EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (Oct. 20, 2025) – The Excelsior Springs City Council covered a busy agenda at its October 20, 2025, meeting, approving several infrastructure and technology projects, recognizing local organizations, and reviewing year-end financials. The session featured two proclamations, multiple project approvals, and community remarks emphasizing ongoing civic progress and local pride.

Resident Requests Review of Summer Sewer Usage Program

During the public comments portion of the meeting, resident Jonathan Miner, of 720 Divide Street, asked the council to simplify the city’s summer sewer usage program. Miner noted that other area municipalities, including Kansas City, Overland Park, Shawnee Mission, and Gladstone, automatically adjust sewer rates during the summer months, while Excelsior Springs requires residents to submit an application to qualify.

He suggested that the application process can be a barrier for residents who may not be aware of the requirement or who miss the filing deadline, and asked the council to consider adopting an automatic proration system similar to those used in nearby cities.

Mayor Mark Spohn thanked Miner for sharing his perspective and said the council would take the suggestion under advisement.

Council Honors Business Women of Missouri Week

The meeting opened with Mayor Spohn presenting a proclamation recognizing Business Women of Missouri Week, observed October 19–25, 2025. Members of the Excelsior Springs Business Women of Missouri, including local chair Courtney Cole and member Sonia Morgan, were present to accept the honor.

Spohn read the proclamation, which traced the growth of women-owned businesses from roughly 400,000 in 1972 to more than 14 million today, generating $2.7 trillion annually. He also noted the 1988 Women’s Business Ownership Act, which eliminated the requirement for women to have a male co-signer on business loans.

The local organization, founded in 1939, remains active in community life through its annual scholarship for high school senior girls, participation in the Chamber of Commerce, and recognition of women who provide exceptional local service. The mayor acknowledged the chapter’s three past state presidents, Norma Bailey, Eleanor Griffith, and Sheila Miller, and officially proclaimed the week in their honor.

City Declares October 24 as World Polio Day

Mayor Spohn also read a second proclamation designating Friday, October 24, 2025, as World Polio Day in Excelsior Springs. The recognition, made in partnership with the Excelsior Springs Rotary Club, represented by local chapter president Rick Yoder, honored Rotary International’s decades-long leadership in the global campaign to eradicate polio.

The proclamation noted Rotary’s PolioPlus initiative, established in 1985, and its collaboration with the World Health Organization, CDC, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a partnership that has helped reduce global polio cases by 99.9% since 1988.

To date, Rotary has contributed $2.6 billion and millions of volunteer hours toward vaccination efforts. Mayor Spohn encouraged residents to participate in local awareness efforts on October 24, including community events and outdoor illuminations.

Council Approves ESRI Agreement to Expand GIS Capabilities

Council members voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. 1614, authorizing a three-year cloud-based enterprise agreement with Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri).

Community Development Director Mallory Brown explained that the new agreement will modernize the city’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) by expanding cloud access, improving data sharing, and enhancing public engagement tools across departments.

The $61,800 contract, paid in three annual installments of $20,600, was budgeted through the Community Development, Water, and Sewer funds. The agreement provides access to Esri’s full suite of online mapping applications, unlimited viewer accounts, and annual conference registrations.

New Street Sweeper Approved for Public Works

The council also approved Resolution No. 1615, authorizing the lease-purchase of a RAVO 5i Series street sweeper from Red Equipment. The new unit replaces a 2009 Elgin Whirlwind sweeper nearing the end of its service life.

Public Works Director Chad Birdsong said the purchase was made through the Sourcewell cooperative bid program, ensuring competitive pricing. The total project cost is $408,309.80, including:

$335,000 for the sweeper$47,144 for a five-year maintenance plan and extended warranty (paid upfront)A three-year lease totaling $361,165.80, with annual payments of $120,388.60

Funding will come from the Transportation Trust Fund, which approved the allocation earlier this month. The city plans to auction the old sweeper and return the proceeds to the fund.

Columbarium Garden Project Approved at Crown Hill Cemetery

With Resolution No. 1616, the council authorized the construction of a new Columbarium Garden at Crown Hill Cemetery and awarded the project bid to Johnson Granite Company.

Birdsong explained that the cemetery is nearing capacity, with 90% of plots filled, and that cremations now account for nearly 60% of funerals in Missouri. The first phase of the project includes site preparation, concrete work, and installation of a 72-niche octagonal columbarium with a 275-space ossuary, along with two kiosks and benches.

Although Johnson Granite’s bid of $76,856 was slightly higher than a competitor’s, the company’s larger ossuary capacity, local presence, and all-granite design made it the preferred choice. The total cost for Phase One is $138,967, funded by the Capital Improvement Authority, which allocated up to $140,000.

Community Center Ductwork Repair Moves Forward

The council approved Resolution No. 1617, authorizing a $19,500 contract with Blast Monkey of Kansas City to sandblast and restore ductwork in the Community Center’s natatorium.

Parks and Recreation Director Nate Williams explained that the indoor pool area closed earlier that day for a month-long maintenance period, during which several major repairs will take place. Years of humidity from a malfunctioning PoolPak dehumidification system caused paint deterioration on the ductwork.

Blast Monkey’s bid was significantly lower than a competing offer from Royal Construction at $46,000, and the company could complete the work between October 27–31, fitting the facility’s tight renovation schedule. Council members briefly discussed materials and long-term maintenance before approving the resolution unanimously.

Council Reviews September Financial Report

Finance Director Vonda Floyd presented the September 2025 financial report, which showed total expenditures of $2.93 million and revenues of $3.13 million, marking a positive close to the fiscal year.

Among key expenditures were:

$320,939 for annual Travelers Insurance renewals;$548,782 to Make KC for the Dry Fork project, which will be 80% grant reimbursed; and$285,730 to Vance Brothers for street resurfacing.

Payroll expenses totaled $885,703.58 for two pay periods in September. Floyd confirmed all disbursements were made in accordance with city purchasing policy and noted the fiscal year ended with revenues exceeding expenses.

City Officials Reflect on Community Pride

In closing remarks, city leaders highlighted recent community recognition and local events.

City Manager Molly McGovern reported that Excelsior Springs and neighboring communities received three statewide awards from the University of Missouri Extension, earning all available honors.

Councilman John McGovern commended the success of the recent Communities of Excellence Conference, where both Molly McGovern and Laura Mize presented. Mayor Pro Tem Reggie St. John recognized long-serving employees Kimberly Herring (32 years) and Ryan Kennedy (28 years), and reflected on the increasing number of women-owned construction firms since the 1970s.

Mayor Mark Spohn closed by praising the “vibrant downtown activity” over the weekend, which included three weddings and multiple class reunions. “It’s refreshing to see Excelsior Springs so alive,” he said, before the council voted to enter closed session under Sections 610.021.1 and 610.021.2 of Missouri law.