News Happenings Around Town
A monthly message from your Mayor and City Council
Mayor's Message
It's officially springtime in Blue Springs and I, for one, could not be happier!

The renovations to City Hall are officially complete and City staff has moved in to bring you a one-stop shop for City services that is easily accessible to all of our citizens. You can read more about it below.

With the weather warming up, many of you are looking to make home improvements and do some yard work. Further down in this email, we have provided our Top 7 Spring Codes Tips, and we hope you take a look. In addition, t here are a number of events to help you start your spring cleaning this month including the upcoming Household Hazardous Waste collection and the Drug Take Back event on April 27. Keep reading to learn more about how you can take advantage of these opportunities and other happenings in our City. 

As always, please continue sharing this timely publication and spreading the word about the good things in the City of Blue Springs. 
Out and About
City Hall Re-Opens After Year-Long Renovation
After an almost year-long renovation, Blue Springs City Hall, 903 W. Main, re-opened to the public on Monday, April 8, 2019.

Along with making City Hall and City services accessible to all citizens by bringing the building into compliance with the American's with Disabilities Act, the renovations bring a new-customer focused design to City Hall.

The construction included a new section connecting both City buildings previously on the property. A new main entrance on 10th Street allows citizens to enter the new lobby with all customer-facing departments – such as Codes, Permits and Utility Billing – located in one easily accessible area. This gives customers the ability to complete almost all City business needed without leaving the lobby.

Mayor Ross surprised with special recognition from Vietnam Veterans of America
Ed "Doc" Golden and Mayor Pro Tem Susan Culpepper surprised me at the March 18 Blue Springs City Council meeting with a recognition from the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 317 Kansas City and a Proclamation recognizing my wife, First Lady Eloise, and I for our works in service to our country and our City. I was honored to be named a Lifetime Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 317 and First Lady Eloise was named a "Hero at Home" by the organization. Additionally, the Mayoral Proclamation signed by Mayor Pro Tem Culpepper, declared March 18, 2019 as "Mayor Carson Ross and First Lady Eloise Ross Day." What a wonderful surprise!
Detective Keegan Hughes runs 1,000th mile in uniform to honor fallen and injured first responders
Our very own Detective Keegan Hughes completed his 1,000th mile ran in uniform to honor first responders who have fallen or were injured in the line of duty.

Keegan began this year's Full Uniform 165-mile run in Springfield, Mo., and ended it on March 30 as he made his way to Kauffman Stadium in the rain (and snow) to deliver the game ball to the Royals. The Project Remember Run honors fallen Missouri and Kansas first responders, while raising money for  Answering the Call , a 501c3 that supports public safety and first responders and their families. For more on Keegan's run, visit the Blue Springs Police Department on Facebook .
42nd Annual Shortest & Smallest St. Patrick's Day Parade
I love that  Downtown Blue Springs  is home to the  42nd annual "Shortest and Smallest" St. Patrick's Day Parade ! The annual official parade participants Pat Meyer and Jim Wallace were joined this year by Ms. Virginia Robbins who served as the honorary grand marshal.

The parade route begins at 1112 W. Main and goes across the street to 1123 W. Main. It measures 66 feet and lasts about 30 seconds.

For more from the parade, visit us on Facebook.
Community News
New Water/Sewer Billing payment options
The City of Blue Springs recently introduced a new Water and Sewer Utility Billing payment system that allows customers to view and pay bills online, receive bills via email, get email and text reminders and pay by text. Customers who have previously made an online payment account, will have to set up a new account in this system. Customers can still utilize the 24/7 Pay-by-phone option by calling 816-228-0220 or pay in person at City Hall, 903 W Main Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or use the drop box that is now located outside City Hall on the north wall of City Hall near the employee entrance.
Police Department introduces Drone Program
This year, the Blue Springs Police Department implemented a Drone Unit. This Unit operates two unmanned aerial vehicles that assist the Department with crime prevention, criminal apprehension and search operations. 

Ultimately, the availability of the drones allows the Department to safely access and monitor areas where sending in officers on the ground may be tricky, dangerous or simply not feasible. Other Drone uses could incude vehicular accident reconstruction, search and rescue operations, crime scene photography and documentation, 3D mapping and modeling of critical infrastructure, pre-event mapping to plan for large-scale public events and aerial surveillance. 

Currently the Department has three Federal Aviation Association (FAA) certified drone pilots and two more in training. Additionally, the Blue Springs Police Department has partnered with the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District and other City Departments to collaborate on joint operations and training. 
The drones will be operated in coordination with law enforcement officers conducting a specific mission as guided by operational procedures issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. These operational procedures are designed to minimize risk to people, property, and aircraft during the operation of the drone while continuing to safeguard the right to privacy of all persons.  
Blue Springs receives Tree City USA Designation
Blue Springs was named a 2018 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. This is the City's 29th year as being recognized with this designation.

Blue Springs achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. 

"Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand," said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, whether it's through volunteer engagement or public education." 

Trees provide multiple benefits to a community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits. 
More information on the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.
What's Happening in Blue Springs
April 13: How to Open and Grow a Business in Blue Springs Expo
The Blue Springs Business Resource Network will host their seventh ‘How to Open and Grow a Business in Blue Springs’ Expo on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Mid-Continent Public Library South Branch, 2220 SW State Route 7, Blue Springs, Mo. This event is free and open to the public. Read More
April 27: Drug Take-Back Day
On Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Blue Springs Police Department and both Blue Springs Price Chopper locations will give residents an opportunity to rid their homes of potentially dangerous unused, expired and unwanted prescription drugs. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Read More
April 27: Household Hazardous Waste Recycling
The City of Blue Springs will host its annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event, Saturday, April 27 from 8 a.m. to noon, or the first 300 vehicles. The event will be held at Pink Hill Park located at 2715 N.W. Park Drive just west of James Lewis Elementary School off N Highway 7. Read More
May 3: Small Business Bootcamp
Get the information you need to get your business started at the Eastern Jackson County Small Business Bootcamp on May 3. The morning seminar will include a message on unique marketing methods from keynote speaker Lucy Rieger, of J. Rieger & Co., along with discussions on business growth, brand storytelling, marketing for beginners, and the differences between social media platforms.

The event will be held at the Steven P Westermann Fire and EMS Education Center, 4715 US Hwy 40, Blue Springs. Doors for this event open at 8:30 am for networking and resource fair with local KC business resource organizations. The keynote speech will begin promptly at 9:00 am. This program is presented by Mid-Continent Public Library’s Square One Small Business Services, the City of Blue Springs and the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. It is funded is by a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Read More
May 18: Suicide Awareness Walk at Blue Springs South
Help support the Blue Springs South High School Out of the Darkness Campus Walk. If you or someone you love has been affected by suicide or depression, this event is an opportunity to make a difference. Let's remove the stigma of talking about mental health. Register at afsp.org/bsshs Registration begins at 9:00 a.m, Program/Walk begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Blue Springs South Football Stadium, South Entrance. Read More
Resident Tips & Tricks
Adopt-A-Street
Help create a clean and healthy community by joining the City's Adopt-A-Street program. City street crews maintain 268 miles of streets year-round. Unfortunately, the best of care doesn’t stop people from littering our roadways. 

Citizens interested in helping to preserve the cleanliness of Blue Springs streets can volunteer to Adopt-A-Street in Blue Springs. Volunteers are provided fluorescent safety vests, flags and bags. The rubbish collected will be picked up for disposal by the City of Blue Springs. Those who sign up to Adopt-A-Street are asked to serve at least a 1-year commitment to pick the litter up nine times throughout the year.

For more information about the program, contact Donna Caton, Utilities Project Manager at 816-228-0277 or complete the Adopt-A-Street Request form at www.bluespringsgov.com.  
Top 7 Spring Code Tips
1. Lawns
Lawns should not exceed 8 inches in height. Eradicate any poison ivy on your residential or commercial property.

2. Tree Limbs
Limbs that overhang the sidewalk or street must be trimmed. Call Public Works at (816) 228-0195 if you have questions about limbs in the rights-of-way of streets. 

3. Brush Piles
Brush piles must be removed and disposed of properly. Open burning is not permitted within City limits. 

4. Trash Containers
Trash for pick up should be placed no further than 5 feet from the home. Curbside pick up is prohibited. All trash must be contained at all times.

5. Fence, Deck and Pool Construction
Construction or replacement of a deck, fence or pool requires a City building permit. All pools holding 24 inches of water or more, including inflatable pools, must have a permit from the Codes Administration.

6. Garage Sale Signs
Garage and yard sale signs must be placed on your own property. They may not be posted on public utility/light poles or on public street rights-of-way. These signs do not require a permit. Signs can be posted on premises for up to 3 days per sale.

7. Replacement Furnaces, Water Heaters and Air Conditioners
All replacements require a building permit and City inspection. If a contractor is used, they are required to have a valid City business license. 

Report a Pothole
The City of Blue Springs Public Works crews are busy filling potholes on City Streets. It is the policy of Public Works to repair every reported pothole on city-maintained streets within 2 business day of receiving notification of a pothole. Part of our service is to proactively find potholes through regular inspection. 

To report a pothole,  click here  or call the Pothole Hotline at 816-228-0291 and leave the exact location of the hole, the nearest cross street, and your name and phone number so that we may contact you if we have problems locating the hole .
Contact Your City Councilmember:
Ross sig
Carson Ross, Mayor 
City of Blue Springs