Kirksville Connection

April 2004

Volume 10, Number 2

Water Revenue Bonds on April 6th Municipal Ballot

The City of Kirksville is asking voters to consider an issuance of water revenue bonds when they go to the polls on April 6th. 

The City has an opportunity to get a low interest loan through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  Receiving community support for the revenue bond issue is a requirement of the loan program, and lets DNR know that you support them advancing us the money for water capital.  

The water revenue bonds do not create an additional cost to residents.  Bonds will be repaid with revenues generated from providing water service. 

There are three main benefits that will be realized with the use of the revenue bonds:

Economic Development  

Water service will be extended to the Kirksville Regional Airport, creating the opportunity for future development near the airport.

Generating Additional Revenue

Through a cooperative effort of the City of Kirksville, the Adair County Public Water Supply District, and the City of LaPlata, water mains will be extended past the airport, to LaPlata.  This will allow Kirksville to sell additional water to serve the City of LaPlata, generating additional revenues to pay toward the project.

Planned Improvements and New State Regulations

Planned improvements include water line replacement and extensions, as well as improvements at the water plant, which will help us keep pace with new state regulations. 

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Baseball/Softball Season Nearing

The Kirksville Baseball/Softball Association opening ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, May 21, at Kirksville’s North Park Complex.  Patrons will see some changes at the ballpark this year, including improvements to the Pee Wee Field, concrete floors and roofs for the dugouts, as well as the addition of a Press Box. 

For more information on activities at North Park, visit the Parks & Rec section of our web site at: www.kirksvillecity.com

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The GISC: Local Information Resources Through Local Partnerships

The GISC (Geographic Information System Consortium) is a new interagency office created this year to meet the changing needs of local public agencies, while using resources efficiently. The City of Kirksville, County of Adair, and Public Water Supply District #1 are the partner agencies behind this new movement to improve local information management. Our geographic information system (GIS) will be a digital ‘library’ with information tied to locations on maps of public infrastructure, such as water lines. Member agencies will be able to manage and analyze the information in these ‘libraries’ to improve record-keeping, service, and resource usage. The addition of GIS is important for meeting the individual needs of each agency, as well as collective needs for better access to all local infrastructure information. Pam Kelrick is the GISC Coordinator organizing this important effort. She can be reached at

665-0408, or GISC@cableone.net, for more information.

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Glass Recycling Now Available for Residents

What started out as a hope 19 months ago is now a reality. With the help of a grant from the State of Missouri Region C Solid Waste Management District, Truman State University, with the support of the City and County, is now offering area residents the option of recycling glass.

Truman applied for the grant to purchase the machine in January 2003 and received notification in late June from the Region C Solid Waste Management District that the grant was approved. The machine, which arrived in late August, grinds glass to a fine sand which can then be used in place of regular sand, for use as drainage fill, pothole filler, sidewalk construction and numerous artistic projects.
     

Community and area support in this endeavor is critical to the success of the recycling effort. The University is not in a position to pick up glass, therefore citizens must be willing to bring their rinsed glass to the Truman Recycling Center, located off of La Harpe Street. For more information call 660-785-7672.

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Appliance Drop-Off

Kirksville residents have the opportunity to dispose of appliances at no cost.  In conjunction with the Northeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission, the City is allowing residents to bring their appliances to the old City landfill on Highway 6 West, near the animal shelter, on Friday and Saturday, April 9 and 10.  The hours are Friday  8am—2pm and Saturday 8am—noon.  Appliances with or without Freon will be accepted.

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McKim Hired as Assistant City Manager

Kris McKim began her duties as the new Kirksville Assistant City Manager, on January 26.  “I am very pleased that Kris has joined us,” said City Manager, Mari Macomber. “She is a Kirksville native, a well respected member of our community and I am certain that our city government will benefit from her talents and experience.”

 McKim has been employed for the past five years at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she has served as Program Development and Data Coordinator for the Missouri Area Health Education Centers (MAHEC) Program Office. Previously she was employed at Truman State University in the Advancement Office. “I am very excited about joining the City of Kirksville,” said McKim. “Our city is currently facing a number of significant challenges and I welcome the opportunity to work with so many talented people to help address those challenges.”

McKim was born and raised in Kirksville. She and her husband, Kenny, have two children, Kara and Kaleb.

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City Street Improvements Are Underway

Spring is here, and that means construction season.  As you are driving around town in the coming months you will see several street and sidewalk improvements underway. 

These projects include:

Scott Street from First to Osteopathy.  This project is in progress, and is scheduled for completion on June 8.  It is being paid for by Transportation Sales Tax and 50% by Northeast Regional Medical Center.

LaHarpe Street from First to Boundary.  Utility location for this project has begun, and earthwork will begin soon.  The project should be completed by August 30, and is being paid for by the Transportation Sales Tax.

City streets are currently being reviewed so that concrete pavement repair and asphalt overlay projects can begin in late spring. 

The City is also making sidewalk improvements.  Sidewalks are being installed on New Street from Baltimore to Northtown Road.  Sidewalks are being repaired and some new sidewalks installed on Baltimore from LaHarpe to Illinois.  These projects should commence in early April, and are being paid by a grant.  

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2004-2005 Budget in Effect

Kirksville’s city budget for the 2004-2005 fiscal year, effective April 1, totals $24,313,462.

This budget includes more than $9 million for capital improvements. Also, the City will spend $1.23 million for public works and streets, $2.15 million for the police department and E-911 services, $1.11 million for the fire department, and about $377,000 for the parks and recreation department.

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Spring/Summer 2004 Aquatic Center

Special Events

Outdoor Pool Opens Memorial Day Weekend! 

Outdoor Pool Hours: Monday—Saturday Noon—8pm

Sunday 12:30—8pm

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Parks and Rec Upcoming Events

April 8  -  7:00 pm

Spring Dance

Moose Lodge

April 20

Bus Trip to Ottumwa

April 29

Big Band Cruise on the

Mississippi

Memory Lane Matinee

2nd Tuesday of Month

Downtown Cinema 8

10:30 am

Free Movie Day

3rd Sunday of Month

Kirksville Middle School

2:00 pm

For more information about these and other great summer events, contact the Parks and Recreation

Office at 627-1485.

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2003-2004 Kirksville

City Council

Bill Murray, Mayor

Rex Meneely, Mayor Pro Tem
Ralph Cupelli, Councilman

Martha Rowe, Councilwoman

Debbie Masten, Councilwoman

citycouncil@kirksvillecity.com

Mari Macomber, City Manager

The Kirksville Connection

City of Kirksville

201 South Franklin Street

Kirksville, MO 63501

(660) 627-1224

(660) 665-0940 fax