Top Five
Things to Know About St. Charles County this Month

1. Road Project Update: Route 61 and I-70 Improvements

The safety of our roads and improving traffic flow are top priorities for St. Charles County Government. Following are updates on two major road projects:

Route 61 and Route P

If you travel in the Wentzville area, you can’t miss the construction that is underway at US Route 61 and Route P (above). Jointly funded by St. Charles County, the City of Wentzville and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), this $14.8 million project, which includes design, right-of-way and construction, started in August 2017. The County’s share, 27.8 percent of the project, comes from a voter-approved ½-cent transportation sales tax. This tax was enacted in 1985 and reauthorized by more than 83 percent of the voters in 2012. The City of Wentzville's share of the project is 22.2 percent, and MoDOT's is 50 percent.

The project includes removing crossovers at Route P and Peine roads and replacing them with one interchange that services both roads. A roundabout on Route P will make traffic flow smoothly from on/off ramps of Route 61. At Grothe Road, Granville Drive North and Granville Drive South, traffic only will be able to make right turns on to or off of Route 61, thus reducing the risk of accidents. Watch the County News Update on this project.

These intersections all have high crash rates due to highway speed and volume, making it difficult for vehicles to merge in and out of traffic. MoDOT reported 35 accidents in 2016 and 21 in 2017 on Route 61 from Peine Road to Grothe Road. Average daily traffic counts in this area are more than 47,000 vehicles a day.

Until the end of June, Route P at Route 61 is closed to traffic and drivers should use Grothe Road to access Route P. There will be periodic lane restrictions and temporary by-passes throughout this area until the project is complete in summer 2019. For further information visit MoDOT’s project website.

I-70 from T.R. Hughes to Woodlawn and Route K/Main Street

Additionally, construction began in May on improvements along I-70 from T.R. Hughes Boulevard to Woodlawn Avenue, including the Route K/Main Street interchange in O’Fallon. This $17.9 million project will improve the interchange, relieve congestion on Route K/Main Street near I-70, and improve traffic flow between T.R. Hughes and Woodlawn to make travel safer and improve air quality overall.

The two-phase project is scheduled to be completed by October 2019. The City of O’Fallon is leading the project, with 40.2 percent of funding provided by St. Charles County; 12.2 percent by O’Fallon; 24.7 percent by MoDOT; and 22.6 percent by Federal grants. Visit the City of O’Fallon’s project website for more information and updates.

2. County Police Chief, Officer Receive Honors

Chief David Todd and Officer Jacob Mendez

Serving the community is at the heart of the St. Charles County Police Department's mission. In May, the department's Chief of Police and an officer received recognitions for their outstanding work in carrying out this duty:

Chief David Todd (left) was selected by the Missouri Police Chief’s Association to represent its membership on Missouri’s Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC). The Chief will join leaders from other state agencies in ensuring that state and local homeland security plans on terrorism and disaster preparedness are executed and coordinated efficiently.

Chief Todd also serves on the Homeland Security Committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, an appointment he has held for the past three years. He has worked in law enforcement for St. Charles County for 40 years and became the County Police Department’s first Chief of Police in 2015, the year the department was established. Chief Todd has a Master of Science and Bachelor of Arts from Lindenwood University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Northwestern University Executive Staff and Command School.
Officer Jacob Mendez (right) was awarded the Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri’s John J. McAtee Award for his role in de-escalating a psychiatric crisis involving an armed and suicidal individual. County Executive Steve Ehlmann commended Officer Mendez, saying his calm demeanor, compassion, and awareness during the incident played a critical role in building the trust and open communication necessary to result in a positive outcome.

Officer Mendez utilized his Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training during the incident. CIT is a community partnership that brings together law enforcement, mental health and addiction professionals, hospital emergency staff, and individuals who live with mental illness and/or addiction disorders and their families to improve responses to people in crisis. All St. Charles County Police officers and Park Rangers take CIT training, and the Corrections, Emergency Communications and Sheriff departments are in the process of training staff.

3. New Bridge at Park Provides Improved Special Needs Access

St. Charles County Parks Department employees recently teamed up with the local biking community on a project that provides special needs cyclists better access to trails at Bangert Island Park, just south of the Blanchette Bridge in St. Charles.

Members of Gateway Off-Road Cyclists (GORC) approached the Parks Department after one of their riders was diagnosed with Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS. The need for a wider bridge at the park’s entrance to accommodate the rider’s adapted mountain bike was apparent. Parks employees (above) got to work and within a week, constructed and installed a 4-foot-wide bridge that now spans 20 feet across a small stream at the trail entrance. Watch the County News Update on this project.

St. Charles County Parks strives to meet ADA standards in all park areas through accessible playground equipment, restrooms, shelters and more. Visit St. Charles County Parks online to learn more about Bangert Island and the entire parks system.

4. Renovations at Pet Adoption Center Enhance Animals' Lives

Glass-lined kennels and a “cattery” are just two of the many improvements recently completed at the St. Charles County Pet Adoption Center, located at 4850 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters.

The 15,000-square foot facility provides kennel housing for dogs, cats and other adoptable pets, as well as a veterinary clinic to care for lost pets and stray animals. New features at the Pet Adoption Center include:

A fully renovated dog kennel featuring 72 new, glass-lined shelters, an upgraded sanitation system and an enhanced interaction area.
An improved outdoor play area for dogs.
A modern "cattery" for kittens and adult cats, also with glass-lined shelters and a play zone and interaction rooms (pictured above).
A public meeting and training room with space to host classes on pet care, grooming and ownership.

Visit the Pet Adoption Center online to learn more about the facility and view pets available for adoption. Also, save the date for the Pet Adoption Center's Canine Carnival on July 7. Watch the center's web page for more details!

5. New Park to Bring Recreational Opportunities Along River

In March, the St. Charles County Parks Department closed on the purchase of 7.73 acres of land between Kampville Drive and Huster Road along the Mississippi River (above).

The County envisions that this property will be used to promote outdoor recreation on the Mississippi River and Dardenne Creek, and Dardenne and Bolter Islands such as kayaking, canoeing, boating and other water sports, as well as camping, fishing and hunting. This segment of the Mississippi River, known as Alton Lake, is 40,000 acres and 38 miles long and is a popular summer destination close to home.

The new park property with existing boat ramp will be known as Riverside Landing and will reopen to the public in late summer. It will close this winter for a major renovation that will include camping (electric and full hook-ups), a pavilion, water play area and playground, new boat ramp and docks, kayak launch area and public restrooms. The planned schedule would result in the new park opening in 2019.

“We have discussed the possibility of constructing a ‘blue way’ with a kayak launching area at 370 Lakeside Park with the City of St. Peters,” says St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. “This will provide residents and visitors the opportunity to float approximately two miles on Dardenne Creek to the Riverside Landing. And, we are looking at ways to connect to the Boschert Greenway and trails in the City of St. Charles. This will be a great park for those who want to explore the outdoors by boat, bike or foot.”

The St. Charles County Parks system began in 1997, late for a county parks system as most were developing in the early to mid-1900s. Voters elected that year to pass a dedicated use tax that created the regional parks system. Just 20 years young, the Parks Department still is acquiring park acreage to ensure that greenspace is protected in St. Charles County and that the regional county parks system voters wanted continues to grow.

On SCCMO-TV...

Click on the images below, or visit the SCCMO-TV YouTube channel or tv.sccmo.org, to watch recent County Council meetings, hear the latest local news and helpful information on County News Updates, see what's happening in County Parks, and more!

To view agendas and minutes from Council meetings, visit sccmo.org.

Looking Back with the County Executive

During the first half of the nineteenth century, St. Charles County evolved much like the Virginia communities from which many of its American settlers came after the Louisiana Purchase. By 1850, these Virginia gentry found themselves living in a county where nearly half of the inhabitants were German-speaking immigrants who did not share their values on a number of issues. Following are the histories and experiences of four of these Virginia families who settled in our community...MORE

Council Comments

Mike Klinghammer, District 6

As representative for District 6 in St. Charles County, a large part of my district runs the length of the Mississippi River – there for all of us to marvel at its beauty, enjoy its attractions, and to take part in the recreational opportunities it has to offer. One of the best opportunities is boating, and as a boating enthusiast I know that spring and summer means it’s time for fun along the river! Here are a few ideas for places to go and things to do when planning your boating adventures in St. Charles County...MORE

Calendar and Directory

Don't forget! If you have used and worn American flags to dispose of, stop by the St. Charles County Veterans Best Practices Working Group's Flag Collection from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, at the corner of Monroe and Second Streets in St. Charles! Read more about this second annual event.

County Calendar (Council meetings, Missouri Job Center classes and more).
Parks online activity registration (Event listings and amenities reservations)

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Top Five Things to Know About St. Charles County this Month