Welcome to the city of St Joseph's weekly digital newsletter. City Link is your source for timely and relevant information from your local government.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Fifth Amended Declaration and Order

During a City Council work session on Wednesday, May 13, the council made the decision to allow bars and taverns to reopen following guidelines established in the Fifth Amended Declaration and Order while applying the order issued by the State of Missouri and the guidance provided in the “Guidelines for Opening Up America Again” that have been issued by the President. The Declaration and Order continues to impose the requirements established previously to ensure public health and safety along with the following amendments as they relate to bars, taverns and restaurants effective May 14.

REC Center Current Operations

The St. Joseph REC Center is back open to the public with measures in place to keep guests and staff safe while practicing social distancing.

  • The walking track is open, but with special operating policies. No passing will be allowed on the track and no runners will be allowed on the track at this time. 
  • Certain designated fitness equipment will be unavailable for use to achieve social distance spacing in the fitness room.
  • All fitness classes have been moved to the blue gym to give more room for people to spread out and achieve social distancing requirements.
  • No open gym for basketball or volleyball games due to the inability to achieve appropriate social distancing. 
  • Pickleball will be allowed to be played in singles mode only. Singles rules will be in effect and players are asked to bring their own ball for exclusive use while playing.
  • The youth activity room will stay closed through May due to the inability to achieve appropriate social distancing.
  • Showers will not available.
  • At this time, no facility rentals can be made.

The current hours of operation for the REC Center are Monday-Friday from 6am-8pm, Saturday from 6am-2pm and closed on Sunday. For more information, call 271-5512.
Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Now, more than ever, it is important for the mental health community to come together and show the world that no one should ever feel alone. 

Trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are and what might be the signs of a mental illness isn't always easy. There's no easy test to let someone know if there is mental illness or if actions and thoughts might be typical behaviors of a person or the result of a physical illness. Each illness has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include the following:
  • Excessive worrying or fear
  • Feeling excessively sad or low
  • Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
  • Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
  • Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger
  • Avoiding friends and social activities
  • Difficulties understanding or relating to other people
  • Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
  • Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
  • Changes in sex drive
  • Difficulty perceiving reality such as delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don't exist in objective reality
  • Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior or personality (”lack of insight” or anosognosia)
  • Abuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
  • Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes such as headaches, stomach aches, vague and ongoing “aches and pains”
  • Thinking about suicide
  • Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress

Don’t be afraid to reach out if you or someone you know needs help. Learning all you can about mental health is an important first step. Contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness ( NAMI) HelpLine at 800-950-NAMI to find out what services and supports are available in your community. In a crisis, text "NAMI" to 741741.

If you or someone you know needs helps now, you should immediately call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or call 911.
Wastewater and Novel Coronavirus

Similar to many other aspects of life, wastewater treatment facilities have had to adapt because of the novel coronavirus. Water protection employees... read more
Be on the Lookout

As the temperature continues to warm up, many people will be heading outdoors for recreational activities. T here will be many bicycles on the road. It’s very important to keep in mind people on bicycles have the same rights as people behind the wheel, as well as the same responsibilities. Here are some tips to keep you and cyclists safe: 
  • Yield to cyclists as you would motorists and do not underestimate their speed. This will help avoid turning in front of a cyclist traveling on the road, sidewalk, often at an intersection or driveway. 
  • In parking lots, at stop signs, when backing up or when parking, search your surroundings for other vehicles, including bicycles. 
  • Drivers turning right on red should look to the right and behind to avoid hitting a cyclist approaching from the right rear. Stop completely and look left-right-left and behind before turning right on red. 
  • Obey the speed limit, reduce speed for road conditions and drive defensively to avoid a crash with a cyclist. 
  • Give cyclists room as you do not want pass too closely. Pass cyclists as you would any other vehicle, when it’s safe to move over into an adjacent lane. 

Also, as the school year comes to end, more children will be going outside to play. Here are some tips for parents and drivers to keep in mind:
  • Never leave children outside alone.
  • Teach children to not play near the street. Explain to them they must ask for help if toys roll into the street or driveway.
  • Drivers need to be vigilant and be on the lookout for children who might be crossing the street or going after a toy.
(816) 271-5300