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Clarkson Valley votes to pursue federal funds for Clarkson Road sidewalk amid cost‑sharing concerns
Summary
The Clarkson Valley Board of Aldermen on Jan. 6 authorized submission of a federal grant application to East‑West Gateway and MoDOT to fund a Clarkson Road sidewalk, but aldermen debated projected costs, potential shortfalls in federal matching and how costs would be shared with Ballwin and MoDOT.
The Clarkson Valley Board of Aldermen on Jan. 6 voted to authorize submission of a federal funding application to the East‑West Gateway Council of Governments and the Missouri Department of Transportation to install a sidewalk on Clarkson Road.
Board members discussed possible grant amounts, the East‑West Gateway application process and preliminary feedback from MoDOT. City staff and aldermen emphasized that the city has not yet received firm cost estimates and that federal funding might not cover 80% of the project, which would leave a larger local share than anticipated.
Several residents urged the council to proceed. Tom Beck, representing Forest Hills Ridge subdivision, and Tracey Waeckerle, principal of Marquette High School, both spoke in favor of the sidewalk, saying it would improve pedestrian safety and school access. The board also debated whether the city should assist private subdivisions when sidewalks are proposed and whether portions of the sidewalk would lie outside Clarkson Valley city limits.
To help the application effort, the board on the same agenda approved Bill No. 0582, authorizing a contract with Volkert, Inc., to provide grant‑application services. That ordinance passed on a roll call vote; aldermen Schweig, Low, MacDonald, Birkel, Midyett and Nuelle voted yes.
After a motion to call the question, the board took a voice vote on Resolution No. 2026‑01. The resolution passed; Alderman Brock MacDonald abstained from the voice vote. City Attorney Patrick Butler said the city would seek clarification on whether the East‑West Gateway application fee would be refundable if the city later declines any awarded grant.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the grant application work authorized by the contract with Volkert and follow up with East‑West Gateway and MoDOT on funding details and required cost‑share arrangements. The board did not set a final project budget or commit to a local funding source at the meeting.
