As I observed this past Monday’s City Council meeting, what struck me once again regarding certain members of the City Council is how they repeatedly seem to excel at being an embarrassment to our community. 

At first glance, one might see a thread of logic in some of the questions our District 3 councilmen asked of Blue Springs EDC President Brien Starner regarding Missouri Innovation Park. But when you drill down into the facts several inconsistencies arise that leave one wondering about the nature of their true motives.

Councilman Solon asked whether the EDC had ever paid a sitting councilman for services rendered.

One would hope our EDC would choose, whenever feasible and appropriate, to utilize local business services in Blue Springs.  Several councilmen, current and former, own businesses in our community. It would be no surprise that such activity might have occurred. 

My company has helped the EDC on a number of occasions with computer network issues since my service as a city councilman. Prior to engaging my company, the EDC did its homework to ensure that the services it was purchasing would be delivered at a fair price and at the professional level it required. We participated in a competitive bid process and were awarded the work based on the bid submitted.

I am proud we were able to provide the quality service to meet the needs of the EDC.

Councilman Solon suggested that the city should consider placing Innovation Park on a 100-acre tract north of I-70 on Adams Dairy Parkway.  She seemed puzzled as to why a 250-plus-acre project would not fit on a 100-acre tract.

Why is she so determined to promote that land and so opposed to the current location? Didn’t she state during her campaign for the City Council that she wanted to bring “real jobs” to Blue Springs? Why is she opposing a project that will achieve her own stated objective?

In the fall of 2009 Councilman Solon led a comprehensive plan review task force. Her task force’s recommendation to the council was to amend the comprehensive plan to establish a land use category for Missouri Innovation Park and recommended tracts of land, approximately 250 acres surrounding the Adams Pointe Golf Course, for that designation.

While claiming Monday that she had not received an update on MIP since May 2009, Councilman Solon apparently forgot her Sept. 16, 2009, council briefing prior to her recommendations that were adopted in October 2009. 

In the end, it was exciting to learn that the University of Missouri would be accelerating its entrance into our community by almost two years.

It should come as no surprise that the current economy has slowed capital investment in the project, but by coming to Blue Springs early, MU is demonstrating its commitment to the project and to its eventual success!

The headline on the front page of Saturday’s Examiner, “Innovation Park hits roadblock,” was discouraging to me considering the hard work and dedication so many people have invested in making this project a reality. As I went on to read the article, my hopeful expectations for the future of the Innovation Park were restored.

Rarely do complex projects advance exactly as originally envisioned. Adams Dairy Parkway itself is an example of the need and benefit of adaptability in accomplishing objectives for the greater good of the community.

Today, we know that the University of Missouri component of the park will initially locate in the Heartland Financial building, adjacent to Adams Pointe Golf Course, while waiting for economic conditions to improve before beginning construction of the Mizzou Center. This is an excellent example of adapting and recognizing that market conditions require flexibility to accomplish this very worthy goal for our community.

The vision of Missouri Innovation Park is to build a regional home for a knowledge-based workforce dedicated to innovation and the commercialization of the ideas that come from that work. The park will link scientific research, higher education and entrepreneurial development and as a result encourage high-tech commercial development along the Adams Dairy Parkway corridor.

The current plan is to locate the first building in the park immediately south of the Adams Dairy Landing shopping center. Future expansion will initially be to the south.

A recent economic impact study found that over the next 15 to 25 years the Missouri Innovation Park would bring close to 3,765 new jobs within the park itself and indirectly an additional 2,140 jobs in the surrounding community. The average pay for these jobs would be $51,000 per year and in many situations, higher incomes are likely.

Proposed state legislation to encourage and accelerate the development of the park – House Bill 1635 and Senate Bill 922 titled “Missouri Jobs For the Future” – is the vehicle for accomplishing this objective. I would encourage us all to stand together in support of these bills as we work to continue the progress toward the Missouri Innovation Park’s development.

The City of Blue Springs offers the Developers Training Workshop as an annual opportunity to learn and network.

Developers Training Workshop
Adams Pointe Conference Center
1400 NE Coronado Drive
Blue Springs
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
7:30 AM - 12:30 PM

City of Blue Springs
Community Development
903 W. Main Street
Blue Springs, MO 64015
Phone: 816-228-0207
Fax: 816-228-0225
E-mail:
comdevlegal@bluespringsgov.com

The Missouri Innovation Park, announced just more than one year ago, has received significant media attention. Excitement surrounding the development projects and the impact that they will have on our city abounds. However, the fine details are still forthcoming.

Innovation involves the deliberate application of information, imagination and initiative to generate new ideas. The Missouri Innovation Park will be a science and technology park for research and development, new products and services. The Mizzou Innovation Center, which will facilitate the collaborative efforts of University of Missouri professors and graduate students in the study and research of human and animal health technologies, will be the anchor tenant.

The remainder of the park would house facilities and businesses that will integrate well with the research and development of the university and will likely produce products for commercial sale, resulting from scientific and technological discoveries of the park. The potential for several thousand high-paying jobs coming to Blue Springs and the surrounding region is exciting and is only one component of the many benefits to our community that will come because of the park.

The Mizzou Innovation Center should begin development and construction in the coming months. The commitment our city leaders have made to the park, to the achievement of this goal which will raise the economic demographic of our community, will be validated.

As we embark on this extraordinary journey, no one knows exactly what the final result will be or how the finished product will appear. The details of the park continue to evolve, which is normal and appropriate for projects of this magnitude and scope. The result will lead to discoveries we cannot even imagine today. With innovation and discovery, the possibilities are limitless.

There is a lot of talk around town regarding the Missouri Innovation Park, a development that is sure to change the face of the future of Blue Springs. A “Show Me” attitude is part of the culture in Missouri, and some need to see dirt moving and buildings under construction to truly believe that the Innovation Park, bringing with it the desired growth of quality jobs, is a reality.

Community leaders in Blue Springs laid a path many years ago, putting in place the key components to support the development of the Innovation Park by establishing the vision for Adams Dairy Parkway. As that vision has evolved, we have seen the addition of retail and restaurants, which add another component necessary to the realization of the original vision for Adams Dairy Parkway.

Two and a half years ago, as the first details regarding the park began to emerge, Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation President Brien Starner and I had long conversations about the potential the park brought to our community. It was clear that the stars were aligning for success. A project of this type normally takes, on average, approximately five years to develop the support of all the various organizations necessary for success.

In this instance, the Missouri Innovation Park has the support of the City of Blue Springs, the University of Missouri, the Blue Springs School District, the Central Jackson Country Fire Protection District, the Blue Springs Economic Development Corp., the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Kansas City Area Development Council, Jackson County, the Mid-Continent Public Library system, and many other entities in the region and state in just two short years.

This support by so many public and private organizations is vital to the success of the project and is a direct result of the passion and commitment of current and past mayors and councils, Brien Starner, and the Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation members.
Despite the current national economy, the project has continued to move forward. New legislation, referred to as “Jobs for the Future,” has been filed and would enable projects like the Missouri in Innovation Park not only for Blue Springs, but also for progressive communities all over Missouri. This legislation would allow cities more control over their own economic destiny, with the intent of attracting high-quality public and private jobs.

Our city now stands at a precipice of key decisions and actions. As citizens, we need to join with our elected leaders and the leaders of these supporting organizations to see the fulfillment of this vision for our city. In the coming weeks there will be announcements that will show visible progress and the beginning of construction of the Mizzou Innovation Center which will anchor the project and provide the intellectual property that will spur the creation of high-tech jobs in the park. The possibilities are endless, and I am excited to see this vision come to fruition.

As we approach the end of 2009, we each have the opportunity to reflect on the past year, and to look forward to 2010 and to the next decade.

What will the future bring to our community? What exciting prospects does the new year hold? The last few years have seen great improvements in our city, as the refurbishing of blighted properties has continued and new shopping and dining establishments have begun to open their doors.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of sharing my day with some very special people, ringing bells for the Salvation Army. I also spent a few hours collecting donations for local charities and supporting our local Chicago Street Lights. The generosity of the people in our community is a true blessing.

As I visit with people throughout Blue Springs, I find that we are thankful to live in a city that has weathered the current economic storm reasonably well. We have friends and neighbors who care about our city and care about each other as well.

Our elected leaders strive to find ways to work together, to listen to each other and the needs of our citizens. Developers are seeing improvement in the city’s processes as they seek to invest here. There are still opportunities for improvement, but the city appears to be heading in the right direction on most issues.

Most importantly, we are positioned to excel as the national economy improves. I am hopeful that we will see our city truly blossom in the coming years.
I want to thank my readers for your support and encouragement over the past few years. I will be taking a break from writing for a few weeks to spend time with family. In my next article, on Jan. 13, I will begin a series of articles that will give a glimpse of the exciting things to come for our city in 2010 and beyond.

I am grateful to live in such an excellent community, and for the privilege of sharing it with so many caring people. Have a very merry Christmas and together let’s have a happy 2010!

It's not just a rumor. Blue Springs will soon enjoy an international treat.

Legend of Asia, a huge new local restaurant is a creative Japanese and Chinese fusion. It is the creation of local Chef-Restaurateur George Xiao, three times winner of the coveted "Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the USA" awarded in the category of "Top 100 Nutrition Friendly Menus". This award goes to the most exceptional restaurants, which have demonstrated the highest standards of cleanliness, cuisine, décor and service from more than 45,000 restaurant entries in the USA.

Think all Chinese Buffets are the same? Legend of Asia will offer a spacious 9,240 square foot restaurant that will comfortably seat 338 people. The Buffet will offer over 80 Chinese Dishes and over 25 varieties of authentic Japanese Sushi, skillfully prepared and artfully presented. Plus, there will be many kinds of salads, fruits and desserts to choose from. Only the freshest ingredients are used in everything. No MSG is used and cold pressed olive oil is used in their stir fried dishes. You will love their Egg Rolls, Crab Rangoon, General Tso's Chicken, Chicken Teriyaki Stick and many more items offered in the buffet. Plus, Special Buffet Chinese dishes are offered that are cooked in front of you, such as Pan Fried Dumplings, Fried Rice, LO Mein and Egg Foo Young along with many kinds of Barbecue. If you are looking for even more variety, Legend of Asia definitely offers it with over 150 items on the Chinese Menu and over 60 items on the Japanese Sushi Menu. Whether youre throwing a party or just looking for a great place to eat, be sure to check this restaurant out!

Just drive out south on 7 highway and you will see construction well underway at the new Southridge Shopping Center. Mr. Xiao expects to open in Mid-December 2009.

The city is working diligently on the road improvements planned for Woods Chapel Road, and the work is progressing even though it is not yet visible.

Recently the city held a public meeting to provide information and answer questions regarding the current progress and details of the project proposed. Once planning and right-of-way acquisition is complete, utility relocation is scheduled to begin next fall and actual roadway construction is estimated to begin the summer of 2011. Completion of the project is anticipated in 2013. As the westernmost north-south corridor in Blue Springs, Woods Chapel Road improvements are long overdue and will be a welcome enhancement to this area of our community.  This information is available at http://www.bluespringsgov.com/woodschapel.

Wanda and I had the privilege of volunteering at five of the Ararat Shrine Circus shows this past weekend, and we, along with thousands of others, had the pleasure of attending the first two Missouri Mavericks hockey games at the new Independence Events Center. After tailgating with Happy Hour and the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce, we cheered the Mavericks on to their second home victory Saturday evening. What a beautiful facility!

Driving through Coronado Place and Adams Dairy Landing recently, the signs of new shopping and dining opportunities are impossible to miss. The Gap Generations store and Sally Beauty Supply will be open very soon. Chipotle, Mattress Firm and Game Stop are coming along nicely. Furniture Gallery has opened across from Wal-Mart, and the Olive Garden restaurant is beginning to take shape across from Home Depot, joining Texas Roadhouse as another full-service dining option.

Sales tax revenue from all of these projects is already having a positive impact on our city’s revenue. That will continue to improve as more people become aware of the new shopping and dining opportunities in Blue Springs. As these developments continue to attract new retail and restaurant tenants, our local buying choices expand. The success of these new businesses is critical to our community’s economic health, so remember to buy Blue Springs!

Along with all of these new retail opportunities, Missouri Innovation Park continues to be a bright star on the horizon. While this is a complicated project with many technical facets, the positive impact that thousands of new, high-paying, quality jobs will have on the future growth of our community and the region cannot be overestimated.

Progress on these developments will bring new opportunities, for many areas in our community, to consider in the coming months. Now is the time for our city leaders to have a vision beyond the individual projects and continue to have the flexibility to adjust as the market responds to our successes!