City of Leawood Monthly E-Newsletter

Leawood Shines: Survey Reveals Sky-High Resident Satisfaction!

The results of the Resident Satisfaction Survey will be presented to the Governing Body at their regular session on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. ETC Institute, Olathe, Kansas, administered a resident survey during March of 2024. The purpose of the survey was to gather resident opinion and feedback about city priorities and the quality of programs and services. The survey results will be used to improve existing programs and determine future needs of residents in the City. This is the first resident survey ETC Institute has conducted for the City of Leawood.

Overall Rating of the City

Nearly all (99%) of the residents surveyed, who had an opinion, rated the City of Leawood as an “excellent” or “good” place to raise children

99% gave the City “excellent” or “good” ratings as a place to live

91% rated the City as an “excellent” or “good” place to work.

Overall Rating of the City

(97%) of the residents surveyed, who had an opinion, were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the appearance of the City of Leawood

97% were satisfied with the overall quality of life in the City

94% were satisfied with the image of the City

93% were satisfied with the quality of services provided by the City.

The full results of the survey will be available online at leawood.org. Thank you to all the residents who took the time to complete and return the survey. We are thrilled with the results!

NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK

May 19 - 25

National Public Works Week aims to energize and educate the public on the importance of public works to their daily lives; from planning, to building, to maintaining our local communities.

Thank you to every member of the City of Leawood Public Works staff for all you do!

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Part-time, full-time, and seasonal positions are open at the City of Leawood! Click here to view open positions.

DONATIONS NEEDED!

Help us build a fantastic new playground for Tomahawk Park!

“For many Leawood residents, Tomahawk Park holds a special place in their hearts. Parents would often tell their children ’Let's go to Blue Park’ as all the structures were primarily blue. The kids would load in the car and off they went.

The current playground needs some love. The Parks, Recreation & Arts department is excited to introduce a unique new playground for the next generation of Leawood residents. The play area will have multiple new amenities including an amazing structure for ages 2 and up and a dynamic structure for ages 5 and up.

New swings, multiple ground play elements, bike racks, and educational signage will also be part of the new play area.

Donations of $25+ will receive a Leawood 75th anniversary T-shirt

Donations of $500+ will have the individual or family name added to a plaque adjacent to the area

Please consider assisting the city fund all these new, expanded amenities for the children, by donating to the Leawood Foundation.”

-Chris Claxton

Director of Parks, Recreation, and Arts

Click this link to donate!

BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWALS

If you own a business in Leawood, it’s time to renew the annual business license. You should have already received an email or snail mail notice with instructions. Head over to citienserve.com/leawood or contact the City Clerk’s Office at licensing@leawood.org.

MAY GOVERNING BODY MEETINGS

Meetings of the Governing Body are held at City Hall, 4800 Town Center Drive, Leawood, KS 66211. Work Sessions are conducted in the Main Conference Room. Regular Sessions are conducted in the Council Chamber. Agendas for meetings are posted online on Thursdays preceding the meeting. To receive email notifications when agendas are posted, click here to sign up.

Monday May 6
Work Session at 6 p.m. to discuss the 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP is a 5-year investment plan in City facilities and infrastructure (streets, bridges, facilities).
Regular Session at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 20
Work Session at 6 p.m. to discuss the Facility Conservation Improvement Program (FCIP). The FCIP is based on energy performance contracting - a method of financing, designing and installing comprehensive energy efficiency improvements with little to no upfront capital. The costs of energy retrofits are paid for over time by future guaranteed savings from utility and maintenance budgets.
Regular Session at 7:30 p.m.

ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK

May 5 - May 11

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed a Proclamation officially declaring Professional Municipal Clerks Week the first full week of May and recognizing the essential role Municipal Clerks play in local government.

Thank you to the Leawood City Clerk for your outstanding dedication and service, which significantly enhance our community's governance and accessibility.

Writer Series at Historic Oxford Schoolhouse

The Leawood Historical Commission is pleased to present a series of local history writers each month, starting in April and running through September. On the second Saturday of each month, a writer will present their work at the Historic Oxford Schoolhouse.

The second presentation in the series will feature Katherine Bontrager on Saturday, May 11th at 10:00 am.

Katherine will discuss her book “Leawood, the Journey Continues”. Her presentation will include a description of her writing process and researching the City’s history of the last 25 years.

Oxford Schoolhouse - in Ironwoods Park (147th & Mission)
May 11, June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14
10:00 am
All ages
No registration required
FREE!

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTS FROM THE SUSTANABILITY ADVISORY BOARD

DID YOU KNOW?: Americans use approximately 380 billion plastic bags per year, which averages to almost 1,200 bags per person.

Suburban Lawn and Garden accepts food waste/compost! Just purchase a container, fill it with food refuse, return full to Suburban, exchange for a clean container and continue to compost. The container cost approximate $6.00.

Leawood Police Department News

City of Leawood Names Brad Robbins as next Chief of Police to succeed Chief Dale Finger

The City of Leawood announces the appointment of Leawood Police Captain Brad Robbins as the city’s 11th Chief of Police effective May 4, 2024. Robbins replaces Chief Dale Finger, who is retiring on May 3, 2024, after more than 50 years of law enforcement service to the City of Leawood and State of Kansas. Read the full press release here.

Kids Fishing Derby

The Leawood Police Department hosted its annual fishing derby on Saturday, April 20th. More than 100 people turned out in the sunny but brisk weather to try their luck. One young angler landing a 29” catfish, but there were plenty of other, smaller fish landed that morning.

NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

May 12 - May 18

National Police Week offers honor, remembrance, and peer support, while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to gather and pay homage to those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Thank you to the Leawood Police for your dedicated service during National Police Week and every day, keeping our community safe.

Officer Spotlight: David Chatelain

On April 19th, Police Officer David Chatelain completed Police Motorcycle Officer training. This two-week school is considered by many to be the physically toughest school an officer can complete. Chatelain has been with the department since August of 2018. Currently assigned to the Patrol Unit, he will be transferring to the Traffic Management Unit in June. Thank you for your service, Officer Chatelain!

Get Updates from the Leawood Police Department on Social Media!

FIRE SAFETY MESSAGE

SIMPLE WATER SAFETY STEPS THAT CAN SAVE LIVES!

As summer approaches and temperatures rise, many of us are eagerly anticipating poolside fun and relaxation. However, before we dive into the season, it’s important to remember that safety comes first. Here are some pool safety tips from the Leawood Fire Department.

Stay Close, Be Alert and Watch

Always watch children and never leave them unattended
Keep children away from pool drains, pipes, and other openings
Have a charged phone close by at all times
If a child is missing, check the pool first
Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors

Learn and Practice Water Safety Skills

Learn to swim and make sure your kids do, too
Know how to perform CPR on children and adults
Understand the basics of life saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency

Have the Appropriate Equipment

Install a fence of at least four feet in height around the perimeter of a pool or spa
Use self-closing and self-latching gates
Ensure all pools and spas have compliant drain covers
Install an alarm on the door leading from the house to the pool
Keep pool and spa covers in working order
Have life-saving equipment such as life rings or reaching poles available for use

Adopt and practice as many safety steps as possible.

Adding an extra safety step around the water can make all the difference.

You never know which safety step will save a life - UNTIL IT DOES.

Click here to learn more about pool safety

Upcoming Events and Activities

Summer Camps!

Discover endless summer fun at Leawood's Kids Camps! From sports to LEGO® adventures, arts, crafts, and nature exploration, there's something for every young explorer. Join us for a summer packed with excitement and unforgettable memories! Here are just a few of our camps this summer:

LEGO® Camps
Youth Art Camps
Challenge Adventure Camp
Half Day Nature Camp
Amazing Athletes
Pedal Camp Champ
Challenger Sports International Soccer Camps

Swim & Dive Teams

Dive into Summer with Leawood Lightning Swim & Dive Teams! Registration is now open for those ages 6 (as of May 30, 2024) to 18 to join our exciting program.

Practice kicks off on May 30 at the Leawood Aquatic Center, offering a fun and engaging environment for swimmers and divers alike. Competitive swimmers should be able to swim 50 meters without resting, pre-competitive swimmers 25 yards without resting, and divers should be able to swim to the pool's side unassisted.

No practice on July 4 or 5, with dive meets on Tuesday evenings, pre-comp meets on Saturday mornings, and competitive meets on Thursday evenings. The all-city swim meet is scheduled for July 10 at Prairie Village, and the all-city dive meet is set for July 12 & 13 at Olathe.

Resident registration is $145 per participant, and non-residents can join for $160 per participant.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity for your child to make a splash this summer! Sign up now and let's go for the gold with Leawood Lightning Swim & Dive teams!

MORE INFO & REGISTRATION HERE!!

Wisdom in the Wilderness

Calling all nature enthusiasts 50+! Unveil the Wisdom in the Wilderness program at Prairie Oak Nature Center in Ironwoods Park! Embark on a guided exploration of the natural world, designed specifically for those over 50. Each session features a unique them allowing participants to connect with nature and fellow enthusiasts.

May 13th - The Powers of Pollination

Residents: $7/session, Non-Residents: $10/session.

Leawood Listens

Do you have a non-emergency concern you'd like to report? From potholes to traffic light outages, we are happy to help!

Report a problem here!