The St. James Comprehensive Plan team approved transportation goals and began an overview of public utilities and infrastructure at its meeting last Thursday.
First, the group approved transportation goals, objectives, transportation policy statements and transportation system maps.
Next, Jeff Medows, CM Archer Group, gave a presentation on the existing public infrastructure system of the city.
Medows focused his presentation on the electric, water, wastewater and natural gas systems.
“When development occurs, this is what we need to be thinking about,” Medows said.
During an overview of the electrical system, group members discussed the advantages and disadvantages associated with underground and above-ground wiring.
Utility Superintendent Mike Licklider said the cost for lines underground is almost double the cost of above-ground lines because of insulating the wire.
The group also noted the future tie line project for the city's electric system.
Licklider also explained the city purchases power as a member of MOPEP, which is an energy pool consisting of 36 towns.
Medows displayed a map outlining future electrical expansions, based on the growth of the city in the group's planning map. The map plans for the growth of St. James for the next 20 years.
“For the utility portion, you are building on the year you already identified. Every comprehensive plan will be reviewed and updated, maybe on a five-year basis,” Medows said.
For the water system, Director of Community Development Candace Connell said the city owns and maintains the source of water. The city has to produce the water that is sold to customers.
Medows identified two new water system towers. One tower was located east of Highway 68, north of the city and the other was west of town.
The group also discussed existing and future well sites and depths.
Medows displayed the projected water line extensions on a map.
“The majority of distribution lines in the city would need to be replaced over this planning period,” Medows said.
Medows said there is basically a water system north and south of the railroad tracks and future connections would tie them together.
Connie Willman of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission noted the general goal for all the systems is to work goals in with local emergency plans and the Phelps County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
For the wastewater system, Medows noted most of the system's focus would be on the south side of the city because of the gravity flow to the treatment plant.
