by Michael Smith


Grain Valley baseball coach Brian Driskell said he was hoping to get starting pitcher Aaron Barr through all seven innings.

Barr went up against Smithville at home and he had good command of his pitches. However, his pitch count elevated as his defense committed a season-high four errors.

Because of that, the junior ended up having to throw more pitches, but he still got through six innings as he only gave up three unearned runs to help his team capture a 4-3 win Wednesday at home.

“I wish I could have thrown him out there in the seventh,” Driskell said of Barr, who tossed 93 pitches. We probably could have and been OK. We didn’t do a good enough job defensively. We made him pitch another 25-30 pitches that he shouldn’t have had to.”

“Both teams didn’t play great. There’s some things we have to clean up.”

Not only did Barr have a quality start, but he also allowed only four hits, walked one and struck out six in a stellar effort. The key for him was keeping his slurve pitch under control and he did just that as he pounded the strike zone with it and got hitters to chase it out of the zone, too.

“We all make mistakes, so I am not going to hold that against anyone,” Barr said of the errors.

“You just have to go out there and pitch your game and trust the guys behind you."

“The slurve along with the changeup was on today. I was able to mess up their timing with those two pitches while mixing in the fastball.”

Added Driskell: “The depth on his breaking pitchers were great. Where he started them and where they ended up is where the difference was.”

The right hander’s first unearned run came in the top of the first. An error in the infield on a ground ball from third baseman Brady Speer allowed Ben Murawski to score from second base to put the Warriors up 1-0.

The Eagles immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning. First baseman Logan Bennett crushed a fastball over the right-field fence with junior Brek Sloan on first base for his first varsity home run, giving his team a 2-1 edge.

“I was looking to get a pitch that I could hit well,” Bennett said. “I got a hold of it.”

Errors plagued the Eagles once again during the third as Smithville’s Max McKenzie and Muraawski reached base both reached base on infield errors by Grain Valley (5-5). McKenzie scored on Speer’s line drive double to center field, but Muraski was thrown out at home, which helped keep the game tied at 2 as Barr struck out Drake Odneal to end the inning.

A dropped pop fly by the Eagles in the fourth set the table for another Smithville run in the fourth. That error allowed Mason Jones to reach first and two batters later, he scored on a two out single from Roman Roske to give the Warriors a 3-2 lead.

Grain Valley (5-5) battled back in the bottom half of the inning and got an assist from Smithville starting pitcher Jake Kruse. The Smithville right hander lost his command and allowed the Eagles to score two runs without them getting a single hit.

After getting two outs, he walked Max Snyder and John Malicoat and hit Ian Kamstra to load the bases. Kruse was pulled from the game after he hit Luke Arndorfer with a pitch, which knotted the game at 3.

Warriors’ right hander Kade Thurston came in to relieve Kruse but had the task of getting out of a bases loaded jam. However, he hit Carter Harmsen with a pitch. That allowed Kamstra to score what ended up being the winning run.

Barr only allowed one base runner in his final two innings and Malicoat came in get the save as he worked around a leadoff walk. Sloan, the catcher, ended the game after throwing a dart to Bennett, who tagged out Roske on the pick off.

​As the April 2nd municipal election draws close, Valley News reached out to the candidates running for the Grain Valley School Board to answer a series of questions to learn more about their background and priorities.

Four candidates have filed for two open seats on the Grain Valley Board of Education. Current board members Jared English and Eddie Saffell have filed for re-election. Aaron Scully and Paul Trusler have also filed.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order, and other than minor spelling or grammatical corrections, the candidates' responses are provided as written. 
 
Jared English
 
Please tell us about yourself (work background, volunteer service, elected positions held, etc.). 
 
I’ve been a resident of Grain Valley for roughly 20 years.  My wife and I have two elementary-age children in the district. My work background is risk management.  I was on Grain Valley Park Board for roughly 9 years.  I also served as the treasurer for the Pathways of Honor, which is a Veterans group in Grain Valley.  I’ve been on the School Board in Grain Valley for 12 years.
 
Why do you want to serve on the Grain Valley School Board? 
 
I think that we have a great district, focused on the education of our children.  As an experienced board member with strong ties to the community, I think I’m well-suited to partner with leaders in our district to ensure we continue to keep education our focus. 
 
The levy proposal on the April ballot seeks to address teacher and staff pay in the district. Teacher pay is often cited as a reason why districts struggle to attract and retain teachers. What other factors, besides teacher pay, do you feel are critical to address in the district to retain quality teachers and staff? 
 
In a word:  Culture.  Employees, regardless of industry, typically stay with an employer because the culture of the organization aligns with their values.  I think the administration in Grain Valley has done an excellent job creating a culture that our staff value.  We may never pay more than some of our neighbors, even with the levy.  I think the key to successfully retaining employees (teachers, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, facilities workers, etc.) is to maintain a culture of respect that employees value.

How would you assess the levels at which students are achieving academically in the district? What are areas of concern? 

The district has several methods of gauging success of our students. MAP tests are a good indicator of how the district performs compared to other Missouri schools.  As I reviewed the data provided to the board, one area that jumped out at me was the “Class of 2027 Math” results.  While there are several reasons for why the scores look low, this is area I’m concerned with and watching closely.  

Other tests provide additional insight as to how our overall school population is performing academically.  I think its also important to identify those who are falling behind.  Our board motto is, “every student, every day.”  We mean that.  We have a small percentage of students who struggle every day.  We need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to support those kids and give them the education they deserve. 

What are the top issues the board should focus on in the next 3-5 years? 
 
Education should remain our number one priority over the next 3-5 years.  The board approves a comprehensive plan every year.  That plan also includes other key initiatives, such as facilities, security and communications with our patrons.  I think all of these issues are important.  The board receives regular updates from the administration on progress in these key areas.
 
Another big issue is the continued growth of our community.  Grain Valley continues to expand.  This puts a great deal of stress on our district.  Continuing to monitor growth and ensure we’re allocating resources to accommodate growth across the district is key to a good education.
 
 
Eddie Saffell

Please tell us about yourself (work background, volunteer service, elected positions held, etc.). 
 
I spent 40 years in the fire service, 10 as a volunteer in Harrisonville and the last 30 with the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District (CJC), retiring as a deputy chief. During that time, I have served as the president of the Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce and a Grain Valley / Blue Springs advisory board member to Truman Heartland Community Foundation. I have also served on numerous community project committees such as the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast (Blue Springs) and the Truman Heartland Scholarship Committee. I am completing my 12th year as a member of the Grain Valley Board of Education. 
 
Why do you want to serve on the Grain Valley School Board? 
 
My commitment to the school board comes from two points: my belief that education is critical to our community's success. A strong school system brings families, which in turn brings business which strengthens our community and allows for better resources and programs for our families and business owners. I received my graduate degree later in life, so my belief that education is key  doesn't stop at high school, but continues throughout life. To instill that mindset in our children, we have to give them the best education we can from the beginning and I believe I have, and will continue to help Grain Valley Schools to build that success. 
 
Second is my dedication to public service. I have been in some form of public service my entire adult life and I have been interested in local government special districts (school, fire, library) the entire time.  I currently work for the City of Grain Valley so, even in retirement, I remained in community service in a different form. 
 
The levy proposal on the April ballot seeks to address teacher and staff pay in the district. Teacher pay is often cited as a reason why districts struggle to attract and retain teachers. What other factors, besides teacher pay, do you feel are critical to address in the district to retain quality teachers and staff? 
 
Finances are always the easiest to blame and sometimes the hardest to fix. The levy will allow us to make a large impact on the teacher salary and benefit issue, but we also have to think out of the box and find ways to entice teachers to come to Grain Valley and then stay. Ensuring a positive culture of respect and trust has little financial impact in comparison to other components, but can keep a teacher, or any other staff member, in our system. Wanting to go to work and enjoying where you work are critical to our success. If we give our staff members the support and resources they need daily, such as monitoring and maintaining class sizes, it can make their work less stressful. Open and honest 360 degree communication can improve morale. This starts at the top and moves through all levels of the organization. 
 
How would you assess the levels at which students are achieving academically in the district? What are areas of concern? 

In general, our students perform well at all levels. When we look at high school graduations, scholarships, college applications and so on, Grain Valley continues to perform at a very high level. In all elementary and middle school grades, Grain Valley continues to perform above others, especially across the state. My main concerns will always be in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) components because these are the keys to today's business world. We have identified, through standardized testing, some areas we could improve on and are always working on programming and instruction to address those areas. 
 
What are the top issues the board should focus on in the next 3-5 years? 
 
As always finances will be a topic of concern. As Grain Valley grows and our student population increases, we will need additional, or expanded, facilities and staff to continue to offer programs to continue to provide our students and families the best educational experience we can.  School safety and security is a priority. The world we live in dictates we continually adjust our security for buildings and events to ensure everyone's safety. This has many levels and requires open-minded and forward thinking to accomplish. Staff recruitment and retention is key. As mentioned, finding ways to not only compensate our staff, but also give them a work environment they can be happy to be a part of and proud of. 
 
 
Aaron Scully

Please tell us about yourself (work background, volunteer service, elected positions held, etc.). 
 
I am an RN and work full time at the Kansas City VA. I am also a member of the Missouri Air National Guard as a critical care air transport team nurse. I have not held any elected positions. My wife and I volunteer within our church in a variety of areas: medical team, security team, and membership class. We also have 5 children, and currently have foster children in our home. We have been foster parents for almost 4 years.
 
Why do you want to serve on the Grain Valley School Board? 
 
I want to serve on the school board, because I have a vested interest in the education of my children. I desire to see the overall success of children, to see them succeed in whatever path they choose, and to see them become productive members of this community and our society.
 
The levy proposal on the April ballot seeks to address teacher and staff pay in the district. Teacher pay is often cited as a reason why districts struggle to attract and retain teachers. What other factors, besides teacher pay, do you feel are critical to address in the district to retain quality teachers and staff? 
 
I got an opportunity to hear a presentation at a board meeting from a couple of teachers, and during their presentation, another point was mentioned which was their days off (sick days, personal days). They would like to see a PTO (paid time off) time of leave system in place, and I could see the benefit of moving to that type of system, if it were to be a desired benefit of the educators and staff. 
 
How would you assess the levels at which students are achieving academically in the district? What are areas of concern? 

I believe the district is tracking the academic success levels to a degree, and I recall seeing some of the results at a board meeting several months ago. I would reiterate that the goal of the district should be to see each child succeed in whatever chosen path, and become productive members of our community. An upcoming concern that I have will be the use of AI (artificial intelligence), and how it will impact education. 
 
What are the top issues the board should focus on in the next 3-5 years? 
 
Top issues for the next 3-5 years: continued improvement of safety for staff and students; budget deficits and finding a way to eliminate them; that the district continues to maintain the priority of school is, an education; and that teachers will want to stay in the district.
 

Paul Trusler
 
Please tell us about yourself (work background, volunteer service, elected positions held, etc.). 
 
I'm a devoted husband to I believe the most beautiful, loving and intelligent women I know. I'm a father of 7 kids (4 boys, 3 girls.) Grandfather to one boy. All of which are either currently in or have graduated from GVSD. I've been a member of the ironworker local union 10 for over 25 yrs. I'm a member of First Baptist Church of Grain Valley where I've served in many aspects of the church and have served as property chair for over 5 yrs. 
 
Why do you want to serve on the Grain Valley School Board? 
 
To be more active in my community. To better serve in the school system in which my children and grandchild attend. To be a voice for teachers and students. 
 
The levy proposal on the April ballot seeks to address teacher and staff pay in the district. Teacher pay is often cited as a reason why districts struggle to attract and retain teachers. What other factors, besides teacher pay, do you feel are critical to address in the district to retain quality teachers and staff? 
 
Pay may be one of the leading factors for teachers leaving, but they are also one of the highest stressed professions. One way to help this would be for the schools to be consistent in the rules and punishment they have. Another way is to recognize teachers constant struggles. Teachers are the backbone of the school system. We should empower them to do their job to the best of their abilities. I've found most teachers are self-driven individuals. We need more people like them. 
 
How would you assess the levels at which students are achieving academically in the district? What are areas of concern? 
​
For the most part I believe the district to be doing well academically. I would like to explore better ways of instructing kids who learn with their hands (kinesthetic learners) or who are visual learners. 
 
What are the top issues the board should focus on in the next 3-5 years? 
 
The board should focus on safety and success of the children and teachers. 

by Cole Arndorfer
 
​
The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 25.
 
With no public comments, previous business, new business, presentations, or public hearings, the board moved directly into resolutions.
 
The first resolution passed by the board was introduced by Alderman Cleaver. This allows the city to renew its’ agreement with Civic Review. This is just a renewal of the agreement the city currently has with Civic Plus, which allows citizens to apply for permits online rather than waiting in line in person.
 
The next resolution the board passed was introduced by Alderman Knox, allowing the city to install two new streetlights on Duncan Road at the new fire station.
 
Third, the board passed a resolution introduced by Alderman Mills. This will allow the city to install one new streetlight in the cul-de-sac of NW Crestwood Drive in the Rosewood Hills subdivision.
 
The final resolution the board passed was introduced by Alderman Skinner. This will allow designated city property to be used as a permissible location for 2024 Food Truck Friday events. The only change in the Food Truck Friday process for this year, as opposed to years past, is the city will begin closing Main Street from Walnut to the train tracks in an attempt to make the event safer for pedestrians as well as driving more customers to the downtown businesses.
 
Following resolutions, the board moved into city staff and board reports.
 
Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Davies provided the board with an update on the all-inclusive playground construction at Armstrong Park. Davies said installation off all the playground components has been completed and the concrete border around the perimeter of the playground has been poured. The next step will be to pour the rubber surfacing in the playground area. Currently, Davies said, the Parks and Recreation department is looking at the middle of May for a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony.
 
In Alderman Skinner’s report, he made a motion to cancel the Board of Aldermen meeting in the month of May that falls on Memorial Day and keep just one meeting for the month. The motion was passed.
 
The next Board of Aldermen meeting will take place on Monday, April 8, at 6:30pm inside City Hall.  
​

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
​
A few weeks ago I wrote about a house on Walnut Street in the Davis Place Addition. If you recall, Davis Place included 250 feet along the northern edge (walnut Street), 597 feet along the eastern edge (adjoining the Finnell addition), 267.5 feet along the southern edge adjacent to the railroad, and 670.5 feet along the western edge (farm land).

​Again, early tax records show the home on lot 10, Davis Place, was owned by Dennis & Martha Costigan from at least as early as 1920 until 1935.  In 1936 and the succeeding year, the taxes were paid by Robert Costigan. In 1938 the taxes were paid by Oscar Heidelberger and in 1940 the taxes were paid by Ruth (Heidelberger) and Roy Brown. It was in this home that the Brown children were raised; next door to their Aunt Hazel (Kiff) and Tom Heidelberger and across the street from the grandmother, Margret (McAlexander) Heidelberger.
 
The first photograph below is labeled “Feb. 1928.” It was later changed to “Jan.” Pictured are Dennis Costigan with his step-granddaughter, Nadine O’Connell with the caption, “Ready for Ireland.” Following her graduation from Grain Valley High School, Nadine did indeed travel to Ireland.

The final photo below was taken recently; another home in Grain Valley to live on for over 100 years. It is good to know that these old homes have survived for over a century.  It is also nice to drive around town and see that they are being well maintained and many are being remodeled and rehabilitated for the next hundred years!

​Area adults interested in a new career or job advancement now have the opportunity to obtain a variety of services related to workforce development and training at a recently opened satellite office at the University of Central Missouri’s Lee’s Summit campus.

Representatives from the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) as well as the Full Employment Council (FEC) will operate out of UCM’s Missouri Innovation Campus from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 

Services available to both adults and students through these organizations include daily workshops on how to successfully create a resume, job interviewing skill sessions and quarterly hiring fairs, all at the Lee’s Summit location. In addition, the satellite office offers monthly testing through WorkKeys, an assessment designed to help people determine their best choices for career success.

“MDHEWD is very excited about the opportunity to be part of the Missouri Innovation Campus,” said Julie Carter, director of the Office of Workforce Development. “This satellite office provides an opportunity to serve all students on campus and offer the community access to invaluable free job center services.”

FEC representatives will also work with individuals to help them learn if they are eligible for scholarship funding for the University of Central Missouri’s industry-recognized certificate programs. Previously, those interested in scholarships had to travel to the organization’s Kansas City location for assistance.

The new satellite office is designed to provide a one-stop, more convenient location for residents of Eastern Jackson County, Cass County and other areas outside the metropolitan area. All services are offered free of charge.

For more information about the new satellite office, please email [email protected] 

The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of March 18-25, 2024.
 
March 18, 2024
200 Blk Kimberly Ct
Agency Assist

PHQ
Citizen Contact

PHQ
Citizen Contact

200 Blk Royers Ln
Well check

Stony Point elementary
Alarm

Pamela/Jefferson
Motor Vehicle Accident

Stony Point elementary
Alarm

Stony Point elementary
Public Service

1200 Blk NW Phelps
Abandoned Auto

 
March 19, 2024
900 Blk Shorthorn
Public service

700 Blk SW Lakeview Dr
Suspicious activity

900 Blk Stonebrook
911 hangup

1100 Blk NW Willow
Agency Assist

300 Blk S Main
Suspicious person

1300 Blk NW Highview
Motor Vehicle Accident

200 Blk S Main
Commerical Alarm

1100 Blk NW McQuerry Rd
Well check

900 Blk NE Barr Rd
Public service

1100 Blk NW McQuerry Rd
Public service

 
March 21, 2024
PHQ
Citizen Contact

PHQ
Citizen Contact

900 Blk SW Abar
Citizen Contact

PHQ
Citizen Contact

100 Blk Cross Creek
Citizen Contact

1400 Blk Jaclyn
Citizen Contact

Blue Branch/sni
Motor Vehicle Accident

200 Blk Royer
Unattended Death

 
March 22, 2024
SW 1st St/Robinson St
Agency Assist

I-70 WB MM 24
Agency Assist

700 Blk SW Nelson Dr
Animal at Large

700 Blk SW Graystone Dr
Physical Disturbance

600 Blk SW Lakeview Dr
Animal at Large

1700 Blk Broadway
Parking Complaint

800 Blk SW Millcreek
Well check

PHQ
citizen contact

 
March 23, 2024
3300 Blk S Outer Belt
Missing Person

1200 Blk NW Scenic
Stand By

1000 Blk NW Eagle Ridge
Stand By

800 Blk SW Woodland
Verbal disturbance

1300 Blk NW Eagle Ridge Dr
Noise Complaint

800 Blk San Kar
Citizen Contact

700 Blk N Main
Suspicious Activity

1100 Blk S Broadway St
Agency Assist

1200 Blk NW Golfview Dr
Area Check

400 Blk S Outer Rd
Minor in possession

Butterfly Trail
Suspicious Vehicle

1000 Blk NW Eagle Ridge
Stand By

PHQ
Citizen Contact

800 Blk SW Woodland Dr
Verbal disturbance

600 Blk SW Creek Dr
Alarm

 
March 24, 2024
6400 Blk Inderweissen Rd
Agency Assist

1000 Blk Tarnsey Ln
Agency Assist

PHQ
Citizen Contact

SB BB Hwy from Buckner
Careless driving

NW Highview/Eagle Ridge Ct
Area Check

 
March 25, 2024
PHQ
Citizen Contact

200 Blk SW Cross Creek
Missing Juvenile

PHQ
Missing Juvenile

PHQ
Citizen Contact

100 Blk S Main
Well Check

PHQ
Citizen Contact

100 Blk Eagles
lost property

 
Additional calls for service:
Order of protection: 1
​

by Michael Smith


The Grain Valley girls soccer team appeared to be in a dire situation.

The Eagles had a 2-0 lead and were in good shape until the seventh minute of their non-conference home contest with Lee’s Summit Monday at home.

A Lee’s Summit ball handler got past Grain Valley goalkeeper Alayna Maybell on a breakaway attempt, but the two players collided. The officials ruled Maybell obstructed the path of the Tigers have an opportunity to score and was issued a red card.

That meant Grain Valley was going to have to play the rest of the game while being down a player. Not only that, but head coach Brett Lewis also had to find a replacement for Maybell in the net.

That player ended up being senior forward Emma Thiessen, who had seven saves including a stop during a shootout period as the Eagles took a 3-2 thriller after making six penalty kicks to the Tigers’ five.

Thiessen is a known offensive threat for Grain Valley as she is a well above average passer and goal scorer at the striker position. Because of the red card to Maybell, Lewis said he needed her to play goalie.

She happily obliged. During the shootout, Lee’s Summit junior Lillie Whistance had to make a penalty kick to keep her team’s hopes alive. Her shot went well above the net as the Eagles stormed the field and yelled in jubilation as Thiessen impacted the game in an unlikely way.
She yelled, ‘Let’s go!’ as she was surrounded by her teammates. After the game, she had an ice pack around her left shin as she attempted to stop a shot with her foot on a PK from Lee’s Summit.

“Coach asked who should go in, and I said, ‘I will do it.’ The team needed it but I could not have done it without the backs playing their game and Mia (Cole) being tough in the middle.”

“I played goalie a couple of times in club, but this is definitely not normal.”

Somehow, her team won even with the odds stacked against them while playing one of the best teams in the state.

“All of our players are mentally tough and didn’t let anything get in their head,” Thiessen said. “I had an amazing back line that stuck it out. This was an amazing win.”

Thiessen said she couldn’t remember the last time she played as a goalie, but she borrowed a yellow goalkeeper jersey and ran out to replace backup Catherine Barnes after head coach Brett Lewis asked her to fill in.

Despite playing out of position, Thiessen allowed just two scores. She had seven saves and one stop during the shootout as she knocked away an attempt from junior Tatum Bresette.

Lewis said he was impressed with how Thiessen did in the net and noted she was the best option for replacing Maybell among those left who were eligible to play.

“She is the most athletic and she’s a good basketball,” Lewis said. “And I was thinking, ‘You know what? I am going to put Emma in goal. She played out of her mind and played well on set pieces.”

Sophomore defender Taylor Nicholson had similar thoughts to Lewis.

“I feel confident in what she was doing,” Nicholson said. “She looked like a natural out there. I had all my faith in her.”

While Thiessen stood on her head, six Eagles made penalty kicks, with Nicholson scoring the game winning PK on a shot she snuck inside the left post and past Lee’s Summit goalie Avery Rausch. Thiessen, Meghan Knust, Sophia Giuliano, Ally Gilbert and Mia Cole were the other Grain Valley players to make shots during the shootout.

“I just knew if I looked at one corner, (Rausch) would dive the other way,” Nicholson said.

The Eagles scored two goals in the first six minutes of game. Thiessen chipped a shot over Rausch and into the net and junior Ally Gilbert scored near the back post following a cross from Thiessen.

The Eagles led 2-0 until Lee’s Summit junior Alli Snow beat Thiessen to the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and lobbed a shot over the senior and into the net to make it 2-1. Grain Valley was able to hold the Tigers at bay and it appeared they were going to get a win in regulation. However, Tigers senior Keira Love caught Thiessen coming off her line and she punched the ball into an empty net with 30 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime.

That was a moment that could have been a backbreaker for the Eagles, but as Lewis said after the game, his team showed mental toughness.

“That was pretty special,” Lewis said. “We showed how tough we are. I told the girls before the game, I don’t care who (Lee’s Summit) has or where they are going to college, that doesn’t phase me and that shouldn’t bother us.”

​“I don’t want people coming here to our home field and laughing and giggling and having a good time. I want our opponents to think, ‘Man! Grain Valley is tough! I thought we outplayed them for most of the game.”

by Michael Smith


The Grain Valley boys tennis team had a golden opportunity to win a big match early in the season.

The Eagles hosted Lee’s Summit, a team that had a 3-0 record coming into the contest.

The Tigers led Grain Valley 4-3 with two matches remaining, but the Eagles needed their final two singles players to come away with wins. Senior Carter Williams, the No. 2 player, and junior John Cassidy, No. 4, led both of their respective singles matches 6-5 and just needed to win two more sets to help claim the team win.

However, both fell in close matches as Cassidy fell 8-6 and Williams dropped his game 8-7 (7-4 tiebreaker) as Grain Vally fell 6-3 Thursday.

While it was a tough loss, Grain Valley head coach Randy Draper and his players came away with some positives.

​“I was pleased for the most part,” Draper said. “We are learning a lot about our lineup. Our guys lost in some really good matches. I think John learned today that he needs to make his  opponent play the match on his terms.

“Our No. 3 doubles team only lost two sets. There’s a lot to feel good about, now we just have to get better.”

No. 5 singles player Blake Galvan and No. 6 Aiden Wilson had similar sentiments as their head coach.

“It’s a really good feeling (to play Lee’s Summit close),” Wilson said. “Last year, we lost to them 9-0. So, it may be a good sign for the rest of our season.” 

Galvan and Wilson only played in singles matches and both won by a score of 8-3.

Wilson said he felt better getting a win after he lost a match against his opponent on the road at Staley High School Tuesday.

“It was a breath of fresh air for sure,” Wilson said. “My last match against Staley was not the best. I needed a win today.

“My serve was really working today, and I was going a good job at playing my game.”

Added Galvan: “I want out there and played with confidence. I was also placing the ball well.”

Because of Grain Valley’s depth, Draper was able to play eight players in Thursday’s match. Galvan and Wilson were able to concentrate just on singles matches while the duo of senior Campbell Childers and sophomore Riley Spencer focused on doubles.

That twosome come up with the Eagles only doubles win at No. 3 by an 8-1 margin.

​“Our No. 3 doubles team has only lost one set in two matches,” Draper said. “I think our five, six, seven, eight, nine guys are not that far apart. Some people play better doubles than they do singles. That team with Spencer and Childers seem to have good communication and the ball is in play all the time.”

​As the April 2nd municipal election draws close, Valley News reached out to the candidates running for Mayor and Board of Aldermen to answer a series of questions to learn more about their background and priorities.

In contested races, candidates are listed in alphabetical order, and other than minor spelling or grammatical corrections, the candidates' responses are provided as written. 

Mayor Mike Todd has filed for re-election, with current alderman Dale Arnold filing to challenge Todd for the position of mayor.

In Ward I, former mayor Chuck Johnston has filed for the seat currently occupied by Arnold. Kyle Sole has also filed to run for the Ward I seat.

In Ward II, current alderman Rick Knox will run unopposed, as will current Ward III alderman Ryan Skinner.

In the course of requesting comments from aldermen for this candidate profile, current Ward III alderman Ryan Skinner and Ward I candidate Kyle Sole called for Ward I candidate Chuck Johnston to withdraw from the race due to two recent arrests related to DWI charges. Other candidates and current aldermen have also taken to social media to also call for Johnston to withdraw from the race.

Valley News reached out to Johnston to give him an opportunity to comment on the call for him to withdraw from the race or to comment on the DWI incidents. Johnston replied, “No comment.” Links to prior reporting on the 2022 charges and current court data on Johnston’s arrest record are provided below:
Johnston arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence: Quick News - Grain Valley NewsJackson County Circuit Court records: Case.net: Name Search Results by Case (mo.gov)
​


 
Mayor candidates:
 
Dale Arnold

Please tell us about yourself (work background, volunteer service, elected positions held, etc.).

I have lived in Grain Valley since 1986. Moving here and working for Central Jackson County FPD for over 30 years. Retiring with disability in 2017. Married to my wife Shelia for 46 years. We have two children raised in the Grain Valley School District. I have a long list of service over many years: a few are having served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Grain Valley School District, as well has a member of the Planning and Zone Board for the City of Grain Valley, and as Alderman.  I have always tried to help wherever I can and have been involved with the Grain Valley Police Department Night Out Against Crime, the GV Haunted Hayride, the Grain Valley Fair Days, and the Historical Society. I have served as President of the GV Band Parents Association and GV F.O.C.U.S. I have also been active outside the City serving on a number of State Boards and Foundations.
 
Why do you want to serve as mayor?
I feel I will bring a different approach to meeting the goals of the Grain Valley Citizens, as well the challenges that we meet each day. There are programs that I feel could be moved along with a bit more focus and direction. Most of all we have a great community and that is something I want to keep.
 
What do you believe are the three most important issues the City should be focused on in the next five years and how would you support these efforts as mayor?
I feel the three important issues are Taxes, Growth and the cost of that growth. Which all of these are closely tied together. I've heard and felt, our taxes is one of the biggest issues. You have to ask how did we get here. Every tax being collected was voted and approved by the public. Typically for schools, streets, parks plus water and sewer improvements. All services we have grown accustom to and want the best service. In the city, with the growth we have experienced, it requires long range plans that anticipate future growth. This comes with a high price tag. One way to offset this is to see that the growth meets our needs. Because if our tax base grows it will spread that cost out helping to reduce the individual tax burden.  Residential growth helps, but in most cases the cost of service outweighs the taxes generated.  I feel the answer is commercial growth. Higher property values equaling more taxes generated in turn reduce what each has to pay.  While the term of office for Mayor is two years, there are many things I feel that could be done. Which can have a long lasting effect, well past five years. Economic development is a big part of that picture. We have seen that, around the I-70 corridor. We now need to see that spread across the rest of our community.
 
In the recently released Jackson County Public Health Community Health Assessment, the top issues of concern for surveyed residents were distracted driving (44%), access to public transportation (43%), affordable housing options (38%), access to affordable healthcare (36%), and substance abuse (31%). In what ways should the City be working to move the needle on these issues and how can the mayor and board of aldermen support these efforts? (FINAL - Grain Valley (jcph.org))
 
While these are all issues county wide and we experience some in our community, we are, I feel in a better stance and the report show this as well, as opposed to intercity and other areas in Eastern Jackson county. Continued efforts to enhance our police force has a direct effect on distracted driving and substance abuse. Recent studies show we have a significant volume of available rental housing for the housing need. Healthcare and transportation are issues that extend beyond our city limits, which hamper our effectiveness. We are working with OATS bus to meet these need were we can.
 
The City is scheduled to complete construction on a new police station this spring which addressed facility needs for the department after a failed vote on a community campus in June 2020. What is your vision for City Hall and the Community Center now that the police station project is nearing completion?
 
We pay dearly at tax time, often wondering what we get in return.  It is paramount to me, to show more value for your taxes.
My vision is threefold, First, I would like to continue work on our trails program for connectivity in the community. For all those who want to walk and bike to destinations across town. This has been a number one item listed in all the surveys that the city has had taken. I think more attention to meeting these goals is warranted. Currently trails are hit and miss with short pieces being developed through grants, that are slow to realize. Grants help with our budget however I feel there are other ways to pay for this and should be used to move forward.

Second, our Community Center size falls short of meeting our communities needs. I feel it is time to move forward with a new Community Center. Past plans that failed were promoted as a no tax increase.  Since that time we have moved forward in smaller steps, with the new Police station. This opened up the other side of City Hall for city staff, meeting the overcrowding issue there.  With some maintenance and upgrades City Hall should meet our need for some time to come. The Police station used about a third of the fund slated for the previous plan.  Which stands to reason that funding is still possible today without a tax increase, especially with the recent property re-assessments, ample funding should be available. With a larger Community Center to meet our needs, allowing events to be held locally, instead of leaving to go to other communities. Instead it will serve as a magnet to bring events to Grain Valley. With this, I feel a water park as opposed to a pool, offers more for the children to do, than just wade around in the water.  This would be a more cost effective approach to serving our youth. Also one of the concepts that was discussed in the past project, an Amphitheater. This would be a great venue for our local high school  band to perform.  It would be so exciting to see Jazz and Concert band performances and more local acts and small theatrical performances, all this would be a possibility.  Wrap all this up in a park area filled with trails and picnic/rest areas, pickle ball courts and basketball courts. All in walking distance to the New library and neighborhoods on the old Sni A Barr Farm. Making it a show case of family areas for all to use. I believe this is possible without a tax increase. Giving more value for your taxes.

Last the current Community Center could meet further needs with repurposing  and focused as a possible senior center. Of course, this would all be up to you the voters. I look forward to hearing from you with your thoughts and suggestion.
 
Michael Todd

Please tell us about yourself (work background, volunteer service, elected positions held, etc.).
I am a lifelong resident of Grain Valley and a graduate of Grain Valley High School.  I have been married to my wife Tosha for 15 years.  We have a daughter and two stepsons - all of which attended or are attending Grain Valley Schools.  I’m currently finishing up my 24th year as a special education teacher.  I’m involved in the Grain Valley Fair, Grain Valley First Fridays, and the Grain Valley Historical Society.  I’m currently President of the Grain Valley Fair Board and the Grain Valley Historical Society.  Prior to being elected Mayor I served for 3 terms as Ward 2 Alderman.  I am currently completing my 6th term as Grain Valley Mayor.
 
Why do you want to serve as mayor?
As I’ve stated before I love Grain Valley.  I’ve lived here my entire life and I have chosen to raise my family here.  I feel it is important to give back to your community as much as you can, that is why I have been a devoted elected official for the time that I have been.  It is also the reason that I’m involved in the activities I am.  My family loves to see everyone having a good time at the Fair and First Fridays.  It is important to me to preserve the history of Grain Valley and that is the reason for my involvement in the Historical Society.  Grain Valley is more than just a city.  It is my home and home to thousands of others, and I would like to keep serving as Mayor to make it the best home for everyone.
 
 
What do you believe are the three most important issues the City should be focused on in the next five years and how would you support these efforts as mayor?
One of the three most important issues is making transportation improvements.  A couple of these key improvements we have already started making headway towards. They will continue to be a priority for me.  The Duncan Road/Buckner Tarsney intersection is one of these projects.  We have a lot of residents who currently avoid this intersection.  This is an inconvenience to our residents and leads to tax leakage to other communities like Blue Springs.  Instead of using Grain Valley businesses many residents are spending their money elsewhere, because it is too difficult to get to town.  Another example of a needed transportation improvement is the Kirby Road/Eagles Parkway intersection.  This is the intersection at the entrance into the High School.  At the beginning and ending of the school day this area can have significant congestion. These are just several of examples.  There are other areas that need added turn lanes or possible signals as well.  Of course this is in addition to our regular road maintenance program.

Another of the most important issues is parkland and trails.  We are currently making improvements to Armstrong Park with the addition of a new playground.  I would like to see some other improvements there like the possibility of adding a splash pad.  We also have the old Sni A Bar Farms property, which we started clearing so it can be usable green space.  We need organize a focus group of residents to explore the possibilities for recreational activities on this property.  These two parks serve the residents of Ward 1 and Ward 2, but as you can see, we are lacking green space/parkland for the residents of Ward 3.  We need to continue looking for a solution by identifying a place in Ward 3 that works for us to start moving forward. Along with park improvements, we need to continue with the great progress we are making with our trails.  We are currently in the design phases for the extension of the trail/sidewalks on Buckner Tarsney and Eagles Parkway.  Both of these pieces are crucial in improving the walkability of Grain Valley.

Finally, one of the most important issues to continue to focus on is taxes.  The city has continued to lower our tax levy as we have had more development.  Unfortunately, with county assessments, the cost of living, and other factors, our residents haven’t seen the impact of those decreases.  We can continue on this path of decreasing the tax levy by continuing to grow our industrial and commercial base.  Future growth could potentially see the addition of an interchange between our current interchange and Oak Grove. This would provide development opportunities for both communities.  With MODOT making improvements to I-70 to expand lanes this may be the time to take a serious look at this.
 
In the recently released Jackson County Public Health Community Health Assessment, the top issues of concern for surveyed residents were distracted driving (44%), access to public transportation (43%), affordable housing options (38%), access to affordable healthcare (36%), and substance abuse (31%). In what ways should the City be working to move the needle on these issues and how can the mayor and board of aldermen support these efforts? (FINAL – Grain Valley (jcph.org))
 
Distracted driving and substance abuse are concerns that the Police Department can help identify ways we can support.  We are fortunate to have a new Police Chief who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience.  He is also connected with a lot of organizations in Missouri that could help with these two issues.  Access to Public Transportation is going to be a hard one for Grain Valley to address effectively based on our location from bus routes serving the city.  We have, however, had great success with OATS transportation for our seniors.   From home ownership to the cost of rentals, the cost of affordable housing is a significant concern. This is a difficult balance to create because we want to be able to offer affordable housing, but at the same time we want to make sure that our mixture of single family and multi-family housing is an adequate ratio.  Hopefully the cost of living will come back down, and the cost of housing will lower along with it.  In Grain Valley we do not have a lot of places where residents can access doctors.  There have been conversations about possible Urgent Care Clinics, which could help residents access affordable healthcare more locally. However, this is not something that is currently happening.
 
 
The City is scheduled to complete construction on a new police station this spring which addressed facility needs for the department after a failed vote on a community campus in June 2020. What is your vision for City Hall and the Community Center now that the police station project is nearing completion?
 
City hall and the community center need to be looked at separately:
City Hall needs some help.  The hope has been that once PD is relocated that city hall could be remodeled to work.  I’m not an engineer or architect so I’m not sure what that would look like or what the cost would be.  We have to look at it and see what makes sense with the cost associated with the construction. It is not as easy as just moving people over to the PD side of city hall because evidence rooms, booking rooms. and jail cells don’t translate to offices easily without a lot of work and expense.

Every city survey we conduct has recreational activities towards the top.  Most of those activities are ones associated with a Community Center.  Right now, our Community Center/Pool is not addressing the wants and needs of our community.  Moving forward, we need to establish a focus group to look at options we can consider.  By no means am I proposing a new Community Center to the extent of what was voted on in 2020.  I consistently get questions about adding things like pickle ball courts and adding to our popular senior activities.  we are currently at capacity with many of our activities.  We need to have a cross section of our community look at what could be done and then give the Board of Alderman some options to look consider.
 
 
Board of Aldermen candidates:
 
Ward I: Chuck Johnston

Please tell us about yourself (work background, volunteer service, elected positions held, etc.
I have served one term as Mayor, five or six terms as Alderman. Approximately ten years on the Grain Valley Lions Club holding every officer position. Served over ten years as Treasure of the Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce. Served six years on the Board of Directors for State Bank of Missouri. I was named the Grain Valley Citizen of the year in 2008 and Pillar of the Community in 2008.The thing I love the most and enjoyed the most though is for the last twenty-eight years I have owned and operated the Grain Valley Santa Bus. I will stack the hours I have donated to this town against anyone since I have been a part of this community.
 
As you visit with constituents in your ward, what are their top concerns? How do you propose to work with the board to address these concerns?
The main concerns have remained the same the entire thirty-six years I've been a part of Grain Valley, roads, sidewalks and curbs, high taxes, and wasted spending. My main focus again will be spending on road Maintenace and all infrastructure. When I ran for mayor i had promised the same thing. In my term we increased proposed spending for road Maintenace from $1,050,000 to just over $3.3 Millon over the three years I was able to affect the city's budget. I was also supported and with the help of the citizens of this town got approval for the new Police Station soon to be completed. This is a major step forward in improving the capabilities of our Police Department that should last us for many years to come. In turn this freed up space at the current City Hall that again should eliminate the need for replacement well into the future saving the citizens money and helping the tax burden. I have always been a frugal person in both the spending of my finances and those that I represent. In the 2020 election I was instrumental in having the proposed sixty plus million dollars City Hall Complex being voted down. This was something that wasn't necessary could and has been mostly resolved at much lower cost to the taxpayers.
 
What do you believe are the three most important issues the City should be focused on in the next five years and how would you support these efforts?
This was pretty much addressed in my comment to the previous question. I will say that I have and will always be true to my proposed promises and will do my best to carry through on those promises.
 
In the recently released Jackson County Public Health Community Health Assessment, the top issues of concern for surveyed residents were distracted driving (44%), access to public transportation (43%), affordable housing options (38%), access to affordable healthcare (36%), and substance abuse (31%). In what ways should the City be working to move the needle on these issues and how can the mayor and board of aldermen support these efforts? (FINAL - Grain Valley (jcph.org))
These are all difficult issues to address in a town our size I will support and seek funding for all issues that affect the majority of citizens and not spend on things the aimed at a select few.
 
The city is scheduled to complete construction on a new police station this spring which addressed facility needs for the department after a failed vote on a community campus in June 2020. What is your vision for City Hall and the Community Center now that the police station project is nearing completion?
Again, these issues were addressed in my response to question #2 with the exception of the community center. I completely support all the efforts that have been done in the past to meet the growing needs of the community. I know we're still in need of an expanded community center and I fully support that if it's done in a cost effective and affordable means. But I want to make sure it addresses the actual needs of the community not someone's pipe dreams.  
 

Ward I: Kyle Sole

Please tell us about yourself (work background, volunteer service, elected positions held, etc.
I’m Kyle Sole, a 34 year old father of one son, Husband to my beautiful wife, USAF Veteran, former Law Enforcement Officer, and now I work at the Nation Security Campus. After serving six years in the Air Force, I was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant. My job was a Pavements and Heavy Equipment Operator. Basically, I was responsible for building and maintaining Airfields, as well as roads, sidewalks, curbs, utilities and any other horizontal construction on military bases. I am very thankful for everyone who has served in the military. Being born and raised in this area, I am extremely proud and grateful for the experience I received while in Iraq, South Korea, Hawaii (Joint-Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam AB) and Las Vegas (Nellis AFB). After serving our Country, I decided my next mission was to serve our community. I went to the Police Academy and shortly after graduating, I was hired by the City of Grain Valley for six years. During that time, I fell in love with this community and I am proud to call it home. I’m proud to have my son in our schools, and grateful to have family and friends throughout this city.  I am honored to have the opportunity to possibly serve our community again.
 
 
As you visit with constituents in your ward, what are their top concerns? How do you propose to work with the board to address these concerns?
As I have contacted various neighbors within Ward 1, the topic that has been brought up the most is the maintenance of roads and curbs. This issue is very important to me and as a member of the board of Alderman I would be welcome to come together with Public Works, other board members, and our residents to identify the most critical areas of pavement needing repair. Whether it be from resident feedback, road inspections, or data analysis, it’s important to continue working together and ensuring the budget allocation for these items is correct. I have seen some streets and curbs that look absolutely awful, such as Hillside Court and want to make sure the residents on side streets are not forgotten. Having a background in repairing pavements, I want to ensure the repairs are not just done, but done correctly. It is more cost effective to repair something right the first time, rather than repeat the same ‘patch job’ every month.  
 
What do you believe are the three most important issues the City should be focused on in the next five years and how would you support these efforts?
 
1. Pavements (Roads, curbs, sidewalks), as previously stated, ensure the budget is correct and have open communication between the Board, maintenance crews, and residents. Open communications between board members who will be working together, and understanding the needs of each Ward is a must.
                
2. Retention at the Police Department. Our city had been a revolving door for great Police Officers and Grain Valley shouldn’t be a stepping stone for them to go to another agency. Recently, it appears the Police Department is on a better path that needs to have continued support from the members of the board. With that being said, former Mayor Charles “Chuck” Johnston, whom I am running against, has recently been involved with the law in a negative manor. Having plead guilty to Driving While Intoxicated- Alcohol in June of 2023, he was arrested again in September of 2023 for another DWI-alcohol charge. The Board of Alderman is held to a higher standard and I must question the ethics of Chucks Johnston’s decision to run for Alderman, especially when the Chief of Police serves as a direct report to the board. Our city needs to maintain a good relationship between the board members and the Police Department, without our Officers worrying of retaliation for conducting there jobs correctly. 
 
3. Taxes. I can confidently say the community as a whole is feeling the negative effects of this economy and the last thing we need is increase to our household budgets. In addition to those paid taxes, our tax dollars should not be making unnecessary purchases and not holding onto property that has no cost benefits.
                 
 
In the recently released Jackson County Public Health Community Health Assessment, the top issues of concern for surveyed residents were distracted driving (44%), access to public transportation (43%), affordable housing options (38%), access to affordable healthcare (36%), and substance abuse (31%). In what ways should the City be working to move the needle on these issues and how can the mayor and board of aldermen support these efforts? (FINAL - Grain Valley (jcph.org))
With a top issue of Distracted Driving being Identified at 44%, I am very aware of the dangers of this from my time as a Law Enforcement Officer. Recently, Missouri passed The Siddens Bening Hands Free Law. This bans drivers from using electronic communication devices for a broad range of activities while driving on roadways. The law became effective on August 28, 2023 and is a good step in the right direction, and we should encourage our local Police Department to educate drivers when they are contacted.  This topic can be addressed in many ways, but working with the High School and School Resource Officers, young divers could lead the way by building good driving habits as they learn to drive. We, as parents, also need to take accountability and not demonstrate these poor driving habits to our children. 
 
The topic of Access to Public Transportation 43% could be addressed by figuring out where in Jackson County this need is. If Grain Valley residents are needing this resource, the possibilities of route expansions and ride-share programs should be explored. 
 
Affordable housing option concerns are at 38%, I believe it is important for our city to maintain its value, higher standards, and keeping Grain Valley a desired place to live. With that being said, its no secret our taxes are HIGH, and I want to do what I can to prevent them from being any higher. 
 
The concern of Affordable Healthcare is understandably at 36%. As we all know, there’s nothing cheap about healthcare and there are many who can not afford it. I would encourage our city to explore options for those who are uninsured and/or low income by partnering with healthcare providers and supporting incentives for clinics who come to our city.
 
With substance abuse being at 31% concern in our County, we need to continue to help and support those who are effected. So many people are hurt by this and I encourage our City, and Board, to continue working with all first responders in getting our citizens the help they need. Whether it be a medical emergency, or someone who genuinely wants to spot abusing a substance and wants to attend a rehabilitation program. We need to ensure resources are provided to our first responders, schools, and any other persons in need to provide help. 
 
The city is scheduled to complete construction on a new police station this spring which addressed facility needs for the department after a failed vote on a community campus in June 2020. What is your vision for City Hall and the Community Center now that the police station project is nearing completion?
As we complete the new Police Station, I believe the city and board should explore cost of various projects for a new City Hall and the Community Center. These options could range from remodeling the current facilities, moving into a different existing building, or building new buildings. The real estate location of the current City Hall and Community Center could be of significant value in commercial use, which could potentially cover costs of the project. The most cost-effective long term solutions need to be explored.
 

Ward II: Rick Knox
 
Please tell us about yourself (work background, volunteer service, elected positions held, etc.)
I joined the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District in March 1971 as a volunteer. I continued as a volunteer until May 1st 1985 at which I became a career Firefighter with them. I spent the next 35 years with C.J.C. retiring May 1st. 2020 obtaining the rank of Assistant Chief, I retired 35 years to the day that I became a career employee. I'm am running for my third term as a Ward 2 Alderman. 

As you visit with constituents in your ward, what are their top concerns? How do you propose to work with the board to address these concerns?
As most know, I ride all over Ward 2 with my English Mastiff on his golf cart. There are three things I hear the most often. 

First, is our roads and drainage. The City put into place three years ago a program to bring our roads up to the standard they should be. This program is working, but it will take time to get all the roads done, the roads didn't get to the condition they are in overnight and they won't be repaired overnight.

Second, is our taxes. The City rolled back taxes last year only to have the tax payers saving wiped out by the County's large increase. The City is trying extremely hard to bring in business to help remove the tax burden from our citizens.

Third, the citizens in Ward 2 feel the City is spend to much time infringing on the home owners rights such as not allowing a storage box in the back yards and the push to stop home owners from parking vehicles such as boats and trailers in their back yards without spending their hard earned money on concrete pads. Most I have spoken to want no part of the City pushing this on them and feel that it should be up to the home owner associations to control what they want in their neighborhoods. For the record, I agree with this stance.
 
In the recently released Jackson County Public Health Community Health Assessment, the top issues of concern for surveyed residents were distracted driving (44%), access to public transportation (43%), affordable housing options (38%), access to affordable healthcare (36%), and substance abuse (31%). In what ways should the City be working to move the needle on these issues and how can the mayor and board of aldermen support these efforts? (FINAL - Grain Valley (jcph.org))

As far as distracted driving, I feel the only way to curb this is a higher consequence, higher fines, suspended licence and jail time. Weather it's running a red light (which I saw three times today alone) or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Distracted and impaired driving puts everyone at risk.

I'm not sure what the City can do at this time on the matter of public transit, affordable housing or affordable health insurance. 

Curbing substance abuse I believe starts at home. Parents need to be proactive with their children. Parents are the first line of defense on abuse. The school and Police programs can only do so much, parents need to get much more involved with it at home.
 
The city is scheduled to complete construction on a new police station this spring which addressed facility needs for the department after a failed vote on a community campus in June 2020. What is your vision for City Hall and the Community Center now that the police station project is nearing completion?
The new Police station is a much need improvement for our City, and dedicated Officers, something I worked and pushed very hard for. I would now like to see the City work on a plan for a new City Hall to be built in the future on the South property, along with that a park that rivals Armstrong Park minus the ball fields on the Southwest corner of the property giving citizen in the South a nice park with an adjacent Community center that ties into the trail system. 
 

Ward III: Ryan Skinner

Please tell us about yourself (work background, volunteer service, elected positions held, etc.)
My name is Ryan Skinner, and I currently hold the position of Ward 3 Alderman, having been elected in April of 2022. I've been happily married to my wife Laurel for five years, and together, we are proud parents to our wonderful daughter, Hayden, who is two and a half years old. In 2020, we built our home in Rosewood Hills. Over the past four years, we've experienced immense joy being part of the Ward 3 community. The warmth and kindness of our neighbors, coupled with the widespread support from the community, have made our time here truly special.

I grew up in the county just outside Grain Valley and attended school here until my graduation from GVHS in 2009. Following that, I pursued higher education at the University of Central Missouri, where I earned a degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science in 2012. After completing my studies, I made the decision to serve my community as a police officer.

Upon graduation, I was recruited by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department and relocated to Columbia, Missouri, where I served as a police officer for five years. I was a proud member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) lodge 100 and 50. Following my time in Columbia, I returned to the metro area, working as a police officer in Oak Grove for one year before transitioning into the private sector.

Currently, I am employed by an electrical manufacturing company headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, specializing in the production of utility metering equipment. As the Utility Manager, I frequently travel across the country, collaborating with various utilities. This role has afforded me the chance to appreciate the remarkable diversity and distinctiveness of our nation and its cities. With experience in both the public and private sectors, I have gained valuable insights into the challenges confronted by city staff, as well as the broad array of economic and social factors affecting our city.
 
I look forward to continuing to serve our community for another two years as one of your Alderman in Ward 3.
 
As you visit with constituents in your ward, what are their top concerns? How do you propose to work with the board to address these concerns?
As I engage with constituents, it's clear that their primary concern in Ward 3 is infrastructure and public safety. The rapid growth experienced north of Interstate 70 presents significant challenges for our city in keeping up with the demands on roadways, intersections, and the accompanying rise in crime. As expansion continues for the foreseeable future, infrastructure and public safety will remain top concerns in Ward 3.
 
Addressing public safety, there's a growing concern about crime spilling into our city from surrounding areas. To tackle this issue, we've implemented technological advancements within our police department to enhance crime prevention and response capabilities. This includes deploying license plate recognition systems, new computer software, establishing a data analysis position, and integrating other cutting-edge tools to bolster our law enforcement efforts.
 
Moreover, the appointment of Police Chief Ed Turner in the Spring of 2023 has provided strong leadership to spearhead proactive initiatives ensuring the safety of our community. Witnessing the transformation of our police department since my election in April of 2022 has been remarkable, and we're committed to continuing this progress. With the completion of our new police station in May, the overwhelming response to our police officer recruiting program, and the implementation of new technology, the future looks promising for public safety in Grain Valley.
 
When it comes to infrastructure, Mayor Todd's leadership has led to a significant surge in projects, particularly in roadway and sidewalk enhancements. We've partnered with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) to pursue a grant aimed at upgrading the Buckner Tarsney Rd and Duncan Rd intersection, a critical priority for Ward 3 in my assessment. Thanks to the unwavering commitment of the city and Mayor Todd, we're approaching the final stages of engineering design for the new intersection. Pending approval of the grant from MODOT, construction is poised to begin soon.
 
By directly confronting these infrastructure challenges, investing in cutting-edge technology for our police department, we aim to enhance public safety and infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of our growing community. I am dedicated to working closely with the board and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the concerns in Ward 3 are effectively addressed, and our constituents' voices are heard.
 
What do you believe are the three most important issues the City should be focused on in the next five years and how would you support these efforts?
 
Over the next five years, I believe the three most important issues we should be focused on are infrastructure, public safety, and employee retention and recruitment.

First and foremost, infrastructure remains a pressing concern like I mentioned in my previous comments. The maintenance and improvement of roadways, intersections, and sidewalks are vital for the city's continued growth and prosperity. As the population increases and urban areas expand, there is a growing demand for intersection improvements along with sidewalk and walking paths. Investing in infrastructure not only enhances the quality of life for residents but also supports future commercial and residential growth.

Secondly, ensuring public safety is paramount like I mentioned in my previous comments. As the city grows so will crime and it's essential to prioritize measures that protect the well-being of our citizens. We must continue to provide a level of service we are all accustomed to. This includes adequately equipping our officers, implementing community policing initiatives, and investing in crime prevention tools like technology. By fostering a safe and secure city, we can promote social cohesion and attract businesses and families looking for a desirable place to live and work.

Lastly, employee retention and recruitment are critical for maintaining a skilled and dedicated workforce. As the city grows and evolves, it's essential to retain experienced employees while also attracting new staff. This involves offering competitive salaries and benefits, providing professional development opportunities, and fostering a positive work culture. For example, I recently proposed a motion, which was successfully passed, to amend a resolution concerning workplace improvements. This amendment resulted in an increase in approved maternity and paternity leave for our employees to 6 weeks, a change that I believe is a fundamental benefit for our workforce. By prioritizing employee satisfaction and engagement, the city can enhance productivity, efficiency, and innovation across all sectors of city operations.
 
 
In the recently released Jackson County Public Health Community Health Assessment, the top issues of concern for surveyed residents were distracted driving (44%), access to public transportation (43%), affordable housing options (38%), access to affordable healthcare (36%), and substance abuse (31%). In what ways should the City be working to move the needle on these issues and how can the mayor and board of aldermen support these efforts? (FINAL - Grain Valley (jcph.org))

As a former law enforcement officer, I am keenly aware of the dangers associated with distracted driving and substance abuse, which are significant concerns for the residents of Jackson County. Both the state and our city have laws in place to address driving while intoxicated (DWI) and texting while driving, and I firmly believe in the importance of enforcing these laws and holding violators accountable.

I also believe that access to affordable healthcare is essential for the well-being of our residents. In the future, I would encourage the city and board to explore options for partnering with healthcare providers to establish free or reduced-cost clinics for physicals and dental care for those who are uninsured, underinsured, or have low income. I would advocate for the same accessibility to mammograms for women who also fall under those circumstances. Additionally, I would support incentives to attract medical providers to open clinics in Grain Valley, ensuring our citizens can access local healthcare instead of enduring long distances for treatment.

However, on a more personal note, I believe the Public Health Community Assessment shines a spotlight on another important issue: leadership and ethics. According to the state of Missouri, 28% of traffic deaths in the state are caused by drunk drivers, ranking it as the 11th-highest rate of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes in the nation. Unfortunately, our city is not immune to the dangers of drunk driving accidents.

Given these statistics and the painful reality, it deeply troubles me that former Mayor Chuck Johnston is seeking to run for office again (Alderman Ward 1), especially considering his recent arrest for DWI-Alcohol in September 2023. This arrest occurred less than a year after he was previously arrested for DWI-Alcohol in Grain Valley in September 2022 and convicted of the same charge in June 2023. Former Mayor Chuck Johnston is currently serving 2 years on probation for the previous DWI conviction, and violated the law yet again when he was arrested for DWI-Alcohol the second time just 6 months ago.

As public officials, we have a duty to uphold the laws that we are sworn to protect. It is unacceptable for anyone, especially someone in a position of leadership, to violate these laws while simultaneously expecting our law enforcement officers to enforce them. As a board member, we frequently vote to allocate funds for extra patrol to enforce DWI laws and various other law enforcement expenditures.

I question the ability of someone who is ethically and legally compromised to make decisions that could potentially place themselves in further legal trouble, such as a third DWI arrest. Ethically, there are serious concerns about the integrity and credibility of a candidate who has a history of disregarding laws related to impaired driving. This type of behavior undermines public trust and raises questions about their ability to effectively serve in a position of authority, for example, the Police Chief serves as a direct report to the Board of Alderman.

As elected officials, we must hold ourselves to the highest standards of conduct and lead by example in respecting and abiding by the laws of our community, especially when 43% of our citizens believe distracted driving is a top issue facing our community. I wholeheartedly agree with our citizens, and I urge all current Board Members and candidates for office to join me in respectfully asking Former Mayor Chuck Johnston to withdraw his candidacy for Alderman Ward 1.
 
The City is scheduled to complete construction on a new police station this spring which addressed facility needs for the department after a failed vote on a community campus in June 2020. What is your vision for City Hall and the Community Center now that the police station project is nearing completion?
My vision for City Hall and the Community Center is to extend the usability of our current building for at least another 5 years, if not longer. With the police department relocating, this creates space for expansion, while still accommodating the need to retain the existing jail for court nights. I am cautious about allocating excessive funds towards renovating the existing City Hall but am committed to ensuring it remains functional for the foreseeable future.
 
Looking ahead, I envision utilizing the city-owned property at Buckner Tarsney and Sni-A-Bar for a new City Hall and Community Center, complemented by a park and other public amenities. I supported the removal of the dilapidated house on this property to open it up for public use, mitigating safety and liability concerns associated with its deterioration.
 
Furthermore, I propose selling the current land where City Hall and the Community Center are situated for private development, maximizing its potential while generating revenue for the city. This strategic approach allows us to revitalize our municipal infrastructure, enhance public spaces, and foster economic growth in our community.