By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
As the city of St. Joseph faces an end-of-the year deadline to obligate federal COVID relief funds, several city projects have been chosen for funding.
One project that has been in a sort of grey area for funding is putting handrails at Civic Arena.
City Manager Bryan Carter says while it's not the biggest project on the docket, it's a project that many residents have been asking to get done
"That plan will put a handrail in every other row of Civic Arena, meaning that every section will have access to seating with that handrail,” Carter tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. “Again, not the biggest number, I think at the end of the day was somewhere around $15,000, but it’s important because it’s one of those things people want.”
Carter says one of the largest products will be going for the replacement of fire department rescue truck for Fire Station number 10.
Carter says one project that will be funded is a program that began when these federal funds first became available.
Carter says money will go towards a program that helps cadets looking to get into law enforcement enroll at the Law Enforcement Academy at Missouri Western State University.
"So, it will enable the city to pay for the tuition for individuals who want to become police officers for the City of St. Joseph,” Carter explains. “So, it helps us in that way, but it also helps the University, it helps funnel folks to the law enforcement academy out there.”
Carter says there are several other projects in line to receive funding, including helping furnish the recent Hillyard Technical Center expansion.
One smaller project that will be funded with the money helping out is $150,000 dollars for Hillyard Technical Center.
Carter says the money will help with some furnishings and equipment within the new expansion.
"For some final furnishings for it and then equipment that’s needed, so as they’ve gotten that project wrapped up, they’ve had a couple other needs that have come up,” Carter says.
$60,000 will be donated to the feasibility study for the Felix Street Market project.
"It’s just an interactive public space that we don’t really have downtown,” Carter points out. “Felix Street Square serves as a good public space, but it’s not great when it’s 14 degrees.”
Currently the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce has put out a survey for residents to voice their thoughts on the project as well.
While the deadline to obligate funds is this year, the deadline to spend that money is in 2026.