Point of View

when people make great plans. Being action-oriented yields better results over time & increases our probability of success. We get better results in part because we get more attempts. (There’s simple math at work here.) Also, we learn what works & what doesn’t, & we develop experience, confidence, & resilience. “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” -Wayne Gretzky, legendary hockey player

Monday, City Hall Selfie Day, 5PM - Budget Hearing, 6PM - Council Meeting

Tuesday, 11:30AM - Employee Service Awards Luncheon

Wednesday, Farmer's Markets

Friday/Saturday - BBQ Fly-In on the River

Saturday - Airport Pancake Breakfast; Home Brew Contest

Budget Hearing for Special Funds (Transportation Trust, Capital Improvements, Public Safety Sales Taxes, Construction Services, Elms & Golf Course TIFs, Elms Event Fee, E-911, Equitable Sharing, & Debt Service Funds)

Council Agenda - Mayor declares board vacancies to be filled & issues Executive Order regarding appointments to Clay County TIF Commission; consider agreements with PSI for Special Inspector @ Pool project ($25,728), with Northland Neighbors ($10,000) & Rebuilding Together KC ($10,000) for housing rehabilitation services, & with American Accounts & Advisors for the collection of ambulance bad debts (17% of collections); & amend Schedule of Fees to update credit card convenience fee & provide double fees for failing to obtain building permits prior to construction; & appropriations. Closed Meeting to discuss Real Estate.

• New ambulance has arrived & will go into service next week
• Foundation stabilization at the Hall of Waters is scheduled to begin 8/22 & work at Powell Lake in Century Park will begin 8/15.
• Meetings to discuss Fishing River Watershed continue. Consultants have identified locations along Dry & East Forks for potential water storage opportunities in single ownership, scheduled Workshop for 9/7 to discuss progress
• President Biden has authorized Communities of Excellence to become the 7th category of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards, providing opportunity to earn presidential level recognition for efforts to improve the performance of communities & sharing best practices across the US & around the world.
• In ES our work with Communities of Excellence has been branded "Thrive" & Thrive's overreaching goal is to improve the lifespan of Excelsior Springs residents by understanding the social determinants of health. The SDOH have a major impact on people's health, well-being, & quality of life. Examples of SDOH include safe housing, transportation & neighborhoods, racism, discrimination, & violence, education, job opportunities, & income, access to nutritous foods & physical activity opportunites, polluted air & water, language & literacy skills.
• ES Hospital was awarded a much sought after grant from Clay County Children's Fund to expand current wellness services for children seeking mental health therapy. The lack of providers for the number of Clay County children & families needing assistance results in frequently long wait times to receive evaluation & treatment. ES will benefit from ESH's focus on community health & improving social determinants of health.

Celebrating Work Anniversaries this week - Janet Morehead, Parks/Recreation Administrative Assistant - 36 years; Scott O'Dell, Deputy Fire Chief - 34 years.

Expressing gratitude for Sam Graves' announcement that City has been awarded $21.5M RAISE grant to rebuild approx. 2 miles of streets with curb, gutter, storm drainage & sidewalks, improvements to 9 intersections, addition of approx. 2.5 miles of sidewalks & 2.5 miles of trail along US69 to allow students to safety walk & bike to school & increase traffic safety for pedestrians & motorist. See map below for the location of improvements planned. Improvements will connect the east & west as well as the south & north sides of town for pedestrians & bicyclists. The next step is to accept the funding conditions & select consultants to conduct planning & design activities.

Mayor Powell, "The project will greatly enhance the safety of our childrern as they walk, ride their bikes, or drive to school." Mayor Pro Tem Spear, "Safe Streets & Sidewalks will now become a reality for our citizens." Councilwoman Morgan, "It will drive economic growth & best of all, it will provide safety to school students & pedestrians." Councilman Kowalski, "The RAISE grant will help make ES safer & more connected." Councilman Spohn, "There are milestones in the life of a community that have ripple effects going far beyond the event." Quotes from RAISE grant announcement.

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