City Council Recap for May 6th, 2024

Proclamation – Building Safety Month

Whereas, our community is committed to recognizing that our growth and strength depends on the safety and essential role our homes, buildings and infrastructure play, both in everyday life and when disasters strike, and; 

Whereas, our confidence in the resilience of these buildings that make up our community is achieved through the devotion of vigilant guardians—building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, tradespeople, design professionals, laborers, plumbers and others in the construction industry—who work yearround to ensure the safe construction of buildings, and;

Whereas, these guardians are dedicated members of the International Code Council, a nonprofit that brings together local, state, territorial, tribal and federal officials who are experts in the built environment to create and implement the highest-quality codes to protect us in the buildings where we live, learn, work and play, and;

Whereas, these modern building codes include safeguards to protect the public from hazards such as hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, wildland fires, floods and earthquakes, and;

Whereas, Building Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council to remind the public about the critical role of our communities’ largely unknown protectors of public safety—our local building safety officials—who assure us of safe, sustainable and affordable buildings that are essential to our prosperity, and;

Whereas, “Mission Possible,” the theme for Building Safety Month 2024, encourages us all to raise awareness about building safety on a personal, local and global scale, and;

Whereas, each year, in observance of Building Safety Month, people all over the world are asked to consider the commitment to improve building safety, resilience and economic investment at home and in the community, and to acknowledge the essential service provided to all of us by local and state building departments, fire prevention bureaus and federal agencies in protecting lives and property.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mark Spohn, Mayor of City of Excelsior Springs Missouri, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2024 as Building Safety Month. Accordingly, I encourage our citizens to join us as we participate in Building Safety Month activities.

SO DONE this 6th day of May 2024.

Proclamation – Historic Preservation Month

WHEREAS, Historic place-savers pour their time, energy, and resources into protecting and saving places that matter; and

WHEREAS, May is Historic Preservation Month and the theme is “People Saving Places” to shine a light on all of the good work being done by investors, homeowners, and property owners; and

WHEREAS, Excelsior Springs has a rich history that is vital to the tourism industry and recognizes that heritage tourism is an important aspect of one of our community’s vital industries; and,

WHEREAS, Historic preservation efforts are vital to ensuring that our community can connect with their shared history, weaving together a tapestry of our community’s story. By celebrating “People Saving Places,” may we inspire others to join our efforts to preserve our story and the historic places that make up our story for generations to come;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, I, Mark Spohn, Mayor of the City of Excelsior Springs, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as Historic Preservation Month in celebration of “People Saving Places” in Excelsior Springs.

SO DONE this 6th day of May 2024.

Proclamation – Older Americans Month

Whereas, May is Older Americans Month, a time for us to recognize and honor Excelsior Springs’s older adults and their immense influence on every facet of American society and

Whereas, through their wealth of life experience and wisdom, older adults guide our younger generations and carry forward abundant cultural and historical knowledge; and

Whereas, older Americans improve our communities through intergenerational relationships, community service, civic engagement, and many other activities; and

Whereas, communities benefit when people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds have the opportunity to participate and live independently; and

Whereas, Excelsior Springs must ensure that older Americans have the resources and support needed to stay involved in their communities — reflecting our commitment to inclusivity and connectedness; and

Now, therefore, I, Mark Spohn, Mayor of the City of Excelsior Springs, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as Older Americans Month. This year’s theme, “Powered by Connection,” emphasizes the profound impact of meaningful interactions and social connection on the well-being and health of older adults in our community.

I call upon all residents to join me in recognizing the contributions of our older citizens and promoting programs and activities that foster connection, inclusion, and support for older adults.

SO DONE this 6th day of May 2024.

Proclamation – Local Government Week

WHEREAS, local governments in Missouri make important decisions that affect the lives of all Missourians, and

WHEREAS, local governments are the level of government closest to the people, and

WHEREAS, local governments include city councils, county commissions, school boards among others, and

WHEREAS, local governments are the ultimate expression of grassroots democracy, and

WHEREAS, local governments play an essential role in the quality of life in Missouri communities,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mark Spohn, Mayor of the City of Excelsior Springs, do hereby name

May 5-11, 2024, LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEEK in Excelsior Springs, and urge all Missourians to join me in recognizing local governments as they serve their communities.

SO DONE this 6th day of May, 2024.

353 Agreement for 417 S. Thompson aka “the old Standard Building”

Neighborhood Specialist Laura Mize presented an application from Rezzy Rental LLC for a Chapter 353 Tax Abatement, concerning extensive renovations to a commercial storefront located at 417 S. Thompson Avenue. The property is currently undergoing a significant overhaul, including both interior and exterior modifications. The exterior improvements encompass roof repairs, replacement of windows on the northeast wall, storefront enhancements, tuckpointing, the addition of a new awning, and the removal of blight between this building and 415 S. Thompson. Inside, the building is being stripped down and rebuilt to make it suitable for a business, featuring updates to HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, interior brick sealing, and new flooring.

The Historic Preservation Commission has approved the improvements to the roof, storefront, and windows. Rezzy Rental LLC seeks a Chapter 353 Tax Abatement that includes 100% abatement of the costs of improvements for the first ten years, followed by a 50% abatement for the next three years. The total expenditures for this project are estimated at $184,471.47. 

353 Agreement for 421 South Street

Laura Mize presented a Chapter 353 Tax Abatement application for a home at 421 South Street, filed by Isaac Pickard and Mary Huggins. The property, located in the Hall of Waters Historic District, includes a bungalow built in the early 1900s and a stone garage in severe disrepair. The house has been completely gutted to the studs as part of a comprehensive remodeling plan. The applicants intend to demolish and rebuild the garage, which is technically considered an attached garage because it shares a wall with the house’s basement and forms part of the foundation.

353 Agreement for 427 S. Thompson

Laura Mize presented an update on a third 353 tax abatement project that had been previously approved by the City Council on March 20, 2023. The project at 427 S Thompson St., aka the Montgomery, has now been completed, and the property owner’s accounting firm has submitted a final report detailing the expenses incurred. Initially, the bid for the project was set at $72,164.00, qualifying it for a 10-year 100% tax abatement. However, the final report indicated that the actual expenses escalated to $266,100.00. Due to this increase, the project qualified for an extended 13-year abatement period. This extended abatement includes ten years at 100%, followed by three years at 50%.

Readopting the Procedure to Disclose Potential Conflicts of Interest

The City Council of Excelsior Springs has approved the re-adoption of the ordinance outlining procedures for disclosing potential conflicts of interest and substantial interests for certain officials and employees. This ordinance underscores the necessity for public officials and employees to maintain independence and impartiality, ensuring that government decisions are made transparently and without personal gain, thereby fostering public trust in the integrity of government operations.

The ordinance mandates that all elected and appointed officials, as well as employees, comply with specific Missouri Revised Statutes related to conflicts of interest. It requires those with a “substantial personal or private interest” in any pending decision to disclose this interest in writing. This disclosure must be recorded officially and involves any significant financial involvement the individual or their immediate family might have with the city or entities conducting business with the city.

The ordinance also sets forth detailed requirements for annual disclosure reports. These reports must include transactions exceeding five hundred dollars with the political subdivision, other than standard compensations or payments. Key officials must also report various sources of income and business interests, ensuring a comprehensive disclosure of potential conflicts.

PSST Oversight Committee Board Appointment

Mr. Jesse Hall was appointed to serve on the Public Safety Sales Tax Oversight Committee of Excelsior Springs, filling the vacancy left by John McGovern, who was recently elected to the City Council. Mr. Hall will occupy this position for the term concluding on September 30, 2024.

Agreement with Downtown Excelsior Partnership

The Council approved an agreement with the Downtown Excelsior Partnership (DEP) concerning the city-owned property located at 243 East Broadway, designated as “Lithia’s Landing.” This agreement grants DEP a revocable, exclusive license to develop and manage the property as a downtown pocket park. DEP is authorized to install features such as decking, tables, chairs, benches, umbrellas, and lighting and to make necessary modifications to the existing retaining wall to support these installations.

Vehicle Purchases for Water and Refuse Departments

The Council approved the purchase of two trucks for the Water and Refuse Department, as presented by Public Works Director Chad Birdsong. The Water Department allocated a budget of $60,000 for the acquisition of a ¾ ton pickup truck for the 2024 budget year. After a bidding process, the recommended bid from Roberts Robinson came in at $55,394, with the vehicle readily available in stock.

Similarly, the Refuse Department budgeted $50,000 for a ½ ton pickup truck for the same fiscal year. Roberts Robinson provided the lowest bid for this vehicle as well, priced at $47,734, and it is also currently in stock. Bids for these vehicles were solicited from three local dealers on April 23, with the bids sealed and opened on May 3.

The new trucks will replace two aging 2006 Ford F150s. These older trucks will be sold in a public auction at a future date.

Adopting the Social Media Policy

City Manager Molly McGovern proposed the adoption of a new social media policy for Excelsior Springs, which the City Council approved. The policy is designed to organize and govern the city’s use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, ensuring that city-managed accounts adhere to established free speech parameters.