O’Fallon is adding six new stop signs around town in response to growth, development

Lynn Venhaus
·3 min read

Moving occupancy inspections from the O’Fallon Fire Department to the Community Development Department is now under consideration by the O’Fallon City Council.

In cooperation with the fire department, the community development staff will assume all annual inspections that are not already handled by them.

Community Development already inspects structures with fire suppression systems, hotels, motels and some assembly occupancies (community halls, places of worship, some restaurants).

They usually perform 390 inspections per year, but with this change, they will add 200 more to their caseload. Community Development Director Justin Randall said that they have the necessary programs, certifications, and staff to handle the increase with minimal disruptions.

“We’ve been talking about a way that we could help them out,” Randall said.

That move requires amending the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code.

The council could approve the proposed amended ordinance at the next meeting, which will be Jan. 16.

Small taverns, bars and restaurants, shopping centers without a fire suppression system, downtown district businesses with a shared firewall and others throughout the city had not been under the community development staff.

Randall said the annual inspections will include checking for violations of the life safety code, such as expired fire extinguishers, proper means of egress to get out of the building in case of emergency and exit lighting to direct people to exits in case of an emergency.

The ordinance change keeps focus on the safety and well-being of the public that is provided by city inspections.

Additional Stop Signs

Because of the city’s continuous growth, and the ongoing development of existing and new subdivisions, a recent comprehensive review of stop signs has resulted in six new ones being incorporated into an amended ordinance. The council approved the action Dec. 18.

Three stop signs each are going to be placed in Stone Briar Phase 2 and Patio Homes at Seven Hills. The locations are Timberstone at Stone Briar Drive and at Sturbridge Trail and Creekwood Court at Timberstone Drive in Stone Briar Phase 2 and Lakeland at East Wesley Drive and Lotus Drive at East Wesley Drive, north and southbound, in Patio Homes at Seven Hills.

Additional Snow Routes

The city also reviewed additional streets for snow and ice removal that would allow a thoroughfare for emergency vehicle access. With recommendations from the Public Works Department, in consultation with Public Safety and Fire Departments, the council amended an ordinance establishing these streets for snow route designation:Milburn Estates Drive to end stub street, Steve Dee Drive from Obernuefemann Road to Derrick Drive, Derrick Drive from Steve Dee to Montebello Lane, Montebello Lane from Derrick Drive to Obernuefemann Road, and all of East Wesley Drive.

Tax Levy Goes to County

The tax levy was approved so that it can be on file with St. Clair County for its December deadline.

As of Nov. 27, Finance Director Sandy Evans said that the current rate setting for estimated assessed valuation (EAV) is $843,908,272. The Disabled Veterans exemption is $128,195,801, a 3.5% increase.

Based on preliminary calculations, the staff estimates that the tax rate will be 0.8247 compared to last year’s certified rate of 0.8142. The tax levy is based on dollar amount, not by rate.

Because the county is continually updating the records, this EAV is only an estimate, and the city staff expects it to change.

Previously, the mayor had announced that Standard and Poor’s gave O’Fallon its highest rating of AA+. No other city below Interstate 80 south received such a rating (the lower 80% downstate).

In his Mayor’s Report, Herb Roach noted:

  • There will not be a City Council meeting on Jan. 2. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 16 because of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday on Jan. 15.

  • There are no committee meetings on Dec. 26. The next committee meetings will be on Jan. 8.

  • City Hall is closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.