Warrenton voters have approved two propositions that will clear the way for not only a new $15 million interchange west of the city, but may lead to redevelopment and will relieve congestion through …
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Warrenton voters pass Propositions O and P
Posted
By Monte Miller, Record Staff Writer
Warrenton voters have approved two propositions that will clear the way for not only a new $15 million interchange west of the city, but may lead to redevelopment and will relieve congestion through the city.Propositions O and P were both on the ballot and create new temporary one-half cent sales taxes for the city of Warrenton to then use the revenue to pay off a $15 million loan.The loan would go to pay for a new interchange proposed about 2 miles west of Highway 47 on Interstate 70 between mile markers 190 and 191. Proposition O passed by a 64 to 35 percent margin with 1,060 votes in favor of and 580 against.Likewise, Proposition P passed by a margin of 63 to 35 percent with 1,054 votes in favor of and 586 against.Warrenton Ward 1 Alderman Mike Shilharvey considers this a win for the city and said this was a team effort between the city, developer and a citizens group that worked tirelessly to talk to people about the propositions.“We want to thank the voters,” Shilharvey said. “And not just the ones who voted in favor of the propositions. We also want to thank everyone who was opposed to it, so we got to hear everybody’s voice on the issue.”He added the next step will be to unify the citizens in moving forward with the project.“One of the calls I got congratulating us was from the opposition,” Shilharvey said. “Now the real work begins. We want to reach out to all of those who opposed it and get them to support it.”The propositions and subsequent loan were the lynchpin to a multimillion dollar redevelopment of the outlet mall area, which Rural King has already signed on to anchor.All required rights of way and permanent easements from three property owners included in the Tax Increment Financing district are being donated, and one small piece of right of way would be purchased. Owners of property near the proposed interchange site have pledged to donate land. Both MoDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have given preliminary approval on the interchange design and will make a final determination if the propositions pass.Additionally, millions of dollars have already been spent by the developer for engineering and legal work on the project including literature for a citizen’s group to educate voters on the benefits of the sales taxes.Before the vote Tuesday, Shilharvey explained without the sales taxes, and construction of the interchange the developer would have pulled out of the project completely.“If these propositions didn’t pass, all agreements with the developer were null and void,” Shilharvey said “If this didn’t pass, no other developers will touch Warrenton in the future.”Shilharvey added that since the decline of the outlet malls, which used to be a crown jewel of the community and drew customers from miles around, the city of Warrenton has had a black eye.“The last good year they had there was 2007,” he said. “If we would have had this interchange years ago, maybe the outlet would have survived. For years people have asked what the city was going to do about the outlet. Well, this is our chance. MoDOT has even told us this is such a rare thing. It’s a golden opportunity.”Tax FactsA few facts regarding the proposed tax include:• The 1 percent sales tax equals $1 per $100.• The sales tax will be the same throughout the city including the TIF area.• One hundred percent of the revenue generated will go to pay for the interchange.• Both sales taxes will sunset.• Warrenton’s tax rate will not be higher than that of other cities.Warrenton’s Sales tax rate with the temporary increase would be 8.975 percent. The current tax rates in Washington are between 8.3 and 9.1 percent. The tax rate in Wentzville is between 8.45 and 9.45 percent and the tax rate in O’Fallon is between 7.95 and 8.95 percent.Future NeedsMissouri Route 47 is the main corridor, along with Interstate 70 through the city of Warrenton.MoDOT has projected that a single point of access will not be sufficient for future traffic needs. The city of Warrenton is growing at a rate above statewide averages and the existing interchange will not be able to be improved to the point where it can handle anticipated traffic.In addition, the crash rates on Highway 47 are three times higher than the state average on other numbered routes.The proposed second interchange will allow for the realignment of Missouri Route MM and the ability for a future bypass around the north and west sides of Warrenton.This interchange will serve the city of Warrenton’s goal of encouraging redevelopment of the old outlet center and economic growth north and west of the current city center, as well as an alternate route for traffic off of I-70.The proposed interchange will improve access to the western half of the city and will improve emergency response from north to south in Warrenton, proponents say.
