Deerbrook North Neighborhood News

Lee's Summit City Council Considers Changing Fireworks Code

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:10:00 +0000

The Lee's Summit Journal is reporting that tomorrow, March 13 the city council is scheduled a vote to change one of the more successful initiatives that the city council has set forth in years.

Very successful, judging by the massive celebrations that have occurred yearly on the 4th of July in Lee's Summit, and the revenues that these celebrations have generated for local charities, in direct response to the Councils fireworks code.

The fireworks code currently states that only Lee's Summit-based organizations can operate fireworks tents within city limits, which allows community organizations a much needed means of generating operating funds.

Now the word is that outside organizations will be allowed to operate 6 of the 20 tents in the coming year, and I for one believe that this is a mistake. It isn't like the licenses are going unused by local organizations, and the licenses allow the local organizations to partner with outside organizations if that is what they want to do.

Opening the process to outside organizations will pressure the local organization to compete on price on quality with these outside organizations. I hope those on the council will consider the effect of this on the local community groups.

Check out what the Journal has to say on the issue, City Council to vote on change in fireworks code:

On Thursday, the Lee's Summit City Council is scheduled to vote on another change to the city's fireworks code.

If approved, the ordinance would modify the current code by reserving 14 of the 20 available vender licenses for Lee's Summit-based organizations. The remaining six would be allowed for non-local organizations, according to city information.

In addition, a lottery system would be put in place to select the 20 applicants to be considered for a license. According to city information, the proposed lottery system is similar to the lottery system used to select the order candidates' names appear on the ballot for an election.

According to city information, the question of the lottery system was brought up among city staff and the Council several times in May 2007 - when the last amendments were made to the city's code regarding the use and retail of fireworks. However, the time frame the city was working with did not allow for that endeavor.

The amended ordinance also would require the applicant to obtain a Special Events Permit Fee and would only allow one application to be filed on behalf of an entity for a particular location.

This will prevent the manipulation of the lottery system by filing multiple applications by the same entity for the same location, according to city information.

Gateway Pundit: SHOOTING At Kirkwood, Missouri Town Hall Meeting!! Mayor Shot!

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:29:00 +0000

Lori, my wife after seeing how worked up people get at the City Council meetings here in Lee's Summit sometimes, wondered aloud where it would be a good idea to have some policemen at the council meetings to maintain order. After tonights events in Kirkwood, I would have to agree that I think it would be a really good idea for Lee's Summit City Council to consider. Especially when Council considers any TIF related issues.

From a famous St. Louis area blogger who goes by Gateway Pundit has the latest on tonights events Gateway Pundit - SHOOTING At Kirkwood, Missouri Town Hall Meeting!! Mayor Shot!:

THE KIRKWOOD MAYOR & OTHERS ARE SHOT AT TOWN HALL MEETING!

Bob McCarty sends this breaking news from St. Louis:

KSDK-TV, the NBC affiliate in St. Louis just reported that a man walked into the city council chambers in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood, Mo., said all he wanted was justice and began shooting. Developing!
The Post Dispatch reported:

A man walked into a Kirkwood city council meeting Thursday night and shot several people, including the city’s mayor and several council members.

A correspondent for the Post-Dispatch who was attending said the 7 p.m. meeting had just started when the man rushed into the council chambers yelling and began opening fire with at least one weapon. She identified the man as Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton.

"He came from the back of the room," said Janet McNichols, the correspondent. "He kept yelling ‘shoot the mayor’ and he just walked around shooting anybody he could."

McNichols said the shooter first fired at a police officer at the meeting, then began firing at the council. As people went to the floor, the shooter walked toward the council area.

He fired at the city attorney, who fended the attacker off by throwing chairs, McNichols said. The shooter went behind a curved desk where the council sits and fired more shots at members of the council, she said.

Then police arrived and shot the attacker.

Among those hit, in addition to the police officer, were Mayor Mike Swoboda, council members Michael H.T. Lynch and Connie Karr and Public Works Directer Kenneth Yost, McNichols said. Conditions were not known for any of them.

She said about 30 people were in the council chambers at the time of the shooting.

Press Gone Wild

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:23:00 +0000

You have to be thick skinned these days to be a Politician, even a local one. It’s the primary season and the last couple of weeks has brought a multitude of political figures dropping out of their respective races, for some it’s the natural primary weeding out process, but for others, like Governor Blunt, it’s the toll political life takes on the politician’s and their families.

The ever increasing pressure public figures feel from our modern media driven world is driving good people from office and discouraging other highly qualified people from ever entering public life.

A century ago, politicians only had to worry about what their local paper(s) thought of them. In this environment, the families of politicians were considered to be private citizens and therefore their lives were off limits to the press. In fact, when privy to “private facts” concerning the politician, the press enforced a gentlemanly agreement held that these private facts remained private as long as they did not interfere with the politician’s duties. Even after the advent of national radio networks the majority of Americans did not know that President Roosevelt was confined to a wheelchair during his tenure in office. Personal respect allowed highly qualified politicians and their families to live their lives free from intrusion.

Today what has changed? We have the printed press, constituting of not only the local papers, but also national papers and magazines, we have radio networks, most with at least one political talk show filling 3 or 4 hours of air time per day, we have at least ten major television networks, with several broadcasting news content 24 hours a day/7 days a week, and last but not least we have the bloggers. Thousands of individuals (and I’m one of them) that feel the compulsion to write down their thoughts and opinions for everyone to see. Before the Internet, this was called journaling, but today they are kept on the internet and made accessible to everyone by Google and other Web Search engines. Blogs have become yet another form of editorial press on every topic imaginable.

The massive increase in the number of press outlets has created an insatiable thirst for news worthy content. This massive thirst for content, something to show, talk or write about, has driven the incessant intrusion into political candidate’s lives as well as their families. Today very little escapes the attention of the media. Take Kansas City’s Mayor for example, it was major news when it was learned that his wife likes to walk around city hall barefoot. And when one of the Mayor’s appointees was found to be a member of the Minutemen Organization (a group dedicated to enforcing the countries borders) it made national news, this was cited as the sole reason for the canceling of several of the cities conventions and is now being cited as grounds for not only forcing from office the appointee in question but potentially recalling the Mayor, himself.

Do we really want every organization, every club; every public thought we have ever been associated with to be fair game for media scrutiny prior to running for political office or even accepting a political appointment. Do we want papers written in elementary school to be used as proof of inconsistencies in our political positions, as the Clinton Campaign recently attempted against the Obama Campaign?

I wouldn’t , not that I have anything to hide, I just don’t want people digging through my private life, and I’m sure I’m not alone in my feelings. Unfortunately, I think some of our best and brightest share my feelings and avoid public office like the plague.

What is needed, if our democracy is to continue to attract quality public officials is a comprehensive definition of what is considered public and what is private, and once defined, enforceable penalties for all who violate our privacy.

Congratulations To Lee's Summit's Chief Piccinini

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 04:19:00 +0000

Congratulations are in order to Lee's Summit's newest police chief, Joe Piccinini.

Long time neighborhood residents might remember Chief Piccinini as Officer Piccinini as the policeman who convened our first neighborhood meeting, months after our houses were built for the purpose of creating our neighborhood watch group. Others from the neighborhood might remember the work he did with our kids at Underwood Elementary as their DARE officer a few years back.

But I remember him for the support he gave to my boys Boy Scout Troop 42 where he was an involved parent.

Chief Piccinini is a fine officer and will make a fine police chief.

For more on our new police chief check out, NBC Action News KSHB-TV 41 - Lee's Summit has new police chief or Lee's Summit Journal - Lee's Summit, Missouri:

“It is my honor to accept the position of police chief and to continue serving the citizens of the city I’ve made my life-long home," Piccinini said in accepting the appointment. "In my permanent position as chief, I remain dedicated to strengthening the police department from within, and reinforcing positive interaction between LSPD personnel and the community.”

Piccinini began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer in 1983. He has served in various positions in the department including detective, public information officer, sergeant to the investigation units, captain/watch commander of patrol and the major for the operations division.

Legoland Lee's Summit - It's not dead yet

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:42:00 +0000

Looks like the celebrative dancing by the Anti-Legoland Grinch's might be just a bit premature, Seann McAnnally from the Lee's Summit Tribune contacted Dave Claflin, vice president of marketing for RED Development. and Rep. Jeff Grisamore on their efforts to bring Legoland to Lee's Summit and both said plans are moving forward for another application to both local and state officials this year.

For more check out Seann's article in Lee's Summit Tribune - Legoland - It's not dead yet:

"We are diligently working to bring Legoland to Lee's Summit," said Dave Claflin, vice president of marketing for RED Development.
State officials are anticipating another Legoland application.
"We've been told we'll see another application in 2008," said Rep. Jeff Grisamore, of Lee's Summit. "We don't know many details at this point."
RED's original proposal was for a 200-acre development, including a Legoland theme park, Sea Life aquarium, a 250-room Lego-themed hotel, and more than 700,000 square feet of retail shops. The project was originally planned for the area east of the Summit Technology Campus along Chipman Road.
According to city documents, the total cost of the development would have been some $723.8 million. RED requested some $114.3 million in tax increment financing, $20.8 million in "super TIF" and about $46.8 million in state supplemental TIF.

Congratulations to the Lee’s Summit City Council Candidates

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:17:00 +0000

Congratulations are in order for all of the potential candidates that have heard the call and have filed in the last few weeks for the upcoming city council election.

There has been a good supply of candidates registering for the April election of city council candidates. Truthfully, I was a little concerned that after instituting city council term limits in the November election and the announced retirements of both councilmen Williams and Freeman that there would be enough interest generated to field an adequate number of candidates for the election, but no such problem.

What does concern me however is that so many of the candidates are handicapping themselves by taking anti-TIF and anti-Tax increase pledges prior to the election.

I don't like tax increases anymore than the next guy, and I agree that TIF's state wide haven't been used as they were initially envisioned, but without in-depth knowledge of the city's financial status, I don't see how anyone can make such promises, prior to ever serving in the position.

The next city council will face some daunting challenges over the next few years, among them the effects of the construction slow down on our local economy, construction delays affecting the opening of Summit Fair, less than expected sales tax revenue from Summit Woods, the lack of commercially developable land within the city limits. These plus additional unforeseen issues will have real but unplanned consequences to the city's bottom line.

In addition to these prospective revenue problems the city still has not adequately addressed the massive leakage of sales tax revenue to the TIF supported shopping districts located just to the north of Lee's Summit, in Independence. If anything with additional TIF supported shopping districts proposed or under construction in Independence, Blue Springs and Kansas City, the leakage of sales tax revenue may actually get worse.

The city is already operating under some stringent budget restrictions and given the additional possible problems, I don't see a way to address them other than increasingly stringent budget restrictions if the majority of the new council has taken anti-TIF and anti-Tax pledges.

Will the city council resort to reduced city services, less snow removal, fewer police patrols, maybe even a cut in city employment in order to keep their pledges to anti-TIF and anti-Tax increase groups with the city? I hope not, City Council members need to be entrusted by the citizens of this city to make decisions for what is best for the city free from restrictions placed on them by any group with biases counter to the benefit of the entire city. The City Council needs to be able to consider any and all means legally available to them to address the needs of the city.

I will be very interested in seeing the outcome of the upcoming city council election, how the new council handles the considerable issues facing them, and how promises made to the various groups involved affect the council's actions.

Katy Trail Extended To Downtown?

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:55:00 +0000

Most everyone in the area has heard of or even used the Katy Trail, to do some cross country biking or hiking but did you know that there is a real effort to extend the Katy Trail all the way to downtown Kansas City. The existing trail was originally a operating rail line that travel through the central part of the state, and was converted to a hiking and biking trail via a federal rails-to-trails program.

Recently a Reynolds County Circuit judge approved a $180 million settlement in response to the collapse of AmerenUE’s Taum Sauk reservoir in 2005. While much of that settlement involves damage repairs near the utility’s reservoir site in eastern Missouri, some of the money will allow the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to extend the Katy Trail from Windsor, Mo., to Pleasant Hill.

Now Trail backers are working on a solution to bring the trail all the way to downtown. The Kansas City Star is reporting in www.kansascity.com - Plans are under way to extend Katy Trail to KC area:

Trail backers have long coveted a segment of the same unused rail line that runs from Pleasant Hill to an area near the Truman Sports Complex. From there, the trail could use the Blue River Valley and streets to reach existing downtown trails.
But that segment is controlled by the Union Pacific railroad. Although unused, it has never been abandoned, said Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis. The railroad has received several inquiries about the right of way, but no definitive discussions have ensued, Davis said.
Officials also are looking at other options in case that line is not available, Jaax said.
One idea would be to develop a trail route through Lee’s Summit to Longview Lake, and then head west, said Steve Rhodes, a Mid-America Regional Council trail planner.
The Missouri Department of Transportation is building a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 71 in the Grandview Triangle area, Rhodes said. A highway crossing there could lead the trail west to the Blue River Valley, where Jackson County and Kansas City control much of the right of way and already have trails built or planned.
Also, a trail built upstream in the Blue River corridor could provide a link to trail systems in Johnson County. Downstream links could be made to Independence. Links also are planned to the Northland.
But trail planners are not planning on bicycles pedaling on the Katy Trail from downtown to Longview Lake anytime soon.
“It will be several years at the current pace to bring it in,” Rhodes said. “But we hope with the announcement of the Katy coming to Pleasant Hill, we’ll see some renewed energy for it.”

Local Boy Bullied To Death,

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:07:00 +0000

KCTV - Mother: Son Was Bullied To Death:

A grieving mother is suing the Blue Springs School District, claiming her 12-year-old son was bullied to death.Kim Myers said she blames school teachers and administrators for her son's death.She said her son, Brandon, was constantly picked on by classmates, teased for a speech impediment.Last February, her boyfriend found Brandon unconscious.

Myers said, "When he found Brandon, he was still standing upright. He had his one foot flat on the floor and another up on a bucket, with a cord around his neck. And John thought he was playing because he wasn't hanging, per se. And he nudged him and found that he was unconscious at that point."Myers said Brandon would have never committed suicide if the faculty at Voy Spears Jr. Elementary School in Lee's Summit would have done something to stop the constant bullying." Because there was bullying in the school that the teachers and the assistant principal and the principal knew about and the counselor. Nothing was done," said Myers. Myers said she knows a lawsuit won't heal the pain, but hopes Brandon's story will be a wake-up call for everyone about how serious bullying can be."I don't want any parents to go through what I've been through in the last year with my son. There were warning signs that I should have been told about - red flags that they didn't tell me about," Myers said.The district issued a statement saying it's had an anti-bullying policy since 2004.The policy was expanded in 2006 to add that threats in writing, including e-mails and text messages, could be considered acts of bullying. Officials said they adhered to the policy in Brandon's case.

My heart goes out Brandon's parents and relatives, as a boy I underwent more than my share of abuse at the hands of my classmates so I can identify with the helplessness that Brandon felt.

In scouts I worked with boys Brandon's age from Voy Spears Jr. and as part of scouting, we hope to teach boys that this type of teasing should never be condoned, but regretfully bullying still occurs.

If you are or know of a child who is unfairly treated by their classmates, please take the time and let a teacher, parent or scout leader know of the situation. Help is available, but unfortunately sometimes those who need it don't get it.

Update - Columbia Tribune has a story on Brandon called Bullying reverberates in suicide’s aftermath:

The bedroom bears the telltale signs of a typical boy on the cusp of his teen years: discarded food wrappers, video game consoles, clothes scattered on the floor.
The disarray hides tragedy inside the suburban Kansas City home. The room is a memorial to Brandon Myers, who killed himself in February 2007. He was 12.
For Kim Myers, her youngest son’s death is the result of what she calls incessant bullying that his teachers and other administrators at Voy Spears Elementary School failed to stop.
"He was teased in class on the day he died for acting depressed," said Myers, a single parent. "He was screaming for help. If he had got the help he needed, he would still be alive."
The details of how Brandon was harassed - and the school’s response - are incomplete. Myers has hired an attorney and said she plans to sue the Blue Springs School District for her son’s wrongful death. She and her ex-husband, Brandon’s father, don’t want to jeopardize the pending lawsuit by discussing it publicly.
A school district lawyer said officials would discuss only Brandon’s "educational experience" with The Associated Press, and then only with his parents’ permission.
The case is not without precedent. In 2005, a small-town teenager from Tonganoxie, Kan., who was bullied for years by classmates because they believed he was gay was awarded $440,000 in a settlement against a school district. The student, who said he was not gay, was harassed with homophobic slurs from seventh grade until he quit school before graduating.
For Brandon, life was never easy. Born with a cleft palate, he endured several corrective surgeries that improved his smile but didn’t get rid of a pronounced speech impediment.
His parents divorced when he was 5. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the third grade, and later depression, he took a daily chemical cocktail to combat those impulses and regularly saw a counselor outside school.
In the days and weeks leading up to his suicide, Brandon dropped several hints to classmates and teachers that his troubles might have grown life-threatening, Kim Myers said. She didn’t learn of those warning signs until it was too late.
Suicide long has been considered one of the greatest risks faced by vulnerable adolescents. But an increasing number of mental health experts warn that younger children such as Brandon also are susceptible.
Nationally, more than 1,600 children ages 10 to 14 committed suicide from 1999 through 2004, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Missouri, 34 children in that age group took their own lives from 2001 through 2005, state records show.
The direct effect of bullying on those suicides is impossible to determine.
But as in the case of Megan Meier - the 13-year-old suburban St. Louis girl who committed suicide after receiving cruel messages on a MySpace page - the social pressures that drive some children to suicide are immense, bullying expert Hilda Quiroz said.
"Schools are social settings," said Quiroz, a former teacher who now works for the California-based National School Safety Center. "And in social settings, there are kids who wield power."
A nationwide survey of more than 15,000 students in grades six to 10 showed that 30 percent reported experience with bullying - 11 percent as targets, 13 percent as bullies themselves and an additional 6 percent who said they had been both aggressor and victim. Bullying victims direct their anger in two directions, Quiroz said: at themselves or toward others, including their tormentors.
The Blue Springs School District has had a bullying policy since April 2004. The policy was expanded in 2006 to add that threats in writing, including e-mails and text messages, could be considered acts of bullying In the weeks after Brandon’s death - including a contentious school board meeting where angry parents brought up the case - officials said they adhered to the policy.
The day after Christmas 2007 would have been Brandon’s 13th birthday. His absence made the holiday a painful one for the Myers family.
"This is the first year he’s not been around," said his father, Randy Myers. "We’re struggling."
Down the block from Brandon’s house, a solitary plaque marks his shortened life, a tribute to the passion that drove him to awaken in the pre-dawn darkness each morning so he could fish at the neighborhood lake before school.
"Forever Fishing," the plaque reads. "Brandon Myers."
Fishing was an escape for Brandon, a respite from the daily taunts at Voy Spears. He would fish at the pond with his buddy Trystyn, or with his mother’s boyfriend at nearby Lake Lotawana. Summer meant bullfrog hunting trips with his grandfather in southwest Missouri.
Inside Trystyn Wagner’s home, toy frogs of all shapes and sizes surround a hallway display of baseball cards, fishing photos and other reminders of his late best friend.
A few days before Brandon’s death, the two friends argued about a girl. They quickly patched up the dispute, but guilt from that encounter and its proximity to Brandon’s suicide hangs over Trystyn, his mother said.
"He said he wanted to be next to Brandon," said Amy Wagner, who has since moved Trystyn and his younger sister to a private school as a result of what she says was bullying toward her son.
"It’s just been a nightmare," she said.
During a Lee’s Summit police investigation of Brandon’s death, Trystyn told officers that Brandon drew a picture of himself hanging from a rope. The drawing was found by another student and turned in to a teacher, according to a police report.
Another classmate later shared a note from Brandon that further hinted at his risks of suicide.
I "have had enuf of this crap(p)y life," the note reads. "I will hang myself tonight so if you have anything to say to me I suggest you tell me before 4:35 p.m. tonight."
In the note, a copy of which was provided to the AP by Kim Myers, Brandon asked the unknown student to notify others in their class and listed the phone numbers for two classmates he wished to alert.
Kim Myers said she first learned of the warning note in May 2007, nearly three months after Brandon’s death, from Lee’s Summit police. The note was given to school officials on March 2 by a student’s parent.
The unidentified student’s mother told police and school officials that she found the note folded on a table in her home two days after Brandon’s death and brought it to school later that week.
Another, earlier comment made by Brandon for a December 2006 school assignment shows his struggles for acceptance by his classmates.
"I’m sorry for all the things I’ve done," he wrote. "I regret standing outside the circle."

Lees Summit Open House Jan 15 Planned For Proposed Blackwell and Todd George Area

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:08:00 +0000

I know there a lot of interest in what is going on in Lees Summit with the proposed interchanges at Blackwell Road, Todd George Road and US 50.

Here is a PDF file illustrating the area in question.

The city has announced plans for an Open House Public Meeting - Proposed US 50 Interchanges at Blackwell and Todd George:

The City of Lee's Summit will be holding an open house public meeting on the US 50 interchanges at Blackwell Road, Todd George and associated outer road improvements. The meeting will be held at the Lee's Summit City Hall in the Howard Conference Room, 220 SE Green Street, Lee's Summit, MO on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

The purpose of this meeting is to gather public input on the proposed improvements and their economic, social, environmental and community benefits and impacts. An open-house format will be used to maximize the public input and comments.

Lee's Summit City Council Considers Future Developments

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:53:00 +0000

If your interested in how Lee's Summit will be look over the next few years, it looks like the City Council meeting, tomorrow, Thursday, Jan 10 at 6:15 pm at the City Hall, should not be missed. The council plans to hear from City Staff on the development plans of remaining 4.8% of the city that hasn't already been developed or isn't being kept from development by religious groups.

If you can't make the meeting, don't forget it is rebroadcast on your cable Government Access Channel. Rebroadcasts are scheduled for 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. on the Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday following the Council meeting.

Or if you've missed those you can check out a streaming video of City Meetings by clicking here. Now you have no excuse, get involved!

For more of what is planned for this important meeting, check out Lee's Summit Journal - Council looks at plans for future development, improvements:

The city of Lee's Summit and the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council are scheduled to request that the City Council develop Economic Development Master Plans for seven key strategic locations within the city during the regular session of the City Council at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday.

According to city information, the staff is presenting a Request for Qualification process that would allow the council to determine which, if any, of the targeted areas merit the investment of a long-term plan.

The seven areas outlined in city documents include the U.S. 50 corridor, the Lowenstein property, north of Interstate 470 near Lakewood, the Pfizer/Adessa property between Hamblen and M-291, Quarry Hills west of U.S. 350 and north of I-470, the Strother Corridor and land near Unity Village.

According to city documents, the amount of remaining commercial and industrial land available for development is estimated to be 4.8 percent.

City staff and the LSEDC said that the development of a plan to use these properties in the best possible manner is important to the long-term financial sustainibility of Lee's Summit.

The goal of the RFQ process is to gain knowledge that would help the city in future development decisions.

Staff and the LSEDC want to encourage development that creates revenue growth that allows the city to support quality municipal services for Lee's Summit.

In addition to the RFQ, council is scheduled to approve the Thoroughfare Master Plan priorities that were recommended by the Thoroughfare Master Plan Steering Committee.

These priority projects include:

? Bailey Road: Two to three lane extension from M-291 to Hamblen

? Ward Road: Widening to five lanes from M-150 south to the southern city limits at County Line Road

? Jefferson Street: Two lane reconstruction from Persels to Stuart

? Chipman Road: Two to three lane realignment and upgrade from View High east to Bent Tree with a right of way for five lanes

? Lee's Summit Road: Widening to four to five lanes from Colbern to the north City limits

? Hook Road: Two to three lane reconstruction from Ward Road to M-291 with right of way for five lanes.

According to city information, the approval of the plan's priorities will determine the order in which each project funded by the 10-year half-cent sales tax receives resources.

Missouri Promise Offers Four Year Tuition To A+ Students Under Proposed Bill

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:43:00 +0000

The Star is reporting on a proposed Missouri House bill that has potential to effect the lives of many Lee's Summit area students. Under the bill, the popular A+ program would be extended beyond providing two years tuition free at an area community college, to providing an additional two years tuition at a state sponsored four-year school, in exchange for maintaining a 3.0 grade point average and performing some additional community service.

The Lee's Summit school district all currently offers the A+ program to all its students. Under the program, high school students who keep a 2.5 grade point average, attend class 95% of the time and perform 50 hours of community service are entitled to two full years tuition at an area community college as long as they keep a 2.5 grade point average.

Under the new program dubbed "Missouri Promise" those A+ students attending a community college would have the opportunity to earn an additional two years tuition-free at a Missouri four year school, by keeping a 3.0 grade point average and performing additional community service hours.

Both of my two oldest children have taken advantage of the A+ program, and it has really helps out on tuition costs. If you think about the A+ program instills responsibility in its participants, by requiring them to do what they already should be doing, going to class, keeping their grades up and helping out the community.

For more on the proposed Missouri Promise program, read Primebuzz - Missouri House Dems tout plan offering free college tuition:

JEFFERSON CITY | Missouri House Democrats announced a plan Monday to allow students who have completed community college to continue tuition-free at a four-year school.
The scholarship program, called Missouri Promise, would be an extension of the A+ Program, which offers free tuition to students attending community colleges. Under the bill, students who earned their associate’s degree through A+ would receive state scholarships to go on to a four-year school.

“In simple terms, the bill fulfills the promise of what A+ was started for in the beginning,” said Rep. Clint Zweifel, a Florissant Democrat and the bill’s sponsor.

To be eligible, a student would have to attend community college on an A+ scholarship, maintain a 3.0 grade point average and perform several hours of community service.

Democrats estimate that the program would cost $15 million a year and could serve at least 3,000 students a year. It would be funded from the estimated $300 million budget surplus, said Rep. Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat.

House Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt, a Blue Springs Republican, said he expected both parties to emphasize access to higher education this year, although he said financing such improvements would be an issue.

“We always need to do more to promote higher education and provide access to it,” Pratt said. “But it all comes down to finding the money.”

A preliminary version of the bill is expected to be filed this week, Zweifel said. The legislative session begins Wednesday.

Blackwell Road TIF is activated

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 03:28:00 +0000

I still think that cutting Blackwell down from four lanes to three is a mistake, it is not what Lees Summit residents paid for, and goes against the the initial design of the area, but time will tell. I'm going to have do another explanation of TIF's and why we need them based on the reactions I'm hearing to the use of TIF's in Lees Summit.

Here is the story as it appeared in the Kansas City Star - Blackwell Road TIF is activated:

Lee's Summit residents near Blackwell Road will see improvements to make it safer as part of a tax increment financing district.

The TIF also is expected to pay for a new U.S. 50 interchange at Blackwell. The city plans to use a TIF to raise $42.5 million to build a diamond interchange at Blackwell Road and reconstruct the interchange at Todd George Parkway and outer road connections to Smart Road.

The City Council recently voted 5-2 to activate the TIF around Lee's Summit Medical Center. Joe Spallo and Nick Swearngin voted no; James Freeman was not present.

The council will need to approve votes to activate other sections of the TIF district, with council votes expected next year. The city announced traffic-calming steps it is planning for Blackwell Road. The steps are in response to concerns of some residents about speeding and additional traffic they think the intersection will put through the Canterbury subdivision, which is split by Blackwell.

The plan is to restripe Blackwell to reduce it from four lanes to two with a center turn lane between Shenandoah Drive and Langsford Road.

That should result in slower speeds, fewer crashes and improved pedestrian safety, said Michael Park, city traffic engineer. Six-foot shoulders could serve as bicycle lanes.

The capacity for that configuration would be 22,000 cars per day, he said. Counts put current traffic at 1,800 vehicles daily, and projections put it at 8,500 by 2030.

Other Blackwell improvements:

** Adding streetlights on Blackwell, part of bond issues voters approved in November.

** A roundabout intersection at Shenandoah and Blackwell.

** Pedestrian crossings at Third and Fifth streets, but no traffic lights.

The city already has several streets that have roundabout or three-lane designs.

'What we have on Blackwell is not unique in what we're preparing to do,' Park said.

Spallo asked Park if the roundabout could handle the projected traffic.

'They've been proven to move traffic very efficiently,' Park said. He said the city had learned some lessons from difficulties with the city's first roundabout on Longview Boulevard. The Blackwell roundabout will be larger.

Park said he had met with residents of the Canterbury subdivision, who've opposed the TIF because it would fund the interchange on U.S. 50 at Blackwell. They support the traffic-calming plan but still opposed the TIF, he said.

That neighborhood had requested improvements, like crosswalks, following the death of 9-year-old Justin Faust in 2004. He was hit by a vehicle while he and his family were trying to get their dog back to their home.

Many residents of Silkwood Estates, near Todd George Parkway, supported the TIF because it would be the engine to fix traffic problems resulting from an overloaded interchange there.

Linda Marshall, who has been a spokeswoman for Canterbury residents, said the group considered the two issues separate, although it is thankful for the safety plans.

'The traffic-calming measures are good, but it's our opinion it should have been done before the TIF,' Marshall said.

She criticized Mayor Karen Messerli for conducting a November public hearing on the TIF.

The mayor is an employee of Lee's Summit Medical Center. Marshall said the medical center benefits financially from the TIF, creating a conflict for Messerli.

She contends the City Charter forbids elected officials from voting or participating in a transaction where they have 'any direct or indirect substantial financial interest' as defined by Missouri statutes.

'She's incorrect,' City Attorney Robert Handley said. 'The city's unilateral imposition of the TIF is not a transaction.'

Messerli did not vote on the issue.

Time to Step Up, Lee’s Summit

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:32:00 +0000

When the voters narrowly approved term limits in last November’s elections, the vote affirmed the idea that the majority of Lee’s Summit citizens are tired of seeing the same people serving on the city council year after year, and that after two terms it would be best to have a new face for a while representing us.

Prior to the November election the argument I heard most often against the term limit proposal, was that the city council has enough problems filling vacancies, and adding a limit on the length council members can serve would be counterproductive at best.

Now as April’s city elections grow closer, it is time for the residents in Lee’s Summit to step up to the bar and provide those fresh faces to vote on in the coming election.

That really shouldn’t be a problem since the Lee’s Summit School district imposed a community service requirement more than thirty years ago on Lee’s Summit high school students in order to instill a sense of community responsibility in its graduates. Surely over those thirty years, an ample supply of community minded citizens has been generated.

I grew up in Raytown but many of my friends attended Lee’s Summit schools. At the time I thought the idea of making students perform community service was outrageous and I was glad I attended school in Raytown which didn’t have that requirement. But today, after seeing two of my four kids go though our school system, I do see the wisdom of having them serve the community, both of my graduates have a highly developed sense of community responsibility and I can see that the school districts policy is at least partially responsible for it.

So all those Lee’s Summit District grads out there, now is the time to serve your community just like you did in high school. It has never been easier to get involved in city government than it is today, city council meetings appear on cable nearly every week. In these council meetings, decisions affecting your life are made by the council members. Real decisions are made that have a direct effect on how you live your life for better or worse. For example without the city council you wouldn’t be doing your Christmas shopping at Summit Woods this week, because Summit Woods would not exist.

Besides being able to watch city government play out live on cable, you can use the internet to find out what is going on in city government, a visit to www.lees-summit.mo.us and a little bit of reading will get you up to date on what is going on in city government. Not to mention the area newspapers all have web pages to help keep you up to date.

That is not all that the Internet has to offer to Lee’s Summit residents, there are discussion groups available, so that you can all sound off about what is important to you for everyone to see. Do you want that new shopping center down the street or is Lee’s Summit already too big, you can have your say on public matters, and you can even do it anonymously if that is your preference. To find them just search the internet for “Lee’s Summit” and you find plenty of opportunities to speak your mind with just a little effort.

But why not take it one step further, and throw your name into the hat for one of the four city council seats that are coming to a vote in April. As a city council member you would have direct input on decisions that will shape the future of Lee’s Summit and your neighbors for years to come. It might even be the first step in your future in public life.

The only requirements to run for city council are you have to be of voting age, been a Lee’s Summit resident for two years and live in the district that you are filing in for six months. All four districts in the city will elect a city council member in April of 2008. Filing opened, last Tuesday, December 18th and closes on January 22^nd at 5pm.

The Watchdog Says changes are coming to Colbern and Douglas

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:58:00 +0000

This Watchdog guy either lives in Lees Summit or Lees Summit residents just complain more, I'm not sure which but for the second day in a row, he takes on problems along Colbern road, yesterday it was street lights today its the wacky turn lane on east bound on Colbern at Douglas.

Check out The Watchdog - A Lee’s Summit intersection is a winning suggestion:

Kansas City’s John Koehler wonders whether a Lee’s Summit intersection could be improved by changing how lanes are restricted for turning or going straight.
On Colbern Road, eastbound motorists approaching Douglas Street encounter three lanes: a left turn, straight ahead and a right turn.
“In all of the times that I’ve driven through that intersection I have probably seen only two cars use the right turn lane. Would it be possible to use the right lane for cars either going straight or turning right?” asks Koehler.
Both the right and the center lanes would have their own lane crossing Douglas. The switch could reduce backups at the intersection, Koehler says.
The answer
Chuck Owsley, Lee’s Summit director of public works, says you have a good suggestion, John.
“In fact, the city came to the same conclusion during a recently completed study at this intersection. Mr. Koehler’s suggestion is one of several improvements recommended by the study,” Owsley says.
“These improvements require signing, signal modification, and pavement marking that is best applied in warm weather and have been scheduled for next spring.”
The Watchdog says, ah, spring. When a young dog’s thoughts turn to love and an old dog’s thoughts turn to, uh, what was I talking about?

Signing, Signal Modification and New pavement marking, all in just 3 months, wow.

Too Many Steetlights On Colbern Road And Todd George Parkway?

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:21:00 +0000

The Star's Watchdog answers a question posed by area resident who thinks that there are too many streetlights along Colbern Road And Todd George Parkway. Check out the article and Chuck Owsley, Lee’s Summit public works directors answer.

The Watchdog: Shedding light on those Lee’s Summit streetlights:

Today’s problem
Lee’s Summit’s Robert Richey wants the dog to sniff out the situation with the new streetlights along Colbern Road and Todd George Parkway.
“Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against streetlights,” he says. “My question … is, Why are these lights so close together and so many of them?”
Richey says he counted 22 streetlights from Douglas Street to Missouri 291 on the north side of Colbern.
“I have looked all over town and have never seen lights so close, especially for a street that has nothing on it.”
The answer
If you think that’s a lot of light, Robert, try counting the candles on the dog’s birthday cake. You’ll need a welder’s mask.
Chuck Owsley, Lee’s Summit public works director, says the lights in Lee’s Summit are designed to comply with levels recommended in the American National Standard Practice for Roadway Lighting.
The streetlights on Colbern Road from Douglas Street to Missouri 291 were spaced at 140-foot intervals to meet these requirements.
“We would have preferred a design which staggered the lights on either side of the road to achieve greater spacing, but there were far too many utility conflicts to overcome,” Owsley says.
“Now that the lights are on, you should see that the road is uniformly lit and not too bright.”
The Watchdog says “uniformly lit and not too bright” also aptly describes his fraternity brothers.

Looks like we will be seeing more projects like this one so we better get used to the brighter streets.

Lee's Summit North Named Among Nation's Best High Schools

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:32:00 +0000

Looks like our own Lee's Summit North has been named one of the best high schools in the United States. One of only 29 high schools in Missouri and only 4 in Kansas City area to receive the honor from U.S. News and World report.

Lincoln College Prep, Blue Valley North and Sumner Academy were the other three area high schools named to the magazines list.

The nation's high schools where judged on three levels, first how it's students performed on state assessment tests, next on how the schools minority students faired on the assessment tests, and finally how well their students are prepared for post-secondary schooling via access to college level material.

Congratulations to the students and faculty of Lees Summit North High School, and it's Principal David Ulrich for achieving this high honor.

For more, read Lee's Summit Journal - LSN listed among best high schools in America

2 Percent Of Missouri Gas Pumps Are Off

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:13:00 +0000

Sen. McCaskill Denies METH a problem in Missouri

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:32:00 +0000

When Clair was County Prosecutor here in Jackson County didn't she tell us that Jackson County was the METH capital of the United States? I believe she did, and she used that fact to sell us on the need for a special sales tax that she planned on using to expand the fight against METH.

Now since Sen. McCaskill didn't not request continued funding for Missouri's MoSMART anti-meth program, does that mean that the Meth Problem is under control now in Missouri, or does it mean that no amount of money will help, or most likely Sen. McCaskill would rather make that claim that she hasn't asked for any entitlements for her constituents like the rest of the congress critters have.

MPNS has more on the story, Sen. McCaskill Denies Missouri Law Enforcement Critical Funding:

We told you last week about Sen. McCaskill getting a little national attention last week on the CBS Evening News. McCaskill bragged on the program that she was one of 12 Senators who did not request earmarks for FY 2007. On the surface, this declaration sounds great, we all know that earmark reform is a big issue in the Congress right now. But for McCaskill to not request continued funding for Missouri’s MoSMART anti-meth program is simply irresponsible. This program has been used effectively to protect Missouri families against the evils of the highly addictive drug.

McCaskill’s failure had led to Gov. Matt Blunt’s commitment to provide supplemental state funding for the Missouri Sheriff’s Methamphetamine Relief Team to make up for the lack of funding. The failure of McCaskill to fund these critical anti-meth efforts has led the governor to announce plans to provide $1.8 million in supplemental state funding to protect MoSMART.

“Claire McCaskill is obviously more interested in national media self-promotion than protecting essential federal funding for Missouri’s sheriffs who have spent years risking their lives in order to protect Missouri families from the scourge of methamphetamine,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “Claire McCaskill is more interested in protecting her own political interests rather than protecting the interests of our members of law enforcement who continue to wage an intense battle against this deadly and highly addictive drug.”

The governor’s budget request to supplement MoSMART will provide critical funding for 48 sheriff’s offices and drug task force employees around Missouri. Sen. Bond strongly objected to Democrats taking money away from Missouri law enforcement.

I certainly hope the METH war has been won, but I along with Sen. Bond believe that it has more to do with party politics than any progress on the drug war.

Woman Carjacked and Robbed and Colbern Road Phillps 66

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:29:00 +0000

A woman was carjacked and robbed at our neighborhood Philips 66 Rush Hour on Colbern Road this morning as reported by NBC Action News KSHB-TV 41 - Carjacking reported in Lee’s Summit:

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. -- A 45-year-old Lee’s Summit woman told police that an armed man stole her car this morning as she waited for friends who had gone inside a convenience store.

The carjacking occurred about 9:30 a.m. at the Rush Hour convenience store at 901 N.E. Colbern Road, according to police.

The woman told police that the assailant was armed with a silver handgun. She said he took her purse and fled in her 2005 metallic green Dodge Magnum with Missouri license 642-LWS.

Police asked anyone with information about the carjacking to call police at 816-969-1720 or the department’s anonymous tips hotline at 816-969-1752

Update: Police: 3 Arrested In Lee's Summit Carjacking

Lee’s Summit Journal Editorial Blasts LSW Students Right to Free Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:20:00 +0000

Lee's Summit Journal - Our Editorial: Racism not a joking matter:

In learning of the recent suspension of two Lee's Summit West High School students for alleged racist remarks, we at the Journal are disappointed that students representing the Lee's Summit R-7 School District and the community are still grappling with appropriateness in terms of bigotry and racism.

In short, the mother of one of two band members at LSW said they were suspended for alleged remarks made about tying a noose during a conversation regarding securing band equipment.

The school district claims there was more to the incident, but could not comment further; the mother said it was an innocent conversation about knots.

Both parties agree the same group, LSW band members, was recently counseled "about a variety of racially tinged remarks alleged to have been made by various members of the group."

Regardless of what was actually said during the "noose" conversation, it is appalling that these students even needed a reminder that negative, racially charged comments about fellow classmates are unacceptable.

For as far as this country has come with civil rights - and there is still a ways to go - it is ridiculous that there should be anyone, least of all students, still confused about what is inappropriate and was is not.

While we don't know for certain all of the details surrounding this incident, it must be clear that racist, bigoted comments are not acceptable on any level - even in a joking matter - because nobody can ever be certain about another's feelings on the topic.

I find this editorial appearing in Wednesday’s 11/28 issue of the Lee’s Summit Journal offensive. In taking this ACTION the writer took to task the two students who had an allegedly racist conversation, and supported the Schools right to punish the boy’s with nearly the maximum ACTION available, 2 weeks suspension.

The School refuses to tell us all of what happened for “Privacy Reasons”, but let us review what we do know:

Two boys were having a discussion.
The WORD “Noose” came up in the conversation
A Third boy heard the conversation and took offense to the WORD “Noose”
The third boy reported the offensive WORD to a Teacher.
The School District ACTED by suspending for 2 weeks the two boys for having an alleged racist conversation.
The first two boys took no ACTIONS against the third boy who reported the conversation, and was not physically harmed in anyway.

Looking at these events it strikes me that both the School and the Journal have lost sight of the difference between WORDS and ACTIONS. No matter what the WORDS were that the boys said, no racist or physical ACTIONS were even contemplated by the boys. Yet the boys were punished with nearly the most drastic ACTION available to the district. And this ACTION could do permanent harm to the boys, especially if they are competing for college admission or scholarships.

When the framers of the Constitution granted us the right of Free Speech, they didn’t grant us the right to ACT as we want, they gave us the right to SPEAK as we want. They knew the difference between ACTIONS and WORDS, ACTIONS leave physical evidence, WORDS only represent thoughts and leave no physical evidence.

It concerns me that first the school and now the press is ready to penalize us all for our WORDS with their ACTIONS. Will the Police be next, will we be charged for ACTIONS when we only speak WORDS? Should one be charged with “Attempted Murder” for just uttering the WORDS, “I’m going to kill you?”, even though I would find someone saying those WORDS to me offensive, I hope not, and I hope that neither the Press nor the School District will continue to punish WORDS with ACTIONS. Or at least make the ACTION fit the crime, and what should the ACTION be for saying the WORD “Noose”?

Jena 6 Echos, Lee's Summit West Students Suspended for using the Word "Noose"

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:34:00 +0000

Fox 4 News is reporting in their story Students Suspended For Talking About Nooses that some Lees Summit West band members have been suspended for having a conversation in which the word "Noose" was used.

According to Travis Grigsby and Alex Coday , they were only talking about which knots would be best used to tie up the drum equipment.

From the Fox Article:

Travis Grigsby loves playing drums, but he and his friend Alex Coday weren't able to play for two weeks after they were suspended. It started after the band's performance at a football game. Some kids on the drum line said they were talking about the best knots to use to tie up the drum equipment.

"Someone asked if anybody knew how to tie a noose and Travis did admit he knew how to tie a noose," Kim Grigsby said.

Travis' mom said her son is almost an Eagle Scout, he knew how to tie it, but told his friends he wouldn't because you could get in trouble for that. Later, a black student on the drum line told the teacher he was offended.

"Travis was accused of using a racial slur for saying the word 'noose.' Then he was suspended for 10 days," Kim said.

She said the school district accused the boys of having a racially charged conversation about nooses, but Travis and Alex insist that's not what happened.

"I don't feel they let Alex or Travis tell their side of the story," Kim said.

Alex's parents wrote to the district saying this is pushing the kids apart instead of bringing them together. Other kids and parents agree.

"We just want what's fair for our boys," Kim said. "They're good boys, get good grades, participate in school activities."

The school did shorten the kids' school suspension to only five days, but it will affect their grades.

"They are being punished beyond what is even near reasonable," Kim said.

The school district said it can't comment because of privacy issues, but said no one is aware of any racial tensions at the school. The administrators said they did investigate it thoroughly.

It is inconceivable to me that our children have to watch their conversations so closely that using the word "Noose" is grounds for a 2 week suspension. What other words are out there that carry similar penalties.

A two week suspension carries serious consequences to any student trying their best to qualify for scholarships or to just get accepted into a good college, that said, shouldn't the School District publish which words carry such stiff penalties in advance so that both students and parents are aware of them.

That of course will never happen, because the Lee's Summit School District wants to maintain the illusion that their schools are places of learning where differing opinions are openly discussed for the purpose of educating our children. In such an environment a list of words that bring a 2 week suspension for their mere mention in conversation could not exist, as the freedom of speech is essential to a quality learning environment.

And it frustrates me to no end that the school administrators hide behind their blanket policies, this time, "We cannot comment because of privacy issues". I personally experienced these outlandish blanket policies when I had a conversation with a school administrator at Lee's Summit North. I found what she was telling me was so outrageous that I felt the need to get it down on tape.

When I told her I wanted to tape what she was telling me, she said they could not allow me to because she didn't want a record of the conversation. But for the record, the Lee's Summit North School Administrator told me, is that in student disputes, there is no such thing as an innocent party.

This incident boils down to a single word, "FEAR". After the wide spread "Jena 6" news coverage where there was a nationwide outcry about a noose being hung in a tree, the Lee's Summit School District is afraid of being perceived as racist if they ignore this use of the word "Noose" in the boy's benign conversation. Remember, in student disputes, the School Administrators don't believe there are any innocent parties.

In this case, the school district is more afraid of the legal consequences of not acting than the effect of their actions on these unfortunate students.

What are the limits of Political Correctness? As a high school student, I know I found the word "Homework" offensive, I bet I'm not alone, can it be added to the district's taboo word list?

Thanks Tony, for bringing this to my attention!

Related Posts: Lee’s Summit Journal Editorial Blasts LSW Students Right to Free Speech

State Parks Closed To Fight Deer Over Population

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 03:59:00 +0000

According to the Kansas City infoZine News looks like the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is going to do something about the Deer overpopulation in our state parks, they plan on temporary closing some State parks so that they can be opened for hunting to help cull out some of the excess deer. For more information about the park closings check out their story, Eight Missouri Parks Will Close Temporarily for Deer Hunts - USA:

Jefferson City, MO - infoZine - By law, state parks are established as wildlife refuges, and hunting is not permitted except under special circumstances. However, these special hunts are being used as a resource management tool because it has been determined that the deer population is too large for the environment of the park and that resources in the park are being damaged.

Special hunts will be conducted at the following parks on the following weekends:
Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park near Wildwood on Dec. 8-9;
Crowder State Park near Trenton on Dec. 8-9;
Cuivre River State Park near Troy on Dec. 8-9;
Knob Noster State Park near Knob Noster on Dec. 15-16;
Pershing State Park near Laclede on Dec. 1-2;
St. Joe State Park in Park Hills on Dec. 8-9;
Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site near Lawson on Dec. 8-9;
Weston Bend State Park near Weston on Dec. 8-9.
The hunts will be conducted following guidelines established by the Missouri Department of Conservation, which regulates hunting in the state. Hunters who will be participating submitted special applications this summer for the Department of Conservation's special managed hunts, which are held annually. Hunters were selected through a random computer drawing. Only those hunters who already have a special permit will be allowed to participate in the hunts.

The Department of Natural Resources administers state parks and historic sites throughout Missouri. All other state parks and historic sites, other than the eight mentioned, will not be affected by the hunts.

Unfortunately, Lake Jacomo isn't on the list, it's a County Park not a State park, but for years it has had among the highest population of deer in the state.

Over population of deer is not only bad for the deer it is dangerous for the park goers as well. Most everyone has see this video clip from a Jackson County Sheriff's dash cam. What you might not know is that is was taken on Lake Jacomo's West Park Road, just after he turned North on it from Colbern road, or scarcely a mile from our own front doors.

Deer Dodges Cop Car -

Here is a Google Map of where the video was shot ...

Lee's Summit City Council Considers TIFS For Blackwell Road Interchange

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:33:00 +0000

Last Thursday night, the Lees Summit City council held a public hearing over the proposed TIF District along the U.S. 50 corridor from Todd George Road to Blackwell Road. And as usual the Anti-Development forces so common in Lee's Summit were there in force.

We heard from well known development foes, State Rep. Brian Yates, and former State Senator Bob Johnson, who said that the proposed TIF District did not meet their definition of what a TIF District should be, but also admitted under questioning that what is and what isn't a TIF District is open to council interpretation.

I nearly stood up and cheered when the mayor and council responded to the TIF criticism by stating that the council is doing work that must be done for the good of the city and it's residents. Further they stated that the current TIF process is the only practical mechanism available to the council, but if the state provides additional mechanisms to do this type of work, they would use them.

From the anti-development lobby, we heard the time worn misconception that because some of the future taxes (TIF) are being promised to help pay for the development, that some how that money is being stolen from the School District. Which of course totally discounts the fact the the taxes collected a vacant field is less than a tenth of what would be collected from the same vacant field once developed into a new shopping center or office building, and without the TIF the vacant field will remain a vacant field.

Once again, the council and city staff attempted to explain those facts. Further, the School District is in full support of the proposed TIF district because they realize they will in fact gain revenue from the additional development.

Finally, we heard from the residents along Blackwell Road, who will see additional traffic in their neighborhood due to the new Blackwell Road interchange. Despite the mayor's excellent rebuke of the residents for saying the council didn't care about it's citizens, the council buckled under the pressure of the recent death of a child along the roadway, when they seemed to buy into the ideas of councilmen Freeman and Swearngin of putting "Traffic Calming" measures in place along the roadway, including restriping the road from four lanes to two through the neighborhood.

First, I want to say that any death, by a child or an adult is a tragedy, and this is precisely why Blackwell Road should be left as designed and built, and not have the proposed "Calming" measures included. As I understand it, when you try to push more traffic through roads that are not designed to handle the additional load, you put everyone that travels those roads under increased danger.

Blackwell Road was designed and built a four-lane traffic way on the cities east side, including a four lane stretch through the neighborhood in question. Cutting Blackwell Road down to two-lanes, via repainting the stripes through the neighborhood, will not only increase congestion along the narrowed Blackwell, it also will increase traffic on surrounding roads such as Todd George Road.

This artificially increased congestion on Blackwell and on Todd George cannot help, but cause additional, possibly fatal, traffic accidents. The citizens of Lees Summit, have bought and paid for a four lane Blackwell traffic way, not a two lane Blackwell Road through a select neighborhood.

The City Council did a very good job of defending their right to create a TIF district along 50 Highway for the good of the city and I think they owe it to the cities' residents to follow through with the project as designed, including a four lane Blackwell traffic way. It really is what is best for the city and all of its residents.

For more information on the Todd George/Blackwell TIF plan check out the Lee's Summit Journal : Council discusses $45 million TIF plan.

Macy's coming to Lee Summit's Summit Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:35:00 +0000

News has been slow in coming concerning the big piles of dirt we all see on the southeast corner of 50 Highway and 291. Those big piles of dirt will soon become Summit Fair, Lee's Summit first upscale shopping center. Today, RED has announced that Summit Fair's anchor tenant will be Macy's. The Kansas City Business Journal has the story, RED breaks ground on Lee's Summit project:

RED Development LLC broke ground Monday on a 550,000-square-foot lifestyle center in Lee's Summit.

Summit Fair, southest of Interstate 470 and Missouri Highway 50, will be set up like a Main Street shopping district. It will be anchored by a 120,000-square-foot Macy's department store. The location, Macy's sixth in the metro area, will be a new format for a one-level lifestyle store, Macy's Inc. said in a release Monday. The store's opening is planned for fall 2009.

Summit Fair's completion is tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2008, Dave Claflin, RED's vice president of marketing, said Tuesday. The project's retail will be "more than neighborhood but less than regional," Claflin said.

"We call it area lifestyle, with primarily national specialty retail and restaurants," he said.

Dan Lowe, RED's managing partner, said in the release that "Macy's certainly gets Summit Fair off to a great start."

"We're confident that Summit Fair, with its unique physical environment and distinctive stores, will complement the area's existing retail, dining and entertainment opportunities," Lowe said.

RED is developing Summit Fair in partnership with CBL & Associates Properties Inc., based in Chattanooga, Tenn.

RED, based in Kansas City and Scottsdale, Ariz., has 30 shopping centers open, in development or under construction, for a total of more than 16 million square feet. RED developed The Legends at Village West in Kansas City, Kan.

And for more on the Macy's new one-level store concept, VMSD.com has the story All on One Floor:

Macy's, Inc. (Cincinnati) plans to open a new store at Summit Fair in Lee's Summit, Mo., in the metropolitan Kansas City area. The 120,000-square-foot store, located in the open-air lifestyle center, will introduce a new format for a one-level lifestyle Macy’s store.
Macy’s will sell a full range of apparel, and accessories for men, women and children, along with selected products for the home. Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2008 and the opening is planned for fall 2009. This will be the sixth Macy's store in the Kansas City metropolitan area. It will be operated by the Macy's Midwest division, headquartered in St. Louis.
"We are very pleased to be expanding our stores in the important Kansas City market," said William P. McNamara, chairman and ceo of Macy's Midwest. "Summit Fair will be a great, new shopping destination in Lee's Summit. We look forward to building on our strong presence in the community and are dedicated to delivering customers the style, quality and value they expect from Macy's."
Summit Fair is being developed by Red Development in partnership with CBL & Associates Properties Inc.
Macy's operates more than 850 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the nameplates Macy's and Bloomingdale's. The company’s Midwest division is based in St. Louis and operates 113 stores in nine states.

One of my first jobs after getting out of college was working for Macy's at their Midwest headquarters downtown, so I have a special affinity for Macy's. I missed them when they left town and sold their stores to Dillards, and I laughed when they extracted their revenge by buying their arch rival, The Jones Store. Macy's is a perfect fit for Lee's Summit, and I'm sure they will be a big hit.

I plan on shopping there, and I'll bet the Grinches will too.

Still Need A Flu Shot? There Is Still Hope.

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Ashley) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:30:00 +0000

If you've missed the local flu shot clinics but still want to get your flu shot for this year, there is still hope....

If you don't mine making the trip downtown, the City of Kansas City, Mo., Health Department has dropped the price of flu shots to $10 per shot.

Flu shots for children and adults are available at the Health Department, 2400 Troost Ave., during regular clinic hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday.

For those who are eligible and show proof of coverage the Health Department will bill Medicare or Missouri Medicaid. Children eligible for the Vaccine For Children program, there is no charge. To qualify for this program, children must not have health insurance or have health insurance that does not pay for a flu shot.

Everyone else will be charged $10; cash and credit cards only.

For instructions to the KCMO Health Department Office