December 2015/January 2016 Volume 56, Number 6

Inside: Page 2 - News Briefs Page 3 - Be Prepared When It Snows, Cast A Reel In Veterans Park, New Bridge To Open In January Page 4 - Police Officers Grow Bears For Good Cause, Some New Complex Buildings Now Complete

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www.fultonmo.org

Fire Truck Purchase Included in 2016 Budget A new year is right around the corner and that means the City of Fulton is ready to implement a new budget for 2016. Included in the $44 million budget are a couple major capital improvement projects—a $2.3 million reconstruction of the asphalt runway at Elton Hensley Memorial Airport and the start of a multi-year, $11 million upgrade to the City’s wastewater treatment plant. The City is also making a priority to upgrade many of its outdated vehicles. Some of the purchases include $300,000 for a fire truck and $33,000 for a police patrol unit and all of its corresponding equipment. Many of the City’s aging fleet vehicles will be replaced as well. Stormwater will become an increased importance for the City in 2016. Capital expenditures have been set aside to ad-dress inflow and infiltration of stormwater into the sanitary sewer system. Fixing such problems can reduce sewer backups and demand on the wastewater treatment plant. Residents, meanwhile, will notice an increase in some utility rates. Sewer rates will increase by 7.5 percent, which is the result of voters approving the issuing of bonds in April of 2014 for Federally-mandated wastewater treatment plant improvements. Electric rates will be increasing by five percent for residents. The City will make its final debt payments on Tanglewood

Golf Course in 2016, which will allow the facility to become a profitable venture. A digital copy of the 2016 City of Fulton budget will be available at fultonmo.org after December 15 or it can be viewed at City Hall during normal business hours. Anyone with questions regarding the budget can call 592-3111.

Last year, the Wish Tree debuted in Veterans Park and brightened the otherwise dark evenings throughout December. This year, the park’s holiday display will be expanded with the addition of the Fulton Festival of Lights. Several lighted features will be set up near the Wish Tree. Some of the displays include lighted snowflakes, snowmen and candy canes, as well as an animated fire place and a waving Santa Claus. The Wish Tree area will again feature the Wish Box, where visitors can submit their private wishes for the upcoming new year. Donations continue to be accepted by those wanting to help see the Festival of Lights reach its full potential. Several donation options are available. Contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 573-592-3190 for more details. Kickoff for the Fulton Festival of Lights will take place on Tuesday, December 1. A lighting ceremony at the Wish

Tree in Veterans Park begins at 5:30 p.m. and the public is invited to participate in this new annual tradition. The Fulton Festival of Lights will be running nightly through Sunday, January 3.

New Displays Bring Added Light To Park

The expanded holiday lighting display will include snowmen, candy canes and snowflakes designed by high school students.

The City’s 2016 budget includes $7 million in upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant (right)...

as well as buying replacement City work vehicles such as a fire truck (left).

DATE EVENT TIME LOCATION______________ 12/15 Traffic Commission 10 a.m. Engineering Conference Rm. 12/15 City Council Meeting 6:30 p.m. Council Chambers 1/12 C.C. Work Session 6:30 p.m. Council Chambers 1/12 City Council Meeting 7:30 p.m. Council Chambers 1/19 Traffic Commission 10 a.m. Engineering Conference Rm. 1/19 Historic Preservation 1 p.m. Executive Conference Rm. 1/25 Utility Board 1 p.m. Executive Conference Room 1/26 City Council Meeting 6:30 p.m. Council Chambers

City Council, Boards, and Commissions Meeting Schedule

www.fultonmo.org

City News Briefs - The City of Fulton has an interconnection and net metering program available for residents wanting to install solar or other renewable energy systems for their homes. For more information or to receive an interconnection and net metering application/agreement, contact Planning and Protective Services Director Les Hudson at 573-592-3111 or ppsdirector@fultonmo.org. - Helping residents cover the cost of their heating bills during the cold winter months is as easy as the City’s Energy Assistance Program. Residents wishing to donate can have a set amount added to each month’s utility bill or a one-time donation can be made in person. To make a contribution, visit the utilities billing desk at City Hall or call 573-592-3111.

City Hall Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day) Friday, January 1 (New Year’s Day) Monday, January 18 (MLK Day)

Municipal Court Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day) Friday, January 1 (New Year’s Day) Monday, January 18 (MLK Day)

Solid Waste

Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) - pick-up will take place on Wednesday, December 23 Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day) - pick-up will take place on Monday, December 28 Friday, January 1, 2015 (New Year’s Day) - pick-up will take place on Monday, January 4 Monday, January 18, 2015 (MLK Day) - pick-up will take place on Tuesday, January 19

City Offices Holiday Schedule (City offices are closed and no solid waste collection)

Updated meeting schedules can be found at

www.fultonmo.org/calendar

With winter approaching, Fulton’s first major snow encounter of the season will soon be here. And even if the city isn’t hit with a major winter storm, it’s still important for residents to know what they must do when certain events occur. If six to 12 inches of snow falls, it is considered a Substantial Snow Event by the City. When such an event is declared, cars are allowed to park on only one side of the street, depending on the date. If the day of the month is an odd number (1, 3, 5, etc.), cars must park on the side with odd house numbers. The next day cars must be moved to the even side (2, 4, 6, etc.). This allows street crews to more effectively clear the roads. An Emergency Winter Event will be declared by the mayor when 12 or more inches of snow falls or any thickness of ice accumulates. Under this condition, the City of Fulton will enforce rules associated with the Emergency Snow Routes. No parking will be allowed on either side of a street on the snow route until the emergency is over. Cars left on snow routes are subject to being towed.

City street crews typically begin clearing roads when at least two inches of snow is on the pavement. With the assistance of the Fulton Police Department, an on-call worker will regularly check road conditions and request additional support if needed. Details of the City’s snow policy, as well as maps showing both normal and emergency snow routes, can be found online at fultonmo.org/snowpolicy.

Event Register By Start/Event Date

Fulton Wish Tree Lighting N/A December 1

Digital Photography Class January 29 February 2

If you have additional questions about Fulton Parks and Recreation activities, call 592-3190.

Event Calendar

www.fultonmo.org

Be Prepared When It Snows

Cast A Reel At Veterans Park Residents looking for a good place to fish in Fulton should try the lake in Veterans Park. In early November, the Missouri Department of Conservation stocked the lake with 800 rainbow trout, some weighing as much as six pounds. Until February 1, fishing in the lake will be strictly catch and release. After February 1, anglers will be able to keep up to four fish per day. Anyone ages 16 to 64 wishing to fish in the park must have a valid Missouri fishing permit and a special trout permit if they want to keep fish beginning February 1. Check the Missouri Department of Conservation website at mdc.mo.gov for details on permit costs.

SPECIAL EVENT START DATE END DATE

HHW Center/ E-Waste Drop-off (2nd and 4th Saturday of Each Month)

Sat., April 9 Sat., October 22

Landfill Yard Waste Drop-off (2nd and 4th Saturday of Each Month)

Sat., April 9 Sat., October 22

Clean Sweep Saturday Sat., April 9 Call 573-592-3190 to register yourself or group

Spring Cleanup Week Mon., April 11 Fri., April 15

Fall Cleanup Week Mon., October 17 Fri., October 21

HOLIDAY OBSERVED DATE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION DAY

MLK Day Mon., January 18 Tue., January 19

President’s Day Mon., February 15 Tue., February 16

Labor Day Mon., September 5 Tue., September 6

Thanksgiving Thu., November 24 Wed., November 23

Mon., December 26 Tue., December 27

Independence Day Mon., July 4 Tue., July 5

Memorial Day Mon., May 30 Tue., May 31

Fri., November 25 Mon., November 28

New Year’s Day Mon., January 2, 2017 Tue., January 3. 2017

Christmas Fri., December 23 Thu., December 22

Veterans Day Fri., November 11 Mon., November 14

2016 Solid Waste Department

Holiday and Special Event

Schedule

Above shows the proper way to clear a driveway following a snow event.

New Bridge To Open In January Vine Street, between 10th Street and Route Z, is expected to open in early January of 2016. Work began on November 16 to replace the 80 year old bridge crossing Smith Branch, which had become unusable by school buses due to weight restrictions. The new bridge will have a 25-foot-wide road deck, which is five feet wider than the old structure. Also included with the project is an unattached pedestrian bridge measuring five feet in width. Once contractors complete the bridge in late December, City crews will work on paving the approaches.

LeRoy D. Benton, Mayor Mike West, Ward 1 Lindsey Pace-Snook, Ward 3 Wayne Chailland, Ward 1 Richard Vaughn, Ward 3 Mary Rehklau, Ward 2 Steve Moore, Ward 4 Lowe Cannell, Ward 2 Rick Shiverdecker, Ward 4

Fulton City Council 18 East 4th Street, Fulton, MO 65251 Phone: (573) 592-3111

City of Fulton Newsletter

www.fultonmo.org

Police Officers Grow Beards For Good Cause If anyone noticed Fulton police officers’ faces were somewhat bristly during November, it wasn’t because they couldn’t find a razor. Instead, beards were grown to help raise money to fight cancer. Typically, police officers are not allowed to wear beards, but for a $20 donation to the Vincent P. Gurcharri, MD Foundation, a Mid- Missouri organization that provides financial assistance to individuals fighting cancer, they had an opportunity to generate their best Grizzly Adams impression. The fundraising idea was initiated by officer Adam Cramer as part of No-Shave November, which is a nationwide effort to bring awareness to men’s cancer.

Temperatures have become cooler but work continues at the site of the City’s new Public Facilities Complex. The emergency callout building is the first of the complex’s seven structures to be completed. The City will use the building to store vehicles necessary for virtually any utilities emergency. Also completed are the Utilities, Municipal and Administration buildings. Meanwhile, the roof is now in place on the warehouse, electrical wiring and sprinkler systems have been added to the repair garage, and all of the aphalt and concrete surfaces are ready for use. The City expects to be moved into the new complex sometime in the first quarter of 2016.

Police Chief Steve Myers (left) and his officers show their beards which are being grown to raise money for cancer research.

The completed front of the administration building with the repair garage in view behind on the right side.

Some New Complex Buildings Now Complete