Cameron Montemayor
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A new fleet of state-of-the-art drones for emergency response scenarios and salary increases for police and 911 dispatchers were approved at tonight’s City Council meeting, a boost to public safety and emergency operations.
City Councilmembers approved 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, will raise salaries by 3% for fiscal years 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28.
New drones set to provide critical vantage point for public safety
Local public safety personnel will have a new set of eyes in the sky backing them up on everything from structures fires, search and rescue or other emergency operations with the help of advanced autonomous aerial technology.
A $1.3 million contract was approved Monday 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 with police, fire and public works. Roughly $274,000 is being appropriated for the first year payment.
This Associated Press photo shows the Skydio X10 with the RTK GPS attachment.
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 will provide a critical vantage point for police, firefighters, public works and transit, boosting response times and safety for residents and public safety personnel.
“Drone technology has advanced over the last decade to a point where it’s a very viable platform for public safety,” St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster said. “It’s going to allow us and firefighters to have a very fast response to areas of town.”
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, among numerous applications.
Skydio’s technology enables drones to autonomously launch from fixed stations in response to any location that a bus can travel to, all the while providing real-time video and data to responding staff or officers.
“Sometimes officers respond to calls and they don’t know exactly what they’re getting into. There could be someone just behind a fence that they can’t see. With this technology that’s not going to be the case,” Luster said. “For fire, they’ll be able to tell potentially how big the fire is before they ever arrive on the scene, so they can start coordinating their resources appropriately.”
Drones would even be able to help snow plow crews by evaluating snow routes and verifying completion of snow removal, among other useful capabilities for public works and transit.
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 approved between City and Pan-Am Flight Services
A high-profile airport agreement will move forward tonight following an extended selection process earlier this fall that drew concerns from competing bidders.
City Councilmembers signed off on 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 will purchase two new vehicles, including a new truck and cargo van, to assist with daily operations at St. Joseph Animal Services.
City Council voted to approve 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 will be purchased from two dealerships, Anderson Ford of St. Joseph and Nashville Automotive, LLC using Marijuana Sales Tax funds.
City to contract outside companies to assist with landfill services
Monday’s agenda included a pair of agreements to provide on-call engineering services at the St. Joseph Sanitary Landfill.
The agreements approved on Monday with Olsson, Inc. and SCS Engineers will 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 approved by City Council:
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.
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Lee’s Summit’s Preston Hatfield sprints down the sideline during the Class 6 State Championships game on Saturday in St. Joseph. Cameron Montemayor | News-Press NOW
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The end of Meadow Trail and University Avenue is shown where a new 26-acre housing subdivision is proposed for development. 
This rendering shows how the 89-lot housing subdivision would be divided on South Leonard Road and University Avenue. 
The google maps image shows the area (highlighted in blue) where a 26-acre major subdivision for residential homes is proposed for development near South Leonard Road and University Avenue. 
