Talk of the Town - September 30-October 6, 2024

Welcome to Talk of the Town! Each week, we will provide a comprehensive summary of major events, decisions, and discussions that took place in Excelsior Springs. We’ll highlight public comments, social media interactions, and responses from local leaders to give you a well-rounded view of how these stories are impacting our city.

Posts that got you talking

We got everyone talking at the first of the week about getting a Longboards Wraps and Bowls in town! We stopped at their Liberty location for lunch and got the ear of one of the owners who expressed interest! We didn’t waste any time proving to her that the community is open to it, too! A majority of the comments were encouraging, with many others having not tried it or are not interested.

The talk of having a new motel come to Excelsior Springs has been ongoing for many years. For newer residents, The Monterey Motel was built in 1938 and was located on Veterans Memorial Drive in the downtown, across from the American Legion and Lewis Elementary. For decades it offered another option for the many tourists that came to town. However, in more recent years, the motel fell into disrepair so much that a portion of it was uninhabitable and off limits for serving the public. In 2013, the Excelsior Springs School District purchased the building and had it demolished, to make way for what is now the staff and school parking lot.

There were mixed feelings about losing the property, which many brought up in the thread that took place this week. Comments about the drug use and long-term stays that were allowed in the later years are not far from some citizens’ minds. Many offered out of town options and in town air b&bs, but the comment drawing the most support was from Alicia Hurtubise-Cunningham. She said, “Most want to stay at just a regular hotel when they are just visiting family. A Comfort Inn or mid-priced for a couple night stays. The Elms is a special occasion hotel.”

Some are mistaken that The Elms Hotel would not want another hotel to be built, but Chuck Anderson Ford owner Mike Anderson countered saying, “The Elms is actually not against it. They discussed needing a hotel for overflow. The build per room last I heard was over $100k, so that is the issue. There is still discussion but it’s very slow going!”

New tattoo studio is opening in the downtown where Holistic Springs Herb Co. was previously on the corner at 10 Hwy on Thompson Ave.

The responses to the Clay County Sheriff’s Department’s post about Missouri’s Amendment 6 were largely negative, with many expressing distrust and frustration. Some commenters voiced opposition to what they saw as poor financial management, questioning why the current funds weren’t sufficient and suggesting that better budgeting should be implemented instead of relying on new fees. Others expressed concern that the amendment might incentivize arrests or prosecutions, or simply viewed the fee as another hidden tax.

A few commenters supported the amendment, arguing that law-abiding citizens would not need to worry about the fee and emphasizing the need to support law enforcement personnel. However, even among those who recognized the importance of funding the retirement system, there was criticism of the way the issue was being handled, with several individuals questioning the ballot language and the management of the retirement funds.

In summary, the majority of commenters expressed skepticism or outright opposition, often citing concerns about mismanagement, lack of transparency, and the ethics of tying fees to the justice system.

Other Noteworthy News This Week

This is the second time that Wild Bunch has been hit by thieves at night! Bold considering the license plate readers that are all over town.

Crystal Lakes Clubhouse has had a renovation and is now available for rental of events! They held an Oktoberfest this weekend that drew a great crowd!