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 20, 2021
Be on the Lookout

As the temperature continues to warm up, many people will be heading outdoors for recreational activities. There will be many bicycles on the road. It’s 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, at an intersection or driveway. 
  • Search your surroundings for other vehicles, including bicycles, while in parking lots, at stop signs, when backing up or when parking,
  • 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 to 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 on the lookout for children who might be crossing the street or going after a toy.
Air Traffic Control Tower Remodeling

In the near future, Rosecrans Memorial Airport will be receiving funds to remodel the aging air traffic control tower. The existing tower was erected in 1952, and has survived many storms and numerous floods. The tower is manned by the 241st Air Traffic Control Squadrons and they are partnered with the 139th Airlift Wing, which Rosecrans is very familiar with. The 241st is one of only ten ANG Air Traffic Control Squadrons located throughout the United States. They are available to deploy worldwide in support of operational forces, provide basic airfield services and combat airspace support to the Theater Air Operations Center.

The details of the reconstruction project are still under review and will have many versions over the next couple of months. Ultimately, when this remodel is completed, we will be able to provide members of the 241st and the 139th a much safer and more efficient work environment to allow the air traffic controllers to safely govern the skies over St. Joseph.
Safety Town

The St. Joseph Safety & Health Council will be holding their 42nd Safety Town sessions at the St. Joseph Civic Arena this year. Safety Town is a miniature town designed to introduce children ages 4-7 years the importance and methods of safety, especially pedestrian safety. The town is complete with sidewalks, crosswalks, streets, signs, traffic signals and replica buildings. The goal of the program is to reduce possible injury or death of children resulting from preventable accidents.

Safety Town familiarizes children with law enforcement officers, firefighters and other community workers. All participating children will learn safety techniques addressing the following topics: pedestrians, traffic, bicycles, school buses, railroads, stranger danger, playgrounds, 911, electrical, fires, animals, poison prevention, internet, guns, weather, natural gas and water. The program will run through the month of June with six different sessions available to choose from. Sign up early as sessions fill-up quickly.
Water Protection During the Rainy Season

Storm season has arrived in Missouri. Wet weather events can have a profound effect on the wastewater treatment facility and create unique obstacles for plant personnel. Storms with a heavy amount of precipitation can overload lift stations and cause overflows. Water protection personnel must be available 24 hours a day to respond to an overflow and ensure all equipment is functioning properly. 

Stormwater washes excess amounts of grit and debris into the collection system and treatment plant. Grit is the small, inorganic material in wastewater, such as sand or gravel. An abundance of grit in the treatment facility can clog pumps and damage pump impellers. Grit removal equipment must be monitored closely to ensure a high percentage of incoming grit is removed. This equipment is typically running at a faster speed during high flow events caused by rain. Large debris can cause damage to bar screens and rakes or create a blockage preventing wastewater from flowing to the facility. In some instances, the debris is large enough that a crane is required to remove it. 

Another way rain events can negatively impact the wastewater treatment process is through the occurrence of a combined sewer overflow (CSO). The wet weather flows compared to the typical wastewater flow can overload the treatment facility. When flow totals exceed the design capacity of the facility, a CSO occurs. During a CSO, untreated sewage bypasses the treatment facility and flows directly into the Missouri River. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources mandates that the wastewater treatment plant maintains a minimum flow of 27 million gallons per day for the duration of the CSO event. This flow total keeps the facility running at its current domestic influent flow capacity, limiting the amount of untreated wastewater flowing to the Missouri River. Water protection staff works to maintain the minimum flow rate and end the combined sewer overflow event as quickly as possible. A report is sent to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at the conclusion of the event.

Recent improvements to the wastewater collection system have helped alleviate some of the issues caused by wet weather events. The recently completed Whitehead Creek and Blacksnake stormwater separation projects divert a portion of stormwater runoff directly to the Missouri River. The stormwater pump station project was completed last winter. This will allow water protection to pump more stormwater during high river levels on the Missouri River. These projects decreased the amount of stormwater flowing to the wastewater treatment facility by several million gallons per day during rain events, allowing more untreated sewage to flow through the facility instead of directly to the Missouri River. With the completion of future projects, water protection will continue to reduce the number of combined sewer overflows and protect the water quality of the river.
Sculpture Walk

Explore 21 new pieces of downtown art during this year's Sculpture Walk starting Wednesday, June 9. The Sculpture Walk brings contemporary outdoor public art to historic downtown St. Joseph. The walk is a year-long exhibit including a mix of sculptures from artists nationwide. For more information, visit the Allied Arts Council Facebook page.
(816) 271-5300