LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (September 30, 2010) - The leadership of Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce and the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) have both passed resolutions of support for the City of Lee's Summit's No-Tax-Increase General Obligation Bond Issue, which will be on the November 2, 2010 election ballot. The proposed $37.4 million bond issue has four questions and will fund capital improvements.
Question 1 would upgrade the Police and Fire departments' communications system; build a police firearms training facility; provide training, meeting and storage space; and update the police detention facility, because:
• The city's communications system is more than 25 years old; does not meet the FCC mandate for 2013; and some components are not public-safety rated. In addition, there are dead spots throughout the city.
• While Lee's Summit is the sixth largest police department in the state, it is only able to conduct firearms training once a year for officers because of limited scheduling opportunities at the Sugar Creek facility, where 17 other law enforcement agencies also receive training. Best practices recommend firearms training four times a year, and the number of officers in Lee'sSummit will increase to 143 in 2011.
• Additional police department training and meeting space not only can be used for classroom firearms training, but it also can be utilized by the community for self-defense classes; Neighborhood Watch meetings; Citizen Police Academy meetings; and home owners meetings. Additional storage is needed because the current evidence room is at capacity, and evidence and victims' property is being stored at an off-site location, while equipment is kept outdoors.
• The current police detention facility does not comply with national standards or state statutes, as the current design requires juveniles and females to be booked and detained in the same area as adult males.
Question 2 would provide sidewalk repairs and construction, as well as curb and gutter replacement, because it would:
• Correct vertical offsets between 1/2 and 1 inch citywide.
• Provide connectivity of the city's sidewalk system.
• Meet ADA requirements.
• Replace rapidly deteriorating curbs and gutters throughout the city.
• Replace approximately 400,000 feet of nearly 2 million feet of curbs and gutters.
Question 3 would realign and widen Strother Road, as well as improve the View High Drive/I-470 Intersection, because:
• There is an anticipated increase in traffic from completion of the I-470/Strother interchange and future improvements to Lee's Summit Road.
• It would provide direct access to Truman Medical Center.
• It would encourage economic development of 225 acres.
• It would provide a safer intersection at Lee's Summit Road.
• Future economic development activity would include 300,000 square feet of office space.
• Would establish the Western Gateway to the City of Lee's Summit
• Additional turn lanes would be added to View High adjacent to and through the interchange.
Question 4 would extend Tudor Road from Douglas Street to Ward Road, because it would:
• Relieve traffic on Douglas Street and Chipman Road.
• Enhance public safety access to high-trafficked areas.
• Encourage economic development of more than 190 acres.
"The Chamber Board is encouraging residents to vote ‘Yes' on each of these questions," said Chamber President, Nancy Bruns. "We strongly believe these issues are an integral component in supporting and fostering a vibrant economy, which ensures the safety of its citizens, and provides economic wealth and improved quality of life."
"The Lee's Summit Economic Development Council believes these no-tax-increase projects will enhance Lee's Summit's quality of life, pro business posture and public health and safety," added Jim Devine, President and CEO of LSEDC. "High-quality public infrastructure is an essential ingredient to community well-being, growth, competitiveness and quality of life."
No-tax-increase bonds are made possible when existing bonds are paid off. The current property tax levy for the city of Lee's Summit is $1.4926 per $100 of assessed value, of which $0.4697 is for debt service. The debt levy will not change if the four proposed questions on the November ballot are approved.
For more information about the bond issue visit the City of Lee's Summit's website at cityofls.net or call 816.969.1000.
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