I want to say thanks, and at the same time commend the volunteers, property and homeowners, businesses and Beautify St. James for their efforts with the city-wide cleanup last Saturday. The piles of trash and stacks of yard debris throughout the city are a testament to the efforts of our citizens to clean up their community. Of course, there are still some areas that need attention, but this was a great start.
With the amount of trash and yard waste, city crews may be running a little behind schedule this week, but the piles will eventually be picked up. Friday, May 2 is the last day for free pickup of limbs and yard debris. On behalf of the streets crew, please refrain from depositing leaves and grass clippings in plastic bags. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will not allow the city to burn yard debris in plastic bags. Paper bags are suitable and can be purchased at several local businesses. Please, no plastic bags!
Recently, the St. James Fire Protection District and our community underwent a Public Protection Classification evaluation to establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties. ISO Mitigation conducts the inspection that evaluates a community efforts to mitigate the risk of losses from fire and other national hazards.
ISO analyzes relevant inspection data using their Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). They then assign a Public Protection Classification from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents exemplary public protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire-suppression program doesn't meet ISO's minimum criteria.
By classifying communities' ability to suppress fires, ISO helps the communities evaluate their public fire-protection services. The program provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment, and training. Thus, communities can secure lower fire insurance premiums with better overall protection.
The results of the evaluation will not be known for several weeks. For more information concerning the ISO Mitigation evaluation process, check its website at www.isomitigation.com.
If you or a member of your family have not replied to the Pool Feasibility Study committee's survey, please take the time and do so. The survey can be returned with your utility payment or dropped off at city hall. It is extremely important that a representative sample of the community's desires be known to allow the committee to move forward with their planning.
If you want an idea of the exposure our community will gain by playing host to a stage of the 2008 Tour of Missouri professional bicycle race, check out the website of the just completed Tour de Georgia at www.tourdegeorgia.com. You can keep up with the planning, and volunteer to work the Tour of Missouri by visiting its website at www.tourofmissouri.com.
St. James, Mo. —
