The Monday, May 21st, Budget Committee meeting scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall has been CANCELLED. 

The new date and schedules will be released on the City’s website soon.

The City of Lee’s Summit is hosting the next artist reception on Wednesday, April 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in City Hall, 220 SE Green St., Lee’s Summit.  Meet local artist Don Dane, view his artwork, enjoy refreshments and sample wine compliments of J. Bean’s Restaurant. 

Mark your calendar for “A Moment with the Mayor” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, in the lobby of Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green St., Lee’s Summit. Stop by to chat one-on-one with Mayor Rhoads about City topics in the news.

EXTENDED ROAD CLOSURE to May 31, 2012.  The City of Lee’s Summit announced the temporary closure of Peterson Road and Hook Road between Raytown Road and Sampson Road on April 23, 2012, weather permitting. The road closure is necessary for bridge replacement.

Did you complete the Performance Excellence Citizens Survey online yet? If you have not done so, today is the last day. The 15-question survey will take only about 3 minutes to complete and is available online until 11:30 p.m., tonight, April 11, at www.LSSurvey.net.

If you have already completed the online survey; thank you for your comments. Please help us spread the word about the importance of the survey by telling family, friends and co-workers who live in Lee’s Summit.

Lee’s Summit Councilmember Kathy Hofmann and Councilmember-elect Rob Binney of District 1 are hosting an Open Forum for residents of the district. The Open Forum will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2012 in the Howard Conference Room in City Hall, 220 SE Green St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

The Lee’s Summit City Council approved a one-time expenditure in the amount of $31,206 for the Jackson County Regional Transit Plan education program in conjunction with Jackson County and other Kansas City area municipalities. The decision was made during the March 15th Lee’s Summit City Council meeting.

Manhole cover thefts are increasing in our community posing a growing danger to pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists as well as escalating the City’s replacement costs for the cast iron covers.

The City’s snow removal crews continued to plow snow and slush from City roadways this afternoon after our area received its first significant snowfall this winter. Crews will continue plowing slush, snow and treating slick spots on roadways tonight.
 

Winter finally arrived in Lee's Summit today as evidenced by the City's first substantial snow event this winter season.  Beautiful, fluffy snowflakes began falling in our area early this morning and tapered during the afternoon.

The City’s snow removal crews will begin pre-treating roadways at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, in advance of the metropolitan area’s latest snow event forecast to arrive on Monday, Feb. 13.

City of Lee’s Summit residents that are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can receive free tax preparation services on Tuesday evenings in February 2012. EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families.The FREE tax preparation services will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green St. First come, first-served. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

Celebrate through musical and dance performances the City’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. event on Monday, January 16 in the Pavilion at John Knox Village, 520 NW Murray Road, Lee’s Summit. The City’s 2012 celebration will begin earlier than in previous years to accommodate all of the great performances.

National credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service announced Lee’s Summit is one of the “Aaa”-rated municipalities to receive a revised outlook to stable from negative.

Lee’s Summit City Hall, Municipal Court, the Resource Recovery Park, the North Recycling Center, the Main office of Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation (LSPR) will be closed Thursday, November 24, in observance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

The Gamber Center, Legacy Park Community Center and Harris Park Community Center will be closed on the holiday. The LSPR facilities will re-open on Friday, November 25, with normal hours of operation.

The City of Lee’s Summit announced completion of roadway and street light improvements to increase safety and roadway capacity along Douglas Street.  Traffic signal timing improvements and synchronization between traffic signal controlled intersections will be completed during the next several months.

If you have not completed an application for the 2012 class of the “Citizens Leadership Academy,” you still have time to do so. The academy is free and open to both Lee’s Summit residents and business owners who want to gain better insight into the operations of City government as well as to prepare for greater involvement in community leadership.

The Lee’s Summit City Council and the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District will have a joint meeting at 7 p.m. tonight (Nov. 10) in the Tony L. Stansberry Leadership Center (R-7 School District Office), 301 NE Tudor Road, Lee’s Summit.

As a result of this joint meeting, there will not be a City Council meeting in the Council Chambers of Lee’s Summit City Hall tonight. The joint meeting will also not be televised on the City’s government access channel.

The City of Lee’s Summit will receive an Environmental ImpacT Award for its traffic signal synchronization project at 15 intersections along Chipman Road, Blue Parkway and Pryor Road.

Learn how to “Green” your home, lifestyle and wallet!

Reducing, reusing and recycling can be incorporated into all aspects of our life from home to everyday activities. That will be the message of more than 20 vendors participating in the City of Lee’s Summit’s second “Green on Green” Sustainability Fair. The fair is FREE and will be Saturday, October 8 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Green Street between 2nd and 3rd streets in downtown Lee’s Summit, MO.

Saturday October 8, 2011 the police department will host the Lee’s Summit Safe City Celebration event sponsored by RED Development from 10 to 4 pm. at the Summit Fair shopping center in Lee’s Summit. Summit Fair is conveniently located at the southeast corner of Interstate 470 and Highway 50, just east of Summit Woods Crossing.

The new Todd George Parkway between Woods Chapel and Colbern roads opened September 27, 2011.  This new roadway extends Todd George Parkway from where it ended at Colbern Road north to Woods Chapel Road where it connects with Lakewood Way.

The City of Lee’s Summit has been designated a Bronze Level Walk Friendly Community for its walkability initiatives and programs by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. The Walk Friendly Community designation, awarded from bronze to platinum, is given to applicant communities that have demonstrated a commitment to improving and sustaining walkability and pedestrian safety through comprehensive programs, plans and policies.
 

Discuss potential transit options along the Interstate 70 and the Rock Island corridors during a public Open House on Sept. 27 from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Ennovation Center, 201 N. Forest, Independence. Download flier. For more information, visit MARC’s Smart Moves Web site at www.kcsmartmoves.org/projects/jacksoncounty.aspx

Mayor Randy Rhoads, his grandson, Skyler Rhoads, Livable Streets Advisory Board Chairperson Dr. Ed Kraemer and several neighborhood children walk...

Lee’s Summit Mayor Randy Rhoads has a new program for residents and business owners to meet him and to chat about the City. “A Moment with the Mayor” is the new program debuting on Saturday, September 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Legacy Park Community Center, 901 NE Bluestem Drive, Lee’s Summit.

This weekend is a good time to shop for back to school items in the community. That’s because the City of Lee’s Summit is participating in the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7.

The City of Lee’s Summit would like to clear up a factual error that was reported in the news media regarding the City’s settlement with Ted White. In recent articles, a statement has been made that White’s lawyers offered to settle the case for $10 million and that the City refused, costing taxpayers an additional $5.5 million.

During the July 21st Lee’s Summit City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance establishing the proposed new boundaries for the four City Council Districts.

Lee’s Summit Councilmembers Jim Hallam and Kathy Hofmann are hosting an Open Forum for residents of District 1.  The Open Forum will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2010 in the Howard Conference Room in City Hall, 220 SE Green St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri. 

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO— The public is cordially invited to celebrate the opening of Lee’s Summit Fire Station No. 2 by attending a Community Open House

The City's Purchasing Division has been recognized for the first time with the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement award from the National Purchasing Institute Inc. (NPI).

The City of Lee’s Summit received the 2010 KCITE Excellence in Transportation Award for “green” achievements with the installation of InSync adaptive traffic signal controls and signal synchronization along Chipman Road.  The award was presented by the Kansas City Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (KCITE) on July 14.

The City of Lee’s Summit has partnered with North Star Destination Strategies to develop a community “Brand” for marketing the community to visitors, residents and businesses. Toward this end, North Star developed a customized Lee's Summit Community Survey. Once an individual begins the electronic survey he or she will not be able to come back to it; so please allow 15 minutes before beginning the survey. Only one person per computer/IP address will be allowed.

The survey can be found electronically or as a PDF on the "Main" page of the City's Web site, cityofls.net. Printed surveys will also be available at the Gamber Center, 4 SE Independence Ave., Lee’s Summit. Please return completed paper forms of the survey to the Gamber Center or the Receptionist Desk at Lee's Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green St., Lee's Summit. Surveys must be completed and submitted electronically or in paper form by July 26.

If you are in need of some minor exterior home repairs or minor private sanitary sewer improvements, the City of Lee’s Summit’s Minor Home Repair program is worth considering. The City will accept applications for this program from now until August 31, 2011.

Lee's Summit City Hall, Municipal Court, the Resource Recovery Park, the Main office of Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation (LSPR) and Harris Park Community Center will be closed Monday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

City offices will re-open on Tuesday, July 5, with normal hours of operation.

Essential public safety service, such as police and fire protection, will not be impacted by the holiday.

The Lee’s Summit Historic Preservation Commission recently recommended Morningside Acres Historic Ranch District, a neighborhood east of Historic Downtown Lee’s Summit, to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The recommendation is important to the process of designating the neighborhood as a place of historical significance, which allows the neighborhood to take advantage of the benefits that become available with the designation.

Lee’s Summit City Hall’s Parking Garage located at the corner of 2nd and Green Streets will be one of the sites for the new Electric Vehicle Charging Stations being installed by LilyPad EV. These charging stations are funded by the U.S. Department of Energy award DE-EE0002538,

The Lee’s Summit City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2011-12 Municipal Budget last night during the June 16 City Council meeting. The total budget for the general fund is $58.3 million for Fiscal Year 2011-12 as compared to the $59.7 million budget projected for fiscal year 2010-11. The 2011-12 budget becomes effective July 1, 2011.

The community will have an opportunity to offer input about the sustainable design standard overlay district for all future development within the M-150 Corridor during an Open House from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday June 15, 2011 in Howard A at Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green St., Lee’s Summit.

The City of Lee’s Summit and Exergonix Inc. reached a resolution at the June 2 City Council meeting, bringing the City a step closer to becoming the headquarters of the innovative energy solutions company.

On Wednesday, June 1, 2011, the Lee’s Summit Fire Department moved into the newly constructed Fire Station No.2 located at 2000 NE Rice Road.

Discussions between the City of Lee’s Summit and Don Nissanka, President and CEO, Exergonix are continuing beyond the May 31, 2011 closing date for the subject 83-acre property owned by Pfizer. A request to extend the closing date to June 15, 2011 has been made to Pfizer.

The City’s new Livable Streets Advisory Board is encouraging everyone to participate in Bike Week May 16 – 23.  Here are just a few ideas of how to get involved:

Citizens in Lee’s Summit will join thousands of individuals across the country to celebrate National Preservation Month in May. In our community, the observance began with a proclamation in honor of “May Preservation Month.”

To celebrate National Public Works Week, May 15 - 21, the Lee’s Summit Public Works and Water Utilities departments will host their Annual Big Truck & Equipment Show at the Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport, 2751 NE Douglas St., on Saturday May 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

An Electronics Recycling event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 7 in the east parking lot of the Lee’s Summit High School, 400 SE Blue Parkway.  Some electronic products contain hazardous and toxic materials, making it important to properly dispose of electronic waste to avoid being placed in a landfill.

Local artist Rick Stone's artwork is on display in the lobby of City Hall.  His fascination with design is evident through his many art pieces, shown in an array of shows, including Longview Farms, the Power & Light District and Westport shows, and many more.  

The City's Public Works Department has a newly created Web page dedicated to the Curb Repair Programs in an effort to keep residents informed about repair projects and to promote two-way communications. The Web page is located at cityofls.net on the Transportation Page under Street Programs and Maintenance

The U.S. Census Bureau will present an overview of the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey data – what it is and how to access the data using the bureau’s Web site, American Factfinder.

The City of Lee’s Summit asks residents to participate in a planning meeting to discuss the redistricting of Lee’s Summit’s City Council District boundaries.  The meeting is open to the public and will be held at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers (220 SE Green St.) on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

Downtown shopping habits, event attendance, overall impressions of downtown Lee’s Summit as well as recommendations for the area’s business developmen...

Residents in need of a new washer, refrigerator, or other energy star certified appliances, might want to purchase them in mid-April. That’s because the City of Lee’s Summit is participating in the “Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday” that exempts city and state sales taxes on energy star certified new appliances from April 19 through April 25, 2011.

City of Lee’s Summit District 4 Councilmembers Bob Johnson and Dave Mosby invite District 4 residents to a Listening Post on April 28.  This event provides an open-forum setting for District 4 residents to talk with their Councilmembers about City services and issues or concerns facing the community.

Meet the Artist Tuesday, April 19 from 6-7:30 p.m.  Watch a LS360 presentation in the Council Chambers from 6:30-7 p.m. to learn more about past accomplishments, new initiatives and on-going projects.  Reconvene in the lobby for refreshments and mingle with guests until 8:30 p.m. 

Lee’s Summit Councilmembers Allan Gray II and Brian Whitley are hosting their First Annual 2nd District Community Forum on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Longview Metropolitan Community College Education Center, 500 SW Longview Road.

In an effort to keep our streams and parks clean of debris, the City of Lee’s Summit, in partnership with the Lee’s Summit Beautification Commission and the Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation Department, are organizing our annual “Sweep the Summit & Stream Team” event to clean up litter at a local park. Volunteers from the community are needed for the clean-up event scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 16 at Howard Park, 3498 NE Independence in Lee’s Summit.  

Besides helping the environment, using a rain barrel is an inexpensive alternative to watering lawns and gardens. Collecting rainwater is also a great...

Due to wet roads and a forecast of below freezing temperatures, the City of Lee's Summit's crews will report to work at 3 a.m. Monday, March 28, to treat primary roadways ahead of rush hour traffic.

The City of Lee's Summit is designated as an Entitlement Community under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant funds are provided to the City annually to meet the needs of low-to-moderate income individuals and families, to address blight in Lee's Summit or to meet an urgent need. These criteria are referred to as “the Three National Objectives of the CDBG Program”.

The City’s Public Works Operations staff mounted spreaders and plows on all dump trucks today in case it is necessary to respond to winter weather this weekend in Lee’s Summit. The City will continue to monitor the weather throughout the weekend and take appropriate action.

On May 5th, the Lee’s Summit City Council approved authorization of several grants from the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission to fund the...

Representatives from the City of Lee’s Summit’s departments will present their respective budgets from 1 – 5 p.m. on Friday, March 25, in the Council Chambers of Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green Street, Lee’s Summit.

The City of Lee’s Summit will have a public meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. on March 29, 2011, regarding the preliminary design of improvements along Lee’s Summit Road from Colbern Road to Gregory Boulevard. The open-house style meeting will be held at Oakwood Baptist Church, 7600 Lee’s Summit Road, Kansas City, Mo.

Vendors wishing to sell fireworks in the city limits are required to apply for a “Fireworks Sales” permit from the City of Lee’s Summit.  The City’s Planning and Development Department will be accepting applications between 8:00 a.m. April 1 and 5:00 p.m. April 5.  

City of Lee’s Summit Public Works crews reported to work at 4 a.m. today (March 14) to treat primary and secondary streets with rock salt in preparati...

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon held a news conference outside Lee’s Summit City Hall today (March 10) to announce a low-interest loan of more than $37 million from the state of Missouri to the Little Blue Valley Sewer District to finance wastewater treatment projects.   

Lee’s Summit Councilmembers Allan Gray II and Brian Whitley are hosting a District meeting for residents of District 2.  The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the Metropolitan Community College-Longview, in the Longview Education Center, 500 SW Longview Road, Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Severe Weather Awareness Week is set for March 7th through March 11th.  This campaign is designed to increase public awareness about flooding, severe weather and tornadoes.

The City of Lee’s Summit and the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce are hosting a second informational session on “How to do Business with the City”.  Learn more about the City’s procurement process, including how to register for bid opportunities and the guidelines on accepting low bids by attending this event.  This session is approximately one hour and will be held at City Hall on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.

City crews will treat streets with rock salt tonight and Saturday, Feb. 26, due to freezing drizzle forecast for our area overnight and into tomorrow. Currently, crews are treating streets in residential areas as a result of the wintery mix received in Lee’s Summit on Thursday.

The City’s Information Technology Services (ITS) staff successfully completed the installation of several key replacement hardware components for the City’s computer networked systems and servers.  The installation was warranted after receiving significant water damage earlier this week.

City crews completed plowing and treating primary streets covered by snow from the City’s recent blast of wintery weather. The plowing and treating of secondary and residential streets are the focus of crews throughout today and overnight.

City of Lee’s Summit crews are pre-treating streets in advance of the forecast snow expected in our area today. Crews will continue working through th...

Basic e-mail functionality has been restored to most City of Lee’s Summit employees as of today, which means e-mails can now be sent and received.

City of Lee’s Summit crews are ready to respond to the winter storm moving into the greater metropolitan area today.

The City of Lee’s Summit’s computer networked systems and servers were significantly damaged by water on February 21 due to a set of failures experienced by the air conditioning system supporting the City Hall data center. Public Safety systems are operational and “911” services were not impacted.

On February 21, an A/C unit malfunctioned, ultimately damaging a component of the City’s email and network system.   Due to the damage, the City’s email system is out of service.  Residents needing to contact the City are urged to call the city’s main line at 969-1000, or call a specific department below.

EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. Lee’s Summit residents that are eligible for the Earne...

Lee’s Summit City Hall and the Municipal Court will be closed Monday, Feb. 21 in observance of the Presidents’ Day holiday.

The City of Lee’s Summit and several governmental jurisdictions formed a regional consortium and entered into a Cooperative Agreement with BBC Research and Consulting to conduct a study to identify barriers to housing choice, including discriminatory activities.

Meet local artist Carole Gray, view her artwork, enjoy refreshments and sample wine provided by Mingle. 

City of Lee’s Summit crews are pre-treating primary, secondary and residential streets today in preparation for snow forecast for our area on Tuesday,...

The City of Lee’s Summit’s snow removal crews completed plowing and treating streets. Crews will use backhoes and loaders to work on problem areas thr...

City crews have been working around-the-clock to plow streets throughout the community after one of the worst winter storms in recent years hit the metropolitan area.
Some parts of our community reported close to 11 inches of snow by the time the snow ended early Wednesday morning.

The City of Lee’s Summit’s Resource Recovery Park (landfill), 2101 SE Hamblen Road, is closed until 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, due to decreased use...

The City of Lee’s Summit Public Works crews are busy plowing and treating residential streets after the Blizzard of 2011 dropped large amounts of snow accompanied by significant winds and freezing temperatures in our City and the metropolitan area on Tuesday.

As a blizzard blankets the metropolitan area with snowfall amounts not seen in recent years, the City of Lee’s Summit formally activated the City’s Emergency Operations Center and Lee’s Summit Mayor Randall Rhoads declared a State of Emergency.

As the City of Lee’s Summit’s Public Works crews are plowing streets throughout the community, the City asks residents to please remove vehicles from streets to prevent delays in the snow removal process. Primary streets will be plowed continuously during and after the snowfall because of blowing and drifting snow. 

Due to inclement weather, the following City-related meetings are being cancelled or rescheduled, as follows: Meeting/E...

Preparation is key to being ready for a major winter storm forecast to impact the area today (Monday) through Wednesday, February 2 The storm is bein...

Winter Storm Safety Tips To prevent frozen pipes: Keep garage doors closed Leave cabinet doors open Know where the water shutoff is ...

The City Council instructed staff to continue negotiating with Exergonix to find a solution to meet everyone's interest.  City Manager Steve Arbo provided an overview of the key issues for the City and the developer at the May 19 City Council meeting.  According to a written statement by Exergonix, their business plan has changed due to the "dynamic nature of our fundraising and the uncertainty of financing from the Department of Energy."

The City of Lee’s Summit’s Public Works Department crews will continue to plow and treat secondary and residential streets throughout the day in response to snow that blanketed the City Wednesday into the early hours of today (Thursday).

Due to the forecast for inclement weather, the Community Development Committee (CDC) scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 19 in the Council Chambers of Lee’s Summit City Hall has been cancelled.

Due to the forecasted inclement weather, “the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Pre-Application Orientation” has been rescheduled for 8:30 -10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25 in the Strother Conference Room of Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green St., Lee’s Summit. The meeting was originally scheduled for 8:30 -10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 20, in the Strother Conference Room of Lee’s Summit City Hall.

The City of Lee’s Summit’s Public Works Department crews are scheduled to complete the pretreatment of streets by noon today in preparation for another round of snow forecast to begin this afternoon.

The City of Lee’s Summit’s Public Works Department will continue pre-treating streets in preparation for snow forecast Sunday, January 9, and Monday, January 10. According to the forecast from Weather or Not, “the potential for light snow will increase late Sunday night as a storm system begins to move east into the (region). It appears that steady snow will arrive during the day on Monday and continue into the overnight as this system moves across the area.”

The CDBG 2011-2012 Program Year application process is underway.  Applications will be accepted through February 18, 2011 for programs and projects sponsored by eligible public agencies or not-for-profit organizations to be funded through the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) program. 

Based on the current weather forecast, the City of Lee’s Summit’s Public Works Department will begin pre-treating residential streets at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 23, in preparation for snow forecast to begin in our area early on Christmas Eve.

The City of Lee’s Summit’s Public Works Department started pretreatment of roads earlier today in preparation for freezing drizzle expected to start in the metropolitan area this evening.
Residential streets have been pretreated with rock salt and the pretreatment of secondary streets has been underway since 2:30 p.m. today.

Jackson County citizens can pay their Jackson County Personal Property and Real Estate tax bills in the Treasury Office on the first floor of Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green St. Tax bills are due by December 31, 2010 and payment is accepted by cash or check made payable to Jackson County Collector. The City benefits by receiving 1% of tax dollars collected for acting as an agent for Jackson County.

Dr. Martin Luther King’s message of service will be the focus of a week of activities scheduled for the 14th Annual Celebration in Lee’s Summit.  “Celebrating the Dream through Service” is the theme of communitywide activities that will begin on January 8 and conclude on January 17 with dancing, singing and inspirational messages.

The City of Lee’s Summit has been preparing for another snow season.  Some of the changes to this year’s Snow Plan are increased levels of service in residential neighborhoods.

There will be a Public Hearing to hear testimony about the proposed rate increase for KCP&L and KCP&L – Greater Missouri Operations Company on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at Lee’s Summit North High School, 901 NE Douglas St.

The first home renovated in Lee’s Summit through a program to stabilize communities suffering from foreclosures and/or abandoned properties will be celebrated with an open house hosted by the Builders Development Corporation (BDC) and the City of Lee’s Summit.

On Thanksgiving there are three times more kitchen fires than any other day of the year. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) on Thanksgiving Day in 2008 fire departments across the nation responded to over 1,300 kitchen fires, well above the average of about 420 on a regular day.

National credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service assigned a “Aaa” rating to the City of Lee’s Summit’s $5 million General Obligation (GO) Bonds Series 2010 sale on November 18 citing satisfactory financial operations despite volatile sales tax trends as a result of the economic downturn.

The tenth annual Digital Cities Survey ranked Lee’s Summit as the third most advanced digital city in America (population category 75,000-125,000)!  The annual survey evaluates how information technology is incorporated into government operations to better serve our community. 

The Sherwood Manufacturing building, also known as Arnold Hall, in downtown Lee’s Summit is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places – a crucial designation requirement in order for the structure to be considered for state and federal historic tax credits.

In an effort to promote understanding of local government and to foster future community leaders, the City of Lee’s Summit created a Citizens Academy for residents of Lee’s Summit.  The Citizens Academy is free and open to Lee’s Summit residents who want to gain better insight into the operations of City government and to prepare for greater involvement in the community’s leadership.

The Livable Streets philosophy will be considered during the planning of future transportation projects as a matter of policy now that the Lee’s Summit City Council adopted the resolution written by the Livable Streets Planning Committee.

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department has lifted the burn ban for the City of Lee’s Summit and will begin issuing Recreational/Cooking Fire Permits as long as conditions continue to improve. The fire department wants to remind residents that the burning of leaves, brush, and trash is always prohibited.

In an effort to keep our streams and parks clean of debris, the City of Lee’s Summit Public Works Department, in partnership with the Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation Department and the Beautification Commission, is organizing a combined “Sweep the Summit” and “Stream Team” event at Deer Valley Park. 

The dry conditions and an abundance of dormant vegetation have placed the area at an increased risk for fire. The Lee’s Summit Fire Department has issued a ban on all open burning

Lee's Summit Park Board and Staff are hoping 2010 will be a banner year for Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation (LSPR) and its community. The agency w...

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department wants to remind everyone when they change their clock on Sunday, November 7th, make a change that could save your life - change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detector.

Lee’s Summit Councilmembers Joe Spallo and Ed Cockrell are hosting a District meeting for residents of District 3.  The meeting will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 in the Howard Conference Rooms in City Hall, 220 SE Green, Lee’s Summit, Missouri.  District 3 residents are encouraged to stop by and talk with their Councilmembers.

Properly dispose of unused or end-of-life electronic equipment at the City of Lee’s Summit’s recycling event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 16 at Lee’s Summit High School, located near the intersection of Highways 50 and 291.

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department will host two Recruiting Open Houses to provide an opportunity for anyone that may be interested in a career in emergency services to ask questions and fill out an application. Applicants that successfully complete the testing and interview process will be placed on an eligibility list for firefighter positions to be filled throughout the upcoming year.

In an effort to better educate communities throughout the U.S. about smoke alarm recommendations, the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA ) is promoting “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!” as the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, October 3-9, which the Lee’s Summit Fire Department is supporting locally. NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for 88 years.

Local artist Marc MacCallum will feature artwork at Lee’s Summit City Hall, beginning Thursday, October 21.  Stop by to meet MacCallum and enjoy some refreshments from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 220 SE Green Street, Lee’s Summit.

The fair is FREE and will be Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Green Street between 2nd and 3rd streets in downtown Lee’s Summit, MO.  There will be a variety of activities at the fair. A children’s booth will be available for youth to play a fishing game and draw “green” inspired pictures using sidewalk chalk.  In addition, Fourth G

Lee’s Summit Councilmembers Jim Hallam and Kathy Hofmann are hosting an Open Forum for residents of District 1.  The Open Forum will be held from...

City of Lee’s Summit District 4 Councilmembers Bob Johnson and Dave Mosby invite District 4 residents to a Listening Post on October 6.  This eve...

In his first annual State of the City address given on September 9, Mayor Randy Rhoads highlighted major accomplishments, programs and initiatives, and progressive plans focused on addressing future needs of Lee’s Summit. His message was also focused on inspiring continual involvement and investment in the community.

Parents of teens and “tweens” are you facing the dilemma of how to intentionally raise your child? Join other parents as Lee’s Summit CARES provides internationally known speakers and authors as they present sound information and strategies to help you successfully navigate your child’s adolescent years.

Mayor Rhoads will present the “State of the City” address to the community during the September 9 Work Session of the Lee’s Summit City Council in the Council Chambers of Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green Street, Lee’s Summit.

The City of Lee’s Summit’s Solid Waste Committee determined the second set of “Scope of Work” details for the proposed solid waste, curbside recycling program after discussion with City staff on August 25.

Lee’s Summit residents can help the City improve the Government Access Channel by completing an on-line survey available on the City’s Web site, cityofls.net. The City’s channel is broadcast on Comcast, channel 7; Time Warner, channel 2; and AT&T U-verse, channel 99. Click here to take survey

Mayor Rhoads and other officials celebrated the completion of the new interchange at Interstate 470 and Strother Road in Lee’s Summit today, Thursday, August 19 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site of the new interchange.

You are invited to join the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and the City of Lee’s Summit for a ribbon-cutting celebration to signify the completion of a new interchange at I-470 and Strother Road in Lee’s Summit. Please join us on Thursday, August 19 at 10 a.m. at the new interchange. To gain access to the ribbon-cutting location, use one of the following routes:

On July 28, the City of Lee’s Summit’s Solid Waste Committee worked on determining the first set of “Scope of Work” details for the proposed solid waste/curbside recycling program.  These details included the number of haulers to be included in the program (single hauler or zones); the party responsible for billing (city or hauler); the length of contract; and collection days at individual homes.

Home emergencies can range from a minor water line break to a disaster that impacts the entire community. To help Lee’s Summit citizens be better prepared to deal with minor to major disasters, the

With dangerous heat continuing in the metropolitan area, the City of Lee’s Summit is offering relief to residents in the form of reduced swimming prices, as well as, providing tips to stay cool when the temperatures outside are soaring to unbearable levels.

Lee’s Summit Police Department announces two annual crime prevention fairs scheduled for the first week of August. National Night Out Against Crime will be held Tuesday, August 3rd from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green Street. National Night Out is designed to heighten

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning until 8 p.m. on Friday, July 23rd, 2010. The combination of heat and humidity can cause dangerous heat index values between 110 and 115 degrees during the afternoon hours. Proper precautions should be taken to prevent heat related illness now, and during future heat advisories and warnings.

On July 8, 2010, we publicly stated our concerns regarding the recent court award of $14 Million plus attorney’s fees to Ted White. The court’s decision was against a former employee, Richard McKinley, who was found to have violated the constitutional rights of Mr. White. Anyone who is involved in the legal system understands that any outcome may be possible and that there is no certainty until a final judgment has been ordered.This case was between Ted White and Richard McKinley; the City of Lee’s Summit was not a party in the case. We did not want to interfere with the court proceedings on this matter until they had been fully completed.

Members of the education community and primary stakeholders in the education process have plans to reconvene soon to pick up where the City’s groundbreaking “Education Summit” left off.

The City of Lee’s Summit has announced that certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items are exempt from sales taxes from Friday, Aug. 6 - Sunday, Aug. 8. The sales tax holiday applies to state and local sales taxes for local jurisdictions that chose to participate in the holiday. The City of Lee’s Summit began participating the sales tax holiday in August 2007.

Several alternate routes are available for motorists to enter Kansas from Westbound I-470 Highway, which was recently closed due to a sinkhole. Typically, motorists would enter Kansas from I-470 via I-435 West. This portion of roadway has been closed by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) until further notice. For more information go to: http://www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity/major_projects/trailsdetour.htm
 

Lee’s Summit residents have a new and free tool to map and analyze crime activity in their neighborhood and community. Beginning July 12, 2010 crime data for Lee’s Summit will be displayed through the Web site RAIDS Online: www.raidsonline.com.

The City of Lee’s Summit announces the next artist reception scheduled for Thursday, July 15.  Meet local artist Jennylynne Gragg, view her artwork and enjoy refreshments from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an opinion denying the defendant‟s appeal of the 2008 ruling in the case of Theodore W. White Jr. v. Richard McKinley.  In that ruling, the jury found that the defendants, a former employee of the City of Lee‟s Summit and his wife, infringed on the constitutional rights of Mr. White.  The jury awarded Mr. White nearly $16 million.

The City of Lee’ s Summit’s Environmental Web site received an outstanding achievement award from the Missouri Waste Control Coalition at their annual conference on June 22 at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.

On June 23, the City’s Solid Waste Committee received feedback from representatives of five residential solid waste haulers about the City’s proposed comprehensive, citywide, solid waste program. The representatives of AAA Disposal, Allied Waste, Constable Sanitation, Deffenbaugh Industries, and Town & Country Disposal discussed the pros and cons of the comprehensive program during the meeting with the Solid Waste Committee.

Attention first time homebuyers in Lee’s Summit!  The Lee’s Summit City Council approved funding for the First Time Homebuyer Program for the 2010-11 program year.  The program is made possible by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) each year through the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. 

The City of Lee’s Summit completed a traffic engineering study for Prairie View Elementary School.  Several recommendations were made to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety around and within the school area, especially along SE 5th Street.

The City of Lee’s Summit is working on or will begin work on the following curb, roadway and sidewalk projects:

Businesses and entities selling and promoting green goods are invited to host a booth at the City of Lee’s Summit’s first “Green on Green” Sustainability Fair.

If you are in need of some minor exterior home repairs or minor private sanitary sewer improvements, the City of Lee’s Summit’s Minor Home Repair program is worth considering.

Properly dispose of sensitive documents at the City’s first Mobile Paper Shredding event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, on Green Street between 2nd and 3rd streets. THIS EVENT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER!

Residents can stay up-to-date on community information by signing up for a FREE, new service offered at Nixle.com. Nixle is a new community information service provider built exclusively to provide secure, trustworthy, notifications by web, e-mail, and cell phone via text messages. 

Residents can stay up-to-date on community information by signing up for a FREE, new service offered at Nixle.com. Nixle is a new community information service provider built exclusively to provide secure, trustworthy, notifications by web, e-mail, and cell phone via text messages. 

The Lee’s Summit Public Works Department received a national award and four chapter/local awards for transportation, rehabilitation projects, and an innovative program at the Kansas City Metro Chapter of the American Public Works Association Awards luncheon May 18 at Hyatt Regency Crown Center hotel in Kansas City.

Citizen input is needed to develop design standards and development conditions within the M-150 Corridor, which is poised to become the City’s southern gateway, welcoming residents and visitors to our community.

Learn about the City’s recycling services in the newly released video, “Recycling: A Growing Need across the Country.” The video can be viewed at http://cityofls.net/Environment.aspx, and the government access channel broadcast on Comcast, channel 7, Time Warner, channel 2, and AT&T U-verse, channel 99. You can also catch it on youtube.com/cityofls!

Officially, May is National Bike Month. Unofficially, let’s call it National Bike and Walk month. Because whether you choose to bike or walk, you will enjoy the many benefits of active living.

For residents who missed the Census mail back deadline, beginning May 1, Census takers started going door-to-door to collect census information for the following reasons:

To celebrate National Public Works Week, May 16 - 22, the Lee’s Summit Public Works and Water Utilities departments will host their Annual Equipment Show and Display at the Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport, 2751 NE Douglas St. on May 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The Lee’s Summit Historic Preservation Commission cordially invites you to attend the annual Strawberry Lawn Fete and the presentation of the Graves/Hale Historic Preservation Award. The event will be from 2 – 4 p.m. May 16 at the historic Todd George home, 408 SE Third Street.

The Lee’s Summit Historic Preservation Commission and the Lee’s Summit Historical Society will present an event interpreting the history of downtown historic churches on May 1st at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 5th and Grand streets.

If you have not turned in your Census form, April 19, is the last day to provide answers over the telephone. Call 1-866-872-6868. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons can call the TDD number: 1-866-783-2010. Remember Census takers will begin going door-to-door on May 1. For more information about the census, call the City’s Census Liaison Christina Alexander at (816) 969-1607 or go to the 2010census.gov Web site.

The Lee’s Summit 360⁰ Implementation Committee’s second quarterly meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. April 20 at the Gamber Center, 4 SE Independence Ave., Lee’s Summit. The 15-member Implementation Committee is charged with overseeing the process to bring to fruition the City’s newly adopted strategic plan, Lee’s Summit 360˚: Charting Tomorrow.

Properly dispose of unused or end-of-life electronic equipment at the City of Lee’s Summit’s recycling event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 1 at Lee’s Summit High School, located near the intersection of Highways 50 and 291.

Thank you to those who have already returned their census forms. Your participation will help Lee’s Summit receive its fair share of more than 400 billion dollars of federal funds allocated for services to the citizens of our community and across the country.

The City of Lee’s Summit is excited to announce an artist reception featuring Charles Carman Pierce Thursday, April 15, 2010.  Pierce will be greeting attendees from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will also be performing a live sketch in the lobby of City Hall. 

The City of Lee’s Summit today announced a grant opportunity available to non-profit organizations providing services to the homeless. The City was notified about the Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESG) by the Missouri Department of Social Services, which administers the program.

The City of Lee's Summit has announced the temporary closure of Lee’s Summit Road between NW Strother and Colbern on April 14.  The closure is necessary to repair a water main break.  The closure is estimated to occur from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Lee’s Summit Historic Preservation Commission cordially invites you to attend the annual Strawberry Lawn Fete and the presentations of the Graves/Hale Historic Preservation Award and the Award of the Distinction.  The event will be from 2 – 4 p.m. May 16 at the historic Todd George home, 408 SE Third St.

Don’t worry, if you have not completed your Census form. You still have time to mail back your completed questionnaire through mid-April. So, don’t delay anymore, mail your Census form today.

Residents in need of a new washer, refrigerator, or other energy star certified appliances, might want to purchase them in mid-April. That’s because the City of Lee’s Summit is participating in the “Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday” that exempts city and state sales taxes on energy star certified new appliances from April 19 through April 25, 2010.

The City of Lee’s Summit will have a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 19, to present information and to answer questions about the City’s efforts to assist property owners in listing eligible properties in the National Register of Historic Places. The meeting originally scheduled for March 15 was cancelled due to the lack of a quorum.

This week, the City of Lee’s Summit’s Public Works Department began repairing vertical sidewalk offsets in excess of three inches through Kansas City-based Musselman & Hall Contractors L.L.C. This scope of repair work includes 49 of the worst vertical offsets identified during inventory and evaluation inspections conducted by Burns & McDonnell engineers to document rehabilitation needs, including vertical and horizontal offsets, cracking, obstructions, gaps, and required American Disabilities Act (ADA) updates.

Today is Census Day, April 1! A banner reminding residents to complete and return their census forms today is displayed in front of Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green Street. The banner emphasizes “BE COUNTED.”

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department will host a National Weather Service SkyWARN Severe Weather Spotter presentation

Lee’s Summit residents should now have their 2010 Census forms to complete and mail back in the self-addressed, postage paid envelope. If you have already mailed your completed form, thank you.

The City of Lee’s Summit has produced a dynamic, new video capturing why the City was recently awarded the prestigious 2010 Creative Community Award from the Missouri Arts Council. The video contains pictures of some of the community’s treasured cultural and arts displays showcased throughout the community.

Due to rainy weather forecasted for this weekend, the City of Lee’s Summit’s Stream Team Clean-up event scheduled for Saturday, March 27, will now be held on Saturday, April 17, 2010.

Vendors wishing to sell fireworks in the city limits are required to apply for a “Fireworks Sales” permit from the City of Lee’s Summit.  The City’s Planning and Development Department will be accepting applications between 8:00 a.m. April 1 and 5:00 p.m. April 5.

Spring is almost here, but the City of Lee’s Summit is preparing for a winter blast expected to move into the area after 11 p.m. tonight. The City’s Public Works Operations B-shift crew, made up of 18 drivers, is scheduled to start pre-treating roadways at 7 p.m. before plowing and treating snow/slush overnight. The pretreatment will begin in residential areas before crews move onto arterial and collectors. On Saturday morning, the A-shift  crew (26 drivers) will continue plowing and treating streets.

The Lee’s Summit City Council created an attractive incentive for both builders and homebuyers by adopting a 25% reduction in the License Tax on Building Contractors residential structures at the March 18 City Council meeting.

Time is running out to help Lee's Summit earn a spot as a trial location for Google™ to build and test ultra, high-speed broadband networks bringing our community internet speeds of 100 times faster!  Help us by filling out this SURVEY by Friday, March 19, and tell Google™ why they should build a fiber-to-home network in Lee’s Summit.

The City of Lee's Summit was designated as an Entitlement Community under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

If you notice an incorrect city name or zip code listed on your advance letter or Census form, please do not be alarmed.

Residents were asked originally to mark through incorrect city and zip code information and to replace it with the correct information. If you did this, the form will be checked manually and counted. However, you DO NOT NEED TO CORRECT CITY AND ZIP CODE information on the census.

When you change your clock on Sunday, March 14, make a change that could save your life- change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detector.

Spring is an excellent time for individuals, organizations and businesses to participate in the Adopt-a-Street program to keep Lee’s Summit’s streets and roadways free of trash and debris.

Lee’s Summit residents are beginning to receive Census forms in the mail. Please complete the 10-question form and mail it back to the Census by April 1.

Help Lee's Summit earn a spot as a trial location for Google™ to build and test ultra, high-speed broadband networks bringing our community internet speeds of 100 times faster!  Help us by filling out this SURVEY and tell Google™  why they should build a fiber-to-home network in Lee’s Summit. 

Due to a risk of severe weather on Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service has postponed the state-wide tornado drill scheduled for Tuesday, March 9th, until Thursday, March 11th at 1:30 PM.

The Lee’s Summit City Council took a major step toward residential curbside recycling at the March 4 City Council meeting with the approval of City staff to issue a state-mandated, two-year notice to all solid waste haulers providing services in the City.

Besides helping the environment, using a rain barrel is an inexpensive alternative to watering lawns and gardens. Collecting rainwater is also a great way to protect our lakes and streams by reducing the amount of stormwater run-off that can pickup pollutants as it flows over land.

The City of Lee’s Summit will have a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 15, to present information and to answer questions about the City’s efforts to assist property owners in listing eligible properties in the National Register of Historic Places.

In an effort to keep our streams clean of debris, the City of Lee’s Summit Public Works Department is organizing a “Stream Team” to clean up litter.

The Lee’s Summit Municipal Court ranks high in accessibility and fairness according to an internal administrative report that measures the performance of the City’s judicial system.

The Lee’s Summit community continues to mount up recognitions in 2010 including making the list of U.S. Wealth Centers according to Portfolio.com, a bizjournals property as well as BusinessWeek magazine’s list of the 2010 fastest growing cities.

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department in conjunction with the State Emergency Management Agency and National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill will conduct a statewide tornado drill on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:30 P.M. 

Internet-based services and products developer Google Inc. is exploring new ways to deliver Internet better and more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today.

In the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Haiti, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region VII urges everyone to prepare for disasters, especially earthquakes. Read the FEMA Region VII article for details.

The Historic Preservation Commission is accepting nominations for the Graves/Hale Historic Preservation Award. The award, established by the Lee’s Summit Historic Preservation Commission in 2004, is inspired by the dedicated efforts of Frank Graves and Don Hale.

The City of Lee’s Summit expands the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) MetroFlex Route #252 in Lee’s Summit.  Effective in January, the expanded boundaries include newly developed amenities, such as the Summit Fair shopping center, Summit Technology Campus and Lee’s Summit Medical Center. View #252 Boundary Map.

Great news for Lee's Summit once again!  Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street, Inc. (DLSMS) nominated the Old Lee's Summit area for This Old House magazine's third annual Best Places to Buy an Old House contest.  Read DLSMS's news release for the remainder of the story!

The City of Lee’s Summit has been awarded a Capstone Award in the Infrastructure category for the work on the Interstate 470 and 350/50 Highway Interchange in Lee’s Summit.

The 2010 Missouri Arts Award for “Creative Community” was officially given to the City of Lee’s Summit during the awards ceremony on Wednesday, February 10, in the Rotunda of the State Capitol Building in Jefferson City, Missouri.

The prestigious honor was given by the Missouri Arts Council, a division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Missouri Arts Awards honor individuals and organizations that have made profound and lasting contributions to the cultural and artistic climate of the state.

The 2010 Census questionnaire is arriving at Lee’s Summit households between now and March 19. It is one of the shortest forms in the history of the Census – 10 questions with only 10 minutes needed for completion.

Spring will be here before we know it, which means that many of us will begin several household projects. Before you begin those projects, there is some important information you need to know as a property owner and as an individual performing the work.

City of Lee’s Summit residents that are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can receive free tax preparation services.  EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families.

In observance of the President’s Day holiday, Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green Street, will be closed on Monday, February 15, 2010. City Hall will re-open on Tuesday, February 16, at 8 a.m. The City's Resource Recovery Park will be open on February 15.

The City’s Public Works Operations crews are plowing slush and treating streets in residential areas after the City received another blast from Old Man Winter, ranging from flurries to heavy snowfalls, throughout the day on Friday, Feb. 5.
Additionally, crews are preparing for another storm event forecasted to hit the metropolitan area Sunday, Feb. 7.

The City of Lee’s Summit gears up to combat any possible effects of the predicted winter weather.  Public Works crews proactively began applying salt brine to City arterial streets over the last two days.  Salt brine acts as a barrier between the pavement and snow and ice.  Residential and collector streets are currently being treated with rock salt.  All city streets were pre-treated by 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 4.

The City has been utilizing an e-procurement system called Onvia DemandStar for the past eight years to notify suppliers electronically of bid opportunities.  Additionally, the City has listed bid opportunities on the City’s Web site (cityofls.net) and mailed bid notification postcards to suppliers who were on the City’s “Vendor List” for specific goods and services.

If you missed the City’s 13th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on January 18, you can view rebroadcasts of the program on the government access channel on Comcast, channel 7; Time Warner, channel 2; and AT&T U-verse, channel 99 weekly on the following days and times:

City of Lee’s Summit residents eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can receive free tax preparation services beginning January 26, 2010.  EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families.

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting temporary part-time and full-time census takers from the Lee's Summit area to work on the 2010 Census.  These jobs offer good pay, flexible hours, paid training, and reimbursement for authorized, work-related expenses.  Best of all, census takers work in their community!

With the weather forecast as of 3 p.m. predicting snow to possibly blanket streets in Lee’s Summit on Friday morning, crews of the City’s Public Works Operations Department have already begun pre-treating streets with rock salt.

The most recent forecast for Lee’s Summit calls for anywhere from a dusting to three inches of snow beginning tomorrow morning (Friday, Jan. 29) about 6 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. Snow is expected to be lighter to the north and heavier to the south in the metropolitan area.
 

It’s always better to be prepared for emergencies. The following are a few tips ranging from the prevention of frozen pipes in the home to food safety during a power outage.

City of Lee’s Summit District 4 Councilmembers Bob Johnson and Nick Swearngin invite District 4 residents to a Listening Post.  This event provides an open-forum setting for District 4 residents to talk with their District Councilmembers about City services or issues and concerns facing the community.

This month, the City of Lee’s Summit unveiled a new environmental brand to promote the City’s environmental programs - “Lee’s Summit: Make it Green; Keep it Clean.” Along with the slogan a logo was created incorporating the catchy phrase.

The public is invited to attend one of three public meetings titled, “How Will We Grow?: An Adaptive land-use scenario for Great Kansas City” hosted by the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC).  Meeting attendees will learn how choices we make today will impact our future.

More than 400 residents attended the City of Lee’s Summit’s 13th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Jan. 18 in the Pavilion at John Knox Village. “Service Keeps the Dream Alive” was the theme of this year’s event that featured dance and speech presentations.

The City of Lee's Summit will be honoring local artist Erlene Flowers at an artist reception Thursday, January 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the lobby of Lee's Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green Street.

During the winter months, roadways may develop cracks and holes due to the freezing and thawing of rain and melting snow. The City’s Public Works Operations Division would like for residents to report potholes and other pavement imperfections in City streets by calling (816) 969-1870.  Your assistance will help our crews maintain our roadways by reporting imperfections our City staff or another resident may have not seen.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2010-2011 Program Year application process is underway through February 19, 2010.  The City is accepting applications for programs and projects sponsored by eligible public agencies or not-for-profit organizations to be funded through the CDBG program in the next program year (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011).

At the January 14 Lee's Summit City Council meeting, City Manager, Stephen Arbo, provided Mayor Karen Messerli and the City Councilmembers with a detailed account of City staff’s response to the blizzard experienced by the City during the Christmas holidays.

The Lee’s Summit 360⁰ Implementation Committee’s first quarterly meeting will be January 19 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Gamber Center, 4 SE Independence Ave., Lee’s Summit.

Join the City of Lee’s Summit on January 18 to celebrate the contributions and great legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King,, Jr. during the City’s 13th Annual communitywide celebration.

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the City of Lee’s Summit started a partial activation of its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as weather reports about the City’s latest storm continued to mimic the characteristics of the blizzard conditions the community underwent during the Christmas holiday.

Due to snow and below zero temperatures, the City of Lee’s Summit has announced the January 7 Lee’s Summit City Council Regular Session has been cancelled. The next regular session of the Lee’s Summit City Council will be at 6:15 p.m. on January 14 in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 220 SE Green St.

The City Council Regular Session scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 6:15 has been cancelled due to inclement weather.  For meeting detai...

The following City meetings have been cancelled.

• Public Works Committee meeting scheduled for 7 a.m. on Wednesday, January 6, has been rescheduled for the same time on Wednesday, January 13.
• Solid Waste Committee meeting scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 6, has been rescheduled for 7 a.m. on Wednesday, January 13.

After two weeks of snow removal activity, the City of Lee’s Summit’s snow removal crews are preparing for yet another winter storm, accumulations of 4 – 6 inches from snowfall are expected to begin Wednesday morning and continue overnight into Thursday. Winds are expected to increase Wednesday night with blowing and drifting snow developing and continuing until Friday.

It’s important to be aware of winter weather hazards and what you can do to protect you and your family, as well as make it easier for emergency responders to get to you to provide assistance in case of an emergency.

As the City of Lee’s Summit continues to plow and treat streets in the aftermath of the blizzard of 2009, the City prepares for additional snow to fall in the City this week and weekend.  Although accumulations are expected to be more manageable than the heavy snowfall that blanketed the City last week, the City is still preparing crews to engage in a 24-hour operations program to clear roadways.

According to the snow and ice removal plan for the City, the primary goal is to make the arterial roads, such as Todd George, Langsford Road, Pryor Road, and Woods Chapel Road, safe for our emergency response vehicles to travel from point-to-point in the City. Once this goal has been accomplished, the City forces begin working on the secondary collector streets, such as,   Clubhouse Drive, Vista Drive, Murray Road, Anderson Drive, Bridlewood Drive, Regatta Drive, etc. When both the arterial roads and collector streets are in good condition attention is then given to the residential streets and cul-de-sacs.

The Kansas City Metropolitan Area was hit by a winter storm blizzard that arrived on Thursday, December 23 and continued until Sunday afternoon December 27, 2009. The storm began with rain most of Thursday morning and changed into sleet around 3 PM that day. Later in the evening near 10 PM the temperatures dropped and the precipitation turned into snow.

Whenever accumulations occur, clearing our streets during the winter months is a top priority for the City’s Public Works Operations Division.

The City of Lee’s Summit Treasury Division has announced extended hours from December 28 – 31.   The Treasury Division, located on the first floor near the north entrance, will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the last four tax collection days of the year. Hours had been 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The City of Lee's Summit has developed a project webpage for the Douglas Street Improvements.  The project will result in access management through the application of raised medians to improve traffic safety and reduce travel delay between Mulberry Street and Tudor Road.

Chipman Road Bridge is now the “Alfred C. Johnson Memorial Bridge” renamed in honor of the former Lee’s Summit mayor who is remembered for his foresight to make significant upgrades to Chipman Road. In 1970, the City’s Board of Aldermen approved a recommendation from the Thoroughfare Advisory Committee to construct a four-lane thoroughfare on Chipman Road from U.S. 50 Highway to Douglas.

On January 18, the City of Lee’s Summit will be among those across the country honoring the many contributions and great legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King,, Jr. during the City’s 13th Annual community celebration.

The Lee’s Summit City Clerk began accepting filings for Municipal offices on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 and will continue until 5 p.m. on January 19, 2010 in the City Clerk’s Office of Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 S.E. Green St., Lee’s Summit.

As Lee’s Summit endures the first blast of winter weather for the season officer’s of the Lee’s Summit Police Department Traffic section wish to remind drivers of the dangers of “peephole driving”. This term describes the driver who after finding their car covered in snow and ice only scrapes a small portion of the windshield before driving away.

The Legislative Committee meeting for December 9 AND the City Council Work Session scheduled for December 10 have both been CANCELLED.

For the last six months, Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties along with their incorporated cities and school districts have been updating the Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Jackson County Personal Property and Real Estate tax bills can be paid at Lee’s Summit City Hall at 220 SE Green.  The City benefits by receiving 1% of tax dollars collected for acting as an agent for Jackson County.  Taxpayers benefit by receiving their tax receipt immediately upon payment. 

Come visit the heart of our community - Downtown Lee's Summit!  You'll be fascinated with the holiday spirit.

For the locations of the FREE, long-term, public parking lots downtown, download a copy of the FREE Public Parking in Downtown Map.

In challenging economic times, low-to-moderate-income families may oftentimes be hit the hardest.  However, due to the joint efforts of several departments at the City of Lee’s Summit and local non-profit organizations, the City has offset some of these financial hardships by implementing a successful Consolidated Plan of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

The City of Lee’s Summit is looking for past and present citizens to share their positive City-related histories.  Interviews will be conducted for a documentary entitled “Lee’s Summit Reflections.”
 

The City of Lee’s Summit has recently received numerous inquiries regarding notices left at residences throughout the community which imply that home addresses painted on curbs is what Public Safety officials look for to locate residences. This is a false statement.

Due to only one item scheduled for discussion, the City of Lee’s Summit’s November 18 Community Development Committee (CDC) meeting has been cancelled. The City’s next CDC meeting will be December 16 in the Council Chamber of Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green St., Lee’s Summit.

If you have opinions about the parking and storage of recreation vehicles (RV) in residential neighborhoods of Lee’s Summit, the City would like you to answer a new survey about the topic.

The holiday season brings holiday decorations and shopping.  During this time of the year, it's especially important to remain focused on safety.  The Lee's Summit Police and Fire departments would like to offer you some tips to stay safe:

Lee’s Summit Councilmembers Jim Hallam and Kathy Hofmann are hosting an Open Forum for residents of District 1. The Open Forum will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2009 in the Howard Conference Rooms in City Hall, 220 SE Green, Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Lee’s Summit has again been recognized as one of the top ten cities in the United States for its use of technology to better engage citizens with local government!  The ninth annual Digital Cities Survey ranked Lee’s Summit sixth on the list of most advanced digital cities in America in its population category.

The meetings are part of a process to update the Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires jurisdictions to have hazard mitigation plans as a prerequisite to receiving certain pre- and post-disaster planning and recovery grants.

The City of Lee’s Summit has been selected by the Missouri Arts Council (MAC), a division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, to receive the 2010 Missouri Arts Award for Creative Community. The Missouri Arts Awards honor individuals and organizations that have made profound and lasting contributions to the cultural and artistic climate of the state.

The City of Lee’s Summit will host a public meeting to discuss temporary traffic control permits on Tuesday, November 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Strother Conference Room of Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 SE Green Street.

As an entitlement community, the City of Lee’s Summit receives an annual federal grant, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. CDBG funds are required to be used to benefit low-to-moderate income individuals and families, to prevent or eliminate blight or slum conditions and to address urgent needs.

Halloween may be a fun holiday for kids, but for parents, trick-or-treat time can be a little scary. To ease the stress so often associated with Halloween the Lee’s Summit Police Department is providing the following safety tips from the National Crime Prevention Council to ensure a “howling” good time for all.

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department wants to remind everyone when they change their clock on Sunday, November 1st, make a change that could save your life- change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detector.

Winter can take a bite out of anyone’s budget.  With heating expenses and even the electric light bill going up due to shorter days, it’s a wonder anyone can save money during this season.  But, winter can also offer some opportunities for savings especially if you try these home winterization and outdoor tips before it gets too cold.

The City of Lee's Summit has created a centralized source of information about volunteer opportunities in the community to encourage volunteerism and community collaboration. To make this volunteer Web site successful however, the City needs organizations to register their opportunities.

On October 7, staff from the City of Lee’s Summit’s Central Building Services Division removed a portion of exterior siding (Exterior Insulation Finish System – “EIFS”) from the west wall of Arnold Hall located at 123 SE Third Street, Lee’s Summit.

The Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners is in need of Election Assistants in Eastern Jackson County to work at the polls on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages two to 14, due in large part to the nonuse or improper use of child seat...

The City of Lee's Summit announces an artist reception with local artist Ramon Magee on Thursday, October 15, 2009.  Meet Ramon any time between ...

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for Fire Prevention Week 2009 – October 4th-10th, to urge residents to “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.” This year’s campaign focuses on ways to keep homes fire safe and prevent painful burns.

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department wants to remind its citizens and guests that the open burning of leaves, trash and other yard waste is prohibited in the City of Lee’s Summit. Yard waste should be properly disposed of at the Resource Recovery Park, or through a waste disposal company.

In her annual state of the City address given on September 25, Mayor Karen Messerli highlighted successful programs and future initiatives – all to emphasize the City’s stable economic conditions and steady course of “Building for the Future” of Lee’s Summit.

The City of Lee's Summit and the Metropolitan Energy Center would like to invite you to a seminar on how to save energy in your home.  Learn about available financial incentives that can help you pay for simple home improvements.

In an effort to keep our streams clean of debris, the City of Lee’s Summit Public Works Department is organizing a “Stream Team” to clean up litter along Cedar Creek from Ward Road to Chipman Road. The event will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 17 and will include the City’s Public Works staff as well as volunteers from the community.

Properly dispose of unused or end-of-life electronic equipment at the City of Lee’s Summit’s recycling event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 10 at Lee’s Summit High School, located near the intersection of Highways 50 and 291.

The City of Lee’s Summit announced today that the public discussion of the Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport Business Plan will be held at the City Council’s October 15 City Council meeting instead of the October 8 City Council meeting.

During Oktoberfest, some downtown streets will be closed, beginning Sept. 22 until the festival clean-up is completed on Sunday, Sept. 27. Use 2nd Str...

The City of Lee's Summit and the Metropolitan Energy Center would like to invite you to a seminar on how to save energy in your home.  Learn abou...

The flu season has arrived early this year. Some folks are naturally concerned about being protected against flu, whether it’s the seasonal flu or the...

The deadline has been extended to October 10 for individuals to respond to the survey designed to help the City determine community needs and best use...

On September 17, the Lee’s Summit City Council approved the 15-member Lee’s Summit 360° Implementation Committee – the next step in the year-long strategic planning process.

City of Lee’s Summit District 4 Councilmembers Bob Johnson and Nick Swearngin invite District 4 residents to a Listening Post.  This open forum p...

City of Lee’s Summit District 4 Councilmembers Bob Johnson and Nick Swearngin invite District 4 residents to a Listening Post.  This open forum p...

Calling all Lee’s Summit businesses! During September 2009, the City of Lee’s Summit will be hosting a contest for local Lee’s Summit businesses to create a slogan that supports the City’s environmental initiatives. The City of Lee’s Summit has a variety of initiatives and programs in place to protect and preserve our environment, such as downtown recycling, electronics recycling, stream team events, rain barrel workshops, Sweep the Summit litter collection events, an Adopt-A-Street program, landfill diversion programs, two drop-off recycling centers, and a household hazardous waste collection facility.

Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) filed a rate request with the Missouri Public Service Commission on April 2, 2009, seeking to increase delivery rates for al...

The online survey to help the City evaluate community needs and best use for future allocations of Community Development Block Grant funds in Lee’s Su...

The City will seek community input about how to use Community Development Block Grant funds provided by the federal government. Two open houses are planned where citizens can learn more about the program and share their opinions.

The City of Lee’s Summit has a new strategic plan in place with the adoption of Lee’s Summit 360º: Charting Tomorrow by the City Council at their August 6 meeting in City Hall. Citizen-led strategic planning is a vital process Lee’s Summit began in the early 1990’s. Identifying a community-wide vision for Lee’s Summit is necessary in order to establish goals and objectives to guide the allocation of resources and to better serve the community now and into the future.

Sign up to receive the City’s monthly electronic newsletter, Environmental news or to receive employment opportunities.  Get monthly tips and updated news delivered directly to your inbox by signing up today!

A public meeting will be held at 6:00 pm on Monday, August 17, 2009, at the City Hall Council Chambers located at 220 SE Green Street to present information and answer questions about the City’s effort to assist property owners in listing eligible properties in the National Register of Historic Places.

Besides helping the environment, using a rain barrel is an inexpensive alternative to watering lawns and gardens. Collecting rainwater is also a great...

The City of Lee’s Summit has announced that certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items are exempt from sales taxes from August 7 – 9. The sales tax holiday applies to state and local sales taxes for local jurisdictions that chose to participate in the holiday. The City of Lee’s Summit began participating the sales tax holiday in August 2007.

The City of Lee’s Summit announced that Michael Paul Swisher is the recipient of the City’s 2009 Civic Leadership Award presented by the West Gate Region of the Missouri Municipal League (MML).

The West Gate Region of MML consists of member municipalities in the metropolitan counties of Jackson, Clay, Platte, Ray and Cass.

If you are in need of some minor exterior home repairs or minor private sanitary sewer improvements, the City of Lee’s Summit’s Minor Home Repair program is worth considering.

The City of Lee's Summit announces an artist reception on July 16 in the lobby of Lee's Summit City Hall honoring local artist Inez Pennington, an equestrian photographer specializing in dramatic action shots.

The City of Lee’s Summit, in conjunction with the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, will host three, free presentations about new government regulations and the impact on construction and other service-related bids.
 

The City of Lee’s Summit Health Education Advisory Board (HEAB) was recently advised of an increased risk of the West Nile Virus in Missouri.  Although there have not been many reports of the West Nile virus in recent news, there is an increased threat due to frequent rainfall and cooler summer temperatures.

As the Fourth of July approaches, many of you are planning on using fireworks as part of your holiday celebration.   The City of Lee's Summi...

The City of Lee's Summit’s Planning & Development Department will begin accepting applications from eligible first-time homebuyers on July 1, 2009 to participate in the City’s 2009 First Time Homebuyer Assistance Program.

In observance of the July 4 Holiday, City Hall will be closed on Friday, July 3. City offices will re-open at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 6.
 

Today, the City of Lee’s Summit celebrated the opening of Pryor Road (4th Street to Longview Road) and Third Street (Pryor Road to View High Drive) – two projects that will help provide better access, improve safety, and relieve traffic congestion for drivers traveling through the southwest area of the community.
 

Due to the Independence Day holiday, the City of Lee’s Summit’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection next month will be Saturday, July 11, and Wednesday, July 22, at the Resource Recovery Park, 2101 SE Hamblen Rd., Lee’s Summit. 

The City of Lee’s Summit will celebrate the opening of Pryor Road (4th Street to Longview Road) and Third Street (Pryor Road to View High Drive) – two projects that will help provide better access,

The City is considering new regulations on parking of Recreational Vehicles in residential areas. The Community Development Committee of the City Council requested that staff seek input from the public on this issue prior to public hearings.

The City’s employee e-mail addresses have changed to a shorter more manageable format as a result of the new user-friendly Web site: www.cityofls.net.

The City of Lee’s Summit is pleased to announce that the final phase of the new City Web site is complete. The City’s new site, www.cityofls.net,...

Some of us are going to be busy with home improvement projects during the next months to spruce up the appearance of our properties. Others of us woul...

If you are in need of some minor exterior home repairs or minor private sanitary sewer improvements, the City of Lee’s Summit’s Minor Home Repair prog...

Besides helping the environment, using a rain barrel is a cheap alternative to watering lawns and gardens when temperatures begin to rise during the s...

On July 9, 2009, the Lee's Summit City Council will continue discussing a proposed amendment that would allow wind turbine systems that provide electricity for residential, commercial and industrial areas of the community.  

The City of Lee's Summit has a new presence on the World Wide Web, the debut of the new Environment and Parks & Recreation pages on the City's Web...

One of the metal containers at the City's Resource Recovery Park will become a work of art thanks to a collaborative group of art students from Lee's Summit High School and Lee's Summit West - all charged with recreating a winning environmental design on the unique canvas.

In 2008, the City engaged a diverse group of citizens to become actively involved in defining the strategic vision for the future of Lee's Summit. The group, known as "Lee's Summit 360º," met on March 31 for their final reporting session, after a 10-month process.

The City of Lee's Summit Police Department has a new, fuel-efficient, more economical D.A.R.E. vehicle to use for traveling from venue to venue to educate the public about the importance of drug-use prevention.  The new Ford Escape's fuel economy is estimated at 24 miles per gallon (mpg)...

Many of us have already begun gardening projects, a variety of home repair projects, and spring cleaning to get rid of unwanted items around our residences.  Don't forget the services of the City's Resource Recovery Park, 2101 SE Hamblen Rd., Lee's Summit. We offer everything from compost, mulch and recycling, to yard waste and landfill & waste diversion.

Lee's Summit celebrates the first permanent public art installation downtown on April 1.  "Kids at Heart" is the name of the three bronze statues of children at play, located on 3^rd Street, just east of the Douglas Street intersection, designed by nationally known artist Kwan Wu.

There are many great causes in need of assistance in our community and throughout the metropolitan area that can use your service year-round. Our citizens have always impressed me with their generosity and willingness to lend a helping hand and offer support whenever necessary. It is just one of the reasons I am grateful for and extremely proud of our citizens.