As you do your holiday shopping and beyond, be certain to patronize our downtown businesses in Blue Springs!

The first six months of my current term in office are now behind me. It’s been an interesting change from my previous term in office just a few years ago.

The Blue Springs City Council is working well together, without the frequent angst that we sometimes experienced in the past. The hard questions are still being asked and we don’t always all agree, but good outcomes are occurring with regularity. Scripted political agendas have disappeared, and a true spirit of cooperation has brought a breath of fresh air to the political climate of our city.

A frequent question lately regards progress on the Woods Chapel Road expansion. This important project is ongoing and actually moving along at a pretty good clip behind the scenes.

Planning and progress at the beginning of a large road project aren’t visible in the first few years. The project is first designed and rights of way purchased from the hundreds of property owners on each side of the road. Construction contracts go out for bid. Significant amounts of work occur before the first shovelful of dirt is turned, but I assure you we are moving forward and are on schedule.

The final steps in acquiring the last few properties needed to construct the road have been set in motion, and an agreement with Kansas City Power & Light is approved to begin moving the utilities in preparation for the new roadway. This will be the first noticeable change that will occur.

A funding agreement is now approved with the Missouri Department of Transportation for the construction of Woods Chapel from Castle Drive to Walnut. This piece of the project is an expansion of the voter-approved improvements from Duncan Road down to the railroad tracks.

This week RED Development provided an update on the Adams Dairy Landing project. This TIF-funded project is paying great dividends for our community. New shopping is available to our residents to buy products at a lower tax rate than they were paying in other retail venues while also saving on the gas they spent to get there. The new tax revenue generated by the project is helping our city maintain services in difficult economic times. Because of a carefully crafted TIF policy and bond issues coinciding with store openings, the project cash flow is positive and paying its own way as expected. It is a benefit for our residents, the city and the people employed at the new stores.

RED Development announced several new stores that will be opening over the next year: Ross Dress for Less, T.J. Max, Home Goods, Charming Charlie, Rue 21, Yogurtini, Ulta Beauty, Arby’s and Chick-Fil-A.

The Blue Springs South Future Farmers of America will have a stand at the Kansas City VA Medical Facility Farmers Market on Thursday morning, 7/21/11, as well as at the Blue Springs Farmers Market on Saturday morning, 7/23/11. We'll be selling peaches and cream sweet corn.  Cost is $5 a dozen and proceeds go to support the activities and projects of the South FFA Chapter.

“Shave and a haircut, two bits.”

The time of a shave and a haircut for just 25 cents is long gone in America, but Courtney Brothers Barber & Shaving Parlor at 1424 West U.S. 40 recently opened in Blue Springs, and I was excited to find that it offers and encourages the old-fashioned straight-razor shave. Gentlemen, while our ladies enjoy a trip to the day spa or beauty salon, it is time for us guys to get a little pampering too.

Mike and Matt Courtney do an excellent job of creating that old-fashioned barbershop feel that many of us remember from childhood; that nostalgic feeling of going to the barber shop on Saturday morning with our fathers and listening to the local men chat about the week’s business and who caught the biggest fish.

For me, it brings back memories of an older gentleman who sat each Saturday in the shop, hand carving walking canes with two wooden balls captured in a wooden cage naturally embedded in the handle of the cane. I always marveled at the magic of how he carved the cage without the legs breaking and still ended up with a viable walking cane.

Next door to the new barbershop, another new business opened its doors this week. Sandy’s Café is occupying the vacant location of the former Betty’s restaurant. I am looking forward to dropping in for breakfast and trying out the cuisine.

It is great to see to empty buildings occupied and new business in our town! Please join me in supporting our local businesses, both those that are new and those that have served our community for many years.

Buying local, choosing local businesses for our goods and services helps our local economy. Buy Blue Springs, because next door means more!

A common topic of conversation over the past several years has been the seemingly endless supply of empty buildings in Blue Springs. It’s a difficult situation, but there are glimmers of progress. The demolition of the old Sinclair station on Highway 7 began this week, making way for a new Quik Trip at the corner of Shaw Parkway and Highway 7. Those of us who do our shopping at Price Chopper will enjoy the convenience when utilizing the benefits of the partnership between Price Chopper and Quik Trip, as we enjoy the savings on our gas purchases.

Hy-Vee at the corner of 40 Hwy and 7 Hwy is well on its way to accomplishing a total remodel of the old K-Mart building with a new state of the art grocery store in the center of Blue Springs. Previously, I thought of the US-40 and Highway 7 intersection as the south end of town, but if you look at a map of our city you will find it is very close to the geographical center. I fully expect this development to be a catalyst for even more exciting enhancements to Blue Springs in the coming years.

Not long ago I realized that the Bua Thai restaurant had closed. I really enjoyed this restaurant and was disappointed to see it closed. Fortunately, a Thailand restaurant is now preparing to open in the Copperleaf Village shopping center across the street. I admit it; I peaked in the window this morning. I don’t know if it is the same owners or not, but some of the pictures and decorations are the same. I’m looking forward to tasting their cuisine!

These changes on our main north-south business corridor are encouraging. In the coming months our City Council will be examining policies that have restricted our existing businesses on Highway 7 and seeking solutions that will help businesses enhance their facilities and continue to improve the appearance of our city!

Several years ago the city put in place new zoning and policies to encourage business development in the Blue Springs downtown area.  Our ongoing efforts to bring new businesses to the downtown continue to be a challenge, yet local business owners continue to step up and take the risks necessary to make it happen.  Recently two new businesses opened in downtown Blue Springs. 

Hattey’s on Main is located at 1005 W Main Street.  The feature Antiques, Consignment Sales, Estate Sales by Bonnie, Home Décor and Gifts, Lady Jayne Stationary Towers, Harney and Sons Teas, Custom made Floral and Jewelry.  Wanda and I visited the store recently and really enjoyed visiting with owner Bonnie Hutchcroft.

Memories on Main Street Tea Room & Café has also opened in downtown Blue Springs.  I have visited them also and believe that this gem of an addition to our downtown could rapidly become a gathering place for friends and neighbors for personal fellowship and just keeping up on what is going in our our great city.  Their menu includes Quiche, Salads, Soups, Sandwiches, Homemade Desserts, Flavored Teas and Specialty Coffees and Lattes.  They are located at 1105A W Main Street.

Sometimes we forget that there are open businesses in our downtown area, so the next time you find yourself crossing through the main street intersection on Highway 7, turn west and take the time to thank these local entrepreneurs for investing in our city by visiting there business!

RED Development announced at tonight’s Blue Springs City Council meeting new stores and restaurants for Adams Dairy landing.  The new Verizon store being constructed next to Olive Garden is scheduled to open in February or March.  Chick-Fil-A is expecting to open in August.  Arby’s is planning to open on the eastern end of the I-70 pad sites in the Fall of 2011.  Michaels is now looking to open on February 4th. 

Ulta, a popular cosmetics store is planning to locate in the shopping center in the former Books-A-Million location.  Projected revenues from this project are double those projected for the former tenant which is an exciting improvement for this project.  If you are unfamiliar with Ulta, their website is located at http://www.ulta.com/.

Ross, a family clothing store, announced their intention to locate in the shopping center.  Their website is located at http://www.rossstores.com/.

Replacing the former Lowe’s store will be 50,000 sq. ft. T.J. Max and Home Goods combination store on the east side of  shopping center.

Finally, Charming Charlie will be opening a store in Adams Dairy Landing.  This highly popular fashion accessory store may open as soon as Fall 2011.  You can learn more about Charming Charlie at http://www.charmingcharlie.com/home.

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 Blue Springs Citizen’s Police Academy

Alumni Association

SHOP WITH A BLUE SPRINGS COP 2010

Dear Business Owner,

The Blue Springs Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association is requesting your support as we partner with the Blue Springs Police Department for our Shop With a Blue Springs Cop event that will occur this December 2010. We are excited to live in a city where the business owners are actively involved in helping our community be a quality place to live and we know that your gracious donation will continue tradition as we seek to provide gifts for underprivileged Blue Springs children and their families in time for the holidays.

In December of this year Blue Springs Police Officers will accompany 10 children that attend Blue Springs schools and take them to Target to shop for Christmas gifts. The officers will help the children as they select gifts ensuring that everyone in the children’s family are thought of, as well as encourage the children to purchase something for themselves. This is generally the hardest part as the children typically try to purchase gifts for everyone except themselves. This exciting experience is just the beginning of the event.

In addition to purchasing the gifts with the officers, the children will also participate in:

· wrapping the presents with the Officers and volunteers from the community

· visit with Santa

· eating breakfast with volunteers and Officers

· visit with Kansas City area sports players

· visit with a mascot from one of the Kansas City area sports teams

We would greatly appreciate if you would be willing to sponsor this event, and partner with the Alumni Association and the Blue Springs Police Department as we support children in need in our community. We understand that you take great lengths to consider who to donate to as we approach the holiday season, especially when our economy is not at its strongest. We would welcome a donation of any amount as a blessing to the children we are trying to help and the community as a whole.

All sponsors who choose to support this event will be recognized at our Spaghetti dinner fundraiser in early November, as well as the various media outlets we use to advertise the event including the Alumni Association website, the City of Blue Springs website, the Mayor’s Newsletter, the Chamber of Commerce Newsletter, the Blue Springs Examiner, and the Blue Springs Journal. For more information please contact Officer David Brotherton at (816) 918-7955 or our website www.bscpa.org.

Sincerely,

BSCPA Alumni Association

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Silent Auction Donation Form

BLUE SPRINGS CITIZEN’S POLICE ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

SHOP WITH A BLUE SPRINGS COP 2010

Silent Auction - November 12, 2010

If you would like to donate an item to be auctioned:

Please contact

Tish Bennett – 816.228.0139 Day – 816.716.4242 Cell

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip: _________________________________________________________________________

Phone Number: ________________________________________________________________________

Email Address: ________________________________________________________________________

Value of item: $___________________

BSCPA Alumni Association “Shop With A Blue Springs Cop”

Complete and mail to: Attn: Shop With A Blue Springs Cop, 205 SW 11th St, Blue Springs, MO 64015

THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH US TO MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS A HOLIDAY THE CHILDREN WILL NEVER FORGET!!

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General Donation Form

BLUE SPRINGS CITIZEN’S POLICE ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

SHOP WITH A COP 2010

Please make check payable to: BSCPA Alumni Association “Shop With A Blue Springs Cop”

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip: _________________________________________________________________________

Phone Number: ________________________________________________________________________

Email Address: ________________________________________________________________________

Amount Enclosed: $___________________

Checks should be made payable to: BSCPA Alumni Association “Shop With A Blue Springs Cop”

Complete and mail to: Attn: Shop With A Blue Springs Cop, 205 SW 11th St, Blue Springs, MO 64015

THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH US TO MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS A HOLIDAY THE CHILDREN WILL NEVER FORGET!!

Once again, it’s election time, as you can tell by the proliferation of political signs, letters to the editor, and junk mailings filling up our mail boxes. There are politicians who say they represent our interests, politicians who say they aren’t politicians, and opinion column writers, current and former politicians. How do we weed out the facts from the spin and make good decisions in selecting our next leaders? It’s difficult if not impossible to effectively verify the statements made by politicians in a timely manner. We often believe what we read or hear, especially if we know or trust the source.

As I read the letters to the editor and added my own comments to several, it occurred to me that those letters have been written with the best of intentions, usually to help friends with their efforts to win an election. Letters of support to express our own individual opinion of the person, not necessarily that the person we are supporting will in the end vote the way we think they should. Our elected officials surprise us at times with their comments, and their votes not always in sync.

So how do we as voters figure out whom to cast our vote for? Whom do we believe? The answer is simple and hard at the same time. We should make every effort to learn more about the people we are supporting, and we should dig more deeply than just our personal relationship with that person. Friendship is one thing; voting is another.

I really wasn’t surprised when I read Ron Fowler’s letter to the editor supporting Sheila Solon, as they are longtime political friends with similar positions on local issues. Ron wrote about how Sheila voted against multi-family housing complexes. What he didn’t mention is that she votes for them as well. Right or wrong, she is inconsistent on this issue. Once in February 2003 she voted to put multi-family zoning on Adams Dairy Parkway and twice that I recall in 2007 while I was on the council serving with her.

Ron also talks about Sheila voting against sales taxes. Those votes were actually against the new retail development on Adams Dairy Parkway. The next time you sit down for dinner at Olive Garden or shop at Target or Gordman’s, consider that she fought hard to stop Adams Dairy Landing from coming to town. Just before she left city office, she worked very hard to scale back Missouri Innovation Park from its original 500 acres to just 100 acres. Her actions would have restricted job growth in Blue Springs at a time when we need more high-quality jobs. Again, she is inconsistent after making “real jobs” a focal point of her council campaign.

Former Councilman Solon, as pointed out by Mayor Ross in a recent article, was very ineffective as an elected official while on the City Council. I expect it would be no different in Jefferson City. Fortunately, the voters have a choice on Aug. 3. I would recommended giving strong consideration to Mike Parker. I’ve spent some time getting to know him and believe that he will best represent the interests of his constituents and will be an effective leader.

Sometimes hope is found in the simplest of places. Monday evening, the Blue Springs City Council unanimously passed a consent agenda containing hope that the K-Mart building at 40 and 7 Highways may soon find new life and new opportunities.

Since 2003, the vacant building has been a frustration for residents and city officials, as many looked for ways to eliminate the blight that K-Mart’s closing brought to that intersection. One of the challenges in addressing the situation involved the bankruptcy proceedings that continued for several years after the store closed. It was not until late in 2006 those Tri-Land properties purchased the site and began the process of exploring options with the city regarding possible redevelopment. Several years have again passed, leaving people to wonder if anything is ever going to happen. More...