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Your
City Councilmen
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Information? |
Stay
Connected.
www.bluespringsgov.com |
| Some
Key City Council
Accomplishments in 2008
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Want
to see more year-in-accomplishments for
2008?
Go
to the Winter 2009 issue of the Blue
Springs Magazine.
View
it here!
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|
 News
Happenings
Around Town
A
monthly message from your
Blue
Springs Mayor and
City Council
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Greetings!
Happy New Year, and thank you
for joining me for the first
edition of News Happenings
Around Town for 2009.
In 2008, we created this
newsletter to be your one-stop
source for City information and
news updates, including those
items most important to you.
This year, we will continue to
bring you the latest in news
happening around our city, and
hope that you will continue
sharing this timely publication
and spreading the word about
what's good and going on in the
City of Blue Springs.
In this issue, we'll look at
some of the many positive
activities already taking place
just days into the New Year
including recently awarded grant
funds for a significant
recreation project, the
continued progress of the
Mayor's Advisory Committee on
Public Safety and the successful
launch of an exciting new
development project and regional
partnership in Blue Springs.
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Public
Safety Advisory Committee Seeks
Citizen Input
 In
2008, several exciting activities took
place to heighten our public safety
efforts in Blue Springs. In September,
I formed the Mayor's Advisory
Committee on Public safety to
accomplish a number of objectives such
as evaluating short-term and long-term
public safety resource needs and to
identify best practices in law
enforcement for our Police Department.
Now in 2009, this committee needs the
help of our citizens to continue in
its work. The committee will hold a
public forum on January 27 at 6:30
p.m. during which time citizens are
invited to offer their suggestions,
strategies and questions as to how to
improve and expand law enforcement
services in Blue Springs. The public
forum is open to all members of the
community, and will be held at the
Public Safety Building on 1100 SW
Smith Street. For more information,
contact City Hall at (816) 228-0110. |
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City
Secures Federal Grant for Disc Golf
Course
After approximately twenty years
of having a disc golf course in
the plans for Young Park in Blue
Springs, the City and several
key partners have helped turn
those plans into reality. The
City of Blue Springs was
recently awarded a Land Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant
to support the construction of a disc golf course
in Blue Springs.
This effort was certainly a
collaborative one, involving not
only the City and the Parks and
Recreation Department, but also
members of the community. The
Quality of Life committee of the
Renew the Blue Citizen Visioning
Group, the Stand Up Blue Springs
Citizens Committee, the Blue
Springs School District, the
Blue Springs Rotary Club and the
Kansas City Disc Golf
Association worked jointly to
develop a new course layout,
assemble a budget, secure City
funds for the project and submit
the grant for matching funds.
My thanks and congratulations go
to the many individuals who
worked tirelessly to make this
project happen for the city. For
more information about the
actual grant awarded and next
steps regarding this project
visit www.bluespringsgov.com
or call (816) 228-0137.
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Telecommunications
Task Force Seeking Volunteers
As the world of
telecommunications continues
to advance, Blue Springs
continues to examine industry
best practices in
incorporating new
technologies, like the
efficient placement of cell
phone towers, within its city
limits. The examination of
cell phone tower placement,
including how to best
co-locate multiple carriers,
functionality, and progressive
tower design strategies
continues to be a priority for
our City Council.
Accordingly, we have created
the Telecommunications
Ordinance Task Force, chaired
by District 1 Councilman Lyle
Shaver. The goal of this task
force is to continue to engage
in the research and discussion
required to establish a
quality city ordinance that
regulates the process of cell
phone tower placement within
the city. The task force hopes
to hold its first meeting in
the next few months. Those
citizens wanting to get
involved or volunteer to be a
part of the task force are
asked to contact the Blue
Springs City Clerk at (816)
228-0110.
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City,
EDC, MU Announce Plans for
Innovation Park
At the close
of 2008, the City of Blue Springs
and the Blue Springs Economic
Development Corporation (EDC)
announced its plans to develop the
Missouri Innovation Park at Blue
Springs. The Innovation Park will
encompass approximately 500 acres
and will serve as a science and
technology based center anchored
by the University of Missouri (MU).
The project is expected to be a
focal point for technology
based-innovation, research and
commercial opportunities in
Western Missouri. MU is a
long-term partner in this
development, which will result in
significant job opportunities
throughout Blue Springs and the
entire region. I am very excited
about this project and the many
opportunities it will bring to our
community. To learn more about the
Innovation Park project visit the
EDC's website at www.bluespringsedc.com.
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Golden
Regiment Band,
Going
to the White House
In 2008 Blue Springs became locally
and nationally known for a number of
its prominent figures and
activities. From David Cook to the
talented athletic teams, bands and
student scholars of the Blue Springs
School District - our community has
truly become one to be reckoned
with; The Blue Springs High School
Golden Regiment Band is certainly no
exception.
 In
December, I had the privilege of
joining Golden Regiment Band
Director Tim Allshouse to learn of
the special surprise invitation to
play at the inauguration of
President-Elect Barack Obama in
Washington D.C. The Golden Regiment
will be the only marching band from
Missouri to play and one of 47 bands
nationwide at the inaugural event on
January 20. January has already
turned out to be a busy month for
the Golden Regiment as it most
recently returned from a performance
in the Tournament of Roses Parade in
Pasadena, California on New Year's
Day. Congratulations to Blue Springs
High School, and our entire
community for this momentous
accomplishment!
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Blue
Springs Magazine, Winter edition Now
Available!
Do you want to
know more about what's new and going
on in Blue Springs? The Blue Springs
Magazine keeps you up-to-date on all
the news, events and community
developments taking place in the City.
The winter 2009 issue has been mailed
to residents' homes, and is now
available online, at City Hall and in
various locations around the City.
This issue is our special community
issue in which we take a look back at
some of the accomplishments made in
city government. Also included are
information updates from the Blue
Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Blue
Springs School District and the
Central Jackson County Fire Protection
District.
If you have not received or would like
to request your complimentary copy of
this timely news publication, email
City Communications at communications@bluespringsgov.com. |
I hope you
have found this issue of News
Happenings Around Town to be
both informative and timely for
your City information needs. Is
there anything we missed? Do you
have questions about any of the
articles from this issue? Share
your thoughts with me and the City
Council by calling City Hall at
(816) 228-0110. Know that we truly
value your time and support for
our City and hope you join us for
the next issue of News
Happenings.
Sincerely,
Carson Ross,
Mayor
City of Blue
Springs
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