O’Fallon’s growth changes ward boundaries, not city council
With only two major changes to the first and seventh wards, O’Fallon’s redistricted ward map is now in place.
The O’Fallon City Council approved the new ward map at its Feb. 22 meeting without opposition. No one objected as the ordinance made its way through the city channels.
The recently approved map and 2040 Master Plan will be topics of the next town hall meeting Wednesday, March 16. The map is on the city’s website and can be viewed at city hall.
For the current map, visit: https://ofallon.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=3bf535e5c0444be3be3a959346fd56af.
Assistant City Administrator Grant Litteken said Ward 7 had grown too large because of continued residential growth, so that ward and Ward 1 were adjusted to meet current requirements as well as prepare for future growth.
“This problem would have continued to grow if left to current ward boundaries,” he said.
The wards had to be redistricted because the 2020 Census figures showed a 14.1% increase — with 32,289 residents counted — a growth of 4,008 residents. The total was the highest gain in southern Illinois.
The once-every-decade process must reflect the population changes, but staff members structured the boundaries so current aldermen do not have to move. The city has 14 aldermen elected from seven wards.
Litteken said criteria was to make sure each ward had equal population, so staff took the total figure from the 2020 census and divided it by the number of wards, allowing a plus or minus 5% variance for populations within each new ward boundary.
City officials used the Illinois Constitution to follow best practices for redistricting.
Ward 7 grew to 6,328, so the new configuration deducted 1,910 people to make it 4,418 total. Ward 1 added 547 people for 4,575, instead of its previous 4,028.
Ward 1’s southern boundary no longer includes the residential area near the O’Fallon Family Sports Park, which was moved into Ward 3.
Ward 3 added 578 people, to be 4,442 instead of its previous 3,853 total.
Other new figures include Ward 2 at 4,670, an increase of 610, from 4,060; Ward 4, an increase of 728, from 4,019 to 4,747; Ward 5, a decrease of 808, from 5,482 to 4,674; and Ward 6, 254 added, from 4,526 to 4,780.
The new map only included the areas between wards because the outer edges of each ward are bound by the municipal boundary, Litteken said. For some wards, the boundary was determined by multiple streets.
In Ward 7, from 2010-20, new residential subdivisions included Reserves of Timber Ridge, Reserves of Timber Ridge West, North Parc Grove, Bethel Ridge Farms, and Witte Farms, which was annexed in 2011.
These subdivisions were already started but mostly developed after 2010: Windsor Creek, Milburn Estates, Parcs at Arbor Green, Cobblestone and Hearthstone.
More ward information
In Ward 1, North Lincoln Avenue is the east end, West Monroe Street is the southern border, and the west was created by going east on Kyle Road, south on Illini Drive, east on Timothy Drive, south on Conrad Lane, east on Henrietta Drive, south on Elisabeth Drive, west on Fairwood Hills, south to east on Catalpa Drive, south on Elisabeth Drive, east on West Stonybrook Drive, southeast to southwest on Glen Hollow, east on Maces Grove, south to east on White Oak, and south on North Cherry Street.
In Ward 2, North Seven Hills Road is east, East Wesley Drive is south, and North Lincoln Avenue is west.
Ward 3 is North Smiley Street to the east, U.S. 50 to the south and Interstate 64 to the west. North is created by going east on West Madison Street, north on North Cherry Street, east on West Monroe Street, north on North Lincoln Avenue, and east on East Wesley Drive.
Ward 4’s north is created by going east on East Wesley Drive and north on North Seven Hills Road and west is created by going south on North Smiley Street, west on East U.S. 50 and south on South Lincoln Avenue.
Ward 5 is east of Interstate 64. Ward 6 is West U.S. 50 to the north and South Lincoln Avenue to the east.
In Ward 7, east is created by going east on Kyle Road, south on Illini Drive, east on Timothy Drive, south on Conrad Lane, east on Henrietta Drive, south on Elisabeth Drive, west on Fairwood Hills, south to east on Catalpa Drive, south on Elisabeth Drive, east on West Stonybrook Drive, southeast to southwest on Glen Hollow, east on Maces Grove, south to east on White Oak, and south on North Cherry Street. South border is West Madison Street.
Council to Consider Raising Cemetery Fees
An ordinance raising fees for acquiring burial plots, grave openings and transfers at the O’Fallon City Cemetery advanced to the March 7 council meeting. Fees have not been raised since 2012.
The Parks and Environment Committee had recommended the increase to offset expenses for the operation and maintenance of the municipal cemetery.
For interment on weekdays, the charge for adults will be $800; infants $300; and for those cremated $350, an increase of $100. On weekends, the fees are $1,100 for adults, an increase of $100; infants $350; and cremation $450, an increase of $150. On holidays, the fee is $1,200 for adults, a $200 increase; $500 for infants, raised from $350; and $600 for those cremated, up from $300.
The proposed cost of graves is $250 for an infant, to be divided — $125 for a grave fee and $125 for perpetual care.
Adults would be $700, an increase of $100, to be divided with $350 each for grave fee and for perpetual care.
Transfer fees are $50 per transaction, sold, or transferred. No additional charge will be assessed for perpetual care fee when a grave lot is sold or transferred. The foundation cost remains $7 per cubic foot.
Special Event Permit
In other action, a special event permit was approved for the Boarding House Bistro so music can be played in the backyard from at 212 E. State St. Thursdays and Saturdays. Saturday hours would be April 30 to Oct. 30, six months. Thursdays would also be for six months, from March to Aug. 31.
The Community Development Committee had recommended this, but that music be acoustic style and must end at 8 p.m.