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Excelsior Springs, Mo. – The Excelsior Springs City Council covered a range of issues during its brief January 21 meeting, including a resident’s plea to address a “dangerous building” downtown, the approval of a 50-year conservation easement for the Hall of Waters, and an amendment to the Dry Fork Greenway project engineering agreement. Additionally, council members reviewed December’s financials, which showed a balance of strong revenues and expenditures.
Visitor’s Forum
Resident Keith Hudson addressed the council about a vacant home at 101 W Excelsior St., behind the Atlas Saloon downtown. Hudson described the building as a “dangerous building” under city ordinances and urged the council to take action.
Hudson noted that the house, purchased in 2023, has seen no structural repairs over the past two years. He expressed concerns about the deteriorating condition of the building, citing issues such as wildlife inhabiting the attic and basement and past instances of homeless individuals occupying the property.
“The structural integrity of the house has not been worked on at all,” Hudson said. He warned that continued exposure to rain, snow, and fluctuating temperatures is worsening the building’s condition, causing walls to bow, bricks to loosen, and headers to collapse.
Hudson also emphasized the building’s impact on the aesthetics of the downtown area, particularly for visiting tourists, calling it both a safety hazard and an eyesore. “I think the city council should be aware of this,” he said.
No immediate action was taken on the matter during the meeting, but Hudson’s comments will likely factor into future discussions about downtown property maintenance and code enforcement.
Conservation Easement Agreement with the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office
Council unanimously approved a resolution on January 21 authorizing a conservation easement agreement with the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for the Hall of Waters.
Economic Development Director Melinda Mehaffy presented the details of Resolution No. 1547, explaining that the easement is a condition of the Save America’s Treasures Grant, which provided $500,000 for restoration work on the historic building. The grant requires a conservation easement of 10 years for every $100,000 awarded, resulting in a 50-year easement.
The easement will be managed by SHPO, which will oversee preservation efforts and review any proposed changes to the building, including its iconic interior features. Mehaffy noted that this agreement is not new for the city, as a previous 15-year easement was placed on the property in 2010 during porch repairs.
Mehaffy assured the council that the easement applies to both exterior and interior architectural features to protect the Hall of Waters’ unique historic character. She emphasized that the state office was impressed with the city’s restoration work during a site visit in August.
Engineering Agreement with George Butler & Associates for Dry Fork Greenway Project
Council unanimously approved Resolution 1548 on January 21, authorizing an amendment to the engineering agreement with George Butler and Associates for the Dry Fork Greenway project.
Public Works Director Chad Birdsong presented the amendment, which accounts for additional services required during the project’s design phase. Birdsong explained that the $71,400 amendment covers unforeseen circumstances encountered during the design process.
Components of the additional services include:
- Property Boundary Survey ($18,000): To develop a base map and establish rights-of-way and easements, delayed by a lack of available boundary markers in the area.
- Utility Locating and Creek Realignment ($53,000): To identify and address water and sewer utilities that could not be located through standard methods, realign a portion of Dry Fork Creek to protect Kennedy Avenue from erosion, and reduce flood depths while stabilizing 800 feet of the creek.
- Permit Coordination: Additional time was required to secure an individual permit with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after a nationwide permit initially scoped proved inadequate.
The amendment increases the total contract amount to $1,100,151 and will be funded through an 80/20 split between ARPA funds and the city’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) match. Birdsong noted that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources had already reviewed and approved the amendment.
Monthly Revenue Report and Financials for Review
Finance Director Vonda Floyd presented the details of the December 2024 monthly revenue report and appropriations, outlining the city’s expenditures and revenues for the month.
Floyd reported that Revenues for December 2024 totaled $2,312,768.72 and total appropriations for December amounted to $2,149,774.80.
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