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, July 9, 2020
Cases by the Numbers

Coronavirus is still in our community as the number of cases continue to rise. We must all continue the fight against COVID-19. Wear a face covering when out in public. Maintain six feet of separation from others. Cover your cough or sneeze. Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds. Everyone can do their part to help stop the spread. View the cases by the numbers including the number of cases in the state and the 14-day trend in Buchanan County on the city's website , Facebook page or Twitter account .
Runway Work at Rosecrans Memorial Airport

Work is currently underway at Rosecrans Memorial Airport as two runways and the main runway are in desperate need of some reconstruction. Jviation and KC Testing are currently completing some core samples of this large runway to see what is underneath. This primary runway is 8,061 feet long, 150 feet wide and very thick. In the past couple of years, there have been failures on this pavement and these failures have the potential to cause very costly damage to aircraft and potentially life threatening situations for landing and departing aircraft. 

Since the 139 th  Airlift Wing uses Rosecrans Memorial Airport as its home base, it's important to have a much larger and robust runway. For a complete reconstruction of the main runway, the total cost will be around $40 million. This is a costly project, but fortunately for the city of St. Joseph, the Air National Guard will fund approximately 65% of this project. The remaining 35% of the runway project is possible through a FAA grant. In the end, Rosecrans Memorial Airport will only need approximately 3% of the matching funds to complete the runway project.
Water Safety

As many head to the lake or the pool this summer, it's important to be safe. Did you know the American Red Cross provides free online water safety resources for parents and caregivers? Some of the safety tips to keep in mind include:
  • Never swim alone. Use the buddy system to help everyone stay safe and aware of their surroundings at all times.
  • Wear a lifejacket. A properly fitting, Coast Guard approved life jacket will help swimmers stay afloat when they become tired. When selecting a lifejacket, make sure you are choosing the correct size and type for the activity. Coast Guard approved lifejackets will identify user weight and size. Also, picking a jacket with bright colors will make it easy to see someone. Don’t use worn, faded, ripped or torn lifejackets. Show others how to choose the correct lifejacket and how to wear them correctly.
  • Assign a water watcher. A water watcher is someone who maintains diligent supervision over the water at all times. This safety task can be shared with other adults, just make sure everyone knows who is on duty at all times.
  • Be weather aware. Avoid water-based activities when lightning or thunder is in the area. Visit lightningsafety.com for more weather-related pool safety tips.
  • Learn how to swim. While many swim programs are currently on hold, that shouldn’t stop you from learning a few basic swimming techniques which can be practiced in the bathtub. One of the first skills learned in swim lessons is breath control. Simply blowing bubbles, getting your face wet, practicing a back float, and getting comfortable in the water are all things that can be learned at home.

Remember, safe water is the best water. For more information on water safety, email aquatics@stjoemo.org .
Bus Stop Improvements

As part of ongoing improvements for customers who use St. Joseph Transit, the next round of bus stop improvements will be starting soon by utilizing a few different grant funds both from the state and federal level. New improvements to existing bus stops will include panels compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), solar lights, concrete improvements and new benches. A number of bus stops are on a list for improvements throughout town. Residents may have already noticed these improvements at other bus stops as this is the third round of updates. Previously the solar lights and ADA panels upgrades were completed at 20 different bus stops. The lights require no power and are fully powered by the sun for the evening and early mornings. These improvements are made possible through a MoDOT grant and are just one set of improvements. Another grant that has been previously awarded will provide improvements to another roughly 20 bus stops early next year. 

Also slated for improvements are a total of ten out-of-date bus shelters throughout the city . The shelters will include a new structure, inside solar lights and a bench inside. The new shelters will be an improvement to the old outdated shelters currently located at existing bus routes. The lights will require no electricity and will make for a safer and more enjoyable wait for the bus. These improvements are slated to start early fall. 

Recently, a bus stop inventory was completed by the Public Works and Transportation Department as just another part of the improvements being made to the transit system throughout the city. For any questions or comments about this project, contact the transit planning manager by calling 236-1489 or through email .
Bridge Replacement Work

Recently, voters passed a bond issue allowing the city of St. Joseph's Public Works and Transportation Department to initiate a long-awaited effort to begin the process of replacing multiple bridges and culverts across the city. This vote of approval provides the city with $20 million to replace around 30 to 50 aging bridges and culverts. Several of these structures were built between 1900-1930 and are well beyond the recommended maximum service life of 65 to 75 years for large roadway structures.

While a preliminary list of possible/probable replacements already exists, the remaining process will help to validate the most economical approach for each structure. Selection of consultants to perform design and construction related services for these projects is currently underway. City staff will ensure the four most proficient and dependable firms who apply will be selected for this work. Staff will then work with those consultants to customize the packages awarded to complement the abilities and experience of each consultant. Staff will further work with each consultant to create a value-engineering approach to further check and validate structure type and approach to help control costs.

Site visits, conceptual meetings and discussions with other departments will ensure the aesthetics of many of the replacement structures maintain the historic integrity of the original structures. Staff will also concentrate and coordinate the design efforts to phase and perform the required construction with the absolute minimum impact to traffic. Design is scheduled to be completed in spring 2021 with construction to begin shortly thereafter.
(816) 271-5300