Mayor’s Weekly Update
February 25, 2011
With winter almost gone and spring rapidly approaching, now is a good time to prepare for the
potential of tornados. If this past Thursday was an indication, we could be in for a very active
spring storm season. A personal and family emergency plan is always a good idea. Have
emergency supplies to include flashlights, batteries, a battery operated radio, blankets, water, and
canned foods available is just one way of preparing. Thanks to the heavy snow storm earlier in
the year, the City has had an opportunity to exercise its emergency operations plan and we made
a few minor adjustments based upon that experience. We are preparing to do a series of
exercises to make sure that as a City we are ready to respond to any emergency that our City may
face. The City Office of Emergency Management is currently exploring potential federal grants
for community storm shelters. As a public reminder, the Cowan Civic Center is NOT an
approved storm shelter as the building was not built to withstand tornadic forces. The building
can be used as an evacuation shelter in cooperation with the Laclede American Red Cross, the
Lebanon Family Y, the Laclede County Office of Emergency Management, the Cowan Civic
Center, and the Lebanon Office of Emergency Management.
With the heavy rains of spring approaching, now is also a good time to begin cleaning up winter
debris from the storm water runoffs to help the water flow away from buildings and other
structures and to help prevent the flooding that always seems to occur this time of the year.
Cleaning the winter debris from the top of the storm drains will go a long way to help the City
prepare for this eventuality. City crews will start cleaning the storm water system shortly as part
of our program to help prevent backup, overflows, and flooding. We also begin street sweeping
to clean up the winter salt and sand from the streets to keep this from entering into the storm
water system.
The budget process for FY12, which will begin July 1, 2011, is underway with the staff having
completed their initial staffing plans and work ups. We will begin with a series of workshops to
discuss the departmental budgets with Council. Council will have an opportunity to express their
concerns; discuss the issues; and provide their guidance to the staff. From the workshops; we
will progress to public hearings to gather public input and refine the budget with additional
guidance from Council. All of this will lead up to Council’s final review and refinements prior
to presentation to Council for final passage of the FY12 budget. The FY12 Budget must be
completed prior to July 1, 2011.
Next City Council will be on Monday, February 28th at 7PM in Council Chambers, City Hall,
401 North Jefferson St. Please do join us.
If you wish to make a comment, ask a question, express a concern, or make an appointment to
speak with me; please feel free to e-mail me at mayor@lebanonmo.org or call City Hall 417532-2156 for an appointment.
Respectfully,
CP Craig
Mayor
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