Everything’s rosy for City Fest in O’Fallon, OTHS Marching Panthers
O’Fallon will receive an Economic Growth Award from the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois at a March banquet.
Mayor Herb Roach announced the news at the recent O’Fallon City Council meeting Jan. 21, with further details to come.
The Salute to Southwest Illinois Awards Dinner will take place March 19 at the Four Points hotel in Fairview Heights.
The mayor’s report wound up being the bulk of the meeting, which lasted 12 minutes.
Roach announced the president of the Rose Bowl Parade, Dr. Robert B. Miller, and his wife will attend the third annual City Fest this August.
They will be in the parade, and the city will come up with some kind of title, which might be honorary grand marshal or special guest, Roach said.
The City Fest committee hasn’t discussed the designation yet, but will provide input, Alderman Ross Rosenberg said.
Roach said the Millers are coming because the O’Fallon Township High School’s Marching Panthers have been selected for the 2021 Rose Bowl Parade. Dr. Miller was installed as the new president Jan. 16.
The Marching Panthers previously appeared three times in the Rose Bowl Parade and has three appearances in the Fiesta Bowl Parade, and two appearances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The band has also participated three times in the Orange Bowl Parade and twice in the Boscov’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, along with the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade in Little Neck and Douglaston, New York, the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee, the Waikiki Thanksgiving Day Parade in Waikiki Hawaii, and the Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade in Disney World, Florida.
The council approved the mayor’s appointments to the Building Code Review Committee: Michelle Braddock for a five-year term expiring 2025, Scott Blumberg for a four-year term expiring 2024, Keith Poettker for a three-year term expiring 2023, Matt Eichholz for a two-year term expiring 2022, Susan Holden for a one-year term expiring 2021 and the alternates Rich Gorazd and Bob Dunn for a five-year term expiring in 2025.
The council authorized the direct sale of a 1999 HME Pumper, which was declared surplus property, to the East Saint Louis Fire Department for $35,000 as is.
The East St. Louis fire chief was to take the resolution to the East St. Louis City Council to approve the purchase. Delivery of the vehicle will not occur until mid-March.
Additional council action
In other action, the council approved special event permit requests for the Vine Street Market, which will run from May to October at the O’Fallon Station; for the Home Builders and Remodelers Metro East Association to host its Home Show at the Gateway Classic Cars, 1237 Central Park Drive, from Feb. 28 to March 1; and for the American Cancer Society for its 42 Doors Campaign Art Installation.
The mayor thanked the city council for their work ethic. He commented the seven new aldermen, elected last spring, was the biggest turnover in the history of the city, and the newly elected representatives hit the floor running. He said they contribute input and he appreciated how much time they put into learning and asking questions.
“I don’t think people realize the amount of time and the hours aldermen put in, and it’s not just seen at council meetings and in committees — it’s a lot more. So, thanks to all of you,” Roach said.
This story was originally published January 27, 2020 at 12:04 PM.