City manager update: MODOT to fund sidewalk trail along St. John's Blvd.

(City Manager Sam Anselm provided the following update to Joplin City Council members Friday.)

Good afternoon, everyone. Please see below for this week’s update.

-This week we received word from MoDOT that they have selected the St. John’s Sidewalk and Bike Lane project for funding under their Transportation Alternatives Program. This project will develop a 10’ sidewalk/trail along St. John’s Blvd. from 28th to 32nd Street, bringing Freeman Hospital into our trail network. I’d like to thank our staff in planning and public works for their efforts putting the application together.

The most recent update from public works is available by following this link. In addition:

* Leaf pick-up continues throughout the city. Pending severe weather, it should take another three weeks to complete the pick-up in all areas.

* The Main Street resurfacing project being funded with CDBG-DR funds is out for bid, with a pre-bid conference scheduled for next week.

* The contractor for the widening of St. Louis Ave. is preparing a phasing plan that will be used in public/neighborhood meetings this spring, to provide adequate notice to residents about what they can expect prior to the start of construction.

*Finally, the construction of the Public Safety Training Center is progressing very well; substantial completion is projected to be in mid-February. Staff would like to invite council members to a tour of the facility, so as we finalize a date, I will keep you posted.

-Similarly, the library board will be touring the new library facility on Monday, January 9th. We would also like to schedule a tour of this facility for you at some point in the future.

-Our employee Health Nuts group is coordinating another Win Some, Lose Some contest to encourage our employees and spouses covered under our health plan to shed some of those holiday pounds and start living a healthier lifestyle. Over 100 employees and spouses have signed up for the program, which is significantly more people than participated last year. I’d like to extend my gratitude to the Health Nuts team, the employees who have signed up, and to the area businesses who have donated prizes for our weekly weigh-in and grand prize drawings.

-As part of our New Year’s Resolutions for 2017, I have asked each department to identify one process for improvement this year, along with identifying one program to start measuring customer satisfaction.