Council Hears Resident Concerns, Advances City Projects at April 7 Meeting

Excelsior Springs, Mo. (April 7, 2025) – On Monday, the Excelsior Springs City Council approved multiple infrastructure projects, including vehicle purchases and a significant sewer improvement agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, while also hearing resident concerns about tree overgrowth and zoning changes. The council reviewed the city’s annual stormwater report, paused proposed amendments to the R-4 residential district, and authorized the destruction of outdated municipal records before concluding the meeting in closed session.

Visitor’s Forum

During the visitor’s forum portion of Monday’s City Council meeting, resident Angela Jewell raised a safety concern about overgrown trees along Kearney Road between South Titus Avenue and the Job Corps facility.

Jewell described the area as a steep hill with an S-curve and nearby utility lines, warning that overgrown limbs could fall during inclement weather and create traffic hazards or lead to accidents. “Safety doesn’t happen by accident,” she said. “These trees are not going to correct themselves.”

Mayor Mark Spohn acknowledged the concern and asked Public Works Director Chad Birdsong to inspect the area. Council members noted that if the limbs are encroaching on power lines, local utility providers—such as Ameren—would likely be responsible for trimming and removal.

Also speaking during the visitor’s forum, Kelly Anderson of 801 Denver Ave. raised concerns about proposed modifications to the city’s R-4 zoning regulations, specifically as they relate to a development by Eden Village.

Anderson said the organization has worked with the city for the past three years to identify properties properly zoned for its housing project. According to Anderson, city staff previously directed Eden Village to addresses believed to be appropriately zoned under existing R-4 guidelines. However, proposed changes under consideration would shift such projects to a planned district zoning classification, requiring additional approvals from the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.

“We would hope that if we meet the density requirements and we meet the other requirements in this draft proposal, that we would receive support,” Anderson said.

Annual Storm Water Report

Stormwater Coordinator Nate Conyers delivered the city’s annual MS4 program update to the Excelsior Springs City Council on Monday. The update outlined efforts to reduce pollution and manage stormwater runoff in compliance with the city’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit.

Conyers explained that the city’s program focuses on six key areas: public outreach and education, public involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site runoff control, post-construction runoff control, and municipal operations. The city is required to report annually to the council on its progress in each category.

In 2024, the city partnered with the Mid-America Regional Council’s Water Quality Education Program while also taking independent action to engage the public. These included three Facebook posts on stormwater education topics, an Earth Day cleanup along the Fishing River involving 61 volunteers, and ongoing public education efforts.

The city maintained “no dumping” messages on approximately 87% of its stormwater inlets and conducted a range of outreach activities, including a December visit to Lewis Elementary School, where 60 students learned about flood control and erosion prevention. Conyers also met with four owners of post-construction stormwater detention basins and five other property owners to address stormwater concerns.

Inspection and enforcement efforts remained active. City staff performed 35 outfall inspections and responded to four illicit discharge reports—one from the public and three from city employees. All were investigated and resolved. Additionally, 3,976 feet of sanitary sewer lines were inspected via closed-circuit television.

Development oversight included 65 inspections across five active commercial grading permits and 42 inspections on 20 active residential permits. Fifty-six detention basins were inspected, with two minor violations reported.

Conyers reported that 37 city employees were trained in stormwater standard operating procedures, 493 miles of street sweeping were completed, and 27 bags of trash were collected from city rights of way. Maintenance facilities underwent two inspections each, with no significant issues found.

Consideration of Purchase of Ford F-550 Truck for Water Department

The City Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday authorizing the purchase of a new Ford F-550 truck for the Excelsior Springs Water Department.

Public Works Director Chad Birdsong presented the item, explaining that the city had budgeted $95,000 for the truck in the 2025 fiscal year. Due to ongoing supply chain issues affecting the availability of F-550 cab and chassis models, the city opted to purchase a ready-made vehicle rather than place a delayed order.

The selected truck, a new 2024 1.5-ton 4×4 cab and chassis with a dump body, was located at Olathe Commercial Sales. With a municipal bid discount applied, the total cost is $92,392—within the approved budget.

The new vehicle will replace a 2006 Ford F-150 with over 144,000 miles. The older truck will be sold at public auction at a later date.

Consideration of Purchase of GMC 1500 Pickup Truck for Pollution Department

Council unanimously approved the purchase of a 2025 GMC 1500 pickup truck for the Pollution Department during Monday night’s meeting.

Public Works Director Chad Birdsong presented the resolution, noting that the city had budgeted $50,000 for the vehicle in the 2025 fiscal year. The low bid came from Roberts Robertson Chevrolet Buick GMC at a price of $43,855.60.

The selected truck, while technically a new model, had been previously used as a loaner vehicle and has 2,312 miles on it. Birdsong confirmed the vehicle is still considered new under the bid terms.

Invitations to bid were issued to three local dealerships on March 21, with sealed bids opened on March 28 at City Hall. The bid tabulation was included with the agenda packet.

With no discussion or objections from council members, the resolution was approved unanimously on roll call vote.

Change Order No. 1 to the Contract with Mega KC for the Dry Fork Greenway Project

The council unanimously approved Change Order No. 1 to the city’s contract with MEGA KC for the Dry Fork Greenway Project, which added $125,865.49 to the overall project cost.

Public Works Director Chad Birdsong presented the resolution Monday night, detailing four adjustments to the original contract, which was initially valued at $3,446,468.25.

The largest item in the change order involves replacing 1,761 square yards of 7-inch asphaltic concrete with 8-inch non-reinforced concrete along North Main Street, Kennedy Avenue, and NE 143rd Terrace near the box culvert and bridge. The unit cost increase—from $42 per square yard for asphalt to $101.53 for concrete—adds $94,266.33 to the project total.

Additional changes include the relocation of a fire hydrant two feet away from the sidewalk, which will cost $11,300; the installation of 2 feet of foundation stabilization under the reinforced concrete box and wing walls using 4—to 12-inch diameter rock, which is estimated at $17,566.44; and the reinforcement of a slab barrier transition tie-in, which will cost $2,732.72.

With the approved change order, the revised contract amount is $3,572,333.74. Birdsong noted that $192,115.26 remains available for future change orders within the project’s budget.

Agreement with the Department of the Army

An agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will bring long-awaited upgrades to Excelsior Springs’ sewer infrastructure, following City Council approval Monday night. The partnership will support the rehabilitation and lining of aging sewer mains across multiple neighborhoods, addressing areas left incomplete during the 2010–2015 sewer bond project due to funding shortfalls.

Public Works Director Chad Birdsong presented the agreement, which will fund improvements originally identified as “add-alternates” during the previous bond cycle. These portions were deferred due to budget constraints at the time.

Under the agreement, federal funding will cover up to $1,732,500 of the project cost, with the city contributing a 25% match of $641,666.67. The total estimated project cost is $2,566,666.67. The agreement limits federal reimbursements to $1,732,500 after subtracting the $192,500 in government-incurred costs.

Areas slated for sewer main rehabilitation include the Wilson Acres neighborhood, and portions of Glenwood, Wildwood, and Linwood avenues, as well as Golf Hill Drive, East Valley Park, Forest Drive, Bell Drive, and Old Time Drive. Most of the work will be completed using trenchless methods, minimizing street disruption by accessing mains through existing manholes.

McClure Engineering will oversee the project’s design phase. McClure acquired SKW Engineering, the original designer of the 2010–2015 plans, and retains the necessary documents for updating the project. A separate agreement with McClure for engineering services is expected to come before the council in the coming weeks.

Consideration of Amendment to Section 400.130 R-4 Medium Density Residential District

An ordinance amending the city’s R-4 Medium Density Residential District was tabled Monday night after the Excelsior Springs City Council opted to revisit one key provision related to planned zoning requirements for duplex housing.

Community Development Director Mallory Brown presented the proposed changes, which aimed to correct an oversight from a 2022 zoning code update that had inadvertently deleted all permitted uses from the R-4 district. The revised ordinance would reinstate medium-density apartment buildings and senior adult congregate living as permitted uses, while introducing a new category: medium-density two-family housing. The amendment also proposed density and landscaping standards for these uses and required that all developments be subject to planned district zoning.

Councilman Reggie St. John, however, raised concerns about the timing and broader implications of requiring planned district approval for duplexes. “Plan districts are a valuable planning tool, but I think we need to take a step back and re-evaluate their broader use across the zoning code,” St. John said. He emphasized the need for a citywide review before imposing such requirements and moved to direct the city manager to remove the planned district language as it pertains to two-family dwellings.

The council unanimously supported the motion, which directs staff to revise the ordinance and return it for consideration at the April 21 meeting.

Consideration of Authorization of Destruction of Certain Municipal Records

Council approved an ordinance authorizing the destruction of certain municipal records that have surpassed their legally required retention periods.

City Manager Molly McGovern presented the item, explaining that the records listed for disposal have no remaining administrative, legal, fiscal, research, or historical value and are included in the Missouri Records Manual Retention Schedule. Departments contributing to the list include Police, Fire, Community Development, Human Resources, Public Works, and Economic Development.

The city has scheduled an on-site shredding of the approved records for May, to be conducted in compliance with guidelines set by the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office.

During the discussion, a suggestion was raised to consider offering a public document shredding event in the future, similar to past initiatives hosted in Clay County. McGovern said staff would review the logistics and potential costs before considering such an event.

The ordinance passed unanimously. The Council Agenda, which is available online, contains a detailed list of the records authorized for destruction.

Remarks by Council

During closing remarks at Monday’s City Council meeting, members shared community updates, reflected on recent events, and offered lighthearted banter before unanimously voting to move into closed session.

City Manager Molly McGovern noted the inclusion of the March court report and highlighted that Excelsior Springs’ own Wabash BBQ had been named a top contender in Rural Missouri magazine. “We, of course, concur with that,” McGovern said, drawing laughs from the council as they praised the event’s baby back ribs.

Councilman Gary Renne shared his excitement for the upcoming Silver Prom. Mayor Spohn interjected, joking about the challenges of fitting into formalwear. Councilman John McGovern praised the success of the recent Park’s Foundation Piccadilly event and reminded attendees of the upcoming Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, scheduled for Thursday, May 1, at 7 a.m.

Councilman Reggie St. John emphasized the importance of voting in Tuesday’s election. Mayor Mark Spohn echoed the importance of voter participation, noting the proposed school tax levy and school board election on the ballot, as well as his own city council seat, which was up for unopposed re-election. He also shared a personal moment about taking his grandchildren to watch cleanup work along the Dry Fork branch of the Fishing River. “They were fascinated,” he said, recalling the heavy equipment clearing brush and a roaring fire nearby. “I love the smell of burning wood,” he added with a smile.

Following the remarks, the council voted unanimously to close the regular session at 6:34 p.m.