The City of Parkville selected Debbie Hopkins as the recipient of the City’s 2018 Civic Leadership Award, presented by the West Gate Division of the Missouri Municipal League (MML), to recognize her outstanding contributions as a civic leader in developing a stronger Parkville. Debbie accepted the certificate of appreciation at the MML’s annual banquet on July 26^th.

The West Gate Division of MML hosts a Civic Leadership Award Banquet annually to give West Gate communities an opportunity to recognize the exceptional contributions of business and civic leaders in developing stronger cities. The West Gate Region of MML consists of member municipalities in the five metropolitan counties of Jackson, Clay, Platte, Ray and Cass.

Debbie Hopkins was chosen by the City because of her leadership and active involvement in the community for over seventeen years. After the recovery from the flood of 1993, efforts to promote business and the Parkville community expanded from downtown to the entire Parkville community.  Debbie was a leading force in laying a strong foundation for the current Parkville Area Chamber of Commerce. She helped recruit talented professionals as committee chairs, arranged for meeting spaces at Platte Valley Bank where she was employed, and provided leadership in many areas. Debbie has made a huge difference in how the Parkville community progressed over the years. She is a strong leader in the community and will also roll up her sleeves to get the job done.

Debbie continues to play an active role in the Parkville community. In addition to being an active member and past chair of the Parkville Area Chamber of Commerce, she is also a member of the Main Street Parkville Association, the Parkville Economic Development Council, past president of the Parkville Rotary Club, member of the Park Hill School District Education Foundation, current vice chair of the Platte County Industrial Development Authority Board, member of the 9 Highway Corridor Community Improvement District, and former board chair of the Synergy Services Finance Committee.

Mayor Nan Johnston said, “For over seventeen years, Debbie has done as much as anyone to support the business community and a positive business climate in Parkville. We are grateful for all her efforts and look forward to what she brings to the community in the future.”

For more information, contact Mayor Nan Johnston at (816) 741-7676. 

 

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) announced that the City of Parkville received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the City’s 2018 annual budget. This is the third straight year the City has received the award for its annual budget. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting.

In order to receive the budget award, the City had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as:

• a policy document
• a financial plan
• an operations guide
• a communications device

To receive the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award a budget document must rate proficient in all four categories, as well as rate proficient in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories. This is the third year that the City of Parkville achieved this award. The first award was received in 2016.

City Administrator Joe Parente said that “Parkville’s budget document clearly articulates to the public how the City proposes to spend their tax dollars. It is a user-friendly document and promotes enhanced transparency in government. I am proud of the commitment of the governing body and City staff to meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting.”

The Government Finance Officers Association is a major professional association servicing the needs of approximately 19,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners. The GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting. The award will be formally presented at the regular Board of Aldermen meeting on August 7, 2018.

To view a copy of Parkville’s 2018 Budget Document visit http://parkvillemo.gov/government/ financialdocuments/. For more information, contact City Administrator Joe Parente at (816) 741-7676.

On July 26, 2018, the City of Parkville Police Department hosted its 3^rd Annual Back to School Program to provide school supplies, backpacks, clothes and other essentials to area Parkville children in need and to help foster positive relationships between youth and the Police. Twelve children were provided with supplies and clothes to help them start off the new school year.

The idea for the Back to School Program came from the City’s “Shop with a Cop” program that began in 2010 to assist children and families in need during the Christmas season. “Shop with a Cop” grew into the Parkville Police Community Assistance Fund which continues to grow with citizen participation and increased donations annually. While the main benefactor of the fund is the “Shop with a Cop” program, the fund is used for similar assistance programs at the discretion of the Chief of Police. All of the donations received are given back to the community.

The Parkville Police Department began the Back to School Program in 2016 to help fill a need in the community for elementary school-aged children. Sergeant Laura Shadid coordinated the event for the third year in a row, along with help from local volunteers.

Families in the Park Hill School District were interviewed and 12 were chosen to receive school supplies and other essentials. The Police Department hopes that the program will help kids appreciate law enforcement while it gives back to the community it serves.

Police Chief Kevin Chrisman said, “It is always a great day when we can put smiles on the faces of children and help them start the school year in a positive way.”

For more information about the program, contact the Parkville Police Department at (816) 741-4454.

The City of Parkville was ranked the 8^th Safest City in the state of Missouri, according to the SafeWise annual report released on July 9, 2018. Parkville ranked in the top 20 safest cities with a violent crime rate of less than one per 1,000 residents based on our commitment to community safety and crime prevention.

SafeWise, a safety advocacy website, compiled their report based on FBI crime statistics and population data. Each year, cities in every state are evaluated based on the number of reported violent crimes. Property crimes are also included in the evaluation to help break a tie. The rate of crimes was calculated per 1,000 residents in each city to make it easier to compare the likelihood of the crimes occurring in cities with vastly different populations.

According to the report, Parkville had low crime rates, including 0.31 violent crimes per 1,000 residents and 15.04 property crimes per 1,000 residents. 

Nearby cities in the list of the top 20 included Pleasant Hill and Peculiar.

Mayor Johnston said, “Parkville ranked as the 8^th Safest City in Missouri because of our hard working Police Department who is committed to community safety and crime prevention. Police services are an integral part of the City’s mission to provide an exceptional quality of life to our residents and visitors.”

Kansas City artist Mike Cornelius donated an impressionist painting to the City of Parkville titled “Mackay Hall.”

“Mackay Hall” is an acrylic painting of the Park University landmark made out of seashell fragments from Dolphin Island, Alabama. It is a 16” x 20” impressionist painting that will be installed at City Hall along with other artwork that the City purchased over the years through the annual Paint Parkville event.

Artist Mike Cornelius said “I am an aspiring local artist. I donated the painting to the City because I appreciated the Mayor’s interest in art and the city’s support for the art show and the use of the train depot as an art studio. Cornelius is associated with the Cathy Kline Art Gallery which is located in the train depot in downtown Parkville. The gallery is hosting the “International Society of Acrylic Artist” art show in July and August. Cornelius met Parkville Mayor Nan Johnston at a reception for the art show on July 6^th.

Mayor Nan Johnston said “We are honored to accept this beautiful painting. Thank you Mike Cornelius for the artwork and thank you Cathy Kline for bringing our local talent together in Parkville.”

Posted below is Parkville’s fireworks ordinance.  Section A details the types of fireworks that can be discharged and Section B details the days and times fireworks are allowed to be discharged within city limits.

SECTION 215.420:     FIREWORKS

A.     No person shall within the City sell, offer for sale, expose for sale, use, possess, discharge or explode any fireworks except those described as follows:

          Ground devices as described in RSMo., 320.106(2), containing no more than fifty (50) mg of explosive composition, and classified as Class C explosives by the United States Department of Transportation.  Class C aerial devices may be sold, offered for sale, exposed for sale or possessed, but may not be used, discharged or exploded within the City limits of Parkville.

B.     No person shall within the City sell, offer for sale, expose for sale, use, possess, discharge or explode any fireworks of any class except on the following dates and times.  July first (1st), second (2nd), third (3rd) and fifth (5th) between 10:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M.  On July fourth (4th) between 10:00 A.M. and 12:00 A.M.  (Midnight).  In addition, authorized fireworks may be discharged or exploded from 9:00 P.M. on December thirty-first (31st) until 1:00 A.M. on January first (1st).

C.     Subsections A and B above shall not apply to the sale or use of fireworks for pyrotechnic displays presented by any civic group which has first obtained a permit for such display from the Board of Aldermen. This permit shall be granted subject to
the granting of a permit from the State Fire Marshall.

D.     No person shall possess, discharge or explode any kind of fireworks on all city-owned and managed property, unless specific permission has been granted by the Board of Aldermen or its designee.

E.     No person shall within the City sell, offer for sale, expose for sale any fireworks without first obtaining a business license as governed by Chapter 605 of this Code.

The City of Parkville proclaimed June 19, 2018, as “Stanley the Bulldog Day in Parkville” in honor of Stanley, an English bulldog born with several physical challenges whose mission is to help kids learn about acceptance and stop bullying. Mayor Nan Johnston presented the proclamation to Stanley and his family at the Board of Aldermen meeting on June 19^th.

Stanley was born with a cleft lip, a curved spine and deformities in his back legs. He uses his challenges to bring awareness and to help children born with clefts in the different countries receive surgery for free. The main goal is to teach children about acceptance of differences in hopes to stop bullying and suicide among youth and teens. Stanley also reaches out to the homeless, the elderly, the disabled, and the veterans to bring hope as he shows that everyone has a purpose.

Stanley has made hundreds of public appearances, partnering with many organizations helping promote awareness and bringing hope to their causes.

Mayor Johnston said, “We are honored to recognize Stanley and his family in their efforts to promote tolerance and understanding to children and others, teaching us to embrace our differences, not reject them, and to see imperfection with eyes of acceptance.”

Left to right: Kain Kneib, Megan Keating, Aedan Keating, Addi Keating, Deborah Pack, Mayor Nan Johnston, Ronald Pack and Stanley

Left to right: Mayor Nan Johnston, Stanley and Ronald Pack 

The City of Parkville recognized a local Boy Scout for his hard work in helping to enhance the Parkville Nature Sanctuary through his Eagle Scout project. Daniel Cowley from Boy Scout Troop 1495 was presented with a certificate of recognition from Nature Sanctuary Director Joe Ryan and Mayor Nan Johnston at the Board of Aldermen meeting on June 19^th.

Following the lead of Project Monarch Watch, headquartered at the University of Kansas, Daniel Cowley completed his Eagle Scout project by establishing a Monarch Waystation at the northern end of the Bluebird Trail. The waystation is a key component of the Monarch Watch Program.

The Monarch Waystation addresses the issue of declining numbers in Monarch butterflies from the loss of habitats. It provides butterfly nectar sources and milkweeds for a food source for the emerging caterpillars. Dozens of native milkweed plants were planted in small groups in a two to three acre section of the sanctuary. In addition, seeds of nectar-producing flowers were incorporated into the planting areas. Daniel followed up planting with weeks of watering to monitor and establish each small area.

Mayor Johnston said, “The Parkville Nature Sanctuary is a 115-acre natural area with 2.8 miles of trails that is maintained almost entirely by volunteers. We thank Daniel for his work in helping improve our community and look forward to seeing the results of the Monarch Waystation and the benefits to the Nature Sanctuary.”

For more information about the Eagle Scout project or to volunteer, contact Nature Sanctuary Director Joe Ryan at (816) 741-7676.

 

The City of Parkville, 8880 Clark Avenue, Parkville MO 64152 Attn: Alysen Abel, Public Works Director, is accepting proposals until 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2018 for the preparation of a real property appraisal report to determine the fair market value of Platte Landing Park for the City to use when requesting LEERD (Land, Easements, Right-Of-Way, Relocation, and Disposal Areas) crediting. Proposals must include the organization’s name and contact person, a copy of the organization’s liability insurance certificate, proposed fee structure, dates and times fields will be used, and any proposed maintenance or improvements to be provided by the organization.

Request for Proposals (PDF link)

Sealed bids will be accepted by the City of Parkville, Missouri, 8880 Clark Avenue, Parkville Missouri, 64152, Attn: Alysen Abel, Public Works Director until 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 11, 2018. Deliveries shall be made to the reception desk at City Hall in a sealed envelope labeled “ON-CALL TREE TRIMMING & REMOVAL SERVICES”. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at approximately 10:05 a.m. in the Public Works Conference Room of City Hall. The work generally includes pruning tree limbs and branches and complete tree and/or stump removal on an emergency and/or non-emergency basis.

Bid Documents (PDF link)