High-tech drones, salary increases for police and dispatchers up for City Council approval tonight

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A new fleet of state-of-the-art drones and salary increases for police and 911 dispatchers are in line for approval at tonight's City Council meeting, a potential boost to public safety and emergency operations. 

City Councilmembers are expected to approve two working agreements this evening with the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #3 and the Emergency Communication Operations, Lodge #1 to provide salary increases over a three-year period.

The agreement with FOP will see the city appropriate $450,000 in Police Sales Tax funds to implement a 6% salary increase for the department retroactive to June 30, 2025, with additional 4% salary increases for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28.

A second agreement with the Emergency Communication Operators, Lodge #1, would raise salaries by 3% for fiscal years 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28.

New drones seek to provide critical vantage point for public safety

Local public safety personnel could have a new set of eyes in the sky backing them up on everything from structures fires, search and rescue or other emergency operations if approved tonight.

A $1.3 million contract sits on Monday's City Council agenda to purchase six Skydio high-tech drones and multiple docking systems from Axon Enterprise for use by various city departments, particularly public safety and emergency operations for police, fire and public works. Roughly $274,000 is set to be appropriated for the first year payment.

Capable of moving up to 45 mph and equipped with advanced 360-degree cameras, spotlights, night vision and enhanced AI, Skydio's state-of-the-art drones would provide a critical vantage point for police, firefighters, public works and transit, boosting response times and safety for residents and public safety officers.

Using dispatch and CAD systems, drones can respond automatically within seconds, serving as first responder units, assisting police officers and firefighters before they arrive on scene and providing rapid situational awareness at transit stops or transit vehicles, among numerous capabilities.

Skydio’s technology enables drones to autonomously launch from fixed stations in response to any location that a bus can travel to, all emergency calls, all the while providing real-time video and data to responding staff or officers.

Drones would even be able to help snow plow crews by evaluating snow routes and verifying completion of snow removal, among other useful capabilities.

Additional capabilities with drone technology

• Can be used to inspect bridges for damage.
• Bus shelters can be inspected, saving manpower.
• Monitor real-time traffic and transit conditions
• Identify obstructions or route hazards, and provide early alerts for congestion or delays.
• Enhances the City’s ability to prioritize maintenance and ensure safe travel for transit users and the public

FBO airport agreement up for vote between City and Pan-Am Flight Services

A high-profile airport agreement is expected to move forward tonight following an extended selection process that drew concerns from competing bidders.

City Council is in line to approve a lease and operation agreement with Pan Am Flight Services to serve as the Fixed Base Operator at Rosecrans Memorial Airport. FBOs are businesses or companies selected to provide a broad range of services to support general aviation aircraft, including services like maintenance and refueling for local and visiting pilots.

Pan Am intends to construct a new aircraft hangar with attached lobby and office space at Rosecrans to accommodate larger aircraft and passengers.

Animal Services in line to receive new department vehicles

St. Joseph could purchase two new vehicles, including a new truck and cargo van, to assist with daily operations at St. Joseph Animal Services.

City Council will vote on two bills this evening worth just over $100,000 to purchase a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2026 Ford Transit Cargo Van for the department. Vehicles would be purchased from Anderson Ford of St. Joseph and Nashville Automotive, LLC using Marijuana Sales Tax funds.

City looks to hire outside companies to assist with landfill services

Monday's agenda includes a pair of agreements to provide on-call engineering services at the St. Joseph Sanitary Landfill. 

The agreements with Olsson, Inc. and SCS Engineers, if approved, would allow the companies to provide services on a project-to-project basis to assist operations and avoid unnecessary delays.  

Professional engineering services include project engineering, construction inspections, structural, traffic, stormwater and wastewater engineering, transportation design and geotechnical and material testing.

Other bills on City Council agenda:

• Agreement with Fox Creek Design LLC and Brooner Construction and Crane to provide a grant in the amount of $50,000 toward the exterior rehabilitation of the structure at 716 Felix Street as part of the River Bluff Gateway project.
  
• An ordinance waiving the collection of liens, assessments, and other administrative penalties in the amount of $3,573, plus applicable interest and penalties, on the property located at 1107 Mitchell Ave.
  
• Supplemental agreement with Ideker, Inc., for the runway reconstruction project at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in the amount of $77,820.
  
• Purchase of Procore Technologies, Inc. Project Management Software from Carahsoft Technology group both in the amount of $59,215 for tracking and managing capital improvements and other projects.
  
• An ordinance authorizing the purchase and installation of required strobe lighting on the Frazier, Smith, and Lewis Tower sites by Midwest Mobile and an amendment to the public safety radio and tower maintenance fund budget all in the amount of $12,375.
  
• Purchase of a Bauer high-pressure breathing air compressor in the amount of $89,856 from Conrad Fire Equipment, Inc., for use by the fire department.
  
• Execution of work order with HDR engineering, inc. In the amount of $172,012 for collections system asset management program development at the water protection facility.

Nominations and appointments

Councilmember Andrew Trout nominates Danielle McGaughy to serve as a member of the Museum Oversight Board for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2029; she will be replacing Dan Hausman, whose term expires on Jan. 1, 2026. 

Mayor John Josendale nominates James Preston Dollar to serve as a member of the Museum Oversight Board for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2029; he will be replacing Hannorah Harrah, whose term expires on Jan. 1, 2026.