News Happenings Around Town
A monthly message from your Mayor and City Council
Mayor's Message
Hello and welcome to News Happenings Around Town, your on e-stop source for city information and news updates including information that's important to you.

Happy March and soon-to-be Spring, Blue Springs!

I am thrilled that we are finally (hopefully) getting a break from all of that snow and ice. Soon the trees will start to get their leaves and we will see green again.

As you know, we've got an election coming up on April 2 where you as the voters of Blue Springs will be asked to weigh in on 10 changes to the City's Charter document. You can find more information about the Charter questions below.

As always, we've got a lot of things happening around our City and I hope you find the information in this newsletter helpful.
Out and About
State of the City 2018: "Staying the Course"
On February 21, I gave my eleventh consecutive State of the City Address during the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon. "Staying the Course" was my 2018 theme because I believe we have done some great work over the last 11 years and this year we've been doing more of the same. Check out the video above for my speech in full.
VIPs present $127K "check" to represent hours worked
The Blue Springs Volunteers in Police Service presented Mayor Ross and the City Council a check for $127,141 to represent the 5,149.5 hours the VIPs worked at City events in 2018. We’re lucky to have such dedicated volunteers.
Cutest Pets in Blue Springs
Congratulations to Maverick Cuddles, Tank and Lily, the cutest pets in Blue Springs. The photos were posted to the City's Facebook page in our quest to find the Cutest Pet in Blue Springs for #NationalLoveYourPetDay. Maverick Cuddles got 63 likes, Tank received 42 likes and Lily received 30 likes. To see all the cute pet photos from Blue Springs residents, check out our Facebook page.
Maverick Cuddles
Tank
Lily
Community News
Parks and Recreation Director Awarded MPRA award
Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Director, Dennis Dovel (left) receives the Parks Resource Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association during the annual conference in Branson, Mo., on Feb. 27. Eric Johnson, Blue Springs City Administrator (right) presented Dovel with the award. 
The Missouri Parks and Recreation Association named Dennis Dovel, Blue Springs Director of Parks and Recreation the recipient of the 2019 Park Resource Distinguished Service Award for his work in Blue Springs.

“We are lucky to have Dennis as a part of our team at the City of Blue Springs,” said Mayor Carson Ross. “Under his leadership, the Blue Springs Park and Recreation Department has launched many successful programs including the Fieldhouse and the Parks Sales Tax that is addressing some much-needed issues and bringing our community’s parks back to life.”

Since becoming the Parks Director in 2012, Dovel has guided many initiatives including the renovation and opening of the Blue Springs Fieldhouse in the fall of 2015, developing the Parks Department’s first-ever comprehensive Parks Master Plan, and working with local leaders and citizens to successfully pass a 5-year dedicated ½ cent sales tax for parks deferred maintenance in 2016.   Read More

April 2 Municipal Election
On April 2, ten questions will be on the City of Blue Springs ballot in regard to amending the City's Charter. Additionally, voters will be asked to choose representatives for each of the City Council districts. You can view the full ballot language and a version of the City Charter with the recommended changes in red . For more information on the April 2 election, visit the Jackson County Election Board website .
MODoT to host Public Informational Meeting on Hwy 7/South Street Intersection Improvements
The Missouri Department of Transportation and the City of Blue Springs are hosting a Public Information Meeting on intersection improvements at Missouri 7 Highway and South Street.
The meeting will be held Wednesday, March 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 1100 SW Smith Street, Blue Springs. The improvements are slated to begin in the Spring of 2020.
What's Happening in Blue Springs
Face to Face Forum
Join members of the Blue Springs Police Department at 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 20 at the BSPD Face to Face Forum.

The event will feature conversations with officers, a firearms training simulation and the debut of the Blue Springs Police Karaoke Machine that was purchased because of the wonderful donation from Brecken Simmons and his lemonade stand last summer.
Severe Weather Workshop
Join the Central Jackson County Emergency Management Agency for a FREE Severe Weather Workshop at 8:30 a.m., Saturday March 23.
 
Drug Take-Back Day April 27, 2019
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
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
How to Open And Grow a Business in Blue Springs
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
Resident Tips & Tricks
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