Point of View

"America is strange in that we are told there are two sides to every story, every debate, every argument." We are a Coke/Pepsi, Mets/Yankee society. "In Politics, people need to understand if you only have two choices, people are always going to make one of two choices and will always be against each other."

In a country that sees only black and white, Noah thinks we would be a lot better off to see nuances. "Nuance means you can't take a stand and fight the other person, nuance means you have to talk a little bit more. Until the American political system can find the way to represent the nuance that exists in America, you are going to create this false impression that there is only this or that." But, life is gray, it is not black or white, "we don't do nuance in this country." Trevor Noah is a South African born comedian, political commentator, and television host. He is the current host of The Daily Show, an American satirical news program on Comedy Central.

The length of each step within Recovery will vary. Through July 20, continue to observe 50% occupancy; or full occupancy indoors where masks are required for all/or when in close contact with others; social distancing standards continue. Mask exemptions apply while actively eating or drinking, or while playing a sport or exercising. Bars/Pool must stay at 50%; group gathering <250. New guidance will be announced this week.

Monday, 4:00 PM - CIP

Tuesday, 4:00 PM - Community Center Quarterly Meeting & Municipal Court

Friday, 7:30 AM - Council Workshop; 9:00 AM - Retreat; 1:00 Thrive Webinar

Council agenda items under development - Budget review for Enterprise Funds; Personnel Policy amendments, Roosevelt School Rezoning, Adopt Regional Haz Mat Plan, VFD Bids (Emergency Purchase), Eastern Clay Ambulance Annual Contract Renewal, Board Appointments, CARES Funding for Utility Assistance, & Sunshine Law Training.

We are proud of ESPD, support their professionalism; & want to highlight exceptional service from our officers. Police Officers are called to handle difficult & emotional situations, & because the experience is not typical, it causes all who witness the situation to replay those moments over & over. Kristen DeHart was kind enough to share her impressions about a recent difficult day at the hospital with us. "Officer Champion is a true hero to all of us today. We felt protected and respected. I want him to know that we all had and will always have his back as well." Officers were called out of precaution, despite poor behavior aimed at the officers, they remained completely professional & continued to protect staff from a situation that was felt could steer out of control. Kristen expressed, "this experience was eye-opening and wanted to reach out to tell you that your officers were very much appreciated by all of our staff. We are thankful for the help and support of our ESPD."

Fireworks have been legal in the city limits for about three years & the decision to allow fireworks was not taken lightly; [Funding: GF] WHY? the upside for support is it eliminates a large volume of calls to the Police Department to respond simultaneously to illegal use of fireworks all over town & the City receives permit fees & sales tax rather than taking people to court. The downside is the potential for personal injury & property damage, upset neighbors & pets. Since, we can't eliminate illegal use, the downside exists whether or not fireworks are legal. The City's employee dental insurer, Delta Dental provided a 50% discount this month, [Funding: Various] WHY? as a gesture of good will for their customers experiencing revenue losses during COVID-19. Discussing ways to use CARES Funding to assist business during COVID-19, [Funding: CARES] WHY? such as utilizing outdoor spaces, marketing & disinfecting equipment.

When it comes to the tastiest French Fries on the planet, everyone seems to have an opinion. It’s a time consuming decision to find your favorite, because no two restaurants seem to have the same recipe. So National French Fry Day on July 13 is a great opportunity to take the time to sample some golden-brown potato slices. Who does them best in Excelsior Springs?

Email: mmcgovern@excelsiorsprings.gov
Website: cityofesmo.com
Location: Hall of Waters, 201 E. Broadway, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
Phone: (816) 630-0752