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County executive outlines jail, 911 and infrastructure projects in annual report
Summary
St. Charles County Executive delivered the annual state-of-the-county report, detailing upgrades to 911 dispatch, a jail expansion, crime-lab spending and major highway projects while noting slower property-value increases and ongoing master‑planning work.
County Executive Steve delivered the annual state-of-the-county report, highlighting public-safety investments, transportation projects and planning work the county expects to pursue over the next two years. He outlined upgrades to the 911 system, an expansion of jail capacity, a crime-lab funding request and several large highway projects that he said will affect local travel patterns.
The executive told the council the county will replace and enhance its 911 equipment with satellite-based dispatching and hardware upgrades slated for completion within two years, and that the jail expansion will add about 30 beds without increasing the building footprint. "We're using ARPA funds and Prop k funds, new jail cells, kitchen, docks, storage, etcetera, Increased capacity of 30," he said.
He also described planned crime-lab upgrades — including a $2,700,000 expansion and a $90,000 advanced firearms-comparison microscope — and a training-range expansion that will accept federal partners. The executive said federal funding of about $2.3 million is contributing to the range expansion.
On transportation, the executive reviewed the I‑70/I‑64 project, calling it the largest in Missouri Department of Transportation history and said work includes a new railroad bridge designed to carry additional lanes. He said the county and state are coordinating construction to avoid repeated long closures and that a groundbreaking is scheduled March 20 for a $600 million phase.
The executive reported that the countywide reassessment resulted in an average residential valuation increase of 8.4 percent this cycle, down from a 24 percent jump two years earlier; reassessment notices and appeal information will be mailed in April, he said. He also previewed a county master plan update to address parks, housing, economic development and water/sewer extension questions.
The report closed with acknowledgments for law-enforcement leadership and county staff and an invitation for council members to use the presentation in their districts.
The remarks were delivered during the council’s annual county-executive presentation. Council members asked no follow-up questions after the report and moved to the public-comment portion of the agenda.
