During the February 7th City Council meeting, a resident made a case for allowing citizens to keep backyard chickens. Other topics discussed at the meeting included progress on redevelopment projects, a hospital transaction, the purchase of additional security cameras for the community center, a recruitment incentive program, equipment repair work, a traffic safety study, and approval of the preliminary plat for the QuickTrip convenience store and urgent care clinic.
Let our Chickens Roam
Valley Coleman, a resident of the Westwood Hills subdivision, appeared before the city council to request that citizens be allowed to keep backyard chickens. Coleman highlighted the benefits of keeping chickens in the backyard, including their ability to act as natural pesticides. She said that chickens can eat up to two pounds of insects in a day, which would be beneficial for controlling pests like the Japanese beetles. In addition to pesticide control, Coleman believes that backyard chickens would be a cost-effective way to produce eggs locally. With inflation and the high cost of living, many families struggle to afford basic necessities, including food. By allowing backyard chickens, citizens could produce their own eggs, reducing their food bills and improving their overall financial situation. The council said they would consider the proposal and revisit the topic in the coming weeks.
Redevelopment Update
The Real Property Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act requires the City Council to hold a public hearing every five years to review the progress of the Redevelopment plans and projects that were created under the ACT. According to the report, the City has completed the Walmart, Paradise Playhouse, Vintage One, and Vintage Two Tax Increment Financing plans. The completion of these projects marks significant progress in the City’s redevelopment efforts. However, two projects remain open today: the Elms Redevelopment plan and the Golf Clubhouse plan. The City will review the progress made on these two plans.
Hospital Seeks Approval for Real Estate Transfer
Cameron White from the Excelsior Springs Hospital presented a transaction similar to the one that closed last December. The hospital had initially planned to do these as a single transaction, but due to the need to obtain financing from two separate banks, it had to request separate transactions. This transaction is related to the Lawson Primary Care Clinic building, located at 411 North Pennsylvania Avenue in Lawson, MO. The hospital will sell this building to the Excelsior Springs Healthcare Foundation and lease it back as medical office space for the term. The purpose of the building will remain the same, and the hospital will continue to provide medical care services from the location. The sale of the building to the Excelsior Springs Healthcare Foundation is a strategic move that will allow the hospital to better focus on its core mission of providing high-quality medical care to patients.
Smile, You’re on Community Center Camera
Nate Williams, the Director of the Community Center, requested approval for the purchase of additional security cameras for its new expansions and some existing areas. The cameras are expected to be purchased with funds from the phase two budget and installed by ETI, the center’s current supplier. Nate said that over the six years since its opening, the center has identified several areas that need security cameras but currently lack them. The expansion area, which includes the parking lot expansion out to the Wornall sidewalk and the pool area, will be among the new areas to be equipped with cameras. In addition to the expansion area, the center will also be adding several other cameras that were previously overlooked but are now deemed necessary for better security. The cameras will be added with traditional licensing, and the center has enough storage space to accommodate the additional equipment. The security cameras are expected to improve the safety and security of the center and its visitors.
Won’t you be my Officer?
The Chief of Police and Fire Departments, Chief Dull, proposed a recruitment incentive program policy for difficult-to-fill positions. The proposal would reward city employees who refer a member that gets hired for these positions. The policy includes an employee referral form, and those who are ineligible include department heads, HR staff, and those responsible for recruitment.
Tractor Repair
Public Works Director Chad Birdsong presented a resolution at the meeting to approve equipment repair work from Heartland Tractor. He explained that an accident had occurred in August of 2022, causing damage to a tractor while mowing the state right-of-way on 69 Highway. Since then, the city has been working with the insurance company and Heartland Tractor to complete the repairs. The total cost for the repairs comes to $21,282.22, with the city paying a $1,000 deductible. This leaves the remaining balance of $20,282.22 for the city’s insurance to pay.
Looking Both Ways
The City Council discussed a resolution approving a Professional Services agreement with Bartlett and West Incorporated for a study of three intersections in the city. The study will look at the operational analysis of intersections at Jill Lane, CE King, Italian Way, and 92 Highway. The total cost of the study will be $15,000 and is projected to be completed in three to four months. This study does not include any construction work but is expected to help address safety concerns in the area, particularly at the CE King and Italian Way intersection, which has seen numerous accidents. The agreement follows a previous agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for the study’s implementation and design.
Updated Substance Abuse Policey
The City Council approved an ordinance that adopted an updated substance abuse policy for Transportation Transit employees pursuant to MoDOT’s requirements for audit compliance.
It’s officially, official… QT Preliminary Plat Approved
City officials are considering a site plan approval for a Quick Trip convenience store and a future urgent care clinic. The preliminary plan would divide the property into two lots and provide a stormwater management tract. City staff worked with Quick Trip and the Missouri Department of Transportation on joint review and approval, with the level of service for traffic function maintained. The proposed development includes two access points, one a full access off of McCleary Road, and the other a right-in, right-out on Jesse James Road. City Planning Commission approved both the preliminary plat and site plan, pending approval by the city council. Quick Trip will submit a final plat application along with Public Works plans and final building drawings for review and consideration in the coming weeks.
All agenda items were unanimously approved unless otherwise noted
A correction was made to this article on 02/21/23 at 10:31 PM – we had inverted the deductible and remaining balance of the repairs of the tractor repair indicating the City would pay $20,202.22 and the insurance would pay $1,000.
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