At a special meeting on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, the Parkville Board of Aldermen appointed Phil Wassmer to fill a vacant position previously held by Kevin Heaton. Wassmer will serve until the general municipal election in 2019.

Kevin Heaton was elected in April 2017 to a two-year term. His resignation became effective January 1, 2018, leaving the position vacant through the end of the term.

Parkville residents of Ward 1 interested in serving to fill the vacant term were asked to submit an interest letter and/or resume to the City Clerk by January 19, 2018. A committee of four aldermen reviewed the five applicants and recommended that the Mayor appoint Wassmer at a special meeting on February 6, 2018.

Phil Wassmer moved to Parkville in 2006. He served on the Community Land and Recreation Board since July 2013. He is an artist and businessman and founded Wassmer Studios in 1987. He and his wife Barbara enjoy living in Parkville and doing their part in promoting a healthy, sustainable community. In his interest letter he stated that he wants to focus his energy on a growing and thriving downtown business district and further enhance the park experience.

Mayor Johnston said, “Phil has been an active member of the Parkville community for many years and will be an excellent addition. We look forward to working with him.”

For more information about the Parkville Board of Aldermen, contact Parkville City Hall at (816) 741-7676.

Ever wonder what the City did in 2017? Check out the 2017 Year In Review document at https://parkvillemo.gov/download/2017YearinReview.pdf.

The City of Parkville has received notice from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) that funds totaling over $1.7 million for improvements to Route 9 will be granted to the City in state fiscal years 2019 and 2020. The Cost Share Program by MoDOT provides financial assistance to state and local projects satisfying a transportation need. The grant funds will pay for improvements from Route 45 to Lakeview Drive.

In January 2016, the City adopted the Route 9 Corridor Study that outlined improvements along Route 9 from Route 45 in Parkville to Mattox Road in Riverside. The report included preliminary design for twelve segments along the corridor addressing traffic flow issues, enhancing aesthetics and accommodating pedestrians and cyclists. Transportation improvements include additional turning lanes, curb and gutter, stormwater improvements, a ten foot shared-use path for non-motorized users, sidewalks, signals, marked crosswalks and pedestrian lighting. The improvements from Route 45 to Lakeview Drive represent the first three of the twelve segments.

Funding for improvements to Route 9 from Route 45 to Lakeview Drive will come from various sources. The City had previously been awarded $965,000 in federal funding through the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC). In May 2017, the Board of Aldermen authorized staff to submit an application to MoDOT for additional funding. The City received official notice in December 2017 that over $1.7 million in Cost Share Program funding was awarded and would be available in state fiscal years 2019 and 2020.

Funding from both the MARC and MoDOT grants, totaling over $2.9 million, will be combined with local match revenues from the 9 Highway Corridor Community Improvement District for transportation improvements from Route 45 to Lakeview Drive. Design is currently underway and construction is anticipated to begin in late 2018.

Mayor Nan Johnston said, “The City is looking forward to beginning this project that will upgrade one of the city’s main arterial connectors through Parkville. It will greatly improve vehicular traffic through the community and includes design elements that enhance aesthetics and pedestrian movements. I would like to thank our partners with the federal and state government, as well as our regional partners, who helped make this project happen.” 

For more information about the Route 9 Corridor Improvement Project contact Community Development Director Stephen Lachky at (816) 741-7676.

The City of Parkville is pleased to announce that downtown Parkville has received a 2018 American Planning Association Great Places in Missouri award in the Great Neighborhood category. Downtown Parkville was named a Great Neighborhood because of its quality and exemplary character, unique identity and cultural interest, community involvement and planning and sustainable vision for tomorrow.

Each year the American Planning Association Missouri Chapter solicits nominations for Great Places in Missouri to recognize and honor a community’s commitment to planning and plan implementation and the role elected officials, community leaders, institutions and citizens plan in creating communities that enrich people’s lives.

In 2017, the City’s Community Development Department nominated downtown Parkville in the Great Neighborhood category. The application highlighted the unique historic structures and atmosphere, its interaction with the community through hosted annual events and its active friendly environment through its connections with multiple trails, parks and nature sanctuaries. The Main Street Parkville Association’s (MSPA) commitment to preserving and promoting the historic charm of downtown Parkville through revitalization, business recruitment initiatives and hosting of events throughout the year for purposes of community engagement and fundraising was cited in the nomination. City staff also showcased the planning efforts stemming from the Vision Downtown Parkville plan and other neighborhood preservation initiatives.

The City received notification in December that downtown Parkville was selected as a 2018 Great Neighborhood. The award will be presented to the Mayor, members of the Main Street Parkville Association and City staff at the American Planning Association Missouri Planners’ Day at the Capitol on January 31, 2018, in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Mayor Nan Johnston congratulated the downtown Parkville neighborhood and city staff for being recognized for this award. “Downtown Parkville is a wonderful neighborhood, filled with magnificent homes and an eclectic array of shops and historic buildings, each offering a unique shopping experience.  The partnership between the City of Parkville, MSPA and residents is strong and the neighborhood is truly deserving for being named one of Missouri’s ‘Best Places’.”

For more information about the award, contact Community Development Director Stephen Lachky at (816) 741-7676.

The City of Parkville is looking to fill a vacancy as Ward 1 Alderman following the resignation by Alderman Kevin Heaton effective January 1, 2018. Mayor Johnston will nominate and appoint, with Board of Aldermen approval, a replacement to serve until the next municipal election on April 2, 2019. Qualifications for the Ward 1 Board of Aldermen vacancy are as follows:

• Resident of Ward 1 (ward map below)
• 18 years of age
• United States citizen
• Resident of the city for 1 year
• Registered voter
• Current on any city taxes or user fees

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to the City Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2018. The appointment is tentatively planned to begin February 6, 2018, following a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen (subject to change). If you have any questions please contact Parkville City Hall at (816) 741-7676.

The City of Parkville sponsored its third purchase award for Paint Parkville. This year’s theme was the Parkville Nature Sanctuary. Mayor Nan Johnston presented the City’s award to Chris Willey at an event at the Cathy Kline Art Gallery on October 1, 2017.

From September 24-29, artists from around the Kansas City metro area converged in Parkville for Paint Parkville 2017. Paint Parkville is an annual outdoor plein air painting event hosted by the Cathy Kline Art Gallery with the goal of fostering art appreciation by inviting the public to observe artists in action.

This is the third year that the City has sponsored a purchase award for Paint Parkville. Prior themes included Parkville and the new entryway sign along Highway 9 near Coffey Road east of downtown Parkville. The new painting will be displayed next to the other purchase awards at Parkville City Hall.

Chris Willey was recognized at the Board of Aldermen meeting on December 5, 2017, for her winning painting.

For more information, please contact City Clerk Melissa McChesney at Parkville City Hall at (816) 741-7676.

In 2017, the City of Parkville completed its largest ever annual street maintenance program. Out of a total of 222 streets in Parkville, 40 streets were updated or repaired. The projects were completed on schedule and under budget. Favorable bids allowed the City to complete more improvements than originally planned.

The City’s annual street maintenance program included concrete curb and sidewalk repair, asphalt mill and overlay, pavement marking and crack sealing. In 2017, a total of 70,000 square yards of asphalt was milled, 5.6 miles of streets and 21 cul-de-sacs were milled and overlaid and 11,800 tons of asphalt mix was used. A total of 9,500 lineal feet of curbs and 45 square yards of sidewalks were repaired or replaced and eight Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) truncated domes were installed on sidewalks. Additionally, one mile was microsurfaced and approximately 18.94 miles were crack sealed with 15,000 pounds of crack fill material used. An engineering study completed in May led to an improved drainage system and roadway over the Riss Lake Dam. The final project in the program included new pavement markings downtown and the addition of two handicap stalls at the Parkville Nature Sanctuary.

Funding for the enhanced street maintenance program was approved in the 2017 budget. In March, the City authorized financing of $1 million for the Streets Enhancement Program to help improve the streets that were deteriorating at a faster rate than basic maintenance funding could fix. An analysis conducted by a financial advisor firm concluded that over a six year timeframe, the debt financing strategy would complete 6,660 more linear feet of roadway than the City’s annual pay-as-you-go approach, due to lower bids received as a result of completing more lane miles in one season. No new taxes were imposed to pay for the improvements. The City intends to pay the debt service on the financing from the City’s existing transportation taxes. The City prioritizes which streets are schedule for improvement based on an annual street ratings program.

Mayor Johnston said, “The City’s investment in this year’s street maintenance program tripled the level of street maintenance completed in prior years and improved street ratings of the City’s heaviest traveled but poorest condition streets. City staff worked diligently this year to make sure the money was stretched as far as it could go in order to get the best return on our investment.”

For more information, please contact Public Works Director Alysen Abel at Parkville City Hall at (816) 741-7676.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has announced the upcoming opening of the final phase of the Route 45 Widening Project from Route K to Interstate 435. Construction began in October 2016 to complete the four-lane expansion from Interstate 29 to Interstate 435. The improvements on the 1.26 mile stretch of highway will accommodate development and most importantly improve traffic safety.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. at the closed section of Route 45 (aka Tom Watson Parkway) just east of Timber Ridge and Nevada Avenue. Local, state and federal officials have been invited to attend the ceremony.

The widening project was initiated in 1999 for the expansion from a two-lane to a four-lane highway from I-29 to Route 9. The second phase from Route 9 to Route K was completed in 2012. The construction of additional lanes has improved traffic safety, decreased travel time and congestion and enhanced economic growth.

The third and final phase was funded through a partnership among MoDOT ($5.4 million), Platte County ($1.5 million) and the City of Parkville (Federal Surface Transportation Funds $5.8 million). Work included grading, paving, retaining walls, lighting, the addition of a roundabout at Brink Myers Road and a trail from Route K to Brink Myers Road. The goal was to increase capacity for more vehicles, improve intersection safety and increase driver sight distance.

Mayor Johnston said, “The City is looking forward to completion of the project, which will greatly improve highway access for our citizens and businesses. The completion of the third and final phase will continue to promote economic expansion that has brought investment and jobs to our community. I would like to thank our partners with the federal, state, and county government who helped make this project happen.”

For more information about the project and the ribbon cutting contact MoDOT Area Engineer Shelie Daniel at (816) 645-6090.

The City of Parkville, in conjunction with the Veterans’ Memorial Committee, sought public input for designs for the Monument at the Veterans’ Memorial Campaign from October 27 through November 22, 2017. The campaign provided an opportunity for citizens to honor Veterans by submitting design concepts for a future memorial to be located in English Landing Park. The public voted on the top candidates at a booth inside the American Legion (11 Main Street) at Christmas on the River and through the City’s website.

Updates will be available on the City’s Facebook (@CityofParkville) and Twitter (@parkvillemo) pages using the hashtag #MonumentVeteransMemorialPKV and on the City’s website. The winning design will be displayed at City Hall for public viewing until the monument is completed.

The committee will work with the top 3 designs (A, D & E below) based on the public vote. After a plan is developed, fundraising will begin.

Note: To view the full details about each design, click on the Design (PDF) links above the photos below.

Design A (PDF)

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Design B (PDF)

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Design C (PDF)

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Design D (PDF)

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Design E (PDF)

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Design F (PDF)

The effort to develop a Veterans’ memorial is being led by the Veterans’ Memorial Committee made up of members of veterans’ service organizations and other community members. For more information about the Monument at the Veterans’ Memorial Campaign, contact Assistant to the City Administrator Anna Mitchell at (816) 741-7676.

The City of Parkville recognized two local Boy Scouts for their hard work and dedication in helping to enhance the Parkville Nature Sanctuary through their Eagle Scout projects. Each scout was presented with a certificate of recognition from Nature Sanctuary Director Joe Ryan and Mayor Nan Johnston at the Board of Aldermen meeting on November 7^th.

Peyton Cridlebaugh from Troop 1495 completed his Eagle Scout project by building two kiosks at the entrances to the White Tail Trail. The kiosks provide general information and news of special events in the sanctuary.

Quentin Worley from Troop 1314 completed his Eagle Scout project by clearing out brush from the “cement pond” and planting native forbs outside the fence. The enclosure now serves as a plant nursery.

Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in the Boy Scouts and to earn the Eagle Scout ranking, a Boy Scout must plan, develop and give leadership to a service project for any religious organization, school or community. Only three to four percent of Boy Scout members ever attain the prestigious honor.

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. With the help of Peyton and Quentin we continue to improve the sanctuary. Their projects will be appreciated for many years to come.”

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