Walking Trail Will Require An Environmental Survey
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By MARK EVANS
STE. GENEVIEVE HERALD
Ste. Genevieve City Administrator Happy Welch reported that an issue has come up in putting in a walking trail along St. Mary’s Road.
Welch during last Thursday night’s board of aldermen meeting, said that the Missouri Department of Transportation is requiring an environmental survey be done, covering an area within 100 feet of the trail’s proposed path. It will seek to find whether any “potential cultural resources that may be impacted” are present.
Welch said the city is seeking quotes from environmental engineers to conduct the survey.
“So we’re in a holding pattern – ish,” Welch said. “We can still do the engineering. That will still continue. We’ve probably got another month of that.”
He said the engineering work can continue while the cultural resources study is being done.
“It’s going along St. Mary’s Lane,” Welch said. “They want it 100 feet on each side and you’re going next to what is now National Park Service area.”
He also reported that the city’s move was still on schedule for Aug. 15. The city hall will be closed that day while the move to 44 Plaza Drive is done. Work on the current city hall building at 165 Fourth Street will commence the next day The target date to be back in the building is mid February 2024.
Welch also said that the city will be talking with Mississippi Lime Company representatives about a potential detention basin in the northwest corner of the city to help fight stormwater runoff.
Meanwhile, Assistant City Administrator David Bova reported that the city had completed repairs to its own sidewalks that were in violation of code. Of 18 property owners whose sidewalks were in violation, he said that six still need replacement.
He said he reached out to the six property owners and was able to speak to four of them.
The work on replacing the sidewalks will begin this week, with the property owners who had not made other arrangements to be charged for the work. Bova said one of the six has told him he will make his own arrangements to get the work done. Bova said he had until this Monday to produce paperwork showing that he had indeed contracted to have the work done.
He also reported that the building at 42 S. Main Street, recently declared a nuisance, had been boarded up and the boards painted. A bill for the additional costs will be sent to Deborah Gegg, the property owner. If not paid, they will join earlier work as tax liens against the property. Some masonry work will also done to it after Jour de Fete.
BILLS PASSED
Approval for the low bid of Jokerst, Inc., for the Jefferson Street sidewalk/stormwater project, of $66,530, was accepted. Meanwhile a bill authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation commission for public improvements along Route M, passed unanimously on first reading.
So did a bill to establish a procedure to disclose potential conflicts of interest for certain public officials, one to enact a no parking area on Jefferson Street by the Valle Desert, and one amending its Chapter 203 Fire Prevention Code.
These will get second readings at the Aug. 24 meeting.
Notes
• Kara Burt spoke to the board about the Oct. 16-17 Oktoberfest. She said it will be “more compacted,” to the area around Audubon’s and Silvanus. It will begin with a Volkswagen parade and will conclude with a wiener dog race.
• Ste. Genevieve Access Television presented Mayor Brian Keim and the board a plaque for their past support.
• Fire Chief Kenny Steiger was unable to attend the meeting, but his written report indicated the department had responded to 32 emergency calls in July, giving it 153 for the year – up 10 calls from 2022.