The Vision January/February 2019
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CITY OF
wentzville news & events
If You're Cold, They're Cold
While we all understand the importance of keeping ourselves warm and dry during varying weather conditions, it's equally important to make sure our four-footed family members are also safe and warm. Wentzville residents, according to Ord. No. 2012-3207, are required to provide adequate care, shelter and control of their animals. Among other requirements, owners must provide an environment for their pets that has both shelter and temperature suitable for that species and/or breed. This includes environments that are inside and outside. Owners must also provide animals with access to clean, unfrozen water in a tip-proof bowl as well as nutritious food at least once daily. The Humane Society of the United States provides some simple guidelines to help protect our furry friends. 1. Whenever possible, keep pets indoors. Just as wind chill affects us humans, wind chill can threaten a pet's life. Pets are sensitive to extreme cold and are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia during extreme cold snaps. 2. Give your pets plenty of food and (unfrozen) water. Use plastic food and water bowls; when the temperature is low, your pet's tongue can stick and freeze to metal. 3. Protect their paws from salt. The salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet's feet. Wipe all paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates his/her mouth. 4. Avoid antifreeze poisoning. Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that may attract animals and children. Wipe up spills and keep antifreeze out of reach. 5. Speak out if you see a pet left out in the cold. Politely let the owner know, or call our non-emergency Police line at (636) 327-5105.
Recycle Your Tree — On Your Curb or at the Park
Curbside collection of real Christmas trees is available for Wentzville residents with trash collection service. Trees, which must be free of decorations, lights, etc., may be placed at the curb on your regular collection day between Jan. 2 and Jan. 18. If you have questions, please call (636) 327-5102. Residents may drop off natural trees to one of the three City parks below, between Jan. 2 and Jan. 18* (during regular park hours). Trees must be free of decorations, stands, coverings, lights, etc. • Progress Park, 968 Meyer Rd. • Heartland Park, 100 William Dierberg Dr. • Rotary Park, 2577 W. Meyer Rd. (*Jan. 4-18)
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* SpringonEvents * Saturday, April 13 NEW LOCATION!
8:30 a.m.* at Heartland Park
Hippity hop, Easter’s on its way! The Easter Bunny has been filling thousands of eggs with candy and prizes for the annual Easter Eggstravaganza. Some eggs will contain a slip of paper for prizes. Don’t forget your basket to collect all your goodies. Children will be grouped according to their age. Children may move to older age groups, but not down to a younger age group. Come early and enjoy fun activities before the hunt and have your picture taken with the Easter bunny. Registration is $4 in advance per child and $5 the day of the event. You must have your ticket on the day of the event to hunt. Don’t miss this EGGciting event! Please arrive early to allow time for parking. *Ages 1-2, 7-8, 9-10 will hunt at 9:15 a.m. and ages 3-4 and 5-6 will hunt at 9:45 a.m.
Get ready for Egg Hunting with the Bunny Run 5K and One-Mile Fun Run! Put on your speed enhancing bunny ears and tie up your laces as you race around beautiful Heartland Park before the Easter Eggstravaganza! In addition to the Bunny Run 5K, we will have the One-Mile Fun Run/Walk. These fun family events feature a beautiful course that you are sure to enjoy. Plus, a visit from the Easter Bunny, post-race food and drinks, a chocolate bunny finishers prize for all participants, and overall and age-group awards. Costume contest for team, best female and best male (judging at 6:45 a.m. before race starts at 7 a.m.). **Registration starts at 5:30 a.m.; race starts at 7a.m. The winners of the 5K run in each of the following age groups will receive awards; 10 and under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60- 69, 70 and older. The top three overall males and females will also receive awards, but they will not be awarded for winning their age group. The first 100 5K entrants will also receive a custom race T-shirt. Participants can pick up packets early at Progress Park Recreation Center on April 11 or 12. The cost is $30 before March 10 or $40 for 5K participants and $25 before March 10 or $35 after for One-Mile Fun Run participants.
11:30 a.m. at Rotary Park
NEW LOCATION!
5:30 a.m.** at Heartland Park
Your dog will bark for bones when all kinds of dog treats and bones will be hidden for your furry friends. Your dog will be allowed to try to find as many goodies as possible. Dogs must remain on leashes at all times. Don’t forget to bring a basket to put your treats in! After the hunting ends, each dog will receive a “doggie bag” to take home. We will also draw for door prizes. Dogs and their owners may roam around in the park after the event and take advantage of our trail which is a little over a mile in length and loops around the lake. The cost is $8 fro residents and $10 for nonresidents, per dog in advance (or $15 for day-of registration). You must turn in proof of vaccinations when registering your pet. Please be on time for this event, as it doesn’t take long for the dogs to gather all the bones.
To register, please call (636) 332-9236 or visit www.wentzvillemo.org.
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Mayor’s Recycle Responsibly
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he recycling industry is facing many challenges, but you can help! Here’s what’s happening ... Each day tons of recyclables are sorted at material recovery facilities – or MRFs – around the world. However, 25 percent of the items placed in recycling carts are not recyclable at all – they are trash. These are items like plastic bags, yard waste, garden hoses, construction debris and wire. Items like these can cause jams in the conveyor belt at the MRF and create an enormous problem: recycling contamination.
Recycling contamination happens when trash ruins otherwise good recyclables. For example, food or liquids placed in recycling carts will inevitably saturate paper and cardboard. Once contaminated, these items can no longer be recycled so they become trash. This is a global problem that is now directly affecting the St. Louis region as a whole, including Wentzville. You can help by following a few simple guidelines. To prevent contamination, and to ensure these items can be recycled, they must be collected and processed separately. By offering curbside collection and separate dropoff sites, we can ensure that more items can be kept out of the landfill. 1. Curbside Recycling: Recycle your clean and dry plastics (#1, #2, #3, #5 and #7) and aluminum, tin and steel cans. You may not fill up your cart every week, but we encourage you to keep these items out of your trash cart and, ultimately, out of the landfill. Remember to keep plastic bags, food waste and liquids out of your recycle cart. 2. Drop-Off Sites: At home, you can also save your cardboard and mixed paper (including newspapers, phone books, junk mail, etc.), as well as glass, and intermittently take these items to one of the convenient drop-off sites in Wentzville (see the blue box below). To learn more about what is accepted and not accepted, browse frequently asked questions, and learn about our residential drop-off sites, please visit bit.ly/recyclinginwentzville. While this has been a significant change
Recycling Drop-Off Sites These sites serve as drop-off locations for glass, cardboard and mixed paper — items which are no longer accepted through Meridian’s curbside collection program. Mixed paper includes newspapers, magazines, junk mail, computer paper, telephone books, etc. • • • •
Splash Station Aquatic Center (1141 Peine Rd.) Formerly Dee's Produce (1004 E. Pearce Blvd.) Formerly Car Credit City (15268 Veterans Memorial Pkwy.) Recycle Works West (2110 E. Pitman Rd.)
Stay tuned! Additional drop-off sites may be added to the CIty's website at www.wentzvillemo.org. Don't forget, St. Charles County’s Recycle Works West facility accepts many recyclable items. To learn more, please visit bit.ly/recycleworkswest.
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Mayor Nick Guccione for everyone involved, I just want to say that Wentzville residents are amazing! We greatly appreciate your commitment to recycling. We know that change is hard, and we also know that driving your cardboard and glass to a dropoff site can be inconvenient. We are thankful you are willing to go the extra mile. Don’t forget: when dropping off cardboard, boxes must be flattened. Did you know that more than 10 times the number of boxes can fit into the dumpsters if the boxes are broken down first? Thank you for your patience as we work through this process. If you have questions, please call Public Works at (636) 327-5102 or email city.inquiry@wentzvillemo.org. Coming soon! We have more electronics recycling events in the works for 2019. We will announce the dates and locations very soon. We are excited to continue to offer events like these to help divert even more waste from the landfill. Thank you, again, for doing your part to recycle responsibly.
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Business Spotlight
Wentzville Businesses are Going Green
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pplying green processes and practices in the workplace can help a business — no matter its size — to make an environmental impact. Going green can also mean "saving green," with money-saving benefits such as reduced energy bills, less waste and more. Late last summer, Wentzville businesses were invited to participate in a Green Business Survey. Those who completed the survey were eligible to receive the chance to have their green business initiatives shared right here in The Vision. These two businesses have lofty green goals and want to do their part to take care of our environment and preserve the planet for future generations.
Imagination Pottery
Megan and Michael Kumbera own Imagination Pottery at 1463 Wentzville Pkwy. The business is dedicated to providing unique pottery pieces for its customers to turn into colorful works of art. The Kumbera's feel it is their duty to take care of our environment, leaving our planet better than they found it. That philosophy extends to both their personal and professional lives. Although they live in an area where recycling is not available, they visit the St. Charles County Recycle Works facility on East Pitman Avenue twice each month. The following green practices are incorporated into their day-to-day business operations. • The clay ornaments are repurposed and reused. • Damaged pieces are given to customers as samples and not thrown away. • Cloth towels are used instead of paper towels to wash the brushes. The cloth towels are taken home and washed. • The lights are turned-off at night (they have an active alarm system). • The packing materials for the products they receive are reused to pack customers finished goods. • Customer plastic bags are reused. • Michael is an artist and “dumpster dives” for reusable materials in his artwork. • Paint brushes are reused. • Water for cleaning brushes is kept to a minimum.
Midwest Family Wellness
Midwest Family Wellness (formerly Fink Chiropractic) is located at 205 Creekside Office Dr. along West Meyer Road. The business has been providing chiropractic and wellness services to its patients since 2003. The business is owned by Drs. Joshua and Jamie Fink. In addition to quality chiropractic care, the doctors and their staff also have a big interest in helping preserve the planet. If you don’t think a business like a chiropractor can utilize green practices – you’d be mistaken. Here are a few examples of how Midwest Family Wellness takes small steps to go green. These small steps can result in a huge leap toward saving the only planet we all call home. • Their paper, plastic, glass and aluminum is recycled. • Natural light is used in the office, whenever possible. • Skype is used for meetings to avoid travel and conserve fuel. • Electronic files are utilized rather than paper for meetings. • They use real glasses and mugs instead of foam/paper. • The thermostat is lowered/raised depending on the weather. • Only one person drives to get lunch for the office. • They repurposed old chairs by donating them. • Receipts and information is emailed, not printed when possible. • The office conducts a yearly coat drive to keep them out of a landfill. • Natural cleaning products are used in the office.
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Winter Reminders Roads Not Cleared by the City
When ice and snow hit, please remember some roads within Wentzville's city limits are cleared by the Missouri Department of Transportation or St. Charles County, rather than the City of Wentzville Streets Department. These roads include:Step 2: Prepare a Kit to supply your family, coworkers and pets with materials that sustain well-being for up to three days. Interstate 70 for Information in order • to Highways Z and N and updates from • • Step 3: Listen receiveA,warnings • government Interstate 70 Servicelocal Roads • responding Wilmer Roadagencies. officials, media or other • Highway 40/61 • Highway 64
Snow Removal Tips from the Public Works Department
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now and ice season is upon us, and Wentzville Public Works will be working hard to keep City roads clear and safe. Below are a few tips and reminders as we enter into what promises to be a colder-than-usual winter. •
Fire Hydrants: Residents should clear fire hydrants of snow build up to ensure fire fighters can quickly find the fire hydrant in the event of a fire.
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Observe winter parking restrictions. It is always a good idea to remove parked cars from the roadway during snow events greater than two inches. Don't forget: parking is prohibited on City streets when a heavier snowfall forecast results in the declaration of a City "Snow Emergency."
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Snow Emergency
Store snow to right side of your driveway, as you stand in your driveway and face the street. For best results, remove snow from the street in front of and to the left of your driveway (see sketch below). Snow remaining on the street in front of and to the left of your driveway, drops in front of your driveway when the City plow comes by.
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Mailboxes: Occasionally, mailboxes are bumped by snow-removal equipment or snow dropping off of the face of the plow. When notified of the problem, the City will erect a temporary mailbox until weather conditions allow for repairs. If replacement is needed, the City will reimburse $50 for a new mailbox, which meets the minimum requirements of the U.S. Postal Service.
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Landscaping: The City permits low bushes, ground cover and flowers to be planted in the right-of-way,
lease remember when a City Snow Emergency is issued, residents must move cars off of public streets. Snow Emergencies, which are issued when a heavy snowfall is predicted, will be publicized on the City’s Facebook page and on the website at www.wentzvillemo.org. Thank you for your help to improve our efficiency and effectiveness during these winter-weather events. 5
• Hepperman Road
but does not compensate residents for private plantings in the right-ofway that are damaged due to snowremoval operations. If sod is damaged, the City will restore that area at the earliest availability of sod material. •
Mail Delivery/Trash Pickup: Snow Fighters clear snow as close to the curb line as practical to provide access to mailboxes and trash collection. Final clearing is the responsibility of each resident to receive trash collection service and delivery of mail by the U.S. Postal Service.
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New Businesses Accent Surgery Center/ Accent Dental 853 Medical Dr. Suite 114
The Source Farmacy 1420 W. Meyer Rd.
The Morgan School 100 Perry Cate Blvd.
Hear Well StL 14 E. Main St., Suite 108
Tracy Ratcliff Agency (Allstate Insurance) 1808 W. Pearce Blvd.
A Loving Heart Homecare 407 E. Pearce Blvd., Suite B
Six Plus Cypress 205 E. Allen St.
Arc Locksmith Service 8 E. Pearce Blvd.
Important Reminders Upcoming Holiday Hours and Collection Schedule
City offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 21 (Martin Luther King Day) and Feb. 18 (Presidents’ Day). Progress Park Recreation Center will be open regular hours on both MLK Day and Presidents’ Day. Please note, the Recreation Center will close at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 3 (Superbowl Sunday). Neither the MLK Day nor the Presidents’ Day will affect the trash/recycling collection schedule. For a list of the six holidays impacted each year, please visit the City's website at bit.ly/collectionholidays.
TREE SEMINAR:
Invasive Trees, Tree Selection and Ordinances
Date: Saturday, April 6 Time: 8 a.m. Where: Rotary Park
Please Update Your Email Address
Our goal is to keep Wentzville residents informed and educated. To that end, we use a variety of methods to communicate with you such as this newsletter, social media, the City's website, digital billboards and more. We recently added a new communication tool — email. In order to reach you by email, we need to ensure your email address is up-to-date in our utility billing system. To update your email address or change other account-related information, please visit our website at bit.ly/wentzvilleupdateinfo and complete a short form.
Spring provides the perfect time of year to join Wentzville Parks and Recreation and its Tree Committee for this educational event. During this workshop, you'll learn about invasive trees that affect our urban forests, selecting tree species for your property and ordinances for planting in Wentzville. To register, visit www.wentzvillemo.org or call (636) 332-9236. Deadline to register is April 1. Class must meet a minimum of 10 registrants, or it may be canceled.
7 WPD's Community Outreach Efforts "Share the Love" in Wentzville
Wentzville employees make a difference every day. The Board often receives kudos about staff members who have gone above and beyond. The Wentzville Police Department takes above and beyond to the next level. Its community outreach efforts provide welcoming and engaging events and programs to help residents and officers stay connected. WPD is proud to be part of this community and loves giving back. Here are a few of the ways they "share the love." • "Welcome to Wentzville" Program – When new residents move in, an officer stops by within a few weeks and introduces themselves. They provide the resident with a magnet that includes the Department's contact information. One of the goals of this program is for a resident's first contact with the Police Department to be a positive experience. • Walk and Talks – The Department conducts eight Walk and Talks per year. They divide the City into four sectors for crime tracking reasons. Each Watch Commander selects a neighborhood for command staff and officers to spend an evening walking the streets and meeting and talking with the residents about any issues or concerns. The Department conducts four walks in the spring and four in the fall.
From the Board
• Citizens Police Academy – This eight-week program, which is offered every spring to Wentzville residents, gives Wentzville Board of Aldermen (from left to right): Michael Hays (Ward 3), attendees an Brittany Gillett (Ward 2), Robert Hussey (Ward 1), Bryan Harr (Ward 1), inside look Mayor Nick Guccione, Jeff Ottenlips (Ward 2), and Matt Swanson (Ward 3) at how law enforcement back to the community. The WPD Blue works. Line Family adopts families during the • Rookie Retreat/Jr. Police Academy – holidays ensuring meals for Thanksgiving These two week-long summer camps and gifts for Christmas to needy families. local youth. Like the Citizens Police • Arrest Hunger Challenge – During Academy, attendees are introduced this inaugural event in October, WPD to police work but specifically geared partnered with the St. Louis Area toward kids. Foodbank and created a short video on • Popsicles with Officers – The social media to challenge other area Department purchases a cooler full of police departments to collect food items. popsicles several times throughout the Several community events were held summer. Officers selected subdivision to engage the public in the food drive pools, playgrounds, etc., and handed out Overall, 9,800 pounds of food items free popsicles! were collected! • Wentzville PD Blue Line Family – The • Special Olympics – Annually, the Police WPD Blue Line Family was established as Department participates in events to the Department’s benevolent association benefit the Missouri Special Olympics, to assist WPD employees in times of such as Tip a Cop, Torch Run, etc. WPD need. Fundraising events are held continues to be one of the top fundraising throughout the year with 20 percent departments in the area. of the funds raised being used to give
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID St. Louis, MO Permit #495
1001 Schroeder Creek Blvd. Wentzville, MO 63385
ECRWSS Postal Customer
Mammography Unit at City Hall
The St. Luke’s Mobile Mammography Unit will be at Wentzville City Hall (located at 1001 Schroeder Creek Blvd.) on Friday, Feb. 15 and Thursday, Feb. 21 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day. Both 2D and 3D mammograms will be available to women age 40 and over. The fee will be billed to you or your insurance. To make an appointment or for more information, please call (314) 205-6267. Appointments will be filled first-come, first-served. Women who are uninsured or under-insured may be eligible for free mammograms.
Candidate Filing Closes Jan. 15
Candidates filing for the April 2019 election will need to file at Wentzville City Hall, located at 1001 Schroeder Creek Blvd. The filing period will remain open until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Positions open for filing include one Alderman from each of the three Wards and Municipal Judge. There is a $25 fee, due when filing. If you have further questions, please call the City Clerk’s office at (636) 327-5101. City ordinances state that candidates running for Alderman must be at least 18 years of age; a U.S. citizen; and an inhabitant and resident of the City for at least one year prior to the election. Candidates running for Alderman must also be a resident, at the time he/she files and during the time he/she serves, of the Ward from which he/she is elected. City ordinances state that candidates running for Municipal Judge must be a licensed attorney, qualified to practice law in the state of Missouri, and a resident of St. Charles County at the time of his/her election. The Municipal Judge does not need to reside within Wentzville city limits. The Municipal Judge must be between 21 and 75 years of age.
Save the Date Planning and Zoning 6 P.M. | JAN. 2 AND FEB. 5
Parks and Rec Board Tree Committee* 5 P.M. | JAN. 7 AND FEB. 21
Board of Adjustment 6 P.M. | JAN. 10 AND FEB. 14
Friends of the Wentzville Parks 5:30 P.M. |JAN. 3 AND FEB. 7
4 P.M. | JAN. 8 AND FEB. 12
Parks and Rec Board Art Committee*
Downtown Committee 6 P.M. | JAN. 22 AND FEB. 26
Parks and Recreation Board Board of Aldermen Stormwater Committee 6 P.M. | JAN. 9 & 23 AND FEB. 13 & 27 6 P.M. | FEB. 28 6:30 P.M. | JAN. 7 AND FEB. 4 Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at City Hall (1001 Schroeder Creek Blvd.). The Tree Committee and Art Committee meet at Progress Park (968 Meyer Rd.). Board of Aldermen dates are subject to change. For up-to-date calendar items, please visit the City’s website at www.wentzvillemo.org. 6 P.M. | JAN. 9 & 23 ANDMeeting FEB. 13 & 27