Voters in Grandview passed a renewal for a citywide half-cent sales tax set to expire next year.
The city plans to use the revenue to pay for new gear for its police and fire departments and to finish a major transportation project.
The Grandview Fire Department will purchase second sets of gear for all of its firefighters, as well as new hoods that prevent cancerous chemicals from seeping inside their suits.
"We found out the rate of cancer is about 15-20 percent higher for firefighters than it is for the general population," Grandview Fire Chief Ron Graham said.
Graham himself is living that statistic. Just last year, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He said the new hoods will help prevent cancer, as will outfitting every firefighter with a second set of gear. With backup equipment, firefighters can run their dirty gear through a machine that washes off chemicals before putting it all back on.
"We feel like with the taxpayers passing this, hopefully firefighters will stay healthy longer and enjoy their retirement," Chief Graham said.
The police department will also benefit from the sales tax renewal. It plans to purchase body cameras for all of its officers.
"It'll serve both us internally, and I think it will make the public even more confident in the service we're providing for them. Some more transparency for them," Grandview Police Chief Charlie Iseman said.
The rest of the funds will be funneled into infrastructure for the city. The biggest project planned is a bridge renovation on Blue Ridge, a major access point into the recently-redone Truman Corners shopping center. The city plans to add sidewalks and trails to the corridor, as well as widen the road to four lanes.
"The bridge itself is going to be a lot like Main Street. It's going to be a monumental piece," Grandview Public Works Director Dennis Randolph explained.
Additional funds will be used for other sidewalk and road improvements.
