(The city limits signs show a population of 17,304 because of the annexation that happened after the 2000 census).

One other interesting thing to note is that our minority population has increased and that is where we actually are seeing the largest increase.

Complete data available here.

As long as we can keep these numbers up, Kirksville should be flying the friendly skies well into the foreseeable future. In addition to the lower prices, I think there are some noticeable differences in marketing strategy that are keeping these numbers up – the ticket office downtown, the signage around the city and beyond. I particularly enjoy the billboard south on 63 that says: “If you flew to St. Louis, you’d be there by now.”

If you haven’t tried flying Cape Air out of Kirksville Regional Airport, please do! Did you know you can book your flight through an online ticketing service with ONE TICKET to your destination, and without having to re-check your baggage at the airport or go through security? You can also get American Airlines frequent flyer miles. Everyone I’ve talked to who’s taken a flight says it’s a fun, pleasant experience.

The meeting will takeplace at the Adair County Annex at 300 North Franklin St. I will give a brief introduction on why the Council is considering the ordinance, followed by instructions to the attendees on how to address the City Council.

Each person interested in addressing the City Council will have 2 minutes to make their comment. Questions regarding how the ordinance will work or specific criteria found within the draft ordinance will be addressed at the meeting. All other questions will be written down by City staff and discussed by the Council prior to the Council’s consideration of the ordinance.

We will have note cards available for individuals who have questions or comments but do not wish to come forward.

Several press releases have been sent out and posted to the website. From the release, which can be found on the front page, there is an option to view the ordinance. The ordinance is here. A copy of the ordinance can also be picked up at City Hall.

This area was not one of the top priorities identified with our plan, but will receive grant money, along with local resources to make drainage improvements in the project includes the area between Hildreth, Boundary, and Dodson and First Street. The City will be asked to provide $170,000 in in-kind support and $50,000 in cash contribution. This grant award is good news to the City, and shows the efforts that are being made to maximum are available resources available for stormwater improvements.

Press release shamelessly copied below:

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A request by Gov. Jay Nixon for a major disaster declaration for areas across Missouri hit by flooding, severe storms and excessive rain during June and July was granted today by President Barack Obama. The declaration paves the way for affected counties and local governments to seek millions of dollars in federal funds for disaster-related emergency response and recovery expenses. The federal government will reimburse local governments for 75 percent of their emergency response and eligible recovery activities associated with the damaging weather beginning June 12.

“I appreciate the President making this major disaster declaration so that our counties, local governments and communities can obtain the assistance they need in recovering their costs,” Gov. Nixon said. “Local officials across Missouri responded quickly to the devastating floods, damaging rain and severe storms, and this declaration will help expedite the recovery process.”

The President’s declaration will assist at least 29 counties in recovering from the damage caused by flooding and the damaging weather. Those counties include Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lewis, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Putnam, Ray, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan and Worth.
Additionally, since Gov. Nixon’s July 27 request, joint damage assessments have been completed by the State Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in nine other Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis, which were impacted by this storm system. Those counties are Audrain, Knox, Linn, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Ralls, Shelby, St. Louis and the city of St. Louis. Gov. Nixon will request that the President’s major disaster declaration be expanded to include those jurisdictions as well.

Gov. Nixon’s major disaster declaration request followed a series of visits by the Governor to affected areas and actions to assist communities respond.
The Governor conducted a visit to Holt County and met with officials there on June 18; declared a state of emergency on June 21; conducted an aerial tour of northwest Missouri and met with response officials in Buchanan and Holt counties on June 22; activated the Missouri National Guard on June 23; and conducted a visit to Buchanan County and met with officials there on June 26.

Citing the extraordinary hardship and losses caused to agricultural areas, Gov. Nixon on July 28 asked Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to designate 55 Missouri counties as primary disaster areas, which will permit assistance for farmers from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

Counties for which agricultural assistance has been requested are: Adair, Andrew, Audrain, Benton, Caldwell, Callaway, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Clark, Cooper , Crawford, Daviess, DeKalb, Dunklin, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Laclede, Lafayette, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Maries, Marion, Mercer, Mississippi, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Pemiscot, Perry, Pettis, Pike, Platte, Putnam, Ralls, Ray, St. Charles, Ste. Genevieve, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan, Vernon, Warren and Worth.

The Study Session will be held at 4:30 pm and is a time for the City Council to learn and discuss the recommendations. Bartlett & West will also be at the Council meeting at 6:00 pm to make a public presentation. This would be the opportunity for anyone to attend and hear the recommendations, and if desired, to address the City Council regarding the proposed recommendations.

Any interested residents/property owners may wish to attend the City Council meeting at 6:00 pm this coming Monday, August 2, in the City Hall Council Chambers, 201 South Franklin Street.

Egyptian-style architecture

Yesterday morning the Kirksville Historic Preservation Commission (KHPC) presented certificates to the Masonic Temple and the owners of some buildings on the north side of the square – Kirksville’s first historic district. There are great stories about the event on KTVO and the Kirksville Daily Express that detail what this means.

The KHPC formed only last year and is already making great steps forward. Thanks to a grant, they were able to commission an expert survey of the downtown area for potential historic properties. The results should be coming in soon and a similar survey of the entire city will follow shortly thereafter, thanks to a second grant.

The event was emceed by Lynn Daniels, the brand new Executive Director of the Kirksville Downtown Improvement Committee. Thanks to DREAM, we were able to receive another grant to fund this full-time position. One of Lynn’s charges is to find a source of continuous funding for the position. Her job is to be an advocate for the downtown, bringing together the property and business owners, city & county governments, citizens, tourism, KDIC and other parties with a stake in downtown revitalization to work together to improve commerce in the area. She’s in her first month and already hitting the streets to meet people and make plans.

Anyway, the turnout was great. Thank you to all who were able to attend. For more info, you can also check out the Frequently Asked Questions that I put together for the event, which details how and why the Kirksville Courthouse Square Historic District came to be.

For those who are unsure, the mayor in Kirksville’s “city manager” form of government is basically just the chairperson of the council. It’s the mayor’s responsibility to run the meetings, serve as a leader of sorts for the council, and represent the city at various events and functions. I don’t have any more “power” or influence than anyone else on the council. In Kirksville, it’s the city manager (Mari Macomber) who gets the big bucks and does the grueling 24-7 work of making sure our city services run efficiently – not the mayor.

Had a terrific lunch meeting with Lynn Daniels today, our newly hired Downtown Director of the KDIC. She has the genesis of some terrific ideas for leading the downtown into economic success, but right now she’s in a fact-gathering mission, meeting with all the business owners and building owners in the downtown area to hear what they have to say. I think she’s going to do well. It will be good to have a person full-time focused toward improving the downtown. I feel like we have a lot of the puzzle pieces already, but until now really lacked the singular leadership to be able to put them together into a cohesive whole. Please join me in welcoming Lynn into her new position.

Now, what do you think about the feasibility of these two ideas in Kirksville?:

Burning waste to generate electricity

A system for online reporting of stuff that needs fixin’

Leave your comments below!