPolice

O’Fallon Update City of O’Fallon Newsletter

Begins Thursday, March 14 Cost: $30

Communications Director • Tom Drabelle • tdrabelle@ofallon.mo.us Staff Writer • Peggy Whetzel • pwhetzel@ofallon.mo.us Web and Design Administrator • Bryan Wieczorek • bwieczorek@ofallon.mo.us

Snow Removal www.ofallon.mo.us/snow

hen it snows, O’Fallon’s crews work 24/7 to clear more than 700 “lane miles” of pavement and get traffic moving. As a resident, the number one thing you can do to assist snow crews is to never park on the street whenever snow is in the forecast. Keeping the streets clear of vehicles allows snow plows free access to clearing the roads safely and efficiently. Please remember, always stay clear of snow plows. Residents also can help protect their property and keep streets clear by following these guidelines: 1. Keep your mailbox and driveway clear: There is no perfect solution to prevent plowed snow from blocking mailboxes and driveways, but the problem can be minimized by making room for snow discharged by plows. Simply clear snow from the end of your driveway and along your curb, especially to the left of your driveway (as you face the street). 2. Don’t push snow into the street: Placing snow in a public street is against City ordinance and may result in a fine. Plus, it makes clearing the streets more time-consuming for crews. 3. Clear your own sidewalks, mailbox, driveway, parking lot: Residents and business owners are required to keep their own driveways, sidewalks, mailboxes and private streets clear of ice and snow. The City cannot plow privatelyowned streets or lots. 4. Clear the roads: By City ordinance, no street parking is allowed during winter weather events. No service will be provided if the crews feel they cannot safely plow your street because of parked cars or other obstructions. Violators may be towed at owners' expense.

Frequently Asked Questions Which roads are cleared by the City of O’Fallon’s crews? O’Fallon is responsible for clearing most streets within O’Fallon City limits, but not all. To keep traffic moving, the City emphasizes first clearing major thoroughfares for which it is responsible, including Mexico, Feise and Bryan roads, and WingHaven Boulevard. When snow begins to accumulate, snow removal crews are dispatched to residential areas. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is responsible for clearing the following federal and state roads: I-70, I-64, Highways K, N, 79, DD, South 364 Outer Road, Technology Dr., East and West Terra Lanes, and sections of Veterans Memorial Parkway. The City of O’Fallon cannot clear these areas. If you have questions or concerns about these roads, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (1-888275-6636).

I live on a cul-de-sac. How will the City deal with the snow on my street? Crews plow snow to the middle of the cul-de-sac, forming a pile in the center. This should allow for a clear route around the cul-de-sac and easy access to driveways. Residents should clear this area of snow at end of the driveway to form an opening for snow plow deposits.

Residents should place snow from end of driveway on this side.

Crews will push snow to middle of the cul-de-sac.

Can I call to report an area that needs plowing? Yes, O’Fallon’s Snow and Ice Removal Center is put into action when the forecast calls for five or more inches of snow and snow has begun to accumulate. At that time, you can call 636379-3826 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for snow or ice removal questions or concerns. For questions at other times, please call the City’s Streets Division at 636-379-3808. Snow removal information also is posted at www.ofallon.mo.us. Is the City responsible for damage to my mailbox, decorative landscaping or basketball hoop? If your mailbox or landscaping is damaged by a City-operated snow plow, please call 636-379-3808, the City’s Streets Division, to request repairs or replacements. Or visit www. ofallon.mo.us/citiens-first-center. O’Fallon’s municipal code prohibits basketball goals and other obstructions in the City’s public right–of–way (mid-street to about 10 feet behind the curb), and the City will not pay for damage to those items. If I have an emergency, will the City plow my area first so an ambulance can get through? Call 9-1-1 only in life–threatening emergencies; the dispatcher will contact the O’Fallon Streets Division should an emergency vehicle need access to a snow or ice-covered street. For more information on O’Fallon’s snow removal process, please call the Streets Division at 636-379-3808 or visit www. ofallon.mo.us/snow.

www.ofallon.mo.us Winter 2012–13

Calendar

All public meetings and Municipal Court proceedings are held at O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall), 100 North Main Street, unless otherwise noted.

www.ofallon.mo.us/events

December

City Hall CLOSED for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Renaud Spirit Center OPEN

1-30 Celebration of Lights Fort Zumwalt Park (closed Dec. 25 for Christmas)

King Day of Service

Municipal Court, 9 a.m.

1-30 Paul Callaway Toy Camera Photo Exhibit Cultural Arts Center in the RSC

O’Fallon Convention & Visitors Bureau, 5 p.m.

City Council, 7:30 p.m., workshop, 5:30 p.m.

Candidate filing opens for election, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

25-27 Cabin Fever Daze, O’Fallon Sports Park

Old Fashioned Holiday Stroll, 6 – 9 p.m. Fort Zumwalt Park

Municipal Court, 6 p.m.

Municipal Court, 9 a.m.

Fort Zumwalt Park re-opens to vehicles

Board of Adjustment, 5:30 p.m.

City Council, 7:30 p.m., workshop 5:30 p.m.

Holiday Tea, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Historic Heald Home, Fort Zumwalt Park

1-15 Photo Club Exhibit 6

Municipal Court, 9 a.m.

Municipal Court, 6 p.m.

Advisory Green Council, 5:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, 5:30 p.m.

Planning and Zoning Commission, 7 p.m.

Senior Advisory Committee, 5:30 p.m.

Renaud Spirit Center open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Great Backyard Bird Count, 8 –11 a.m. Fort Zumwalt Park

24-25 City Hall CLOSED for Christmas

Municipal Court, 6 p.m.

Parks Board, 7 p.m.

Board of Adjustment, 5:30 p.m.

City Council, 7:30 p.m., workshop, 5:30 p.m.

City Hall CLOSED for Presidents’ Day Renaud Spirit Center OPEN

Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, 5:30 p.m.

Renaud Spirit Center open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

January

February

Renaud Spirit Center OPEN noon – 5 p.m. Free admission all day

City Hall CLOSED for New Year’s Day

Municipal Court, 9 a.m.

Advisory Green Council, 5:30 p.m.

Senior Advisory Committee, 5 p.m.

Planning and Zoning Commission, 7 p.m.

Public Works Commission, 7 p.m.

O’Fallon Photo Club Annual Exhibit Through Feb. 15 in the Cultural Arts Gallery at the RSC

Parks Board, 7 p.m.

Oak Leaf Artist Guild exhibit: Treasures of Oak Leaf Cultural Arts Gallery in the Renaud Spirit Center, free Through April 5

Municipal Court, 9 a.m.

Municipal Court, 6 p.m.

Board of Adjustment, 5:30 p.m.

City Council, 7:30 p.m., workshop, 5:30 p.m.

Open auditions for O’FallonTheatreWorks’ production, Faith County, noon, City Hall

Municipal Court, 6 p.m.

Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, 5:30 p.m.

Senior Advisory Committee, 5 p.m.

Public Works Commission, 7 p.m.

Volunteer Donor Blood Drive, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. O’Fallon City Hall

Ross Malone Book Signing, 1–4 p.m. Historic Heald Home, Ft. Zumwalt Park, $2

March 1-3 CERT disaster response training, Streets Division headquarters 1-31 Oak Leaf Artist Guild exhibit, Treasures of Oak Leaf 6

Municipal Court, 9 a.m.

Advisory Green Council, 5:30 p.m.

Planning and Zoning Commission, 7 p.m.

Municipal Court, 6 p.m.

Parks Board, 7 p.m.

Visit the City of O’Fallon’s website, www.ofallon.mo.us, for the latest news and meeting agendas. Most meetings are broadcast live and on demand at www.ofallon.mo.us/OFallonTV.