[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6286904,"mediaKeyId","2556127-15d58df2d30e022d0fae65a4239a9713","parentId",2556127,"title","Public safety leaders present budgets and renew dispatch contract; City renews Shiloh dispatch agreement","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4427000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556127-15d58df2d30e022d0fae65a4239a9713&start=4427&end=4427","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556127-15d58df2d30e022d0fae65a4239a9713/thumbnail_4427000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6286904/OFallon-City/St-Clair-County/Illinois/Public-safety-leaders-present-budgets-and-renew-dispatch-contract-City-renews-Shiloh-dispatch-agreement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286904-5a478eb2049f9d831c4857ea5b22f1c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185455&Signature=RdYIaxlWy-y5HAFBycgsViWzf32XDcFm2wqqOwGgK94x59yDlZt9OVp2hdN-Go348bX~jdWFsdRdLlQQPpFlHeu0Y7xaCljnTCjTpEEDc5I-4klbeIVFcyqFKrbV5793NaamnF~J6oM1zEMEqGXsjVyPdzU-sM8AJNM08EF~jYf2Hilr3RctmjlP2tCGmWU5d9cc4uF4DlVD3KE42TZ7jAgvN0rSlTFBdqQduBvOHkaJyA6DG6SmgHGr9Rp5GHRn96-fknHXC651iFjDRBd6BEDy3FKYD05Lecr--3oh6DJarF6Dp0w3vbqZeLTIuaztmQw0MOT7cUq~2nMaCSMPgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council if O'Fallon, IL","date","2025-03-12T05:04:40.373Z","article","At a Public Safety Committee meeting, staff presented operating and capital budget highlights for the Fire Department, EMS, MECOM (dispatch) and Police Department and the committee approved a contract renewal for dispatch services with the village of Shiloh.

Committee members approved a coordinated communication services contract renewal for dispatch between O'Fallon and Shiloh. Staff said the annual charge increased about 4.5% from $172,500 last year to roughly $180,000 for the coming year; the roll-call vote recorded affirmatives from committee members on the motion.

Fire Department staff presented a departmental budget of about $2.5 million funded primarily by tax revenue. Staff described a personnel cost line (about $1.1 million), training increases as some grant funding has diminished, and a plan to allocate roughly $450,000 in capital reserves toward a new heavy-rescue/squad vehicle. Staff discussed options for chassis types and estimated purchase ranges (commercial chassis approximately $600,000–$700,000; custom options higher). The department reported roughly 1,284 calls in the prior year with a large share classified as non-emergencies or good-intent responses.

EMS leaders reported 6,100 calls in 2024 (approximately a 6.47% increase), with 4,636 transports billed and the remainder non-transport responses. EMS described an ambulance order placed last year and a planned delivery later in the calendar year; budget increases include equipment maintenance, batteries for new devices, and a new patient-care reporting system (ESL) coming online.

MECOM staff said the dispatch center operates with about 14 full-time telecommunicators and several part-timers and requested modest increases to fund recruitment-video production and equipment upgrades (for example, a KVM switch to make multi-monitor workflows more efficient). MECOM also noted a small decrease in accidental 9-1-1 calls tied to a phone-carrier update.

Police staff said the department is staffing toward 50 officers, is budgeting for a full-time social worker position and has increased part-time wages to improve recruitment; equipment lines include a Taser contract and planned vehicle replacements with one vehicle funded from DUI-account funds.

Committee members discussed mutual-aid calls, turnaround times for ambulances and the need to keep units available within the city. Staff said mutual-aid requests were down slightly from the prior year and emphasized the goal of retaining available ambulances for local calls.

The dispatch contract renewal motion passed on roll call; budget presentations were informational at committee level and will continue through the city's budget process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee Meetings - March 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public Safety presented fire, EMS, MECOM and police budget highlights. Council committee approved a dispatch-services contract renewal with the village of Shiloh, increasing the charge to about $180,000.","taxTitle","O'Fallon City, St. Clair County, Illinois","taxId",52736,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6286908,"O'Fallon committee clears final plat, quick-claim deed to Habitat and multiple downtown event permits",1368,2534000,3902000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556127-15d58df2d30e022d0fae65a4239a9713&start=2534&end=3902","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556127-15d58df2d30e022d0fae65a4239a9713/thumbnail_2534000.jpg","/articles/6286908/OFallon-City/St-Clair-County/Illinois/OFallon-committee-clears-final-plat-quick-claim-deed-to-Habitat-and-multiple-downtown-event-permits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286908-392faa38c49b4b08fe81eea7d4d88861/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185455&Signature=ohUVc8ylkUITH8H2VEfIF9FxxZ1lEhbKzxLQECwqkciC1t1-9~T4RlpMFRCaVlw54M4WliyvRV7B3DwvWDn8iNoxeU7K2ekHKU7YRQTJm7ZlnrMKhB7f6pIRq7oVXjkhtLa2BuHl7KYuLC-FQ7-yiPpy5mztxg6g3zPJvh47x0B1t7iq85ouNwgyPT4SYkIoi7~ZbKcvt~l6O0o9ZXx3zhrcbvUvye0yYWjhYOsAbSXxTqpfkzWKwE98Quw3ergKQpqwY8KkAWZVgGFctmGqxSn1dIU1QyzY3zTvs2IqDIJwkKCvADbDFKpRzI1aRl~2miqi0~kMhhjvSzfbYbNdLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Community Development Committee met and approved a series of land-use and event items, forwarding them to the full City Council with committee recommendations.

The committee approved the final plat for the Enclaves at Lawn Avenue, a three-lot split proposed for two-family dwellings. Community Development and Public Works staff found the final plat consistent with the preliminary plat and recommended approval; the roll-call vote recorded five yes votes and one no (Albrecht).

The committee also approved a resolution authorizing a quitclaim deed for parcel ID 04-29.01209-7 at 513 East Washington to Habitat for Humanity for $1,000. Staff said the city acquired, demolished and now owns the vacant lot; Habitat proposes a standard 3-bedroom, 2-bath home on the 50-by-140-foot lot. Staff and the city attorney (Todd Fleming) signaled the legal process is in order; one committee member recused from the vote because of a conflict of interest, and the motion passed on roll call.

The committee approved three special-event permit requests for downtown and park functions: Hot Rods for Hope (First Street, May 8, 2025, event open to public 5:30–10:00 p.m., street closure requested to 11:00 p.m. for cleanup), Family Eye Care of O'Fallon trunk-or-treat (private property with off-site directional signage planned, Oct. 18, 2025) and the Southern Illinois Ice Hawks end-of-season party at the RecPlex (April 5, 2025). Staff recommended approval of each permit, with conditions such as requiring any extended-premise liquor license for participating restaurants and vendor approvals for food trucks. Each special-event permit received committee approval on roll call.

Committee staff addressed an annexation second-reading item involving roughly 21.3 acres at 1314 Posh Road and answered public questions about access easements. Staff explained the Illinois Plat Act allows divisions of land greater than five acres to be annexed without subdivision frontage requirements and noted a signed easement dating to 2007 provides access for three proposed houses. The committee recorded no changes to the ordinance at second reading; the matter will appear before the full council for final action.

Public comment included a question about unpermitted private construction (Harley-Davidson expansion and Hartman Lane projects); staff said those projects were permitted under existing zoning and therefore proceeded through building-permit processes rather than review before the committee.

Votes at a glance
- Final plat for Enclaves at Lawn Avenue (ordinance/final plat): approved on committee roll call (Yes: Parchment, Campbell, Vorce/Force, Small, Roach; No: Albrecht).
- Quick-claim deed to Habitat for Humanity for 513 E. Washington (resolution): approved; one member recused, roll-call yes votes recorded.
- Hot Rods for Hope special-event permit (5/8/2025): approved on roll call.
- Family Eye Care trunk-or-treat (10/18/2025): approved on roll call.
- Southern Illinois Ice Hawks end-of-season party (4/5/2025): approved on roll call.","The Community Development Committee approved a final plat for the Enclaves at Lawn Avenue, authorized a quick-claim deed sale of 513 E. Washington to Habitat for Humanity, and approved several special-event permits including Hot Rods for Hope.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6286913,"O'Fallon parks department delays lap pool opening, presents budget and sports-park master-plan work",1449,708000,2157000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556127-15d58df2d30e022d0fae65a4239a9713&start=708&end=2157","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556127-15d58df2d30e022d0fae65a4239a9713/thumbnail_708000.jpg","/articles/6286913/OFallon-City/St-Clair-County/Illinois/OFallon-parks-department-delays-lap-pool-opening-presents-budget-and-sports-park-master-plan-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286913-8f1f77e3f6c172a05eaf129d55f11d1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185455&Signature=SogpWse~oJdGN9QWgNQT7dOtsEd1aCAXmP2fpyphR46tMu~DxjER2TzG5jFwS02WhKTbcjs1pQi4tWzANXZDbTKZi-YalbAERVCneiga9E2RrnxlXKDaHF49lj1zg0JknvqjD56OgKmulYVQEq5Hjk5ESB9nNwYsCIxKiFPxTE5MS5IacEZnkHe-aFOZ-6YmKJUjfgeRjSy8V6qdazfx4MSbhuNMmkZZcsNdvfMzm37Dvh63v-l6q6DYVn2BBfssTBEkoSOoWFEOET~p3gdI7vaJQ3s2HGZ1~7sJt0-jqnA9D1bSftg2EaBShaV6IJ5vFcPRaZApoEg5An2tsZUEbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parks and Recreation staff told the City of O'Fallon Parks & Recreation Committee on March (committee meeting) that the lap pool at the Community Park enhancement project is behind schedule, and the department now expects an opening around June 18.

The delay stems from an unusually severe winter that created lost construction days and longer-than-expected curing and coating times for the lap pool surface. Parks staff said the leisure pool, slides and gates are complete; the lap pool requires epoxy coatings that must cure for roughly seven days per coat and concrete curing that takes about 28 days.

The delay matters because staff said they have limited remaining schedule options and are working Saturdays and other measures to recover days. Staff also described inspection and water-testing steps that cannot be shortened.

At the same meeting, staff presented the department's operating budget. Revenues shown in the slides include program revenue just above $1 million, rental and other revenues around $1.1 million, sales tax about $1.6 million, concession sales roughly $500,000, and miscellaneous rental income about $817,000 — a total the presenter described as roughly $6 million to $6.5 million. Major expenses include staffing (about $2.425 million) and bond payments and operations lines; the department showed a capital reserve and specific equipment purchases.

Large capital items the department plans to buy this year include a Kubota tractor, 0-turn mowers, a cemetery mower (about $8,000), and a shared wood chipper with Public Works. Staff said replacing surfacing at the splash pad playgrounds and resurfacing a fitness-station floor will also be budgeted; staff intends to start the station resurfacing the last week of April to meet scheduling windows and will return with a budget resolution for that work.

Staff described the planned update to the sports-park master plan as a multi-stage program: an initial feasibility study to determine building footprint and court counts, and subsequent studies to finalize the park program and other amenities. Staff said the effort will re-examine a 15-year-old plan and focus on making the sports park an economic engine for regional tournaments.

Staff also said the department will use a Placer.ai subscription to generate ongoing, real-time economic-impact metrics for the sports park and downtown markets rather than ordering one-off consultant studies.

Public questions during the meeting addressed pool-pass pricing and proration if the pool opening is delayed; staff said pass prices are expected to be in the roughly $8–$12 range depending on age and residency and that the department is still finalizing sales and proration policies to avoid mass refunds if an opening shifts later.

Parks staff also reviewed the cemetery budget, described as a small line item (about $227,000) covering mowing and maintenance. A resident asked about timing for a canopy and the number of cremation niches; staff said the canopy is likely a decade away and could not give an exact count from memory.

The committee received the reports for information; no ordinance or spending vote on the department budget was taken at this committee meeting. Staff asked that committee members and the public note schedule-sensitive projects and contact the park office for tours; staff said the park office is open and available for visits.","Parks staff told a City committee the lap pool opening is delayed by weather and curing time; department presented a roughly $6–6.5 million budget, equipment purchases and a multi-part sports-park master-plan study.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public safety leaders present budgets and renew dispatch contract; City renews Shiloh dispatch agreement

O'Fallon committee clears final plat, quick-claim deed to Habitat and multiple downtown event permits

O'Fallon parks department delays lap pool opening, presents budget and sports-park master-plan work