O'Fallon City Notes
O'Fallon Progress
City Council’s Community Development Committee approved an expansion for Newbold Toyota, a proposed Cletes Impound Lot and a Historical Landmark designation for 110 West Washington. The proposals are scheduled to be voted on at the May 5 Council meeting.
Newbold is planning an addition of a 1,440 square foot showroom, a 6,369 square foot service area and 1,600 square foot care wash at Newbold Toyota’s current location at 1282 Central Park Drive.
Clete’s Impound Lot, across the street from Clete’s auto repair at 138 Douglas Ave., will be temporary storage for abandoned, arrested and accident vehicles.
SPECIAL CENSUS WORKERS
O’Fallon will conduct a special census to capture additional state revenue from the state income tax, motor fuel tax and state use tax. The city is accepting applications for enumerators who will go door to door to collect the needed information.
Only those residents in subdivisions built since 2005, when the last special census was held, will be counted.
Census takers will be paid $12.50 per hour for at least 20 hours per week for about six weeks. Applicants must pass a written test and approximately 50 workers will be hired.
Applications are available on the city’s web site at www.ofallon.org or at City Hall, 255 S. Lincoln between t8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Application deadline is May 9. The city is expected to receive an additional $135.85 per year per resident once the special census is complete, which translates to approximately $272,000 in increased revenue per year to the City.
Census takers will be going door to door at various times of the day and evening to collect household information such as name, household relationship, sex, date of birth and age, Hispanic or Latino origin, and race. The interview takes no more than seven minutes to complete. All information obtained during the interview will only be used for the purpose of the Special Census. This information is confidential under the United States Code, Title 13.
NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH
O’Fallon will celebrate May as part of a nationwide celebration of Historic Preservation. The O’Fallon Historic Preservation Commission will hold an award ceremony at Paulo’s at the Mansion Restaurant, 1680 Mansion Way, Saturday, May 17 at 1 p.m. to honor two new local Historic Landmarks, including the Mansion House.
The second landmark is the home at 110 West Washington St. which will be designated as a Local Historic Landmark by City Council May 5. The ceremony will be followed by the annual landmark tour of local designations.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony and refreshments will be served.
TREE CITY
For the tenth year in a row O’Fallon has been named a Tree City USA. “It is a great honor for the City of O’Fallon to receive this national award. The award reflects the City’s dedication to urban forestry and recognizes the tireless work of our residents who volunteer their time to keep our City looking green,” said Mayor Gary L. Graham.
An arbor day celebration was help April 19 at Community Park in which Kristen Moore completed her Girl Scout Gold Award by planting a meditation garden in honor of Vera McGuire. Several trees as well as annuals, perennials, and shrubs were planted.
In addition, trees were planted at LaVerna Evans School on April 14, as part of their Arbor Day & Earth Day Celebration.
Vera McGuire is a former O’Fallon resident and the meditation garden was donated by her friends and family. Last August, in honor of her 100th birthday, family members asked for donations in her name to the O’Fallon Parks Department as part of a tree donation program. McGuire died in early 2008, before she was able to see the finished product. The garden will include a mixed garden and a small arbor including a bench and stepping stones. A grand opening of the meditation garden was held April 26.
A Tree City USA community must have a tree care ordinance, a legal tree governing body, a comprehensive urban forestry program and an Arbor Day observance.
O’Fallon residents who have an interest in urban forestry and wish to serve on the Urban Forestry Commission or volunteer should call the Parks and Recreation Department at 624-0139.
TIRE RECYCLING
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), St. Clair County Health Department, and East Side Health District are sponsoring a free two-day tire recycling event Friday, May 16, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, May 17 from 8 a.m. to noon at GCS Ballpark (Grizzlie’s Ballpark) on I-255 (Mousette Lane Exit).
Acceptable tires include tractor, light truck and car. The maximum number of tires that will be accepted per individual is 200. All participants must complete and sign a consensual removal agreement before the tires are unloaded. No tires will accepted from retailers or commercial trucking companies. Rims will accepted, but tires on-the-rim and tires off-the-rim must be segregated before they arrive at the collection site. No large industrial/off road tires will be accepted. Participants must be prepared to unload their own tires. No tires will be accepted from vehicles having license plates from outside the state of Illinois.
For more information about the event, contact the St. Clair County Health Department Pollution Prevention Office at 233-7769 or the East Side Health District at 271-8722, ext. 112.
