Kirksville Connection for August 2024
See you at the Kids Mini Mud Mile
Children ages 3-15 can embark on a one-mile, mud-filled obstacle adventure right here in Kirksville! The run will occur on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at the North Park Sports Complex. Choose between a 9:00 am, 10:00 am, or 11:00 am start time. Every child will receive a free Mud Mile shirt and post-race refreshments.
Registration is $10. Children 5 and under can have an adult accompany them free of charge. Add an unlimited run wristband for just $5 when registering and run the course as many times as you would like until 12:30 pm!
Register today at parks.kirksvillecity.com or in person at the Kirksville Parks and Recreation office at the Kirksville Aquatic Center.
MoDOT seeks public input
The Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking public input regarding High Priority Unfunded Needs. Those projects can be found at www.modot.org/unfundedneeds.
There are three projects of note for Adair County, all safety improvements for the intersections of Illinois Street and Shepherd Avenue with U.S. 63. The community gave an overwhelming response to MoDOT last year to help secure a study of the U.S. 63 that will be completed in 2025.
If you would like to voice support for these projects or others, head to www.modot.org/high-priority-unfunded-needs-public-meetings and complete the Comment Form at the bottom of the page. Comments will be accepted until August 23, 2024.
Work going on at the Water Treatment Plant
Exciting things are happening at the City’s Water Treatment Plant. The hole for an additional clarifier was dug a couple of weeks ago. It will be 80 feet in diameter, just like the one next to it.
Once installed, this clarifier will increase capacity at the plant and add redundancy to the treatment process. The clarifier clumps solids in the water together so they can settle at the bottom and be removed.
Election ballot item update
In last month’s Kirksville Connection, you saw information on a planned ballot item for November to support new City facilities. For this month, the City would like to explain why those facilities are needed.
Starting with the police station, the Kirksville Police Department needs a purpose-built facility. The current station is a former bank. It was not designed to be a police station and lacks as an effective space to do police operations. No more alterations can be made to make it a sustainable space. A new station designed for police only helps KPD’s ability to serve the residents of Kirksville.
The additional fire station for the Kirksville Fire Department is to offer improved service to the north side of Kirksville. As residential and retail expansion has happened on the north side of town in recent years, travel times from the downtown station are behind. Additionally, the total call volume in Kirksville is beyond that of a one-station town.
The new community center will be an indoor space that all residents will be able to use for events and gatherings, an option that is needed in the community.
And the addition to City Hall is to offer better access and service to residents while creating more needed space for City staff to work. City Hall opened in 1905 as a post office, with City operations moving into the building in 1962. The City offers more services in 2024 than it did in 1962. There is no more room for staff. The Council Chamber is a small space that routinely fills or exceeds capacity. And because the building is more than 100 years old, accessibility is lacking. Kirksville deserves a City Hall that best works for all.
These are just a few brief points to highlight what is planned. Please stay tuned for official City communications on this project.
Hit the water for swim lessons
Do you know someone who doesn’t know how to swim? The Kirksville Aquatic Center offers swim lessons for all ages. There’s one more session of Group Lessons for children ages 3 and up remaining this summer. It goes from August 5 to 15, with classes Monday through Thursday at 7:00 pm.
There are also private swim lessons for all ages with personalized instruction available by appointment. Dates for fall Group Lessons will be announced soon, including Water Exploration classes designed for kids between 6 months and 3 years old. Scholarships are also available for swim lessons.
Our instructors are dedicated to teaching this essential life skill. Visit kirksvillecity.com/p/kac for more information.
City receives grant to extend trail project
The City of Kirksville is excited to announce it has been awarded a Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) Grant that will go toward converting abandoned railroad property into a community trail. Residents overwhelmingly supported the construction of a trail using the former Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad right-of-way during Kirk’s Capital Improvement Campaign.
This grant goes toward the second phase of turning the former BNSF railroad right-of-way into a multi-use paved trail. The City previously received a grant to convert land off of East Cottonwood Street, heading northwest behind the Adair County Public Library and Parkview Terrace housing complex on Mill Street, into a trail. This new grant will extend the trail from Cottonwood behind Hy-Vee and to Pfeiffer Avenue.
In total, this project will add one mile of new trail, connecting recreational and retail amenities, along with tying into other trails and sidewalks to improve overall connectivity across Kirksville’s trail system. The proposed project also promotes safety and activity by creating an alternative route for pedestrians and cyclists from the existing street network.
The total cost of this project is estimated to be $895,550. This grant will cover 65 percent, or roughly $582,107. The local financial match for this project will come from funds allocated by the community from Kirk’s Capital Improvement Campaign.
Stay tuned for more details from the City regarding this project in the future.
Residential Street Tree Program
The City of Kirksville is offering a program to help residents plant trees in the right-of-way adjacent to their property. This program reduces costs for residents, beautifies Kirksville and boosts property values.
Trees are offered at a discounted rate to residents ($100). Parks and Recreation staff will plant the tree, with it then becoming the homeowner's responsibility to take care of from there. This program was designed after the Emerald Ash Borer killed many ash trees in the City. Because of that, priority will be given to properties where ash trees were removed. September 30, 2024, is the deadline to apply.
For more info or to fill out an application, visit KirksvilleCity.com/p/tree-program for info on the program, the application, and to see the approved tree list.
August events schedule
Adair County Health Department Back to School Fair, August 1, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, 1001 S. Jamison St.
All local area students are invited to stop in and pick up free school supplies for the upcoming academic year. For more info, contact the health department at 660.665.8491.
Native Reptiles, August 3, 10:00 am to 11:00 am @ Thousand Hills State Park
Join park staff to learn about some of Thousand Hills native reptiles. From snakes to lizards to turtles, there is always something fascinating to discover. Meet at the Campground 1 Amphitheater. This program is weather permitting and may be moved if needed.
Kirksville Block Party, August 4, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm @ Brashear Park
Join City staff and community partners for an afternoon of fun at Brashear Park. There will be free food, drinks and activities. Come enjoy the last Block Party of the year.
Primary Election, August 6
Make sure you get out and vote in the Primary Election. For info on your voter status, visit www.sos.mo.gov/elections.
Watercolor Painting on Crinkled Paper Workshop, August 22, 5:15 pm to 7:15 pm @ Sue Ross Arts Center
To register, message the gallery at gallery104.kirksville@gmail.com or via Facebook.
Cocktails & Cupcakes, August 23
Sip Downtown and To Die For Bakery are teaming up for a unique culinary experience of cocktail-themed cupcakes. Place your order by August 23 and pick them up on August 29. Learn more at https://fb.me/e/3Lgvkhl6N.
Royal Oaks Sunrise Trail Race, August 24, 7:00 am @ Royal Oaks Trailhead
Starting and ending at the Royal Oaks Trailhead in the Big Creek Conservation Area, with every last inch of the race off-road, this scenic race winds south on Royal Oaks Ridge and then -- for 10k racers -- continues on the Rainbow Basin Loop in Thousand Hills State Park. Participants will be rewarded with a stunning view of the sunrise along Forest Lake. Register online at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=115687.
See more events at visitkirksville.com/t/upcoming-events.
August meeting schedule
August 5: City Council, 6:00 pm @ City Hall
August 6: Lakes, Parks and Recreation Commission, 12:00 pm @ North Park
August 7: Tourism Advisory Board, 8:00 am @ Economic Development Alliance Building
August 12: City Council Study Session, 6:00 pm @ City Hall
August 13: Airport and Transportation Commission, 12:00 pm @ Kirksville Aquatic Center
August 14: Planning and Zoning Commission, 6:00 pm @ City Hall
August 19: City Council, 6:00 pm @ City Hall
August 22: Friends of Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery Committee, 4:00 pm @ City Hall