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, June 10, 2021
Music Filled Summer

As the temperatures warm up and more people head outdoors, many local musicians and bands are taking the stage across the city to provide residents with some live entertainment. From the Sounds of Summer at Felix Street Square to the Parties on the Parkway along the parkway system, there is a great variety of live music to jam out to this summer.
Preserving History

Built in the late 1800s, the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion has been at the corner of 11th and Charles for more than 140 years. Over the years, the mansion has had many owners and has seen its fair share of renovations, restorations and remodels. This coming year in the FY22 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) half-cent sales tax schedule will be an addition to the list of façade restorations the building will have endured. Goldberg Engineering has been working tirelessly on identifying critical components to help extend the life of the already aged building. 

The Parks, Recreation and Civic Facilities Department manages and maintains the facility under their umbrella. With the other multitude of buildings, structures and facilities, the renovation of this historical building always presents a challenge to not only the design and engineering teams, but also to the project managers and historians. Working on a historical building requires a higher level of detail and commitment to the process. Between historical review and approvals to removal and recreation, each stone turned must be returned to its original period correct state. This CIP cycle is no different as the exterior renovations will present more challenges than funding, but the parks and public works and transportation departments are looking forward to the final result. 
Celebrating Chief Dalsing

On Tuesday, June 8, emergency responders, city staff and the public came together to recognize the retirement of Fire Chief Mike Dalsing. Dalsing started with the fire department on December 10, 1979, taking over as chief in September 2008. He was designated as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) by the Commission on Professional Credentialing in 2015 and was an active member of International Association of Fire Chiefs, Missouri Fire Chiefs, and the Kansas City area Heart of America Fire Chiefs. Dalsing served on the boards of the Safety and Health Council, United Way and St. Joseph Youth Soccer Association.

During his years of service, Dalsing was instrumental in pushing for first responders on the department and helped teach several of the classes. As fire chief, he continued the push for enhanced medical response by requiring EMT licenses. He oversaw the completion of new fire stations 9, 11 and 12, as well as the groundbreaking for the new station 8.

Dalsing served 23 years in the Missouri Air National Guard with the last eight years as chief of the deployable fire department. He was certified as a paramedic throughout most of his career.

The city of St. Joseph congratulates Mike on his more than 41 years of service to the organization and the community.
Gardening Safety

During the pandemic, gardening began to make a comeback. While this hobby is a wonderful way to spend time outside, challenge our balance and sensory perception, improve flexibility and memory, and help you partake in exercise, there are a few safety tips to keep in mind.
  1. Avoid working in the garden or in the yard during the hottest times of the day. In the summer, it is easy to get overheated and suffer heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Avoid working outside during the hottest times of the day to stay healthy and reducing the risk of heat related sudden illness.
  2. Wear sunscreen and cover exposed skin with protective clothing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, skin cancer is the most common external forms of cancer in the United States. While getting some sun is good for us, it’s best to slather on the sunscreen no matter how long you intend to be outdoors. Consider wearing a large-brimmed hat to protect your skin, proper shoes to keep from slipping, tripping, falling, or injuring your feet, and gardening gloves to protect your hands. Stop the pesky bugs from biting by wearing insect repellent. 
  3. Stay hydrated. It’s easy to get into a rhythm when you are gardening and lose track of time. Make sure to set up water breaks while you garden so that you can stay hydrated.
  4. Spread gardening tasks out throughout the day to protect your muscles and joints. Working in the garden for prolonged stretches of time can be strenuous to your muscles and joints. Instead of gardening for several hours non-stop, set aside short blocks of time, three or four times a day to garden. 
  5. Purchase gardening tools which are easy to handle. Ergonomic tools are important in protecting you from injury caused by repetitive movements. Invest in tools which are easier to see, grip and use. Consider purchasing a gardening trailer or wagon to carry your tools around with you and a gardening bench to sit on to avoid prolonged kneeling, squatting and bending.
  6. Install a walkway with pavers or poured cement between rows or plantings for a sturdier walking surface. This makes an easier walking surface and helps prevent falls from stepping into holes or slipping on loose mulch.
  7. Install raised gardening beds, window boxes on the top of fences, or move your garden indoors. Construct or purchase raised beds, use tall and large pots, or elevate pots onto chairs, benches, shelves, or other decorative holders to make gardening easier.
  8. Hire help for jobs that are too difficult. If you find yourself faced with a task too strenuous or difficult, get help. It’s much cheaper to pay a professional to do a job than to pay medical bills due to an injury.

Gardening is a wonderful way to reduce stress and keep your mind and body moving. It's important to stay safe so you can continue to enjoy gardening for years to come.
Dump the Pump

Dump the pump with St. Joseph Transit next Thursday, June 17. Ride free on all routes, all day, as often as you like. Deviations cost $0.50. For more information on routes and schedules, visit the St. Joseph Transit (The Ride) page on the city's website.
(816) 271-5300