O’Fallon’s new emergency alert system wakes up only those who are needed, not everyone

A new alert system that will only wake up needed EMTs and firefighters overnight instead of every worker is a top priority for annual Build O’Fallon Trust Fund allocations for the new budget year.

Public Safety Director Kirk Brueggeman explained the need to the council’s Finance and Administration Committee on Monday as they considered projects for the specific funding resource.

The alert systems went in separately to the public safety building 20 years ago, fire station no. 3 15 years ago, and fire station no. 4 12 years ago.

“They were built by three different companies,” Brueggeman said. “If we receive a lift assistance call at 1 a.m. and only need two paramedics, every single paramedic gets a call.”

A new system means that the telecommunicators at the dispatch center (Metro East Communications, or MECOMM) can be selective as to who is paged, thus preventing anyone on a 24-hour shift from being awakened during a few hours of sleep, Brueggeman said.

“This will bring us all into compliance,” he said.

Three of the four proposed projects received the go-ahead from the committee, which now moves forward to the O’Fallon City Council. It will be up to the council for approval as part of the next fiscal year budget process.

The projects are unfunded capital projects that align with the 2040 Master Plan and to date have been used primarily for park improvements.

The FY26 budget goes into effect May 1. Budget presentations are taking place at the Feb. 24 and March 10 committee meetings, then advancing to council for adoption.

Finance Director Sandy Evans explained to the committee on Monday that the projected fund revenue is $1.6 million for fiscal year 2026. But because the council agreed that 33% of the sales tax should be put in reserve for the funds to grow, the projected reserve balance at the end of FY25 will be $930,000, if $528,000 is put into reserves for the upcoming fiscal year.

That amount would cover three projects submitted. Besides the $100,000 for the alert system, the lights installation at the north parking lot (Phase 1) at the Family Sports Park would be $150,000, and Phase 2 would be $700,000.

The committee agreed that the fourth project, replacement turf for championship field at the Family Sports Park, also costing $700,000, could wait until the following year. All four together totaled $1,650,000, with available funds of only $1,322,000.

Andrew Dallner, parks and recreation director, explained that the championship field, built in 2011, will need the turf replaced because it is worn in some areas and is more urgent. He agreed that it could wait until next year.

The fund was created in November 2021 when the council approved a half-cent sales tax increase as part of the property tax relief and Build O’Fallon Trust Fund. That initiative was implemented in July 2022.

The tax levy was reduced by $680,000, which was the parks portion, and was replaced with 0.25% of the new Home Rule sales tax. The other 0.25% of the sales tax was deposited into the Build O’Fallon Trust Fund to be used for council-approved, unfunded capital projects that align with the 2040 Master Plan with the intent to grow the trust fund for future projects.

Residence Assistance Program

For the last three years, the city has partnered with some local charities and churches to help families who qualify for assistance with water or electric bills.

New Life in Christ, Faith Lutheran and First United Methodist churches are participating. The Resident Assistance Task Force semi-annual meeting took place on Feb. 21.

Evans noted that as of Feb. 14, the water assistance program has $18,752.34 remaining from its FY25 budget amount of $25,000, and the Ameren electric assistance program has $17,492.94 left from its FY25 budget amount of $65,000.

“The need is definitely growing,” she said about the electric assistance.

The proposed FY 26 Budget includes a $5,000 increase to the Ameren assistance line item but no additional funds for the water assistance.

She said St. Clair County’s LIHEAP program is now open for residential assistance, so the city’s agencies are also providing information to residents in need for that program as well.

Evans reminded the committee that no remaining funds are carried over from year to year.