FOCUS St. Charles County SPRING 2012 County Executive’s Message In this issue... County, Taxpayers Work Together on Roads

Transportation Funds t. Charles County year, the rural areas complained that most of the Improve County Sis celebrating its benefits would accrue to the developed areas of Roadways ...... 2 bicentennial year. As late the county and the issued failed to pass. as 1871, the county’s road Such urban versus rural disputes remained tax was only two-tenths of an impediment to progress for another decade. Heroin Harms Our a cent. That year, voters set To build support for future road improvements, Community ...... 3 Steve Ehlmann aside parochial interests and the County established a transportation task County Executive approved an appropriation force in 1985. It identified five transportation Personal Property of $25,000 per year for five priorities: the preservation of a corridor for the Valuation ...... 3 years, for the construction extension of Page Avenue; construction of 370; a and maintenance of county roads. Most of South Fifth Street extension; the improvement of the state lettered routes in the county were Mexico Road; and construction of an outer belt Council Comments ... constructed in the following decades. road around Wentzville. Later that year, voters ...... 4-5 With overwhelmingly the advent Throughout St. Charles County’s 200-year existence, residents approved a ½-cent of the have come together to improve roadways and expand our sales tax that would Nature Classroom at communities. (Historic photo courtesy of the St. Charles County Towne Park ...... 6 automobile, Historical Society) sunset in 10 years. special A Road Board was interests established that Emergency Response and the recommended Planning ...... 7 motoring projects to the public County Commission. Indoor Football demanded Not only were the Returns to Arena ...... 7 paved roads, identified priorities and county met, but voters additional passed a road projects FOCUS $1 million improved St. Charles County bond issue safety, is a publication of and for road strengthened paid for by improvements in 1920. While the proposal the arterial St. Charles County garnered only a simple majority in St. Charles, it road network Government won overwhelming support of the rural areas. and aided Office of Public By May 1975, the Road and Bridge tax had economic Information increased to five-tenths of a cent, but brought in development of the county. The road-building 100 N. 3rd St., Suite 210 only $1.5 million, far short of what was necessary program was so successful that, voters have twice St. Charles, MO 63301 to maintain the transportation network. When extended the tax in additional ten-year increments. (636) 949-1864 the County asked voters to approve a $10.3 To date the County Road Board has completed [email protected] million bond issue for road improvements that projects totaling almost a half billion dollars. Transportation Sales Tax Funds Improve County Roadways he St. Charles County Road Board Mall Drive, is possible because MoDOT bond issue to build the road to the plant. has used the ½-cent transportation received an infusion of funds from the Since 1985, the County Road Board has salesT tax to improve the safety of our roads, county’s ½-cent transportation sales tax funded several projects in the High Tech expand the system and increase the capacity and the City of St. Peters. This project will Corridor, making it possible for employers of existing arterial roads and assist in now be completed before, and provide relief like MasterCard to move to St. Charles economic development. from, the Blanchette Bridge shut-down County. The Salt River Road extension Over the last 27 years, farm-to-market later this year. In addition, Phase III of Page has provided access to industrial parks roads like Upper Bottom, St. Peters-Howell, in St. Peters. Lake Saint Louis Jung’s Station, McClay, Feise, Bates, Henning, More than 440 miles of county roadways requested Road Board Funds to Guthrie, Duello and Green’s Bottom have have been improved or extended using finance the streets leading to The been widened and straightened. Further, transportation sales tax revenues. Shoppes at Hawk Ridge. Road the County used transportation sales tax infrastructure for other major dollars, after a series of fatal accidents, to employment centers in St. Charles provide the local cost-share for the Missouri Avenue Extension, between Mid Rivers Mall County, including Citigroup, MasterCard Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) Drive and I-64 would not have been funded and Enterprise Leasing, were funded in part recently completed safety improvements to without a commitment by the County to from the transportation sales tax funds. shoulders of numbered and lettered routes match state and federal funds with funds It is clear that the transportation in the southwest part of the county. from the county’s ½-cent transportation sales tax has been the catalyst behind road The revenue has also been used to sales tax. improvements needed to improve safety, extend or build entirely new thoroughfares When the General Motors Assembly keep traffic moving and support economic like Wentzville Parkway, Mid Rivers Plant was built in Wentzville in the early development in St. Charles County. Mall Drive, Tom Ginnever Boulevard, 1980s, County government had to pass a Winghaven Boulevard, T.R. Hughes Boulevard, Lake Saint Louis Boulevard St. Charles County Road Projects and Interstate Drive. The most recent example is the Completed Using Transportation Tax Revenues Salt River Road extension. Since opening in late 2011, it has allowed westbound Highway 370 traffic to avoid the congestion on I-70 at Mid Rivers Mall Drive. Many motorists have incorporated Salt River Road into their daily commute and many others have discovered that Salt River Road provides them with an opportunity to keep moving when I-70 is stop and go. The key to our future The roads marked in green were all upgraded using revenue arterial road system is collected from the ½-cent transportation sales tax. Over the last Route 364 (Page Avenue 27 years, this revenue has funded the improvement of more than Extension). Phase II, 440 miles of roadways within St. Charles County. extending to Mid Rivers FOCUS St. Charles County • Spring 2012 • Page 2 Growing Heroin Use a Danger to Our Community t. Charles County Twenty years ago, a heroin addict was deaths in our county. has been known perceived to be some back-alley junkie or The Wentzville School District Sas one of the top five someone from a lower social class with recently partnered with the National Missouri counties no moral compass or useful purpose in Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse to for meth lab seizures life. That has changed. Heroin users now present a town hall meeting on the heroin for several years. The come from all social and economic levels of problem. The 300 attendees were provided St. Charles County society. information by law enforcement personnel, Tom Neer Regional Drug Task The most widely accepted explanation representatives from treatment centers Sheriff Force continues to use for heroin deaths is the result of a quantity and a testimonial from a local mother who every available resource or quality of heroin in excess of a person’s found her teenage son dead in his bedroom to reduce the production and distribution tolerance to the drug. The purity of heroin as the result of a heroin overdose. of meth in our county while combatting on the streets today is considerably higher We plan to have at least three more another major threat to our community – than in the past. town hall meetings to provide as much heroin. Conventional methods of drug information as possible to county residents Heroin overdose fatalities tripled from enforcement have not produced the desired about what needs to be done to reduce the 2007 to 2010, going from seven deaths in results, and heroin deaths continue to market for heroin. We will also provide 2007 to 22 deaths in 2010. We experienced increase. Law enforcement agencies cannot information on signs of heroin abuse and a slight decrease in 2011 with 18 deaths, but fight this crisis alone. We need the help how to obtain help before a friend or loved we are on the path to another increase with of churches, community organizations, one becomes another statistic. Help law five deaths in the first two months of 2012. schools and, most importantly, parents. The enforcement help you. We cannot win this The majority of those who die from heroin more informed and educated people are the battle alone. overdose are between the ages of 15 and 35. better our chances are of eliminating heroin

VIN Tracking Bestows Value on Your Vehicle n January, the Dealers Guide (NADA). Prior to using the and upgrades — they hadn’t been paying Assessor’s office VIN to identify personal property, many the rate that they should have been assessed Imails approximately inconsistent and incomplete descriptions in previous years. 170,000 personal of vehicles were used depending on the Tax rates are determined annually property declarations amount of information returned by the by each local taxing authority after the to St. Charles County taxpayer. assessments/values are certified, meaning Scott Shipman residents. This may have unfairly shifted the tax the tax amounts are unknown during the Assessor You may have burden to others. time values are established. Incorrect noticed on your Some, who did not include all of the vehicle descriptions would result in 2012 declaration the inclusion of the bells and incorrect values and unfairly vehicle identification number (VIN) for whistles of distribute more or less of the Automobile property values many of your items. This information the vehicle on tax burden based on these was collected for the 2011 assessment declarations are generated using the discrepancies. year using information transmitted from in the past, October issue of the National The same principal exists the Department of Revenue, and it will were surprised Automobile Dealers Guide. with insurance companies continue to be used as the guiding source by a jump in requiring VIN to issue for a fair and equitable tax base for personal their personal insurance on a vehicle to make property. property tax bills after the county began certain the rate used is accurate according This information assures the correct using the VIN to assess their property. to the titled description of the vehicle. distribution of the tax burden based on facts These people didn’t understand how This information is also the catalyst to and alleviates potential problems during their taxes on a vehicle a year older could go provide online filing of personal property the license renewal process. Currently by up. We explained that when they reported declarations. Timely completion of the state statute, values are generated using the their pickup truck as a base model — even declaration form also assures uniformity in October issue of the National Automobile though it actually was loaded with options a rate driven tax system. FOCUS St. Charles County • Spring 2012 • Page 3 Council Comments Page Avenue Extension Completion in Sight

eople down in our there’s a way. The people had the will, and Next, all the municipalities in the neck of the woods St. Charles County government officials county agreed to forgo any federal funding (DistrictP 3) have found a way to come up with funding for for local transportation projects for one year. been watching the the project — thanks to cooperation from The County submitted a request for a total construction along local, state and federal agencies. of $25 million to the East-West Gateway Highway 94 South County officials went to Jefferson Council, the region’s planning organization for the last several City and competed for funds from the responsible for allocating federal funds for Nancy Matheny years with great Innovative Finance Program, which enabled local transportation projects. That board District 3 anticipation. Will the MoDOT to contribute $50 million of what approved our request. With cooperation Page Avenue Extension finally reach us, and would be a $100 million project. from the municipalities, the County ease the daily traffic congestion? Council approved the remaining $25 Believe it or not, after 30 years, million needed for the project from the completion of the project is in sight. Three county’s ½-cent transportation sales tax years ago, the chances of finding a way fund. to fund Phase III of the Page Extension We’re not sure how it will look as the looked bleak. The Missouri Department design-build concept will be employed to of Transportation (MoDOT) predicted it save money and expedite the work. The would not be able to do any new projects only thing we know for sure is that there after 2009, and Phase III of Page was will be a connection from Mid Rivers Mall not even included on the region’s list of Drive to I-64, and MoDOT is saying it The Page Avenue Extension is expected transportation priorities. to reach Mid Rivers Mall Drive by the end should be completed by late 2014. What happened? Where there’s a will, of this year and I-64 by late in 2014.

Council Comments County Road Board Sets Transportation Priorities he County of Mexico Road. Not only Mexico, but the City of St. Peters and MoDOT. Road Board Spencer, McClay and St. Peters-Howell Work would have stopped at Central hasT been in existence have been widened School Road until state now for 27 years, and over the years. funds became available Road projects funded by a has recommended The ½-cent transportation sale tax have without revenue from funding for road transportation benefitted citizens in District the county’s ½-cent projects totaling tax allowed St. 5 and the County. transportation sales tax Terry Hollander $450 million from Charles County, and funds from the City District 5 the county’s ½-cent unlike many other of St. Peters. transportation sales tax, first passed by the counties in the region, to convince the The most recent success was the Salt voters in 1985. Missouri Department of Transportation River Road Extension, finished in record I represent District 5, and it has (MoDOT) to do projects by providing time due to the cooperation of county fared very well in this process. The City a local cost-share. Work on Route 364 and St. Peters staffs. Since opening in late of St. Peters has aggressively proposed (Page Avenue Extension) between 2011, it has allowed westbound Highway projects to the Road Board. One of the Harvester Road and Mid Rivers Mall 370 traffic to avoid the congestion on I-70 five priorities established before the tax Drive is being funded through a at Mid Rivers Mall Drive. was passed in 1985 was the improvement partnership between St. Charles County, FOCUS St. Charles County • Spring 2012 • Page 4 Council Comments City, County and State Cooperation Leads to Success he County Road River Road, connecting Highway 370 to Illinois side of the river to raise their levees Board and the Highway 79, have been completed with to the 500-year level, while Pike, Lincoln MissouriT Department County Road Board funds. and St. Charles counties would stay at their of Transportation Fifth Street in front of the post office in current level of protection or less. We could (MoDOT) are St. Charles already has been widened, and become the floodwater holding basin for working to ease should St. Joseph Health Center buy the the Upper Mississippi River. the congestion that existing property and the U.S. Postal Service We have been working very hard may result when the build a new facility, the Road Board has on this issue with federal, state and local Jerry Daugherty westbound Blanchette approved funding for the road to the new agencies. I met with State Sen. Tom District 6 Bridge is closed later post office. Dempsey, R-St. Charles, and asked for a this year. Work on My rural constituents have also Resolution opposing Plan H. He pushed it Route 364 (Page Avenue Extension) to benefitted from the ½-cent transportation through the Missouri Senate in three weeks, Mid Rivers Mall Drive, paid for with the sales tax. Last year, $1.1 million was spent and it has now passed the House. We also county’s ½-cent transportation sales tax on rural county roads. Over the course of worked with the governor’s office to obtain as well as City of St. Peters and MoDOT this tax, more than $23 million has been a very strong letter of opposition, and it has funds, is ahead of schedule and now spent on rural county roads like Alta Villa, been presented to the Mississippi River appears, weather permitting, that it will be Black Walnut, Church and Saale. Commission. completed before the bridge closing. On another subject, one part of the We need cooperation from all corners Other improvements, such as work Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive to stop a plan that could have a disastrous at the ramp from Page Avenue to Muegge Plan known as Plan H would allow the impact on St. Charles County, especially the Road at Old Highway 94 and the new Salt counties above Pike County and on the 161,280 acres designated in the floodplain. County Road Board Shines “Green Light” on Traffic he next time you experience a series and coordinating traffic on the interstates Traffic Management Center in Chesterfield. of traffic lights that seem outrageously (I-70, I-64) and state routes (MO 94, MO The long-term goal is to improve traffic outT of sync and designed to make you miss 364, MO 370, US 61), as well as local operations in St. Charles County through every green light, think about “Gateway arterial roads through the installation of shared communication networks and Green Light,” a St. Charles County Road Intelligent Transportation Systems. This deployment of Intelligent Transportation Board project. That’s the name of the system is designed to provide a seamless, Systems. Regional Integrated Corridor Management multi-jurisdictional network to regulate all The project area contains 334 traffic Plan, and it’s coming to a traffic signal near county traffic lights, including those within signals that are owned and operated by nine you. the municipalities of Cottleville, Dardenne jurisdictions. MoDOT owns and operates This is a $5 million project, with $4 Prairie, Lake Saint Louis, O’Fallon, 110 signals within the project area. million coming from federal funds and $1 St. Charles, St. Peters, Wentzville and The westbound lanes of the Blanchette million in matching Road Board funds from unincorporated St. Charles County. Bridge will be shut down for nine to 12 the county ½-cent transportation sales tax. The short-term goal of the project months beginning in November 2012. The system should be completed in 2013, is to reduce traffic congestion during the During peak driving hours on I-70, and the goal is to reduce reconstruction of MoDOT’s traffic mitigation plan will be to travel times, delays, the westbound encourage motorists to use MO Route 364 fuel consumption, Blanchette Bridge on (Page Extension) and MO Route 370. This greenhouse gas I-70 by helping the shift in traffic will result in additional travel emissions and incidents. Missouri Department on local roads such as Muegge Road, Arena In short, “Gateway of Transportation Parkway, Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Mexico Green Light” will (MoDOT) manage Road, Salt River Road, and T.R. Hughes increase reliability and and coordinate travel and Main Street in O’Fallon. Coordinating predictability of travel on the interstates, the signals on those roads will greatly in St. Charles County “Gateway Green Light” will synchronize state routes and local reduce the traffic jams. by better managing traffic lights on county roadways. arterial roads from its FOCUS St. Charles County • Spring 2012 • Page 5 Nature Explore Classroom Opens at Towne Park he Parks Department wanted to Building Area, Dirt Digging provide children with a rare and Area, Balance Area and Water educationalT “nature play area” to explore Area. Each section is designed while visiting the newest park development, to motivate children by offering Towne Park, situated on Towne Park Drive, interactive elements, including off Highway 61 north of Wentzville. It was musical instruments made decided to create a dynamic, nature-based of natural materials, climbing play and learning space, which supports skill structures, wooden blocks, garden development in children by reconnecting areas, and natural materials for them with the outdoors. The Nature building and creating art. Explore Classroom, one of the main focal Research shows that points of the new park, is a magical place children need connections with for children to learn, discover and explore the natural world as a regular Situated along Highway 61 north of Wentzville, nature. The 109-acre park was dedicated part of their healthy growth and the 109-acre Towne Park opened May 11. and opened to the public on May 11, 2012. development. Disconnection “The Nature Explore Classroom at from nature is leading to increases Shaw Nature Reserve, Forest Keeling Towne Park is the only certified classroom in problems such as childhood obesity and Nursery, Gersenite, Inc., Big Creek Quarry, in St. Charles County that offers children fear of the outdoors. The Nature Explore First Capitol Lion’s Club, Forest Releaf of a different outdoor play experience,” said Classroom reconnects children with nature Missouri, Fred Weber Quarry and St. Louis Parks Director Bettie Yahn-Kramer. “With and provides educators and families with Composting. Dedicated volunteers from only a few in the region, I expect the comprehensive resources to connect the Confluence Chapter of the Missouri classroom to become an inspiration for children with the natural world. Master Naturalists assisted construction children, families and educators across the “While connecting children to nature, and adopted the project as their annual tri-county area.” such unstructured play and activities are service program. Certified by the Arbor Day Foundation shown to enhance concentration, develop Towne Park’s Nature Explore and Dimensions Educational Research creativity and problem-solving, relieve stress Classroom is open to children, families, Foundation, the Nature Explore Classroom and improve skills,” said Yahn-Kramer. schools and scouting organizations wanting encompasses 11 learning stations for Many volunteers and businesses to experience something extraordinary children to explore. It features a Gathering generously donated their time and materials that reconnects them with nature. The Area, Music and Movement Area, Open to build this outdoor oasis. Project classroom is accessible to the disabled. Play Area, Messy Materials Area, Sand Play sponsors include Area, Nature Art Area, Wildflower Area, Earthworks, Inc., Enjoy These Events at a County Park Near You

Partial Solar Eclipse Viewing Park Explorer Kids Club May 20 June 11-15 and July 16-20 Klondike Park Quail Ridge Park

Camp Kick Flip Great American May- Aug (weekly) Backyard Campout Youth Activity Park June 23 Youth Activity Park Free Fishing Days June 9 and 10 To register for these programs, All County Parks please call (636) 949-7535.

Eleven different learning stations make up the certified Nature For a full list of 2012 park programs, visit www.stccparks.org Explore Classroom inside Towne Park. FOCUS St. Charles County • Spring 2012 • Page 6 County-wide Partnerships Enhance Safety

hrough the Department of or as a volunteer responder — please Community Health and the contact Joe Morin at (636) 949-7554. EnvironmentT and the Division of In a large-scale emergency, trained Emergency Management, St. Charles teams of individuals and organizations County coordinates with local, state, and working in coordination with strategically federal agencies to prepare our disaster mobilized resources will provide assistance. plans. In addition to traditional response Individuals of all abilities can contribute, agencies (fire, police, ambulance and providing emergency communications, medical), a host of other organizations — assisting with damage assessments or clean- such as the County’s parks and highway up efforts and more. Many municipalities departments, area businesses, service Residents and businesses from throughout offer Community Emergency Response agencies, amateur radio operators and St. Charles County came together to help Teams (CERT) that provide training and untold more — may be called into action. protect the community during recent floods. coordinate volunteer help. Additionally, On June 28, representatives will non-profits, volunteer groups, faith-based practice their roles. Operating from practice this plan. Coordinated by the organizations, public service agencies and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the first 500 participants health department, responders will private businesses have formed the St. will receive a sandwich and gift bag simulate a biological terrorism incident in Charles County Community Organizations provided by Chick-Fil-A (6180 Mid St. Charles County, which would require Active in Disaster to help meet needs. Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters) as a thank medication for all residents within 48 hours. Individual volunteers or organized groups you for assisting in the event. If you or For this exercise, a drive-through medical interested in assisting the county’s response your organization would be interested in distribution site will be established near efforts should call (636) 949-3023. participating —as a drive-through patient Mid Rivers Mall, where responders will Indoor Football Returns To Family Arena in 2013 he Family Arena will be home to a new professional indoor football league franchise in 2013. Conquest Coming to the Family Arena SportsT Management of Fort Myers, Fla., will field the team. Andrew Haines is the owner. Fight Me MMA Competing in the United Indoor Football League, the August 17 new team, as yet to be named, will begin play in February 2013, with preseason practices. The St. Charles franchise Rodney Carrington will play seven home league games and seven away games September 7 commencing in April 2013. Proposed ticket prices range from $7 to $45 for single Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang games and from $42 to $270 for season tickets. September 14 The new franchise signed a three-year agreement to play its home games at the Family Arena, from February 2013 Cinematic Titanic until June 2015. November 17 The River City Rage, an indoor football league team, played its last game at the Family Arena in July 2009. For a full schedule, please visit Details about coaches and players for the new franchise will be announced later by Conquest Sports Management. www.FamilyArena.com

FOCUS St. Charles County • Spring 2012 • Page 7

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