St. James Board of Aldermen approved a resolution March 10 allowing the St. James Police Department to apply for Missouri’s Blue Shield Program. If the city receives Blue Shield designation, the police department could be awarded state grant money for training and equipment.

The Blue Shield Program is part of Governor Mike Kehoe’s Safer Missouri initiative. It recognizes counties, cities and towns for their commitment to public safety and strengthening law enforcement.

Last year, 201 communities in Missouri received the designation and were awarded $50,000 each in grant money. This money funded the purchase of 388 mobile data terminals, 351 body cameras, 151 license plate readers, 102 ballistic vests, 91 interoperable radios and 56 vehicles across the state, as well as law enforcement training.

“We decided to apply for the Blue Shield Program because it recognizes communities that make public safety a priority and support their law enforcement agencies,” Police Chief Ron Jones said. “For the St. James Police Department, the designation helps highlight the work our officers are doing and strengthens our partnership with the community.”

The Phelps County Sheriff’s Department earned its designation for this year on March 2, and St. James is hoping to follow. The city did not apply to the program last year, as Jones said the department wanted to take time to put together a strong application.

The resolution approved by the aldermen affirms the city’s commitment to reducing violent crime and providing adequate training for its law enforcement. It also highlights the importance of positive engagement between citizens and police.

Passing the resolution is only the first step for St. James to become eligible for the designation. In order for the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) to issue the designation, a community must also demonstrate in its application materials:

• Extraordinary investments in public safety funding.

• Community policing initiatives or local partnerships to invest in and/or improve public safety.

• A law enforcement officer recruitment and retention program.

• Effectiveness in reducing crime or innovative programs that attempt to reduce crime.

•  Participation in regional anti-crime task forces, or a commitment to be a willing partner with these in the future.

• Compliance with Missouri crime reporting and traffic stop data requirements and other related statutes.

After St. James’ application is submitted, DPS will review it and make its determination on the designation within two weeks. If the city receives its designation, it can begin to apply for the program’s grants in July.

In other new business, the Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance approving the annexation of 3.18 acres of land into city limits following a public hearing on Feb. 19 held by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The parcel of land will be zoned R-1, designating it as a residential area.

The petition was submitted by Denver and Amanda Spurgeon, who own about eight acres of land off of Sidney Street. Three of those acres lie contiguous with, but outside, of city limits.

“It’s a very narrow, long stretch of property, but it’s large enough to where his intent is to put, I believe it’s 18 lots on that for single family residential development,” Public Works Director Lyle Thomas said.

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the ordinance unanimously. Thomas noted that there were no comments made at the public hearing.

“We talk a lot about all the industry and jobs we’ve got coming to St James,” Mayor Rick Krawiecki said. “Here’s an opportunity to annex in another three acres, get eight acres (total) and get 15 plus homes built in our area.”

The ordinance passed unanimously.