Excelsior Springs City Council Recap, May 15, 2023
Board Appointments, Work Orders, and Ordinances
The Excelsior Springs City Council plays a central role in guiding the future city. Tasked with addressing important issues and making critical decisions, council members work diligently to tackle challenges and implement necessary policies. Their focus ranges from economic development to public safety and environmental concerns, as they strive to create a well-functioning and inclusive city. Let’s delve into the recent updates, decisions, and initiatives undertaken by the Council, at the May 15, 2023, council meeting.
Proclamation - National Hospital Week 2023
Excelsior Springs Hospital CEO, Kristen DeHart was on hand to accept the proclamation for National Hospital Week 2023.
Proclamation - Mental Health Awareness Month
Ethan Kent program director of Senior Life Solutions was in attendance to accept the proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month.
Consideration of Board Appointment to Capital Improvements/Transportation Trust Authority
Laurie Gehrt has been appointed as a member of the Capital Improvements/Transportation Trust Authority Board to fulfill the remaining term of Councilman Reggie St. John. St. John’s term was cut short as he was elected to the city council. Laurie Gehrt’s appointment will be in effect until September 30, 2025, ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of the board’s operations during this period.
Consideration of Board Appointments to the Parks & Recreation Board
Mark Spohn announced the appointments to the Parks and Recreation Board, which were made by Resolution at the Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, May 15, 2023, at six o’clock in the Council Chambers. Subject to Council approval, the following individuals were appointed:
Kyle Uptegrove: Kyle was reappointed as a member of the Parks & Recreation Board to serve until May 31, 2026.
Patrick Halfhill: Patrick was also reappointed as a member of the Parks & Recreation Board and will serve until May 31, 2026.
Mark Bullimore: Mark was appointed as a member of the Parks & Recreation Board until May 31, 2026. He replaced Councilman St. John, fulfilling the remaining term.
Eric Marshall: Eric was appointed as the School District Liaison for the Parks & Recreation Board until May 31, 2026.
Consideration of Board Appointment to Community Foundation
Councilmember Gary Renne was appointed to the Community Foundation and will serve until September 30, 2025, fulfilling the remaining term of former Mayor and Councilmember, Sharon Powell.
Consideration of Change Order for Hall of Waters Save America's Treasures
The Excelsior Springs City Council unanimously approved a change order request regarding the Hall of Waters Save America’s Treasures Grant project. The change order primarily focused on the first floor of the building and a garage repair. The requested amount for the change order was $54,667.14. It included a credit of $27,500 for terrazzo repair and the cleaning and sealing of the terrazzo on the first floor, including the lobby and museum areas. The cleaning and sealing work, costing $38,660, was scheduled to be completed over the Memorial Day Weekend to avoid interruption. Other items in the change order involved the installation of a three-compartment sink in the water bar area to meet health department requirements ($1,495), the application of an epoxy coating on the garage floor ($26,455), and the reconciliation of concrete numbers ($15,557.14). Importantly, the project remains within the original $1,000,000 grant budget. Melinda Mehaffy, the Economic Development Director, provided this information.
Consideration of Lead Service Line Funding
Chad Birdsong, the Director of Public Works, presented a proposal to the Excelsior Springs City Council, which aims to secure federal financial assistance through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Financial Assistance Center. The funding request amounts to approximately $132,500.00 and is intended to support a comprehensive lead service line inventory, planning, and design study for both residential and commercial service lines. In order to fulfill the requirements of the application process, it was necessary to obtain a resolution from the governing body authorizing the application. The authorized official named in the resolution, responsible for submitting and signing all required documents and receiving payments on behalf of the applicant, was designated as the City Manager.
Consideration of Administrative Search Warrant Ordinance
The Council approved the Administrative Search Warrant Ordinance. This ordinance addresses a specific challenge faced by city staff when they encounter difficulties gaining access to a building or property, hindering the process of abating public nuisances and enforcing the city’s housing and property maintenance code.
In response to similar circumstances faced by other municipalities, city staff proposed the adoption of an administrative warrant as a tool to address these challenges. The proposed ordinance would enable staff to seek an administrative warrant when all other attempts to gain access to the property have been exhausted, or when the property owner cannot be located or has been unresponsive to previous efforts.
The ordinance outlines a comprehensive process that includes specific timelines for applying for the warrant and executing it, providing clear and concise guidelines for city staff to follow. Staff members have been grappling with a local situation for over a year, wherein they have been unable to resolve the issue due to the inability to locate the current property owner. The administrative warrant, if approved, would offer a potential solution to such circumstances.
Consideration of Readopting the Conflicts of Interest Policy
The Excelsior Springs City Council reviewed the proposal for the readoption of the Conflicts of Interest Policy, as discussed in Ordinance No. 23-05-07. The city council considers adopting this policy annually, although it is only required to be adopted every other year. Notably, there were no changes made to the ordinance from the previous year.
The policy aims to ensure that public officials and employees maintain independence, impartiality, and accountability to the public. It emphasizes that government decisions and policies should be made through proper channels, without personal gain, and with the public’s confidence in the government’s integrity. The policy establishes a procedure for disclosing private financial or other interests that may impact the City.
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