West Newsmagazine 5-20-20

14 I NEWS I
May 20, 2020
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
OPEN
Mon-Sat: 8am to 5pm
Sun: 10am to 4pm
Check out our website for the weekly availability.
Pictures daily of new arrivals and what’s in stock.
We have lots of space for social distancing
Sign up to receive special offers and sales notices.
Create a
Tropical Vacation
At home!
Fresh,
Beautiful,
New
Tropicals
Full of Color
Just Arrived!
Large and Small
Palm Trees
Elephant Ears
Banana Trees
Hibiscus
Cordyline
Jasmine
Gardenia
More!
Located at the corner of Clayton Road & Hwy 109
Across from Lafayette High School
1855 Hwy 109, Wildwood, MO 63038
passiglia@passiglia.com 636/458-9202
By BONNIE KRUEGER
The status of summer events was center
stage during resolutions made at the
regular Manchester Board of Aldermen
video conferencing meeting on May 4.
At the heart of the decision was economic
viability for the city, protecting
city staff and adhering to Gov. Mike
Parson’s plans to launch the statewide
recovery plan designed to jumpstart the
local economy, provide aid to local businesses
and inspire jurisdictions to transition
back into a normal routine.
By a vote of 3-2, with alderman
Marilyn Ottenad [Ward 2] absent, the
board voted to keep the Manchester
Aquatic Center in Paul A. Schroeder
Park closed for the 2020 swim season,
which includes access for the Manchester
Stingrays Swim Team, swim lessons and
all aquatic related special events. The
aquatic center is an amenity that runs at a
deficit of about $47,000 per summer. The
closure of the aquatic facility will save
the city between $70,000 and $100,000,
according to city officials.
“We’re making these hard decisions in
response to a virus-caused shortfall of
$1 million in our general operating fund.
More cuts will come. I want to be clear:
my goal, at this time, is to save jobs and
salaries. Manchester has a superb staff
and we have always kept it lean,” Mayor
Mike Clement said.
Other programs that were canceled
by a vote of 5-0 include Movies in the
Park, the annual summer concert series,
and the Manchester Community Band’s
concerts. Manchester Parks, Recreation
and Arts Director Kat Schien explained
that while there is a financial component
to these events, the primary concern is
maintaining social distancing requirements
as set by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, state and county
guidelines.
Another resolution passed by a measure
of 4-0 to cancel Independence Day
events. ARC Pyrotechnics, Inc. already
had been paid $19,200 for the fireworks
display on July 4. In order not to incur a
10% loss by having the money refunded,
ARC will hold the money in escrow to
be used later this year or during summer
2021.
One popular event that was canceled
prior to the board meeting was the city’s
annual Tons of Trucks event, which had
been scheduled for July 30.
A resolution to cancel this year’s Manchester
Homecoming event held each
September was not read. It was decided
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
City staffing, safety at heart of
Manchester’s summer closure decisions
that it was too soon to make a decision
and to revisit that item at a later meeting.
No vote was taken.
The final resolution recommended the
operation of the summer camp programs,
including Manchester Day Camp and other
special camps, such as its Harry Potter and
sports camps. The resolution passed 5-0.
“We feel that we can provide a safe and
fun environment while abiding by all city,
county and state guidelines,” Schien said
at the meeting. “This is profit positive,
which means it brings in revenue to our
city and provides employment to area
youths.” Typically, the two-week day
camp sessions average about 60 children.
“We can modify the camps so each
group of 20 children has its own pavilion
and there is no intermingling within
groups. All safety and precaution measures
will be taken,” Schien said. This
will include creative pick-up and drop
off procedures.
While the aldermanic meeting
addressed only summer camps for children,
Schien said the city is working on
amending in-person adult classes such as
fitness and strength classes to allow for
social distancing. The city is optimistic
about holding a variation of its popular
Snores & S’mores family camping event,
with social distancing in place.
“This is an awful situation and we are
really trying our best,” she said. As previously
reported by West Newsmagazine,
the city is providing alternative events
to stay connected. From May 11-22,
the city will host an interactive event
called Manchesteropoly. Participating
businesses will place monopoly squares
in their windows. Participants can then
drive around and collect the pieces to fill
up their monopoly board for the chance
to win prizes.
The event’s format was previously
utilized for one of Manchester’s Easter
egg hunts, which saw the participation of
over 400 local families.
The city has postponed the 2020 Craft
Beer Festival to July 11 at Paul A. Schroeder
Park. The event still plans to offer
music, food and samplings of beer from
local craft breweries.
Clement acknowledged that residents
undoubtedly will be disappointed.
“While it will make me sad to see a
closed pool and no concerts this summer,
I think we can all go a year without concerts
or an open pool, provided their
closure means something,” Clement said.
“For me, such closures will help maintain
the jobs of city staff, and I believe our
residents will support that effort.”