APRIL - JUNE 2023
Wow, we've already reached the halfway mark of 2023! With summer in full swing, we're experiencing the arrival of typical St. Louis heat and humidity that looks like it's here to stay.
This quarter marked the beginning of my role as Crestwood mayor, and even though it's only been two months, I've had the pleasure of meeting some incredible individuals. Working closely with our dedicated city staff and elected officials, we're determined to continue the positive momentum that Crestwood has maintained over the years.
There is much to share in this quarter's newsletter, so let's dive right in!
As a reminder, I will continue to add more posts to the website, as events occur and information is available. So be sure to visit mayorshipley.org, or better yet, subscribe to receive weekly/ monthly updates via e-mail.
Click on the topics below to view each article.
As announced earlier, Panera is planning a new store at Crestwood Crossing. Because it will also include drive-thru service – they are required to get approval from the Crestwood Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Alderman (both scheduled for July). This means that we get a sneak peek at their plans.
They are planning a single-lane drive-thru, with a second “escape” lane for traffic to get around the store, even when someone is in line for the drive-thru.
Panera will occupy about half of this building and their plans include a small dining area, a kiosk and ordering area, bakery and kitchen areas in the back, and public restrooms.
Still no word on a potential opening date, but I think it will be later in the year.
Below are a few excerpts from those plans, or you can view the entire PDF HERE.
As was covered in the recent City Newsletter, we are thrilled to announce that Crestwood will be introducing ambulance transport services to supplement our existing EMS support.
Unfortunately, the start date for this new service has been delayed by one month, and it will now begin on August 1. This delay is due to pending paperwork that we didn’t get back in time (approval of our ground ambulance license by the state, as well as the necessary Medicare submittals and approvals). During the month of July, Abbott will continue to provide transport services.
Once our ambulance service is active, to ensure prompt response times and efficient service, the Fire Department has established mutual aid agreements with neighboring fire departments and districts. If our ambulance is busy with an emergency call and another EMS request comes in, the 911 dispatcher computer systems will automatically locate the nearest available ambulance and dispatch it immediately. To ensure the fastest possible onsite response, Crestwood paramedics will also be dispatched on the firetruck ensuring that medical assistance arrives quickly on the scene.
Crestwood has ordered a second ambulance that will serve as a “spare” in the event the primary ambulance needs service. That second ambulance is expected to be delivered in late 2024. Until that time, if our ambulance becomes unavailable, we have contractual agreements in place with neighboring fire departments / districts to allow us to borrow one on a temporary basis.
While we wish there wasn’t a one-month delay in starting this service, our Fire Department’s priority is to deliver the highest standard of emergency medical care to the residents of Crestwood, so I’m willing to wait a little longer and look forward seeing the ambulance on our streets soon.
Mayor Scott Shipley, Retired Judge Charlie Berry, Court Administrator Stacey Fields, Photo credit: Angela Sebben
During a recent Board of Alderman meeting, I had the honor of presenting a proclamation that paid tribute to our esteemed Municipal Judge, Charles Berry, who lives right here in Crestwood. This proclamation sheds a light on the remarkable decades of service he dedicated to our community. Here are the highlights:
- Since 2009, Judge Charles Berry has been faithfully serving as a Judge for Crestwood.
- During the Vietnam War, he selflessly served our country, piloting numerous medevac missions (a role he volunteered for). Remarkably, he endured being shot down four times, including on his very first medevac flight
- His exceptional valor and commitment earned him prestigious accolades, including the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross, among many others.
- Before embarking on a career in law, he taught special education for the St. Louis City School District for 17 years. This testament to his compassion and dedication to shaping young lives is truly admirable.
- Following his teaching career, he opened a law practice, where he served his clients for several years.
- Although Judge Berry has reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 and is no longer serving as a Judge, his commitment to Crestwood and our Municipal Courts remains unwavering. Even after retiring from the bench, he has continued to actively seek out opportunities to support our veterans and contribute to our community.
If you ever have the privilege of meeting Charlie Berry, you will immediately recognize the remarkable individual he is... a genuine American hero whose presence leaves an indelible impression.
Thank you Charlie!
In July 2021, the City's electrical contractor repaired an underground wire for an exterior light at Whitecliff Park. However, they informed the staff that there were no viable options left to further fix the aging wiring and existing underground conduit for the exterior lights throughout the park. Despite managing to piece it together for years, this was no longer an option.
Subsequently, the city conducted an study to determine the best course of action for the aging exterior lights. After extensive research and discussions by city staff, the Board of Alderman made the decision in August 2022 to replace the lighting system with solar lighting. This innovative solution eliminates the need for new underground wiring, provides greater flexibility in light placement, and immediately reduced the city's electric bill.
In the spring of 2023, the solar lights were successfully installed, and the old lights were removed. As part of the project, multiple site surveys were conducted to ensure optimal placement of the solar panels maximizing their exposure to sunlight. The resulting lighting system not only meets the necessary illumination requirements but also allows for remote monitoring of lighting performance. Individual lights can also be remotely turned off as needed, such as during performances at the Whitecliff Summer Playhouse.
Overall, this adoption of solar lighting technology is expected to bring long-term benefits to the city. It marks a significant improvement over traditional lighting systems, and its success paves the way for similar implementations in future projects.
There are several big decisions to make in our near future. City staff is working hard to research options, issue bids and evaluate proposals, and often re-evaluate bids and work with contractors to lower costs. Below are some of those projects:
Watson Road Median Improvements – As previously discussed, the city is making plans to improve the medians along Watson – specifically in the Crestwood Crossing area. As part of the redevelopment plan, Dierbergs will contribute $625K towards this project. City staff has been working with the selected contractor to perform “value engineering” to reduce the proposed costs. This should come before the Board of Alderman for a decision in July or August.
Whitecliff Pedestrian Bridge and Quarry Restrooms – For many years, the city has wanted to install a pedestrian bridge from Lodge Pole / Sheryl Ann over Mulberry Creek into Whitecliff Park. This will be an expensive project and is not easy, which is probably why it has been deferred for decades. Fortunately, work has progressed in recent years and some of the preliminary designs and engineering has been completed. Later this summer, city staff plans to submit for a grant to help fund this bridge as well as new public restrooms at the quarry pavilion area. If that grant is awarded, then bids will be sought and construction could begin in late 2024. Fingers crossed.
Addressing the City’s “Asphalt over Concrete Streets” – This is one of the things that keeps me up at night. About 30% of all Crestwood streets are constructed with old concrete covered by newer asphalt. It was common practice “back in the day” for cities to simply pave over failing concrete streets with asphalt. This provided a smooth surface, that can be updated – but the concrete base will sometimes fail and then cause the replacement of the entire street. That is very expensive. City staff is reviewing this topic and will provide a presentation to the Board of Alderman this fall to start thinking about our future options.
Sanders Park Pedestrian Bridge – The pedestrian bridge that spans Gravois Creek provides a great walking path to connect neighborhoods on both sides of that creek, and gives residents access to Sanders and Ferndale parks. The existing bridge is old and needs to be replaced. The replacement bridge was ordered earlier this year, but steel shortages have delayed the installation, potentially into next year. Once this project nears completion, I hope to host a neighborhood celebration and block party – I can’t wait.
Community Center – This will be one of the most significant projects in Crestwood’s history, rivaling even the construction of the existing Community Center and Aquatic Center. The current Community Center, built in the 1970s, unfortunately lacks an optimal design, leading to numerous challenges in running recreation programs within its space. Consequently, the range and variety of programs offered are severely limited. Furthermore, due to the building's age, it is evident that action needs to be taken.
For more than a year, city staff have collaborated with engineers and architects in an attempt to repurpose the existing space. However, it has become apparent that constructing a new space is the most viable solution. As a result, the city has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to engage architects and engineers in designing a potential community center that will introduce new spaces and repurpose existing ones, addressing the needs of our residents.
Following a thorough review of the data, the Board of Aldermen overwhelmingly concurred that exploring these options is necessary. Ultimately, the final decision will rest with you, the community, as it is likely that some form of bond issue will be required to cover the costs. To ensure your voices are heard, we are planning extensive community outreach initiatives and open house meetings to gather your feedback. Stay tuned.
If you don't subscribe to weekly or monthly website updates, here are some posts that you may have missed...
Crestwood is proud to announce the opening of its brand new Disc Golf Course at Crestwood Park...
Save the dates and get ready for two important events...
As summer approaches, door-to-door salespeople will start appearing. In Crestwood that is not allowed....
On Friday, May 12, 2023, the Missouri legislative session ended. Sadly, the bill sponsored...
You may recall that back in April 2022 the NAACP sued Crestwood over its use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF)...
If you missed any of the previous newsletters, you can find a link to all of them here.