Council Recap: Dry Fork Greenway, Election Filing Dates, and Neighborly Award

Watch a full replay of the Monday, November 18, 2024, City Council meeting on the Excelsior Citizen YouTube Channel.

Excelsior Springs, Mo. (Nov. 18, 2024) – The Excelsior Springs City Council addressed a full agenda during Monday’s meeting, including recognition as Missouri’s Most Neighborly Medium-Sized City, approvals for key infrastructure projects, updates on municipal election filing dates, and October financial reports.

Excelsior Springs Named One of the Most Neighborly Cities in Missouri

The first item on the agenda was a special presentation recognizing Excelsior Springs as Missouri’s Most Neighborly Medium-Sized City. Julie Riddle, a faculty member with the University of Missouri Extension, presented the award to Mayor Mark Spohn and Neighborhood Specialist Laura Mize during Monday’s City Council meeting.

Excelsior Springs earned first place in the medium-sized city category, competing against 118 other municipalities statewide. The award celebrates strong neighborhood connections, which Riddle emphasized are crucial for building strong, inclusive communities.

“Being an engaged neighbor helps prevent future problems and disagreements, builds social capital, improves your physical and mental health, reduces neighborhood crime, and fends off loneliness, increasing trust and protecting home investments.” Riddle said during the presentation.

The city’s recognition stems from its commitment to neighborly engagement, highlighted by community events, special campaigns, and the dedicated work of Neighborhood Specialist Laura Mize. Riddle noted Mize’s leadership, including her participation in the Neighboring 101 program and her recent graduation from the Neighborhood Leadership program, as pivotal to Excelsior Springs’ success.

Excelsior Springs’ achievement is part of Missouri’s Good Neighbor Week, established in 2021 to encourage relationship-building among residents. This year, cities earned points for acts of neighboring, organized campaigns and proclamations. Excelsior Springs stood out for its innovative approaches to facilitating engagement.

Filing Dates for 2025 Municipal Election

The Excelsior Springs City Council approved filing dates for the 2025 municipal election during its meeting Monday. One City Council position, for a three-year term, will appear on the ballot for the April 8 election. The position is currently held by Mark Spohn.

City Clerk Shannon Stroud outlined the filing process. Candidate filing will open at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, and close at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. Declarations of candidacy must be made in person at the City Manager’s Office in the Hall of Waters, located at 201 E. Broadway. Filing hours are from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays.

Candidates must meet several eligibility requirements, including being at least 21 years old by Election Day, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Excelsior Springs for at least one year before the election. Candidates also must not owe taxes to the city.

The final certification date for the ballot is Jan. 28, 2025, and voter registration will close on March 12, 2025.

Amending the Schedule of Fees of the Municipal Code Related to Golf Rates

Council unanimously approved new rates for memberships and daily fees at the Excelsior Springs Golf Course for the 2025 season. The adjustments, presented by PGA Professional Austin Hardison, align with market conditions and aim to maintain the course’s competitive position while reflecting its popularity.

The new rates will take effect Jan. 1, 2025, and include increases across several categories:

Log Cabin Club Memberships will rise to $2,050, up $100 from last year. Memberships include unlimited play with no restrictions and all cart and green fees but will now be capped at 80.
Hickory Pass Memberships will increase by $100 to $1,100. These memberships include anytime play, with cart fees of $16 for 18 holes and $10 for nine. Hickory memberships will be capped at 200 in 2025.
Persimmon Limited Play Passes will increase by $25 to $400, offering restricted play times and no limit on the number of memberships.
Junior Memberships will rise to $180, up $20.

Daily rates for rounds will also increase. For example, weekday 18-hole rates will go up to $48, while weekend rates will increase to $54. Twilight and senior rates will see similar adjustments.

Hardison explained that the increases reflect the growing demand for the course, which remains popular for its exceptional condition and value. He noted the decision not to offer a senior discount again in 2025, as seniors already constitute a significant portion of the membership base.

2025 Regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program

Council approved an ordinance renewing the city’s participation in the Regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program, a partnership coordinated through the MARC Solid Waste Management District.

Andy Starkebaum, representing Public Works Director Chad Birdsong, who was unable to attend, presented the agreement. The program provides Excelsior Springs residents access to hazardous waste disposal services at regional drop-off events and permanent facilities in Kansas City and Lee’s Summit.

The one-year agreement for 2025 totals $11,991.56, a budgeted expense under Refuse. The cost was calculated at $1.13 per capita, based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 population estimate of 10,612 for Excelsior Springs.

Starkebaum shared the city’s 2024 involvement, including a mobile event hosted in Excelsior Springs on Sept. 21 in partnership with Lawson and Richmond. The event drew 181 vehicles and collected 7,150 pounds of hazardous materials. Combined with materials dropped off at permanent facilities, a total of 13,855 pounds was safely disposed of this year.

The program alternates mobile collection sites between Excelsior Springs and Richmond. The next event will be held in Richmond, with the date to be determined.

The council approved the ordinance unanimously, ensuring continued access to responsible hazardous waste disposal options for residents.

Engineering Contract with Lamp Rynearson for 2025 Streetscape Maintenance Project

Council approved a resolution authorizing an engineering contract with Lamp Rynearson for the 2025 Streetscape Maintenance Project.

Andy Starkebaum of the Public Works Department presented the task order, which includes engineering, design, and construction administration services for next year’s street maintenance efforts. The contract totals $98,900 and is funded through the Transportation Trust.

The 2025 project will address base repairs, chip sealing, and Ultra-Thin Bonded Asphalt Surface (UBAS) work in various areas identified in the Pavement Condition Index Report. The report prioritizes maintenance needs based on available funding and long-term infrastructure goals.

The Transportation Trust Authority approved $100,000 for engineering and $1.4 million for construction during its Nov. 12 meeting. Starkebaum noted that the council would need to approve construction funds separately in 2025 once the project goes to bid.

The council approved the resolution unanimously. Work is expected to proceed next year following final plan approvals.

Notice of Award and Approval of the Agreement to Mega KC for Dry Fork Greenway Project

Mega KC was awarded the contract for the construction phase of the Dry Fork Greenway Project following unanimous approval by the Council. The $3,446,468.25 contract includes the base bid and several bid alternates.

Andy Starkebaum of the Public Works Department presented the resolution, detailing the project’s scope and funding sources. The project, estimated to begin on Jan. 2, 2025, and conclude by Nov. 29, 2026, is designed to improve flood mitigation in the Dry Fork watershed. Key elements include upsizing the culvert at North Main Street, roadway improvements, grading, and floodplain restoration to enhance hydraulic connectivity and flood storage capacity.

The total project cost is $4,864,500, with $3,835,549 allocated for construction. Mega KC was the sole bidder, and its submission was reviewed and verified for accuracy by GBA, the project’s engineering firm. Remaining funds of $389,080.75 will be held for contingencies.

The city secured funding for the project through ARPA funds provided by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, with matching funds from Excelsior Springs’ Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

Consideration of Agreement with DEP for ARPA Obligation

Council has approved a resolution authorizing an ARPA Subrecipient Agreement with Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. (DEP) to support local economic development efforts.

The agreement, approved during Monday’s meeting, allows the city to distribute federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to the DEP. The resolution authorizes the mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the city and permits city staff to complete any necessary documentation to implement the partnership.

The funding will aid the DEP in its mission to enhance and promote the downtown area, supporting initiatives that align with ARPA’s goals of economic recovery and community stability.

Partnership Agreement with Downtown Excelsior Partnership

An agreement between the city and Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. (DEP) received City Council approval Monday, solidifying collaboration on a $20 million grant application under the Environmental & Climate Justice Community Change Grant Program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

City Manager Molly McGovern presented the resolution, which allows Mayor Mark Spohn to sign the agreement on behalf of the city. The partnership outlines roles and responsibilities for the city and DEP to implement grant-funded projects, including:

$10 million for downtown streetscape improvements
$5 million for Fishing River watershed enhancements
$4 million for Hall of Waters upgrades
$1 million for workforce training focused on green jobs and building weatherization

The city will oversee the grant’s overall management and compliance, while DEP will engage in citizen outreach, contractor selection, and weatherization initiatives, among other responsibilities.

The council approved the resolution unanimously. The grant application is pending approval from the EPA.

October 2024 Revenue Report and Financials for Review

Finance Director Vonda Floyd presented the October 2024 revenue report and expenditure summary to the City Council during its meeting Monday.

The city’s expenditures for the month totaled $2,694,728.12, including five appropriation cycles and two payroll periods. Revenues for the same period amounted to $2,236,987.50, reflecting a shortfall of $457,740.62.

Detailed appropriations for October were as follows: