Mo. voters consider tax for new fire stations, appartus

The half-cent sales tax would build 2 new stations, buy an apparatus and upgrade radios

July 29, 2012 05:51 AM

By Clinton Thomas
The St. Joseph News-Press

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Next month’s Capital Improvements Program vote could help the Fire Department in its battle against aging infrastructure. Voters will decide Aug. 7 on the renewal of a half-cent sales tax to raise an estimated $30 million over the next six years for projects throughout St. Joseph.

A citizens CIP committee selected the projects earlier this year from a list of more than 60 projects with a potential price tag of $110 million, then whittled that number down to what the city could afford.

Public safety would gain $8 million, with $6 million dedicated to two new fire stations and purchasing land for a third, $1.3 million going toward radio upgrades and the rest paying for an armored vehicle for the Police Department and a pumper truck for the Fire Department.

Mayor Bill Falkner said the additional fire stations would address problems of old stations which have trouble accommodating modern equipment. The department will also have the chance to re-evaluate station locations to improve response times.

“Most of our fire stations were designed back in the day, and with the population shift we’re going to be looking at new locations,’ Mr. Falkner said.

Brad McAnally, co-chairman of the CIP committee, said Station No. 9, at 22nd Street and Frederick Avenue; Station No. 11, at 2329 S. 18th St.; and the department’s headquarters Downtown were the main candidates for relocation.

The department will determine which stations to replace at a later date. After constructing two new stations, the city will purchase land for a third, which could be funded as a future CIP project or through other means.

The city previously considered moving Station No. 9 to the Geiger Mansion before the council decided to sell the building.

The armored vehicle for police and pumper truck for the Fire Department would replace existing vehicles.

Streets and transportation projects would account for more than half of all funding " $18.6 million, including $2.4 million from the 2008 CIP. Over six years, the CIP will set aside $5.25 million for asphalt overlay and $2.4 million for concrete street repairs, neither of which was funded in the previous CIP.

The parks and recreation department would receive $3 million, with half paying for a renovation of the baseball fields at Hyde Park and nearly $900,000 earmarked for restoration of the Krug Park lagoon and waterfall. Another $500,000 would repair the city’s tennis courts and renovate the Noyes Field House, while the Missouri Theater would receive $42,000 in repairs to its entrance and facade.

Other projects include repairs at Patee Market Health Center and City Hall, as well as $500,000 set aside for federal grant matching funds, which the city expects to use to attract up to $2 million.