Point of View

"The man on top of the mountain didn't fall there." …...Vince Lombardi

• Thursday, Community Center opens Earth Café
• Friday, 7:30 am - Council work session considers upcoming agenda
  

The next Council Meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 6th - Agenda items under development includes:

• Bid award for St. Louis/Shirewood Sewer Project
• Renew Wholesale Contract to deliver water to Ray County PWSD 1
• Add new category of Golf Memberships w/rate
• Appropriations
  

Mike Hearrold, Water Plant Operator II, has volunteered to lead the Safety Committee, a key component to managing our workplace injuries, cost and productivity. The Safety Committee's work enables the City to recoup a portion of insurance premiums to be used to purchase safety equipment.

• Miller Cabinet's expansion leverages grant requests for $400K from CDBG, $500K from EDA matching $100K from CIP. If approved, funds will realign the intersection of N. Jesse James Road/Meadowlark Lane, widen & extend N. Jesse James Road north of Plummer Road. WHY? Improvements will correct existing roadway deficiencies, intersection safety & serve proposed business expansion, access to remaining undeveloped property.
• State announced licenses for Medical Marijuana Testing, Transportation, & Cultivation facilities. Applications for Excelsior Springs’ locations were not approved. Cultivation facilities approved in the region will locate in Smithville, Carrolton, KC, St. Joseph, Grain Valley, & Plattsburg. Dispensary license approvals to be announced later in January. [Funding: none] WHY? Status of applications that could impact Excelsior Springs.
• Fire suppression alternatives for older buildings are under review, considering if fire alarms providing early detection are preferred to sprinkler systems and researching financial incentives. [Funding: none] WHY? Protect property, lives, and spread of fire to connected buildings & protect tourism industry/heritage. Consider affordability of small businesses to cause needed renovation.
  
• Communities of Excellence completed Community Survey, Fall 2019 & received 439 responses. (66% respondents live in city limits) 42% live west of tracks/21% live east of tracks; 43% living in 64024 more than 10 years. [Funding: GF] WHY? Community-lead strategic planning process to define community-based solutions. Survey provides data to support solutions to be defined, community conversations needed to confirm appropriate solutions are selected.
• Top five COE Survey issues rated Moderate/Serious - 1. Availability of local living wage jobs (62%); 2. Economic Vitality (55%); 3. Housing in General (48%); 4. Homelessness (47%); 5. Overall health/wellness of community (45%). 55% see community better than today in 3-5 years. 26% expressed interest in learning more about COE & how to be part of making community even stronger. COE is planning community meeting, January 30th, 5:30 pm to include those expressing interest in becoming involved & to disseminate survey results. [Funding: GF] Why? To ensure appropriate solutions are selected, a wide cross section of the community needs to join the conversation.
  

"This is definitely a "happy place". All staff are caring and skilled. They make group exercise fun. I would be lost without this facility. I have met so many people and made several new friends. Definitely a plus for our community!"

…..Marcia Alexander's Community Center Facebook post, 12/16/2019.

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