From the Mayor

• In late 2017, the City Administrator developed, presented, and the Board of Aldermen approved, a three-year plan to bring city employees’ compensation up to equity (median) with neighboring communities’ employees. This plan has had a positive impact on city staff and department managers. It continues for two more years (2019 & 2020).

• Voters last April approved Proposition S, providing considerable new funding for city streets. Weeks after the April election, meetings had started with our engineering firm to plan for oversight and specifically focus on worst-case streets as first priority. By mid-September, repairs had started throughout the city on the worst of our city streets. Almost $620,000 of repairs had been completed by mid-December when street repairs for the year ended due to winter’s arrival.

• Starting in May and June, the city got an early jump on negotiating with our trash hauler for renewal of our February 2019 five-year trash contract. The early start allowed the city to have much of the contract complete before the recyclable market collapsed. For an approximate 2.5% cost increase, the city keeps its curbside, single-stream, recycle pickup and the rest of trash services, even expanding bulk pickup options. More than a few of our neighboring communities are scrambling to even continue recycling as well as facing +10% cost increases.

• The city rewrote its deer ordinance in 2018, lowering the bar for qualified bow hunters to seek permission from property owners and then bow hunt on permitted property. At the end of 2018, bow hunters had taken a small number of deer from within our city limits. It’s a start!

• The city’s website experienced a major overhaul, significantly improving ease-of-use and functionality. The city’s use of Facebook has expanded with active pages for the Police Department, Parks and Recreation, and city itself. If you’re on Facebook, please like and follow the city’s three, separate FB pages. Timeliness of posts and the community content is significantly improved.

• After forty-six years of policing; thirty-five of them with Manchester, the city said good-bye to retiring Police Chief Tim Walsh. The January 4 reception was large, with police representatives from all over the region coming to say good-bye. Many residents came to thank Tim for his years of service. I wish Tim many years of active, fun retirement!

• I’ve enjoyed launching two new initiatives that provide me dialogue opportunities with residents and small businesses. My “Conversations with the Mayor” have been fun and allowed residents to talk with, and question me (and city staff/aldermen who attend). We talk about any issue or question that residents come with. (See the related article on 2019 “Conversations” schedule.)

City staff, aldermen and I have also been meeting with small business owners. Our intent with these meetings is to get to know our small business owners and build relationships with them. Specifically, we want to help them grow business and be successful. These meetings have seen good energy and have birthed ideas to improve the city’s economic climate. (See the related article on 2019 Small Business Goals.)

• Our 2018 budget will end on a positive note with higher-than-estimated tax revenues and expenditure that have been held in check or below budget projections. The city expects to end the year with a budget surplus that will grow our reserves for future rainy days.

FROM 2019: A LOOK BACK

• With the hiring of a new city police chief, it’s the right time to review the police department structure, organization and tasks. There are several senior level positions to be filled by the new chief, too. The community will have ample opportunity to meet their new chief. Watch for details throughout the year.

• Later in 2019, the city will be replacing Eileen Collins, Director of Parks, Recreation and the Arts. (In 2018, Eileen Collins announced her retirement for May 2019.) A regional search will begin in 1Q 2019 for the new parks director. As with the police department, the change of department manager will include a department review and evaluation of organization, goals and tasks.

• Almost $3.5 million dollars in streets and sidewalk repair will be scheduled for 2019. That represents a seven-fold increase from normal budgeted street repairs. We’re all going to be experiencing the disruptions from repairs and the resulting street improvements.

• A long-planned and save-for, $3 million dollar storm-water improvement project will begin in Chadwick this year. Much of the work will include installation of larger pipes that direct, transport and control storm water runoff. The improvements along Brookvale Terrace should end backyard and basement flooding.

• Grow our small business initiative through expanded dialogue with owners and the launch of a small business association that will provide networking and social opportunities for business owners to connect with other small business owners.

• Insure that all city employees, supervisors and department managers have been reviewed by end of first quarter, 2019. This review process will be consistent across all departments and guided by the city’s new HR Manager and the City Administrator.

• Launch the Audit and Finance Committee. Use its members’ financial and business expertise to review financial reporting, budget compliance, and auditing. This team will be comprised of residents and city staff/elected officials.

• In 2018, our City Administrator and board of aldermen began a focused look at establishing longer-term goals (3-5 years) for the city. That process should conclude in 2019.

This column has become quite lengthy. I could write more, but won’t. I speak for the Board of Aldermen and city staff and employees when I say we’re proud of last year’s accomplishments and are confident that 2019 will be a good year for the residents and employees of the City of Manchester. Feel free to call, text or e-mail with your questions or concerns. Or, attend one of my “Conversations with the Mayor” events. We can talk!

Paid for by Clement for Mayor Committee, Gloria Clement, Treasurer

Mike Clement, Mayor

City of Manchester, MO

Mike Clement, Mayor

City of Manchester, MO