Trim, But Prepare for a More Vibrant Future, Local Mayors Say

Do what's necessary to balance community needs against available revenue, plan strategically (and regionally) and get ready for the upturn--that's the course Metro East mayors are pursuing to lead their cities through the current downturn.

The mayors of Alton, Collinsville and O'Fallon spoke this morning at an event co-sponsored by the Southwest Illinois Council of Mayors (SWICOM) and the Leadership Council Southwest Illinois as part of a panel discussion moderated by Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson. Despite a variety of city sizes and budgets, all four mayors are facing similar challenges and plan to meet them deploying--often--similar methods.

All four noted that the combined pressure of falling revenues and rising mandates--generally unfunded--from federal and state jurisdictions are requiring substantial changes in how their cities do business today compared with even a year of two in the past. All four are continuing to pursue economic development efforts despite a current paucity of proposed projects and all four cited the critical role of both incentives and "business friendly" policies in spurring economic growth.

Alton Mayor Tom Hoechst has had to oversee cuts in the number of city employees while struggling to meet payroll for the remaining workers. "In cashflow terms," he observed, "the City is broke" with only $2 million in reserves; fortunately, economic investments in "one of the premier marinas on the Mississippi" and a new amphitheater, as well as private investment in venues such as an anticipated new downtown hotel, promise new revenues as the recession eases.

Meanwhile, Collinsville Mayor John Miller is shaving costs through increased efficiencies. Instituting a City-wide improvement program to improve performance, restricting training to opportunities arranged in house, and freezing hiring have all contributed to the City's ability to keep its current positions that deliver expected services to citizens. Collinsville has an aggressive economic development program, a regional convention center and five-star hotel, and strategic location among its assets supporting future development.

In O'Fallon, Mayor Gary Graham is struggling to overcome the St. Clair County assessment system--which he claims is "broken"--and a lack of incentives for new development; nevertheless, he deploys the attitude that "we really want to have you here" to full benefit in attracting new businesses. O'Fallon today has more than 1000 hotel rooms as well as a new conference center, and the City is "sales tax rich," according to the mayor.

In summing up, Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson described how dealing with the ongoing fiscal crisis has helped him (and presumably other city leaders) distinguish more clearly between "wants" and "needs" in the budgeting process. He said that Columbia's fiscally conservative leadership over many years--avoiding the maximum carrying capacity for long-term debt, for instance--and well-managed initiatives like a successful Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district have given his City a firm foundation for growth. He anticipates that future growth will benefit from a more regional perspective coupled with strongly-supported local efforts like the Think Monroe County First! campaign.

It’s OK to Play in Columbia

Columbia has been recognized as one of 39 new communities across the nation to achieve the status of a “Playful City USA,” the non-profit organization KaBOOM! announced today. The city was one of three cited in Illinois and the only designee this year within the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Like other designees, such as Indianapolis and San Antonio, Columbia was selected for its dedication to play. Columbia used the Playful City USA application process to identify facilities, assess local resources, develop an action plan and create a citizen group—the Play Commission--to help direct activities. Excited about the opportunity to be nationally recognized, the Play Commission is using social network media such as Facebook and a blog to help gather public input and encourage involvement from the community.

“We’re excited about this prestigious designation and the serious work that the Play Commission is accomplishing to make our community a better place to live,” said Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson. Support from local government is a key element for winning the Playful City designation.

Each of the 2009 Playful City USA communities demonstrated creative commitments to the cause of play in the areas of quantity, quality and access. Quality relates to the number of usable, open playspaces. Quality involves subjective factors that encourage repeated use and make playspaces engaging, exciting, interesting and fun. Access entails the ability to get to a playspace (roads, trails) and a lack of barriers to the playspace (cost, safety, traffic, locked gates, and equity).

“Our country is facing two monumental deficits: a lack of unstructured play among children and a lack of resources to address this very issue,” said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! CEO and Co-founder. “Columbia took a stand and determined that the future of the community—its children—deserve a commitment to the cause of play. This is an investment in the future, and cities and towns across the country can replicate initiatives from this and other Playful City USA communities so that they too can bring play back into the lives of their children.”

KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,600 new playgrounds, skate parks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, free online trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and Playmakers--a national network of individual advocates for play.

Columbia's Count is Up, But By How Much?

According to estimates released yesterday by the U.S. Census Bureau, Columbia's population steadily increased from 2000 census estimates, when 7,996 people called Columbia home, to the latest census estimate in which that number grew to 9,342--an increase of 16.8 percent.

The increase is good news for the community, since some regional and state funds are distributed based upon population. During the same time period, nearby municipalities such as Venice, Brooklyn, Fairmont City, East St. Louis, Washington Park and Granite City have all seen decreases, according to the new Census estimates. It's not an entirely accurate benchmark for Columbia, however, since a special census conducted for the city in 2007 pegged the local population at 9,818.

The estimated census numbers released by the Census Bureau do not include the numbers from any special census counts held by individuals cities, towns or villages and performed in collaboration with the federal government if only a portion of the city is counted or if the city has annexed land. That's the case with Columbia, so final figures from the 2010 count should show an even bigger increase.

Flood Prevention Council Staffs Up, But Faces Funding Challenge

The recently formed Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council has hired Lester Sterman, the long-time executive director of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, to serve as its chief supervisor of construction and works. While the addition of this veteran administrator increases the Council's odds for success, the effort faces huge financial challenges.

About 35 percent of the funding for the levee repairs was expected to come from the new quarter-cent sales tax that has been being collected in Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe counties since January 1st. The rest--about 65 percent--was expected to come from the federal government; unfortunately, the economic recession has hurt collection of the new sales tax revenues, while reports indicate an unwillingness for the federal government to provide its anticipated share.

Jim Pennekamp, special assistant to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's chancellor for regional economic development and executive director of University Park as well as chairman of the Madison County Flood Prevention District, serves as president for the Council. Dan Maher, director of administration for St. Clair County and chair of the St. Clair County Flood Prevention District, serves as vice president of the Council. John Conrad, editor and publisher of the Monroe County Independent and chair of the Monroe County Flood Prevention District, serves as secretary/treasurer. Two additional commissioners from each county round out the nine-member Council.

City Launches New Blog: Playing Around Columbia

In April, the City of Columbia joined the National Campaign for Play (organized by a national organization with the remarkably playful name of KaBOOM!). This movement has begun to combat such social ills as childhood obesity, attention deficit disorder and violence among our nation’s children.

At that time, the Columbia City Council adopted Resolution 13-2008, endorsing the Playful City USA campaign and committing the City’s support to that effort; they also began assembling a list of likely candidates for the Play Commission, the community-based group that will be tasked with making this city-wide commitment to play a real accomplishment. On May 19th, the Play Commission was officially created with adoption of Resolution 02-2009.

The Play Commission will soon be hard at work finalizing its action plan, and the City has launched a new blog, Playing Around Columbia, to chronicle its achievements.

Miller Fiege Home Open This Wednesday

The Columbia Heritage and Preservation Commission (CHPC) welcomes the public to an open house at the Miller-Fiege Home this Wednesday from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The open house is being held partly to inform the public of the City of Columbia’s intent to designate this home as a local historic landmark, which has been recommended by CHPC. Comments about this proposed action may be shared during the open house or submited in writing at City Hall no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26th. CHPC has also planned this event as a celebration of the building, the families who have lived here, and Columbia’s heritage in general.

This home was built in 1850 adjacent to a blacksmith shop run by P.W. Miller (the shop was located approximately where The Medicine Shoppe stands today). The shutters on the home, iron fence surrounding it, and the pump out back all date from this period. Miller purchased the house in 1857, and it remained in his family’s hands until the death of his descendent, Winnifred Fiege, last year; subsequently, the City of Columbia purchased the home and its many antiques, and the home is now being prepared as a historical museum for the whole community to enjoy.

All Greek To See...And Hear

Those who love cool jazz should mark their calendars for Saturday evening, August 1st--that's when Perry Danos and his 10-piece orchestra will perform a live dinner show here in Columbia.

Danos will visit Columbia as part of a breakout tour promoting his new album, "Swingin' on the Moon", from Grand Vista Music. He will make his only St. Louis area appearance at The Falls Reception & Conference Center, and packages are available that include dinner and even overnight accommodations at the new Hampton Inn.

Danos is an up-and-coming Chicagoan of Greek descent who blends the smoothness of Tony Bennett with the heart-on-his-sleeve grit of Rod Stewart. Moving interpretations of some of his own favorites, such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "The Long and Winding Road," and "Lately," are new and exciting renditions of some of the world's best -loved classics from the great American songbook.

The concert is sponsored by The Falls, the Hampton Inn Columbia, and the City of Columbia as part of an ongoing initiative to boost visits to this city.