It’s hard to believe it’s September, but it’s true. As always, the sounds of band practice, buses practicing their routes, and sports practices herald the start of a new school year. But if you head downtown, you may notice our beautiful Arch is "Lights Out"! Beginning on the first of every September, our illuminated Arch goes dark as our feathered friends from the north—as well as many local residents anxious to avoid the cold temperatures of winter—begin their long migratory journey to warmer climates. This phenomenon takes place every May and September during bird migration season, not just when local folks head to Florida for the winter!

Speaking of anxious, are your kiddos worried about starting school? Were you worried about the start of school? Walking into a new classroom filled with unfamiliar faces and new challenges can be scary. As parents, we feel the tension as our kiddos board buses, or we drop them off at school. You may already be dealing with some of these feelings, which may be as simple as, "I don't think these kids like me," or "Will I do okay?" You may also have concerns about school expenses, and our kids often pick up on that tension.

My family used to have "potato peel" chats. My mom would have us help prepare dinner while she listened to whatever was on our minds (I hated peeling potatoes!). Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply listen. These worries usually settle down once everyone figures out their favorite lunches, teachers, and friends!

Sadly, we didn’t make the cut for our East-West Gateway grant application for the Clarkson Road sidewalk project. Awarded based on a point-scoring system, the amount of available funding varies from year to year. Projects with the highest scores have the best chance of being selected, and there were several factors that affected our score over which we had little, if any, control. One of those factors was the impact of future MoDOT projects scheduled for Clarkson Road in 2027. We learned a great deal from the application process and will continue working to strengthen our proposal for future funding opportunities.

As mentioned last month, we have begun paying the increased costs for police protection and trash collection, and these expenses will have a significant impact on future budgets. To help address these challenges, the City has established a formal Finance Committee to evaluate options and recommend the best path forward. If you have experienced any negative impact for either of these services, please let us know. We will do everything we can to address your concerns.

The City is very supportive of alternative forms of energy, and we are currently considering guidelines for the installation of residential solar technology in Clarkson Valley. Recent meetings have been attended by a large number of people opposed to any restrictions. However, almost all of those attendees have been from other municipalities, environmental organizations, or commercial vendors. We are seeking input from Clarkson Valley residents, regardless of support for or opposition to the proposed guidelines—so please consider attending the beginning of our next meeting to share your thoughts.

Speaking of sharing opinions, last month’s primary election drew an impressive turnout, and more campaign signs are already beginning to appear. Depending on your HOA rules, please remember that Clarkson Valley limits political signs to 4 sq ft—about the size of a typical real estate "For Sale" sign. Most importantly, we hope you voted; our First Amendment rights are a remarkable privilege, one that many people around the world do not enjoy. As the saying goes, "Use it or lose it!" Now, get ready for November!

****PLACE SUE MCNAMARA PHOTO SMALL****

Best,

Mayor, Clarkson Valley

Most Recent Monthly Recycling Report: 24.43 Tons