By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph Mayor John Josendale addressed the state of the city during an event hosted by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.
Josendale says as he enters the final year of his term, he’s seeing progress around the city, and sees it through connecting the community and getting people involved
“The Children’s Discovery Center, it brings people in but it also lets locals encourage their kid and bring them down, the number of people that bring their kids down here and play,” Josendale tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Or we’re looking at a new city market, I mean there are just so many ideas and concepts, but how do you do that but then yet keep fiscal responsibilities.”
Josendale says the focus is on continuing the vision of the city and helping create a better place to live through collaboration and partnerships.
Josendale addressed the state of the city during the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce’s Public Affairs Coffee at the InspireU Children’s Discovery Center.
Josendale says a recently released community survey will be a major asset as well, which will help give input from the community, but also give the city a sort of roadmap
“Like when we put a project out there and we say we’re doing Krug Park, well the people talk about what they want in Krug Park or they talk about how they can be involved, and out of that grew Friends of Krug Park,” Josendale explains. “What we get is different organizations that are willing to work and be involved and you get people that are willing to say I’ll put in the extra effort, and so it’s a win-win.”
Josendale says by actually getting that input from the community and getting this roadmap, it gives the city council the ability to know what community members want in the city.
Josendale also says he’s blown away by groups like Beautify St. Joseph and the Missouri Western Center for Service and their cleanup efforts around the city.
Josendale says when it comes to getting the University involved, he thinks that’s important in finding ways to get a younger generation to want to come here
“How do we give them the opportunities? Whether it be through the parks, whether it be through activities, or functions that we have, but how do you get businesses wanting to come?” Josendale asks. “If you listen to the presentation, or you think about just the announcements we’ve made in the last month, we’ve got 200 new jobs, 250 new jobs, that are coming here.”
Josendale says with those new jobs coming and new businesses coming we need to be prepared for that in the coming years with the people.
Josendale spoke during the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Coffee hosted at the InspireU Children’s Discovery Center.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
