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by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met on Monday, April 22nd for their second regular meeting in the month of April. This meeting included acknowledging the certified results of the previous election, a recognition for Alderman Ward, oaths of office for elected officials, and six new resolutions. The board discussed the ordinance regarding peace disturbance related to construction projects. Alderman Skinner made a motion to include verbiage in the code to make it clear that this ordinance is for permitted work. The motion was passed and the verbiage will be added. The board then passed an ordinance acknowledging the results of the election held on April 2, 2024. Following the ordinance, the board recognized Alderman Arnold for his service as Ward I Alderman. The board then moved into oaths of office for elected officials. Four elected officials, Mayor Mike Todd, Ward I Alderman Kyle Sole, Ward II Alderman Rick Knox, and Ward III Alderman Ryan Skinner, took the oath of office at the meeting. The board then moved to resolutions. Six resolutions were passed by the board at this meeting. The first resolution allows the city to make a payment to Vance Brothers Inc. for work done on Argo Road. Vance Brothers provided surface treatment and pavement markings on Argo Road under the Jackson County 2024 pavement maintenance program. The second resolution allows the city to execute an agreement with Valbridge Property Advisors for easement appraisals and acquisition on the Front Street project. The Front Street project is a continuation of the downtown improvement effort. This agreement allows Valbridge to go out and negotiate on the city’s behalf to acquire easements for this project. The third resolution allows the city to enter into a contract with Midwest Pool Management for lifeguard services at the Grain Valley Aquatic Center. The city has been using Midwest Pool Management since 2009 to get the Aquatic Center up and running for the year as well as for lifeguard services. The next resolution allows the city to enter into an agreement with Utility Service Company Inc. to provide maintenance for city owned water tanks and towers. This maintenance allows the city to continue providing safe and clean water. The fifth resolution allows the city to purchase four 2024 Dodge Durangos for use by the police department. This adds to the two that were purchased a couple months ago. The last resolution allows the city to sign an agreement with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office to provide detention service for people arrested by the police department. This allows the city to send prisoners to the Johnson County Missouri Sheriff’s Detention Unit. Previously, Grain Valley sent prisoners to Ray County. Police Chief Ed Turner announced the ribbon cutting for the new police department will be held on May 8, at 4 pm. For the mayor’s report, Mayor Todd discussed a proposition brought forth by Blue Springs with the board. Todd said that Blue Springs is looking to relieve some of the truck traffic off Adams Dairy, and they were looking at putting an interchange at Tyer Road. Todd said that he was discussing it with the board to see if they were at all interested in this project. Todd indicated he did not have interest in the project. The board was not interested in the project at this time. The next Board of Aldermen meeting will take place at City Hall on May 13th at 6:30pm.
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Grain Valley Parks and Recreation is thrilled to announce the much-anticipated ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newest addition to Armstrong Park (713 Main Street, Grain Valley, MO 64029), "Kiki's Playground." The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 20th, starting at 10 a.m. "Kiki's Playground" is named in loving memory of Kiki Claphan, a beloved former parks employee whose passion for creating safe and enjoyable spaces for children left an indelible mark on the Grain Valley community. "She played Mrs. Claus and did Storytime with Mrs. Claus for years. She also coordinated many of the Mini Munchkins and Preschool Players programs, but she also was our concessions supervisor. So, a lot of the high school students in Grain Valley who worked concessions reported to her. She knew a lot of the youth in the parks program, and she was a paraprofessional at Grain Valley Schools. When she passed away in 2020, we were in the process of securing funding and planning for an all-inclusive playground to replace the aging equipment at Armstrong Park. We thought what better way to remember Kiki than to name the playground after her," Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Davies said. “This project was funded in part from a grant award through the Federal Land, Water and Conservation Fund and is something both the Grain Valley Parks & Recreation Department and Park Board have been working towards and identifying funding for over the last several years,” Davies. “This is the first All-Inclusive playground in our park system. We are excited to offer the community a play space for children of all abilities in one of our most heavily used parks.” The grant covers approximately a quarter of the $445,000 project cost. Delays in funding at the federal level pushed the project back approximately a year, but the playground is now open for an all-inclusive play experience. Davies explained a bit about what it means to be an all inclusive play space. "We try to make sure that at least 50% of all play components are able to be used by kids of all abilities. That has to do with not just ADA access from the parking lot to the playground, but also making sure the surface material is accessible. A lot of the transfer stations or platforms are in place so that children of all abilities can access them, but we also have some more challenging elements for all kids to explore," Davies said. While the playground itself is now open and already a popular play spot, two elements will be unveiled at the ribbon cutting on the 20th. An arch with "Kiki's Playground" lettering will be installed by the 20th, along with a plaque honoring Claphan. Kiki's Playground, the first inclusive playground in the Grain Valley parks system, will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting on April 20th. The playground is now open for visitors. Photo credit: City of Grain Valley
by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met Monday, April 8th, approving fireworks permits, three new resolutions, and taking action on one item under ordinances. Two groups submitted applications for fireworks permits: the Grain Valley Band Parents Association and the Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce FBO Grain Valley Boy Scouts. Both groups had all necessary paperwork and the board approved their applications. Next, the board moved into resolutions. The first resolution the board approved allows the city to execute an agreement with All Pro Asphalt & Maintenance to provide an edge mill and asphalt overlay to streets as previously planned. The second approved resolution allows the city to execute an agreement with Quality Custom Concepts for this year’s concrete replacement and paving program. This will allow the city to replace damaged curbs and sidewalks, update ADA ramps, and create new sidewalks. Finally, the Board approved a resolution for the Midwest Public Risk 2024-2025 plan elections and rates for employee health, dental, and vision benefits. This allows the city to offer health, dental, and vision insurance coverage to city employees and their families. Following resolutions, the board considered an ordinance to amend the city code regarding to public safety as well as peace disturbance in relation to construction. The practice in the city has long been that permitted construction is allowed from 7 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, except with permission to work later in the evening or on weekends. City Administrator Ken Murphy said that previously there had not been an ordinance that backs up this practice and this is aimed at officially putting it in writing through the city code. The main spirit of this ordinance, Murphy explained, is to reduce instances of peace disturbance in residential areas by commercial construction projects. It is not meant to hinder residents from home improvement projects which may not even require a permit. The first read of the bill was approved. The lone nay vote on the approval was Alderman Arnold, who made a motion to postpone the second reading of the ordinance, which ultimately failed. Arnold cited public trust as his reasoning for wishing to postpone. He said that introducing and passing the ordinance in one night with some questions still surrounding it may come off as shady to some constituents and he would have liked to clarify some of the points in the ordinance. Following the failed motion to postpone, the ordinance was brought back for its second reading by title only. After brief discussion from Alderman Arnold, the board officially approved the ordinance by a vote of 4-2. The board then heard a report from Parks and Recreation Director, Shannon Davies. In Davies’ report, he said that the new all-inclusive playground is now open to the public and the department has set the date for the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony as Saturday, April 20th at 10 am. The next Board of Aldermen meeting will be held at 6:30pm on Monday, April 22nd at City Hall. With 100% of precincts reporting, Mayor Michael Todd won re-election, defeating Dale Arnold with 58.92% of the vote. Reached for comment, Mayor Todd said, "I want to thank all the residents who have placed their faith in me for another two years. We have some great things coming with expansions of sidewalks, trails, road improvements, and improvements to our parks that I’m excited to continue to work with city staff on." In the only contested alderman race, first-time candidate Kyle Sole defeated former mayor Chuck Johnston in Ward I with 55.81% of the vote. Rick Knox in Ward 2 and Ryan Skinner in Ward 3 won their uncontested seats. Voters also overwhelmingly passed the proposed school board levy (Question 1) which will be used to increase teacher and staff pay in the district. The measure passed with 58.86% of the vote. Reached for comment, Grain Valley Schools Superintendent Brad Welle shared the following statement: "We wish to thank our school community for supporting our schools, teachers, and staff with the passage of the levy ballot measure. Our people tell us they love working here and this vote reinforces why - because this community is willing to do hard things to keep our schools the best they can be. We see the challenges many in our community face to keep up with increased costs and we do not take your support for granted. We will continue to be good stewards of our financial resources. I wish to thank our school board for setting the tone for our district. Under the Board’s leadership, our focus is on attracting and retaining a high-quality workforce. We also appreciate the efforts of parents and other community volunteers who stepped forward to get the word out about the importance of this ballot measure. Improved pay for our teachers and staff will take effect with the start of the new budget year on July 1." Incumbent Jared English was re-elected to another term on the Grain Valley school board, while first-time candidate Aaron Scully won the second open seat, defeating incumbent candidate Eddie Saffell and first-time candidate Paul Trusler. Unofficial results: Jackson County Election Board (9:50pm 4/2/2024)
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. 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. by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met on Monday, March 11 for a lengthy meeting consisting of a proclamation, six new resolutions, and three ordinances. Mayor Mike Todd read a proclamation officially making the month of March Arts in Our Schools Month. The first resolution the board discussed was over the updated employee handbook. There are three sections where updates have been made. The updates come from human resources, department heads, and the Workplace Improvement Committee. Following discussion of this resolution, Alderman Skinner made a motion to amend maternity/paternity leave to six weeks and family leave to four weeks. The motion for the amendment passed, as did the resolution as a whole. The next resolution the board passed was allocate $14,333 from the city’s emergency management contribution to the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District. This was passed unanimously. Next up, the board passed a resolution allowing the city to purchase patrol rifles from Sionics Weapons Systems. Police Chief Ed Turner said that currently the department uses surplus weapons from a government agency that are pretty aged and this would give the department a much-needed update. Next, the board passed a resolution to establish the need to amend the 2024 budget to allocate funds from the park reserve funds to design and engineer the SW Eagles Parkway trail. Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Davies said that originally the department had allocated $55,000 for the project but they have since changed engineering firms and the cost is now $78,225. The next resolution the board passed allows the city to execute a contract with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, Inc. for the design and engineering of the SW Eagles Parkway trail. This was passed unanimously. The final resolution the board passed allows the city to sign a tow agreement with Hookers Tow LLC. This agreement will provide towing service for the police department and will run from March 12, 2024 to March 12, 2027. This resolution was passed by a vote of 4-2. Following resolutions, the board moved into ordinances. The first bill the board passed was the second reading of a bill amending the sections of city code regarding Board of Aldermen meeting procedures. With the passage of this bill, Board of Aldermen meeting times will be moved to 6:30pm and the board would have the ability to discuss if they want to cancel or reschedule a meeting that is scheduled to occur on a holiday. The next bill the board passed was the second reading of a bill to amend the sections of city code regarding alcohol-related traffic offenses to include regulations for operating motor vehicles without an ignition interlock device. This was passed unanimously. The final bill the board discussed came from earlier in the meeting where the board passed a resolution establishing the need to amend the 2024 budget to allocate funding from the park reserve fund for the design and engineering of the SW Eagles Parkway trail. This bill officially allows the city to allocate these funds. The first read of this bill was approved and it was brought back for its second read by title only and was passed unanimously. Mayor Todd discussed the new playground project at Armstrong Park. Todd asked Davies if the Parks and Recreation Department had an idea of when the project would be completed. Davies said that much of the project relies on weather and vendor availability, but they are currently looking at April for a completion date and are also making plans for a ribbon cutting ceremony. The next Board of Aldermen meeting will take place at City Hall on March 25th at 6:30pm. by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met on Monday, February 26, for their second meeting in the month of February. This meeting included a presentation from Grain Valley Schools Superintendent, Dr. Brad Welle, over the district’s tax levy ballot measure, one new resolution, and two ordinances. Welle said that the district is asking for a 25-cent increase to the overall tax levy in order to improve pay for teachers and staff, as well as positions such as a new school resource officer and paraprofessionals. Welle explained that in the ballot language, voters will see that they are voting on whether or not to increase the districts’ operating levy by 65-cents. He said that the district is in a position currently where it can decrease its debt service levy by 40-cents in order to get to that 25-cent total increase. One of the main reasons, Welle explained, the district is asking for this levy increase is due to a drop in applicant numbers. He said that applicants for teaching positions across all subjects are half of where they were just four years ago. The impact of this new levy on a household with a home worth $250,000 would be about $119 per year. Even with this increase, Welle said that Grain Valley would still have one of the three lowest school tax levy rates in Jackson County. After Dr. Welle’s presentation, the board moved onto resolutions. This resolution allows the city to engage with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly Inc. to design intersection improvements at Eagles Parkway and Kirby Road. Some improvements would include adding turn lanes at the intersection and new trail/sidewalk construction. This resolution was approved. Next, the board moved to ordinances. The first bill was the second reading of a bill to amend city code in order to update the Board of Aldermen meeting procedures. Alderman Arnold noted a provision in the bill that would automatically cancel meetings that fall on observed holidays and made a motion to postpone any action on the bill until the board gets more information regarding how many meetings this would affect and the protocol regarding that. Alderman Arnold’s motion was approved and action on this bill was postponed until the next meeting. The second and final bill discussed was the first read of a bill that would amend the city code in order to include vehicles without ignition interlock devices in the city’s alcohol-related traffic offenses. Chief Turner said that the state recognizes this practice and other local agencies already participate in it as well, this would be mirroring their practices. The board passed the first read and it will be brought back for its second read at the next meeting. The board then moved into city staff reports. First, Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Davies, gave an update on construction at Armstrong Park. The work on the all-inclusive playground has started and is ongoing. The new playground will be named “Kiki’s Playground” in memory of Christina “Kiki” Claphan, who worked for the parks department for over ten years and Grain Valley Schools for nearly ten years before passing away unexpectedly in February of 2020. The next Board of Aldermen meeting will be held at 7:00pm on March 11 in City Hall. by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met on Monday, February 12, for their first meeting in February. The meeting included a proclamation, three new resolutions, and the first reading of one ordinance. To start the meeting, Mayor Mike Todd read a proclamation declaring February 11-17 National FBLA Week in the City of Grain Valley to honor the Grain Valley High School’s Future Business Leaders of America program. Following the proclamation, the board moved into resolutions. The board approved the first resolution, adopting the updated social media policy. This is the first update to the social media policy since 2018. The main changes include when the city can remove social media comments, such as those posted by bots or that include profanity. The board approved the second resolution, allowing the purchase of eight security cameras to be placed in Monkey Mountain Park. City Administrator Ken Murphy said that these cameras will be a major improvement compared to the troublesome nature of the old cameras currently in the park. The board also approved the last resolution, allowing the city to enter into a contract with the company Flock to install automatic license plate readers within the city. After resolutions, the board heard the first reading of one ordinance. The bill would amend the city code surrounding meeting procedures. These amendments would include changing the regular meeting time for Board of Aldermen meetings from 7 pm to 6:30 pm, and adding language to allow for virtual meetings, should one be necessary. Concerns around this bill were brought up by Jan Brill in the public comment section of the meeting. Brill stated that moving the meeting time up may give off the impression that the board is trying to hide something and does not want the public to be involved in its meetings. The first reading was passed by the board and will be brought back for its second read at the next meeting. In the mayor’s report, Todd noted his meeting with downtown businesses about plans for First Friday’s this summer. Todd said that they are going to be getting information put together to present to the board in the near future. Following the mayor’s report, the board adjourned into executive session. The next board meeting for the month of February will be held at 7:00pm on Monday, February 26th at City Hall. Grain Valley Parks and Recreation is hosting a Mad Science Spring Break program March 18-21 from 10:00am - 12:00pm at the Grain Valley Community Center. During this 4 day course for students in Kindergarten - 6th grade, students will participate in a wide range of safe and engaging hands-on activities led by an instructor with a flair for science. The cost for the program is $120 per participant.
Daily sessions will cover content from 8 different topics: Harnessing Heat, Lights Color Action, Magnetic Magic (ICW& ASP), Mission Nutrition, Optical Illusions, Sonic Sounds, Tantalizing Taste and Watts-Up. See program flyer for content details: 2024 Spring Break Science (cityofgrainvalley.org) To register, visit Youth Programs - City of Grain Valley, Missouri. |
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