Point of View

Often, September is associated with new beginnings , playing host to the start of the school year, the reappearance of football season, the emergence of the harvest moon, the start of a new wine, festivals we have missed in year's past, and more.

CCPHC recommends > age 12+ get vaccinated; No masks/social distancing if vaccinated.

Monday - Labor Day Holiday - City offices closed

Tuesday, 10:30-11:30 AM - Free Blood Pressure Check @ ESCC; 2-7 PM - Blood Drive @ ESCC;

5 PM - Budget Review; 6 PM - Council Meeting

Wednesday, 8AM-1PM/4-6PM - Farmer's Market @ ESCC;

5 PM - Historic Preservation Commission

Thursday, 11AM - Urban Redevelopment Commission

Friday - Community Grants Due

• Council Agenda: Budget Review (General Fund); Consideration of Board Appointments, Water Plant Improvements (Clarifier Basins 1 & 3 Gear Motors & Scraper Drives) [FUNDING: Water Rates] WHY? As part of budgeted updates, bids were taken on clarifiers 1 & 3 gear motor drives/VFD, scraper motor drivers, & chain/sprockets. The old ones are very worn, outdated, Basin 3 has original 1975 scraper drive. Basin1 was rebuilt in 1998, Basin 2 was updated in 2018; Title VI for Transportation Plan, WHY? City Transportation operates its services without regard to race, color, & national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; 1st Reading 2018 International Building Codes.
• Historic Preservation Commission: Consider Certificate of Appropriation for 514, 522 Elms Blvd. & 100 W. Broadway (windows, railing, gutters, awnings, deck, mural); COAs administratively approved for 518, 523 Elms Blvd (roof/painting).
• Urban Redevelopment Commission: Consider Redevelopment Plan for 216 South Street.

• Celebrating Work Anniversaries this week: Senior Center Manager Jeff Barge - 3 years; Community Center Front Desk Gunnar Gudehus, Child Watch Abigail Adair - 2 years, CC Child Watch Elise Gish - 1 year & Firefighter EMT Cody Horky - 1 year.
• The Council established seven goals for the next five years. The 6th & 7th goals, Consistent Level of Service & Customer Service. Workflow is seasonal, but there are generally offsetting priorities in every season. We currently staff at minimum levels & utilize contracted services or part-time seasonal workers as needed to meet demands. While this is necessary to balance the budget, it can be more difficult to provide a consistent level of service & is a source of frustration for the public, who has a high demand for service & our employees who bounce between competing priorities. We are working to streamline our internal processes & interdepartmental procedures. We are looking for ways to improve our knowledge sharing in order to improve problem solving & the customer experience. This is how we create a culture of service; it isn't just up to the front line to make a good impression; it takes all of us to make a difference. Every job regardless of whether we interacted with the customer or not made an impression. We need to make sure that lasting impressions is a good one.

• As the city gets closer to implementing the state court software system, one of the details is a collection agreement to collect unpaid court fees, fines & restitution from the subject's Missouri income tax refund.
• A second opinion on the structural integrity of the Hall of Springs & foundation support agrees with the initial opinion; construction documents should be complete in 2 months, so work can begin. We will need to seek additional funding to be able to restore the Hall of Springs to the space we love. [FUNDING: SAT, CIP]
• Phase 2 Steering Committee meets monthly to advance a design for the new aquatic facilities. [FUNDING: Community Center Sales Tax]
• Work should begin this week on Jesse James Road, starting with milling the surface to ready for the new asphalt. [FUNDING: CIP, CDBG, EDA]

Bill Hightower Real Estate Team posts ~ Happy Senior Citizen Day! We want to be sure that everyone knows about our wonderful Senior Center located inside the ESCC! They have lunch throughout the week, have special activities, & programs like live music! If you need transportation, please let them know & they would be happy to help you get there & back! Seniors from nearby communities are welcome to have lunch & participate in activities, too!

Email: mmcgovern@excelsiorsprings.gov
Website: cityofesmo.com
Location: Hall of Waters, 201 E. Broadway, 64024
Phone: (816) 630-0752