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Excelsior Springs, Mo. (August 4, 2025) – The Excelsior Springs City Council worked through a series of infrastructure and service-related measures at its August 4 meeting, including awarding contracts for waste collection and a municipal roof replacement, tabling a traffic safety study, and moving forward with a federal grant agreement for the city’s Safe Streets and Sidewalks project.
The meeting opened with an invocation and pledge before the council approved minutes from previous sessions and adopted the evening’s agenda.
Updated Substance Abuse Policy Adopted
The council approved Ordinance 25-08-01, adopting an updated substance abuse policy for the city’s transportation and transit employees. Public Works Director Chad Birdsong explained the update was necessary to comply with Missouri Department of Transportation requirements ahead of an upcoming audit. The revisions address language changes mandated by the state and bring the city’s policy in line with current compliance standards.
Roof Replacement at Water Treatment Plant
Resolution 1593 awarded the contract for replacing the roof of the city’s water treatment plant to Midwest Coatings Inc. at a cost of $174,435. The existing roof, installed in 1998, has been experiencing leaks, especially near skylights. Birdsong said four bids were received, but the lowest was disqualified for an incomplete submission. Midwest Coatings’ references were verified before recommendation, and their bid was the second-lowest. Council unanimously approved resolution 1593 to replace the roof of Public Works.
Traffic Safety Study Delayed
Resolution 1594, which would have approved a $13,532 contract with Bartlett & West Engineers for a traffic safety study, was tabled. The proposed study follows two recent incidents in which vehicles traveled off of Wildwood Avenue and over a hill and grassy embankment toward Highway 10, resulting in both vehicles damaging the VFW roof. The Transportation Trust Authority had already allocated funding for the study, but council members opted to postpone the decision following a prior work session discussion.
Redgate to Take Over Trash Collection
After reviewing proposals from four companies, the council voted unanimously to award the city’s new solid waste collection and disposal contract to Redgate Disposal under Resolution 1595.
While AAA Disposal submitted the lowest base bid at $18.25 per month, Birdsong said staff’s reference checks and service comparisons found Redgate’s operations and customer service to be stronger. Their bid came in at $20.90 per month and includes weekly bulky item pickup, new carts, and enhanced customer service protocols.
The decision ends the city’s long-standing contract with Allied Waste and will take effect on October 1. According to Birdsong, Redgate will deliver new red-and-black trash carts in late September, with Allied collecting their existing carts at around the same time.
Federal Grant Agreement for Safe Streets and Sidewalks Project
The council also approved Ordinance 25-08-02, authorizing a grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Fiscal Year 2022 RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) program.
City Manager Molly McGovern said the grant funding is being released in phases, with the first covering preliminary engineering work that began in 2022 and is expected to continue through next year. This stage will prepare the city for right-of-way acquisition and final design, anticipated to begin in early 2026. The Safe Streets and Sidewalks project is intended to improve pedestrian and transportation infrastructure throughout Excelsior Springs.
Council Remarks
During closing comments, Councilman McGovern praised the new fire training center located at the Excelsior Springs Fire Department, noting a recent tour following a council work session; Mayor Spohn expanded on his remarks, saying that this training facility has resulted in regional interest. Mayor Pro Tem St. John recognized city employee Todd Wilson for his 28 years of service and remarked on the training center’s visibility and growing reputation in the region.
The meeting concluded with the council voting to enter closed session under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 610.021(1) and (2).
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