Warrenton city leaders are highlighting a list of major achievements accomplished by the city in 2017.Last year saw several high-profile projects come to fruition, the most visible of which will leave their mark on the city for decades or more.“We had a lot of big things that were accomplished in this last year,” said Warrenton Director of Operations Terri Thorn, “most notably the interchange project actually becoming underway.”For anyone driving west along Interstate 70, the construction of a new interchange is hard to miss. The new ramps and overpass will provide a second way to cross or access I-70 from the area of Highway MM and the Shoppes at Warrenton Mall on Veterans Memorial Parwkay.In 2017, the city of Warrenton obtained donated land from three property owners for the ramps and initiated construction on the project, which has continued through the winter. The roughly $15 million project is being supported by sales taxes approved by voters in 2016.The new overpass bridge will be named after former Warrenton Mayor Jerry Dyer. The target completion date is this fall.The city also approved an agreement to provide sewer service to the area around the interchange, laying the groundwork for future development.Just down the road along Veterans Memorial Parkway, city leaders established a long-term lease of land for the Tribute to Veterans Memorial, which also made its own strides toward completion in 2017.Last August, voters approved $6.4 million in bonds to build a new aquatic center and other improvements at the city’s newest park near Warrior Avenue and Highway 47. Warrenton received an A+ credit rating in October, leading to lower interest rates on those bonds.Design and construction contracts for the aquatic center were awarded last year, and construction began in the fall. Internal roadways have also been built at the park and space has been cleared for other planned amenities, including trails, a disc golf course and a dog park.As with the interchange, the aquatic center is slated for completion this fall.During the year, crews finished work to reconstruct Hickory Lick Road with the help of a $500K Neighborhood Stabilization Grant. The road at the north side of the city leads from Highway 47 to the Warrenton Athletic Complex. Workers also finished paving Jaspering Lane at the athletic complex.Another major project in 2017 was the completion of the first phase of upgrades to the city’s wastewater systems, adding a new lift station at Water Street and increasing the capacity of certain sewer lines. That project was green-lighted in 2014.Warrenton city staff welcomed 22 new businesses and a new Imo’s Pizza location in 2017. Those businesses brought with them around 130 new jobs.“It’s phenomenal. It’s the most we’ve seen in a long time,” Thorn said of the new businesses.Looking forward to the year ahead, Thorn said she expects it to be just as busy and have as many positive impacts as 2017.Individual departments within the city also made strides in 2017:• Warrenton’s police department is in the midst of reviewing and updating all of its policies to become certified by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, a national authority in public safety. Staff completed 15 policies and associated training by year end. Leaders also joined an agreement to assign an officer to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force out of St. Charles County.The police department achieved an 87 percent clearance rate on its investigations in 2017, and completed a trial run of body cameras in preparation for future implementation.• The Public Works Department installed almost 3,000 feet of stormwater piping, and removed and replaced over 1,700 feet of concrete sidewalks.• The Grounds and Maintenance Department was recognized by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Staff this year expanded electrical access and capability along Main Street to accommodate vendors for the annual Fall Festival. Staff also installed bullet-resistant glass at Warrenton City Hall.• Planning and Zoning officials revised fees to reduce costs for permit applicants. The department issued 190 building permits, including 19 for new residential construction and three for new commercial construction.

A digital rendering shows the planned exterior of an aquatic center in Warrenton expected to be completed in fall 2018.

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