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One of this month’s top newsletter stories is about BikeFest 2022 on Aug. 6-7 at Kinetic Park in Dardenne Prairie. And while that park isn’t in my district, it’s close, and this event is well worth some extra coverage.

This is the second consecutive year that Kinetic Park has been chosen to host the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championship Qualifier, and that is quite an honor for St. Charles County. No other park in Missouri will be holding the event this year and people from across the United States – and internationally – will be coming to our county to compete. 

For the first time, we’ll also be hosting the USA Pump Track National Series. While the Red Bull qualifier is for those 17 and up, this new event is for ages 5 and up. It’s truly a family event, and that’s what Kinetic Park is all about. 

While there, participants and spectators alike can enjoy all the park has to offer. Not only is the pump track the largest in the U.S., but the outdoor skate park is the largest in Missouri. A bike playground and skills course now is open, and at Bikefest, there will be special activities and vendors from around the community you won’t want to miss!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to the St. Charles County Parks Department staff. With the opening of the new exhibit at the Heritage Museum [link], the Dardenne Creek Blueway opening [link] and a myriad of events and programs, they have been extremely busy. BikeFest weekend is an all-hands-on-deck event and I’m certain it will be a great success.

If your kids are already saying they’re bored this summer, take a look at what all our parks have to offer! And don’t forget to mark your calendars for BikeFest 2022!

Southwest St. Charles County is a jewel for the entire region. It is home to the oldest wine district in the country and is one of the largest with 67 wineries from St. Charles to Hermann, perched on the Missouri River bluff. With the wineries, unique shops, bed and breakfasts, parks, boating, and camping, it is a popular destination. 

With this popularity comes more commercial and residential development. And while development of all kinds can be good, we need to keep a close watch to make certain the beauty of this rural area isn’t lost.

Large corporations have purchased many of the well-established local wineries with the hopes of drawing more people to enjoy the beauty of the countryside. But often, drawing more people to an area can jeopardize the very thing that makes it so attractive.

In rural, agricultural areas, the majority of new housing development is on 3-5 acres. With the influx of people wanting to move to more rural areas, developers often want to build subdivisions on ¼-acre lots. The County’s requirement for five-acre minimum lots is what makes this area so attractive and beautiful and helps preserve the countryside, rural roads, trees and hillsides. While further development of the wineries and tourist options provides positives for St. Charles County, we also want to be sure to counter the growing demand for higher density residential development and stay true to the future land use goals of larger lot development in this area as outlined within our Master Plan.

Even in fast-growing counties, the rural way of life must be preserved so tourists, and most importantly, the people who live there can still enjoy what brought them there in the first place. St. Charles County must remain small town strong!

County government recently sent two mailers to all households in St. Charles County with information about the history and plans for the County’s ½-cent Transportation Sales Tax; one in December 2021 and one in March 2022. I hope you have had an opportunity to read them. I did, and I can tell you, I am impressed with how well that money has been managed. 

Did you know that if we hadn’t had this tax to contribute to important projects like Route 364/Page Avenue, the Gutermuth Road Interchange, and the Heritage Crossing Ramps, they wouldn’t be complete? And, that important projects like David Hoekel Parkway, Route K/I-70 Interchange and the Route 94 Widening might not even be in progress?

As you can see on the informational mailers, funding from this tax has been distributed equitably across the county. I’m pleased that each County Council member has been actively involved in making certain their district roads receive the funding necessary to complete important projects and thank the St. Charles County Road Board for doing the heavy lifting by evaluating and recommending projects for the Transportation Improvement Plan each year.

In District 1, the district I represent, these are some of the projects budgeted for 2022:

• Reconstruction and improvement of land configuration on Guthrie Road
• Construction of Phase 2D of David Hoekel Parkway
• Construction of Great Oaks Road Extension
• Improvements and reconstruction of Mexico Road from Josephville Road to Midland Park Drive
• Reconstruction of part of Peine Road
• Construction of US 61 West Outer Road Extension Phases 2, 2A and 3
• Reconstruction of Phase 3 of a section of West Meyer Road
• Reconstruction at West Pearce Boulevard and Meyer Road traffic
• Reconstruction on Josephville Road from Highway P south to Kersting Road
• Reconstruction of West Meyer Road from Highway W east to Duenke Road

As you read in this newsletter, reauthorization of this tax is up for your approval on the April 5 ballot. I encourage you to read up on all this tax is enabling us to do to improve the infrastructure of St. Charles County prior to making your decision how to vote.

I remember how our county roads used to be before the Transportation Improvement Plan program and enjoy the benefits from all the improvements. That is why I fully support the continuance of this small sales tax for our roads.