The city of Herculaneum has released a five-year strategic plan that city officials say brings the long-range plans of the parks, public works, police, water and fire departments into a single, coordinated framework.
Herculaneum City Administrator Logan Jaskiewicz said the plan will give city leaders and residents a clear understanding of priorities, anticipated needs and challenges over the next five years.
The plan’s summary cites expected challenges include aging infrastructure and equipment, staffing capacity constraints, increasing regulatory and safety requirements and rising expectations for public services.
“This plan puts a stronger emphasis on infrastructure, especially water, sewer and roads, while also focusing on quality-of-life improvements like parks and public spaces. We’re also more focused on long-term sustainability, making sure we’re not just fixing issues short-term but investing in solutions that will last.”
Jaskiewicz said creating the five-year plan was a way to be proactive.
“It’s easy to just fix things as they break, but that’s not how you move a city forward,” he said. “This gives us a roadmap so we can plan ahead, budget responsibly and make sure we’re making steady progress instead of just reacting to problems.”
Jaskiewicz said the five-year plan was a team effort.
“All of our department heads had input because they’re the ones dealing with these issues every day,” he said. “They know what’s working, what’s not, and what needs attention long-term. On top of that, we’re always hearing from residents, whether it’s calls, conversations or at events, so a lot of that feedback naturally made its way into the plan.”
Jaskiewicz said the city had not created a strategic plan in many years.
“A lot has changed, so it was the right time to take a step back, look at where we’re at and figure out where we want to go next,” he said.
Jaskiewicz said the plan focuses on behind-the-scenes work and improvements that residents will notice.
“There will definitely be visible improvements, especially with parks and projects like Kade’s Playground,” Jaskiewicz said. “But just as important are the things people don’t always see, more reliable water and sewer systems, better overall infrastructure. It all adds up to a better day-to-day experience living here.
“At the end of the day, it’s about making smart decisions now so we’re in a better position five years from now.”
Residents may view the five-year plan at cityofherculaneum.gov.
Parks
Priorities for the Parks Department include maintaining and refreshing existing facilities, addressing deferred maintenance and making capital improvements.
The five-year plan includes: building an early childhood play area adjacent to Kade’s Playground; installing an interactive soccer wall; installing a permanent shade structure and replacing the water table at the splash pad; replacing safety surfacing at Kade’s Playground; paving the gravel drive near the dog park; hiring either a seasonal or part-time staff member; and expanding native plantings while removing invasive vegetation on park property.
Public Works
Priorities for the Public Works Department include equipment and infrastructure life-cycle planning, system maintenance, staffing capacity, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.
The five-year plan includes: replacing several aging trucks and pieces of equipment; constructing a salt storage facility west of I-55; replacing the roof, siding and doors on the 1979 Public Works building; adding an additional employee; and making improvements to McNutt Road, Industrial Drive and Scenic Drive.
Water and Wastewater
Priorities for the Water Department include: purchasing a vac trailer; implementing GPS mapping of water infrastructure; replacing several water mains; upgrading the SCADA computer; replacing aging equipment and vehicles; and adding a water department employee.
Priorities for the Wastewater Department include: completing lift station upgrades; lining manholes and sewer mains; replacing aging pumps and gearboxes; upgrading the UV and SCADA systems; upgrading discharge lines; refurbishing the original plant digesters; reworking the wastewater treatment plant headworks; and replacing a vehicle.
Police
Priorities for the Police Department include adapting to evolving public safety needs, maintaining service levels, staffing stability, personnel training and equipment readiness.
The five-year plan includes: hiring additional officers and purchasing additional patrol vehicles; replacing aging vehicles; completing building renovations; increasing social media presence; revising department policies; applying for grants; training officers for specialized roles based on department and community needs; and implementing officer wellness programs focusing on physical and mental health.
Fire
Priorities for the Fire Department include emergency response readiness, personnel safety, training, increased staffing, equipment replacement cycles and maintaining compliance.
The five-year plan includes: hiring additional firefighters; replacing 19-year-old station alerting system and pagers; offering CPR courses, disaster preparedness or CERT for residents and businesses; updating policies and standard operating guidelines; replacing the cascade system, extractor/dryer, UTV and thermal cameras; replacing the 6314 pumper/rescue and purchasing an additional staff vehicle; renovating and growing the footprint of the current fire house; and hiring a full-time fire chief and assistant chief/fire marshal.