In This Issue
Fike Corporation Check Presentation to Veterans Way Memorial
Honoring Long-term City Employees
Blue Springs Police Department Receives CALEA Accreditation
Fall Edition of the Blue Springs Magazine Now Available
US Highway 40 Planning Sessions
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Veterans Way Memorial Raise the Flag

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Saturday, August 25
Saturday, September 1
7 a.m. to noon
Downtown Blue Springs


 

 

Car Cruise 

Downtown Blue Springs

 

 

 

Music in the Park Concert series

Rotary Park at Railroad Lake

 

Sunday, August 26

3:30-5:30 p.m. 

Lozin Sleep (Variety)

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Knuckle Busters (Blues/Rock)

 

Sunday, September 2

3:30-5:30 p.m.

Cold Blue Band (Blues)

6-8 p.m.

Driving Wheel (Blues & Rock)

Paper Shredding Event

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City of Blue SpringsNews Happenings
Around Town
 
A bi-weekly message from your Blue Springs Mayor and City Council
Greetings!  
 
Hello and welcome to News Happenings Around Town, your one-stop source for City information and news updates, including those items most important to you.

 

Temperatures have finally broken here in Blue Springs and I hope you have had a chance to visit one of our beautiful parks.  To see a list of our parks, click here.
 
Just a quick note that even though we have had a few sprinkles of rain and a break from the heat, we are still under a burn ban.  This ban applies to all outside or open fires, except residential barbecuing.  Please, be careful when barbecuing as decks and landscapes are very dry and even a tiny spark could ignite a fire.
 
We have had some great news recently here in Blue Springs about our unemployment rate.  For the first time since December 2008, our unemployment rate has slipped below 6% and is now sits at 5.7%.  To read more about unemployment in our area, click here.

 

In other news, Municipal Court has just launched a new online payment system.  If you have an outstanding citation, you can now pay online and avoid waiting in line.  To see the new online system, click here 

 

As always, please continue sharing this timely publication and spreading the word about what's good and going on in the City of Blue Springs.
Fike Corporation Check Presentation to Veterans Way Memorial
Deputy City Administrator Todd Pelham, Veterans Way Memorial Chair Eleanor Frasier, Fike Corporation President and CEO Chuck Kopoulos, Mayor Carson Ross, Chief Wayne McCoy, Ed "Doc" Golden

 

On August 3, Fike Corporation President and CEO Chuck Kopoulos presented a $10,000 check to The Veterans Way Memorial.  

 

"We are honored to be a lead partner for this historic memorial dedicated to veterans of all wars fought in defense of our nation," said Chuck Kopoulos, President and CEO of Fike Corporation. "Fike Corporation is proud to be known as an active business partner and a supporter of our veterans in the Blue Springs community." 

 

I am grateful to the Fike Corporation for being one of the lead partners of The Veterans Way Memorial.  Corporations like Fike help make Blue Springs the outstanding community that it is.

Honoring Long-term City Employees
Left: Mayor Ross with Karen Foster  Right:  Mayor Ross with Bob Morton

 

On the August 20 City Council Meeting, I had the privilege of honoring two long-term City employees, Karen Foster and Bob Morton.  Both employees are Blue Springs Police Department employees and we are fortunate to have them as City employees.

 

Thank you again to Karen Foster with 39 1/2 years of service and Bob Morton with 38 3/4 years of service to our community! Congratulations again!

Blue Springs Police Department Receives CALEA Accreditation
Detention Service Officer Teri Sandlin, Sergeant Linda DeMo, Chief Wayne McCoy and Public Safety Board Chairman Tom Echerd attended the CALEA conference to appear before a panel of commissioners to complete the accreditation process.

 

On July 21, 2012, the Blue Springs Police Department (BSPD) received Certification for Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). The Blue Springs Citizen Public Safety Board supported BSPD's effort through its recommendation that BSPD participate in the process.


The national accreditation process ensures that a law enforcement agency is in compliance with national standards that address best practices in every aspect of policy, procedure and performance. To achieve Advanced Accreditation status, BSPD was required to be in compliance with 439 documented standards, conduct an on-site review of compliance by independent assessors and appear before a commission panel. 


The Accreditation award is for three years, during which BSPD must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.  

 

I am very proud of our Police Department and everyone that was involved in the accreditation process. The CALEA designation of Accreditation of our police department continues in the spirit of what sets Blue Springs apart from many other cities as a great place to live and raise a family.  Congratulations again!

Fall Edition of the Blue Springs Magazine 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 fall 2012 issue will be mailed to residents' homes soon and is now available online and at City Hall. 

 

Featured articles include the Blue Springs Police Department CALEA Accreditation, Public Works Updates and the third annual 'My Blue Springs Photo Contest!' 

 

To view the Blue Springs Magazine, click here.  To view the Activity Guide, click here.  If you would like to learn more about the Blue Springs Magazine or review past editions, click here.

US Highway 40 Planning Sessions

 

Blue Springs residents are asked to join the conversation of the region-wide Creating Sustainable Places effort of the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) by lending their opinions to help establish an overall vision for the U.S. 40 Highway corridor in Jackson County. 

The Highway 40 Planning Study will include the development of conceptual plans for three key intersections along the corridor: Prospect, Noland Road and Adams Dairy Parkway. The redevelopment potential of these intersections as well as the impact of the plans on economic development, social equity and the environment will be included in the study. 

There will be several opportunities to join the conversation throughout the entire process, beginning with a public Open House meeting from 5 - 8 p.m. at three separate locations (same information and same format) with presentations at 5:30 and again at 7 p.m. on the following dates: 
  • Tuesday, Aug. 28 - Independence, MO at Noland Road Baptist Church, 4505 S. Noland Road 
  • Wednesday, Aug. 29 - Kansas City, MO at Brush Creek Community Center, 3801 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd 
  • Thursday, Aug. 30 - Blue Springs, MO at William Bryant Elementary School, 1101 Southeast Sunnyside School Road 
Please feel free to contact Dean Katterndahl, 816-701-8243 or Jeff Hirt, 816-701-8305, with any questions, ideas or information about this initiative. To learn more about the Creating Sustainable Places initiative, click here.
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, 
 Ross sig
Carson Ross, Mayor
City of Blue Springs
Our
Mission 
The City of Blue Springs is a unique community where families, visitors and businesses share a special quality of life and an abundant spirit of community closeness and cooperation. 

 

Our number one goal is to ensure that our residents, visitors and patrons receive quality customer service and attention with every program and service the City provides. Just as you stand by a community that strives to meet your family's needs, we promise to do our best to meet these needs and anticipate what's best for you and our community, to the best of our ability.