COMMUNITY CITY OF LEE’S SUMMIT NEWSLETTER
WINTER 2017-18
. . . e u s s I s i h T COMMUNITY FOR ALL AGES Seeking to meet the needs of all our citizens Page 4
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SNOW AND ICE CONTROL Preparing for winter weather Page 5
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ROUTE 291 SOUTH & U.S. 50 INTERCHANGE
Looking good and on-schedule! Page 6
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MORE CITY NEWS INSIDE!
s t n u o C
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Water Utilities Service Center Nears Completion
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IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS General City Information.............969-1000 Airport......................................... 969-1800 Animal Control............................ 969-1640 Chamber of Commerce...............524-2424 City Hall.......................................969-1000 Mayor..........................................969-1030 City Council................................969-1010 City Manager..............................969-1010 Development Services................969-1200 Downtown Lee’s Summit Main St.... 246-6598 Economic Dev. Council...............525-6617 Fire Department Business Office........................... 969-1300 Emergency Calls.............................. 911 Gamber Community Center........554-3809 Municipal Court...........................969-1150 Parks & Recreation.....................969-1500 Development Services Police Department Business Office........................... 969-1700 Emergency Calls.................................. 911 Public Works...............................969-1800 LS Social Services......................525-4357 Transit KCATA Lee’s Summit Express....... 221-0660 Ride KC-Lee’s Summit............... 380-7433 Treasury (tax info.)......................969-1139 Water Utilities..............................969-1900
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The Water Utilities Service Center opens this winter. The new 38,000-square-foot facility will, for the first time since the inception of the City of Lee’s Summit’s Water Utilities Department, house the entire departmental staff of 60 full-time employees under one roof. The Service Center, located at 1200 SE Hamblen Road will feature a customer service-vestibule and welcome center, a field-crew ready-room, plenty of office and work space for all current and anticipated employees, locker rooms, workrooms and a garage to house equipment. Additionally, the facility will feature a wash bay for equipment and other accommodations that will help the department provide efficient and reliable water and sewer services. Completely financed through revenue, this facility was recommended by the Water Utilities Community Advisory Group and outlined as a goal in the 2011 Water Utilities Strategic Plan. LSwater.net for building opening information. ■
FAQs: Water/Sewer Service Lines Did you know the property owner is responsible for the pipes (service lines) that connect the home or business to the public water and sewer systems? That includes inspection, cleaning, maintenance, repair and/or replacement if necessary.
Q: Where does my responsibility as a homeowner begin and end? A: Property owners are responsible for service lines that connect the home or business to the public water and sewer systems. For a typical water connection, the property owner is responsible for the water service line from the building to the meter. For a sewer connection, the property owner’s responsibility is from the building to the public main.
Q: What are these mailings about service line warranties I am receiving? A: These mailings promote water and sewer service line repair programs available to property owners. Warranty programs are intended to minimize the financial impact of repairs to service lines, along with associated repairs to streets, sidewalks, or driveways. Program details vary among providers and Lee’s Summit Water Utilities does not specifically endorse any one provider.
Q: Do I need a warranty? A: Service lines can crack, break or leak for a variety of reasons including age or the infiltration of roots. Service line repairs can be costly. A service line warranty is one way to minimize the financial impact. These warranty programs provide for the repair of service lines, but generally do not cover your losses or damage caused by sewer back-ups or flooding. Insurance covering these risks is often available through your property insurance carrier. ■
Winter Pipe Prep Before the temperatures drop below freezing, it is important to prepare your pipes using these simple tips that could potentially save you thousands of dollars in water damage repairs. 1. Locate and exercise your master water shut-off valve: The valve is usually located where the water line enters your house – sometimes near the water heater or washing machine. Once the valve is located, make sure everyone in the household knows where it is and turn it regularly so that it can easily be shut off in case of an emergency. 2. Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Before freezing temperatures strike, it’s important to disconnect and drain your outdoor hoses. This allows the water to drain from the pipe so an overnight freeze doesn’t burst the faucet or the pipe it’s connected to. 3. Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas: If you’ve got water pipes in unheated areas like the garage or a crawl space, it’s best to wrap them in insulation before temperatures drop. Pipe wrapping materials and supplies can be found at hardware stores. 4. Seal off access doors, air vents and cracks: When cold air seeps through overlooked openings, exposed water pipes may freeze. But remember – do NOT plug air vents by your furnace or water heater. ■
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Save the Dates! UNITED IN THE JOURNEY • January 15, 2018 Dr. MLK Celebration The 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be held on Monday, January 15, 2018 at The Pavilion at John Knox Village, 520 NW Murray Road, Lee’s Summit. The pre-show will begin at 5 p.m., with the program beginning at 6 p.m. Enjoy performances from the Lee’s Summit Faculty Quartet, Pleasant Lea Elementary Choir and more. Hear from Keynote speaker Dr. Dennis L. Carpenter!
MEET THE ARTIST • January 18, 2018 Meet local artist Eric Doucette at City Hall from 5:30-7 p.m. in the lobby of City Hall while enjoying appetizers and complimentary wine sampling. View his art exhibit at City Hall from January 18 through mid-April.
FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE • Friday, January 26 • Saturday, January 27 • Friday, February 2 • Saturday, February 3 Enjoy dinner, music, and dancing at the Gamber Community Center! Daughters will receive a 5x7 photo, a rose, and a small gift. For girls ages 3-12 and fathers, stepfathers, and grandfathers of all ages! ■
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Community for All Ages What is a Community for All Ages? A community for all ages is one designed to be more welcoming to residents of all ages. It is a community that is more vibrant, healthy and prosperous. The First Suburbs Coalition (FSC) and the KC Communities for All Ages Initiative (KCC) developed the Communities for All Ages Recognition Program to recognize communities that have taken steps to become a Community for All Ages. A community for all ages seeks to meet the needs and interests of the very old, the very young and everyone in between. A key driver for this work is the rapidly changing older adult demographics. The post-war population, well known as the baby boom; is paving the way for the next “baby boomlet,” the generation known as the millennials that followed the smaller Generation X (ages 33 to 53) population. Today, the oldest baby boomers are in their late 60s. By 2030, one in five Americans — or 72,774,000 million — will be older than 65, while researchers estimate there will be 76 million millennials in the U.S. at that time. In the Greater Kansas City area, more than 416,000 residents will be 65 or older in 2030, while approximately 633,000 millennials will live here. Historically, the needs and interests of older adults have been seen as vastly different from younger generations and those of families with young children. The City of Lee’s Summit is also feeling the rise in numbers. In 2010, the American Community Survey (ACS) estimated 10,502 residents were 65 and over and by 2015 the number had risen to 14,417. When we look toward the future population projections we see that by 2020, the 65 and over population will increase to 15,297. This number is also comparable to the estimated 16,000, 65 and over population projection that is predicted by the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC). For more information, visit cityofLS.net and check out our highlights. Lee’s Summit is on its way to becoming recognized officially as a Community for All Ages. The Community for All Ages recognition program is a three tiered program consisting of Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Lee’s Summit recently submitted their application for the Bronze level and will be recognized in the later part of January. ■
Snow and Ice Control LSsnow.net Winter will be here before we know it, and with it comes winter weather. The City’s Public Works Department is primarily responsible for snow and ice control when winter weather hits. Public Works uses a time-based goal for each winter storm. The goal is to have all streets plowed and treated once precipitation ends within a 24 to 48-hour timeframe, which is determined by the severity of the winter weather. Crews are scheduled to report before the winter storm arrives. In many cases, crews pre-treat ahead of the storm. Crews work on a 12-hour rotating shift until all streets are plowed and treated. There are nearly 1,100 lane miles of streets and cul-de-sacs in Lee’s Summit! Streets are plowed according to a scheduled route system. Three street classifications are used: primary and secondary roads are the main priority when the snowfall begins; residential streets are plowed last. When snow is falling or when heavy snowfall is predicted, Public Works plows one pass on residential streets and around a cul-de-sac, which allows for a drive lane down the center of the street. Once snowfall stops or one pass is complete, crews will return and plow streets open as much as attainable. Remember, Lee’s Summit does not have a bare pavement policy. Snow packed onto the roadway becomes difficult to remove especially on residential streets. During fire or police emergencies, plow trucks are dispatched along with emergency equipment to assist, as necessary.
Tips to Remember • Remove vehicles from streets to prevent delays and to improve the snow control process. • Lee’s Summit does not clear driveways. Property owners can lessen the amount of snow that is pushed into driveways by placing snow on the lawn and not in the street. • Clear snow from around fire hydrants so they can be easily located during emergencies. • Lee’s Summit does not have a law requiring sidewalks be cleared; property owners are encouraged to clear snow from sidewalks for everyone’s safety. • Do not make snow tunnels on or near the street and driveways. Snow plows and other drivers may not see these and could accidently injure someone playing inside of them. ■
To learn more about snow and ice control in Lee’s Summit, visit LSsnow.net. Updates will be posted to the site before, during and after winter storms. Residents also are encouraged to sign up for severe weather and emergency alerts at Nixle.com.
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Route 291 South & U.S. 50 Interchange Looking Good and On-schedule! There’s been a lot going on in Lee’s Summit when it comes to construction and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) construction projects are no exception. And, we all know what that means…improvements! Besides all of the bridge work that will hopefully end soon, the Route 291 South & U.S. 50 interchange improvements are proceeding without delay with an expected completion date of fall 2018. This project makes use of a diverging diamond interchange with two independent bridges. The roundabout is designed to facilitate the north crossover at the intersection of Blue Parkway and Jefferson Street. Constructing two separate bridges allowed for traffic to flow throughout the construction timeline in a cost effective manner. Funding for the project is being provided through a combination of sources. • $8 million: City of Lee’s Summit 2014 No Tax Increase General Obligation Bond • $6.8 million: Surface Transportation Program (STP) grant obtained by the City. The grant is from federal funds allocated through Mid America Regional Council for roadway and multi-modal projects on eligible routes. • The balance of the project costs provided by MoDOT. MoDOT is responsible for the management of all design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction processes. This project will also accommodate bikes and pedestrians. One of the busiest park facilities in the community with indoor and outdoor recreational amenities is located at the northeast corner of the interchange. The project will include Diverging Diamond off-street shared-use paths to enhance Interchanges (DDI)... connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists. modot.org/kansascity/ ■
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more efficiently handle heavy left-turn movements. While the ramp configuration is similar to a traditional diamond interchange, traffic on the crossroad moves to the left side of the roadway for the segment between signalized ramp intersections, or in this design a series of traffic signals and roundabout.
A Roundabout...
is a circular traffic intersection featuring yield control on all entering approaches, one-way continuous flow within the circulatory roadway. Roundabouts are among the safest and most efficient traffic controls.
Public Safety Improvements Update In November 2016, Lee’s Summit voters approved a “No-Tax Increase” General Obligation Bond improvement initiative by nearly 80% to fund public safety improvements. We are happy to report the projects are underway or complete! • Fire Apparatus: 85 complete sets of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) are now in-service throughout the department. This included additional spare air cylinders, compressors and compressor upgrades, and 20 thermal imaging face masks that allow firefighters to see through smoke. This project came in under budget. • Diesel Exhaust Systems: With money saved from the SCBA, exhaust filtration systems are being installed in all existing fire stations. This is an effort to remove unwanted diesel emissions from fire trucks and ambulances, providing for clean and safe air for fire personnel.
• Replace Fire Station No. 3: The firm of WSKF was selected as the project designer and plans are being finalized, with construction anticipated to begin in the spring of 2018. The new station will be located in the area of NW Pryor Road and Shamrock Avenue. • Radio System Upgrade: Build out of the system and installation is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2018. The radio upgrade will bring all Lee’s Summit public safety departments up to current FCC standards and include Lee’s Summit in the Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System (MARRS), improving communications within our city and our neighboring public safety agencies. • Network Connectivity Improvements: The improvements necessary were determined to be a mix of wireless and fiber optic implementations. The City has entered into contracts with firms that will be installing fiber optic communication lines and vendors have been identified to provide wireless solutions. ■
Transit in Lee’s Summit FAQs: Q: Is transit available in Lee’s Summit? A: Yes, there are several forms of transit operations in Lee’s Summit. • There is a park and ride lot with weekday commuter service operated by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) between Lee’s Summit and downtown Kansas City, MO located near the interchange of U.S. 50 Highway and Chipman Road. Kcata.org/maps_schedules/park_and_ride_locations/
• Amtrak has a station in downtown Lee’s Summit. Amtrak.com
• There is also a demand response transit service, RideKC - Lee’s Summit operated by OATS, in Lee’s Summit. This transit service contracted by the City of Lee’s Summit provides door to door transportation based on advance scheduling. Oatstransit.org
Q: Who can use RideKC - Lee’s Summit transit? A: Anyone Q: Where can I go using RideKC - Lee’s Summit transit? A: Anywhere within Lee’s Summit’s city limits (and to/from Truman Medical Center – Lakewood). Q: When can I use RideKC - Lee’s Summit transit? A: This service is operated by OATS Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Q: How much does it cost to use RideKC Lee’s Summit transit? A: $1.50 per one-way trip Q: A:
How do I schedule a trip on RideKC Lee’s Summit transit? Call 816-380-7433 for reservations at least 48 hours in advance.
Q: A:
How can I find more information? Web links have been shared above for each type of transit service available in Lee’s Summit; you may contact any of the service providers directly or contact Public Works at 816-969-1800. ■
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 79 Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
EDDM
220 SE Green Street Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 (816) 969-1000 cityofLS.net
RESIDENT/BUSINESS
Vision A culturally rich community with diverse economic sectors to create a prosperous and dynamic community in perpetuity.
Mission Our mission is to create positive community relationships and a progressive organization delivering valued programs and services.
Lea Mckeighan Renovations Underway!
Renovation has started on the new Lea McKeighan North Park. The new park will feature an ice rink, pickleball courts, a new spray ground, shelter, adventure play area, and walking trail. Excavation is currently in progress with plans to start putting walls up by the first of the year 2018. ■
New playground at Charles David Hartman Memorial Park
Yours Truly 8