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, August 29, 2019
Flooding Preparations and Cleanup

On March 13, with floodwaters from the Missouri River threatening to overtake the grounds of the Remington Nature Center, Riverwalk, Downtown Riverfront Park and Bill McKinney Softball Complex, parks department staff began a long and what seems like never ending process of preparation and cleanup related to flooding along the river. Tasks such as sandbagging, equipment removal, material removal, product removal, pumping, sealing, silt removal, debris cleanup, power-washing, cleaning, painting, sanitizing, taking pictures, coordinating with contractors, and record keeping are now part of many parks employees regular routine.

Unfortunately, all the time and energy put into the flood-related issues takes staff away from regular duties, which can impact mowing, tree maintenance, ball field preparation, equipment repairs and many other maintenance related issues. 

Some of the most intense and time consuming work comes with silt and debris removal. After the first flood event in late March, the debris left behind by the floodwater was extreme. Anything sticking up from the ground had cornstalks, dead grass, tree branches, tree limbs, and trash clinging to it. Entire trees, furniture and trash cans were deposited all over parks property from Heritage Park to Robidoux Landing at the Downtown Riverfront Park. The second flood event left less debris behind, but deposited considerably more sand and silt, which killed large areas of turf along the riverfront, including all grass on the athletic fields at Heritage Park. 

The duplication of work has also been a challenge as much cleanup and repair work was either completed or near completion during the first flooding event and then the second event occurred. Crews continue with their cleanup efforts while working diligently on other daily operational duties. 
Make it a Day

From looking for the perfect gift to enjoying a friends day out, downtown St. Joseph offers several one-of-a-kind shops to browse as there is always something to explore. So, have you been downtown lately? For more information, visit  stjoemo.org.
Suicide Prevention

Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.

Each year, more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide , leaving behind their friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of loss. In many cases, friends and families affected by a suicide loss, often called suicide loss survivors, are left in the dark. Too often the feelings of shame and stigma prevent them from talking openly.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this highly taboo and stigmatized topic. This month is used to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services. It is also important to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention.

Crisis Resources
  • If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately.
  • If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255)
  • If you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.

While suicide prevention is important to address year-round, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides a dedicated time to come together with collective passion and strength around a difficult topic. Help promote awareness by  sharing images and graphics  on your social media accounts by using #SuicidePrevention or #StigmaFree.
For more information, referrals or support, visit nami.org
The Role of a Public Fire Safety Educator

Residential fires are the leading cause of fire deaths and injuries and are responsible for the highest annual cost of fire loss in the United States. In 2017, structure fires occurred every 63 seconds resulting in 3,400 people being killed. The only way to change these statistics... read more
Labor Day Closures

In observance of Labor Day on Monday, September 2, buses will not be running and city offices will be closed with the exception of:

  • Remington Nature Center - Open 10am-5pm
(816) 271-5300