With just 23% of City of Grain Valley voters showing up at the polls, Chuck Johnston was elected Mayor, beating incumbent Michael Todd 48% to 39%. A third candidate, Jeff Craney, received  12% of the vote.
     Reached for comment following his win, Johnston struck a more conciliatory tone than communications made via social media throughout the campaign.
     “I would like to thank everyone that put their faith in me to serve as your Mayor. I will do my best to live up to your expectations,” Johnston said.
     “I don't take this job lightly. I know I have to develop a working relationship with the Board of Aldermen and City staff to achieve the goals I have set. I would also like to congratulate all the others that won their campaign. I look forward to working with all of you. I want to thank those that ran and didn't win for offering their services to the City by running for office. We need those that are willing to work for the betterment of the City, if this City is going to grow and prosper.”
     Voters soundly defeated Questions 1 and 2, which requested more than $38 million in bonds to develop a community campus on the former Sni-A-Bar Farms site. In Ward 1, incumbent Alderman Jayci Stratton ran unopposed and received 97.39% of the vote; Bob Headley also ran unopposed in Ward 3, winning 97.78% of the vote. Rick Knox was elected as Alderman in Ward 2, receiving 69.81% of the vote.
     Grain Valley Schools received strong support for its bond issue to add additional fine arts space at the high school. The question passed with 66.71% of the vote.
     In a statement, Dr. Marc Snow, Superintendent of Grain Valley Schools, thanked voters for their support and outlined construction projects to begin immediately.
     “Construction at the high school will begin within the next two weeks. There will be interruptions to the drive off Eagles Parkway this summer as crews relocate the main north/south drive towards the back of the school to make room for the addition. Also this summer, new parking will be added to the east side of the school to replace a staff parking area where the addition will be. Walls for the new instructional spaces should start to go in by September. Students will be walking the hallways of phase 5 in August 2021,” Snow said.
     Three incumbent school board members retained their seats. Jeff Coleman, Tisha Homfeld, and Jan Reding were each reelected, with first time candidate Jeff Wolff as a close contender.
     Voters next head to the polls on August 4th for a primary election. The deadline to register for the August election is July 8th.
 

​    Since the May 25th killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, protests have erupted in cities across the country. Mainly peaceful protests have been held in Kansas City over the past several days, but violence and property damage has erupted at times, forcing the Kansas City Police Department to declare the gatherings unlawful and institute curfews.
     Jackson County Executive Frank White urged protestors to work for change through peaceful means.
     “As members of our community come together to protest the tragic death of George Floyd and the undeniable injustices that men, women, and children of color still face in our country, I encourage them to do so loudly, passionately, and peacefully. We cannot allow the desires of a few, who are more interested in causing damage, to overshadow the vast majority who are demanding their voices be heard about legitimate and long-overdue reforms that are needed in our social and criminal justice systems. If allowed, their message will be lost and our community will suffer,” White said.
     “While it may be hard at times like this, we must all also remember our police officers put their lives on the line for us every single day. They have a tough job to do to maintain public safety and hold accountable those who break the law, including their own. As we move forward, law enforcement must work with the community, not against the community. It is the only way our community, our county, and our nation can truly begin to heal from a history of inequality.”
     Grain Valley Police Chief James Beale states he understands the hurt the protestors feel.
     “I would first like to extend my condolences to the Floyd family and everyone who has been affected by this tragic event. This incident is devastating and heartfelt around the world. This officer’s actions were wrong and he should be held accountable, along with any other officer on that scene with him that failed to protect Mr. Floyd. They are complicit in this incident. The aftermath of this crime is affecting many peoples lives. I understand peaceful protest, which I support one-hundred percent, but the looting, rioting, and egregious destruction of property are the action of opportunists who only have creating mayhem as their only agenda. Our country is hurting, and we want positive change desperately to remove inequality of our legal justice system and socioeconomic system. We need to hold our police chiefs accountable when they consistently allow officers with a history of Excessive Use of Force Complaints to continue being employed, and we need to assure that the right people are in office who are willing to make laws against inequality. I will use this phrase, ‘Hurt People, Hurt People’. When people hurt, they want others to feel their pain,” Beale said.
     Local students Dave Griffith, Shaley Harper, Emma Howell, and Sam Westlake felt compelled to attend the protest on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City on Saturday, May 30th.
     “I care about this protest because all lives can’t matter until black lives matter. This issue is very important to me because there are issues within our justice system that must be corrected,” Harper said.
     “I have been politically active for a few years now. However, this is about far more than just politics. This is a human rights issue. As a white American, I feel I hold a certain responsibility to stand in solidarity with the black community,” Howell said.
    
 

Jeff Craney, candidate for Mayor, did not respond to the questionnaire sent to candidates.
 

I have been married to Diana since 1981. We have two sons, 8 grandchildren, and 1 one great granddaughter. I served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps from 1967 to 1971.We built a home in Grain Valley in 2001 and have lived here ever since. I have worked at OOIDA since 1988; the first 25 years as manager of the insurance claims department. I retired in 2014, and within 7 months found out retirement wasn't something I was good at or really wanted to do. I went back to work at OOIDA in 2015 and still work there.
 
Background:
2006 Grain Valley Citizen of the Year
2008 Pillar of the Community, Grain Valley
24 Years operated the GV Santa Bus (My favorite activity)
10 years Alderman Ward II Grain Valley
1-year Mayor Pro Tem Grain Valley
6 Years Board of Directors State Bank of Missouri
15 Years Grain Valley Economic Development Council
10 years volunteered as cook for Night Out Against Crime Grain Valley
10 Years Board of Directors Grain Valley Assistance Council
7 Years Treasurer of Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce
10 Years held every officer position in the Grain Valley Lions Club
5 Years Board of Directors Grain Valley & Oak Grove Police Dept. Victims’ Rights Committee  
 
     I have taken an active role, as my history shows, in this city since I started working in Grain Valley. I care deeply about his community and want to see it prosper. I feel the city needs to take a different path on its past spending practices. We need to do more to repair streets, curbs and infrastructure that have been overlooked too long. We need to stop investing tax dollars in properties that don't directly benefit the city.
     I have a well-rounded background that I feel makes me the best candidate available to guide this city in those endeavors as your next Mayor. I'm asking for your support, the voters of Grain Valley, to help me get this city back on the right path. 
 
What do you believe is the role of Alderman/Mayor (as applicable for the position for which you are running) and why do you wish to serve your constituents in that role?
First and foremost, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen (BoA) are stewards of the City's funds. The Mayor must be willing and able to take on the responsibility of overseeing that those funds are put to the best interests of the city. This is done by reviewing all the specific needs of the city. Prioritizing those needs, with consideration of all the input one can get from the BoA, city staff, the public, outside sources retained by the city, or any other sources available to reach those decisions. The Mayor and BoA are also responsible for reviewing, revising and establishing the ordinances and resolutions that govern the city. The Mayor and Aldermen have very different roles. The Alderman set policy and directs the implementation with ordinances. The Mayor’s role is administrative. The Mayor must take the role as a leader of the BoA and City staff providing his input, when necessary, into all issues that come before the BoA and/or the City. Once decisions have been determined, the Mayor's obligation is to see they are carried out. The Mayor should develop and maintain relationships with outside sources such as the regional Mayors Conference, the Missouri Municipal League, and other organizations available designed to provide information and assistance to cities. I have always had a strong feeling that service to our community is needed, which I feel I have much to offer.
 
What is your personal vision for the community of Grain Valley in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? Where do you see Grain Valley growing in the future?
While I believe we have to plan for the future, we have to be realistic in our planning. The City of Grain Valley has been one of the fastest growing cities in the state over the last 20 to 25 years. I do think we will continue to grow and we need to guide that growth. I don't believe we will maintain the pace of growth we have seen in the past. We currently have a fantastic school system and that will always be a draw to both residential and commercial development. I would like to see more service and retail businesses brought into the city. Those would provide both more amenities to the citizens and help reduce the tax burden. We have to keep in mind businesses choose us we don't choose them. We can only make it more attractive for them to locate in Grain Valley. However, we are starting to run into boundary restrictions that either can't be changed or will require annexation.
 
What are your top 3 priorities in the next two years if you are elected/re-elected?
First, is what the residents keep stating in every survey that has been taken, which is concern about our crumbling roads. We need to put more focus on maintaining our roads and finding solutions. It is definitely our biggest problem and needs to be addressed now. Second, we need to find ways to reduce our tax levy. Our taxes are the biggest deterrent we have to keeping existing or attracting new businesses. It is just as much a deterrent to residents staying in Grain Valley. We need to allocate our current resources to where we get the most return from our investments. Third, we need to open up the lines of communication between the City and the residents. The City currently excels in getting out information on the Fair Days, Trail for Treats, and the Christmas Tree Lighting. Other areas of information sharing could be improved. While these events bring a sense of community, the cost to the City must be monitored closely. Through better communication citizens could be made aware of issues and all sides of the issues, the City is addressing that actually affects their lives. Equal efforts should be made to make it easier for citizens to see what is on the BoA Agenda/ Meetings, to inform and encourage their participation.
 
Do you support the proposed Community Campus project? If so, why? If not, why not, and what do you see as a viable alternative?
For a number of reasons, I do not support this issue! I think this entire project is overpriced, unnecessary, and beyond our current means. As promoted, this project goes without answers to questions critical to taking on the largest most expensive project in this City's history. This project has changed so much from what was originally presented to the citizens last November, it is hardly recognizable and those changes have gone with little explanation to the citizens. It was originally stated as preserving the history of the location. That has all been removed with the exception of a replica of a private water tower at the original location, The existing house will be torn down. One feature most seemed to want was a swimming pool that could be use by the high school swim team. That has been removed from the Phase I of the project. One of the problems the new recreation center was supposed to address was overcrowding at the current pool. With this project, we will be getting a similar size indoor pool and no outdoor pool. Financially, even though this $38.5M bond is promoted as a no new tax, yet it will extend our current debt load out another 20 years. This will greatly reduce our ability to lower taxes. That is just for Phase I. This Bond will max out our current debt level allowed by state statutes. Should there be a major emergency we won't have anything to fall back on, other than tax increases. It is projected to cost in excess of $20M to complete the additional phases with no idea of when or where that money will come from. Another issue, the cost the new Recreation Center is projected to be between $950,000 and $1,500,000 a year. To cover that cost it is projected the center will need 1,600 memberships ranging in price between $588 and $949 a year. There are currently 185 members paying a high of $390 a year. We would need roughly 1 out of every 3 families in Grain Valley to join at the projected fee to cover operational costs. If we don't reach that 1,600 the operating costs will have to be paid out of other City Revenue. That money comes from either reduced services or tax increases? This is already being done with the current smaller community center. Funds from the health and welfare tax and general revenue are funneled over to cover shortages in operational cost(s). With the new facility at four times the size, one would conclude considerably more would be needed to keep the doors open. There are problems with space at the current location that do need to be addressed. However, those can be resolved at the existing location at far more reasonable costs.
 
In the current social media climate, it is easy to detect the things that divide us as a community. What, in your opinion, are the things that unite the citizens and leaders of Grain Valley? Among the things that divide the community, how can you as a leader address these divisions?
I believe what brings us together as a community is everyone's willingness to help others, everyone giving to others in times of need, pride in our city, pride in our schools and school system, the dedication and devotion of our city workers and our Police Department, and everyone's overall love for the City. As far as the things that divide us, there are as many of those as there are different personalities within the city. An open, honest and complete sharing of information would go a long way. You can only look at those differences and decide which can be addressed. In a perfect world they all could be resolved. But we don't live in a perfect world. Every situation needs to be addressed on its own merit and with its own answers. I believe strongly communication is the key. Very few things resolve by themselves. Faced head-on and discussed with everyone’s opinion being heard completely before a making a decision.
 

I'm a lifelong resident of Grain Valley. I grew up here, went to school K-12 here, and now am raising my family here. My wife Tosha and I have three kids. My two step-sons Noah and Jonah graduated from Grain Valley High School. My daughter Harper just finished 4th grade at Stony Point Elementary. For the last 20 years I have been a special education teacher and am currently a teacher in Blue Springs. I have served as Mayor for the last 10 years and was an Alderman for 6 years before that for Ward 2.
 
What do you believe is the role of Alderman/Mayor (as applicable for the position for which you are running) and why do you wish to serve your constituents in that role?
The Mayor is a non voting member of the Board of Aldermen unless there is a tie, which has occurred less than a handful of times the last 10 years. I see the role of Mayor as the point person for the Board. It's my job to relay information to the Board and to the citizens. This has been extremely important during the COIVD 19 pandemic as we have been releasing weekly videos and making sure everyone is up to date on everything going on especially with the rapid changes. The Mayor works closely with City staff to make sure the wishes and direction of the Board of Aldermen are carried out. It's also important for the Mayor to be accessible to the citizens to answer questions and to help with concerns they may have from a code issue to an issue that might need Police attention.
 
What is your personal vision for the community of Grain Valley in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? Where do you see Grain Valley growing in the future?
Ultimately I see Grain Valley being a community around the size of 25,000 people. That may be 15 years from now, 20 years from now, or further out. It's hard to say. I want the residents of Grain Valley to not have to venture to other cities to get the things they need. I think we have come a long way in this area, but can go a lot further also. Along with that I want us to stay one of the Safest Cities inf Missouri by investing in our Police Department. I also know with all of the growth it is hard to keep that "Small Town Feel", but we can do that by continuing to grow and improve upon on Community Events like Trail or Treat, Holiday Festival, Night Out Against Crime, Community Development Event, and the Grain Valley Fair. Myself, elected officials, and City staff love to interact with our citizens at these events and its things like these that will continue to make Grain Valley the special and great place it is.
 
What are your top 3 priorities in the next two years if you are elected/re-elected?
1.) We need to add more police officers to the streets. Right now, for example, if there is a disturbance call, depending on the severity it could tie up most if not all of our officers. We need to make sure we have ample officers on the streets to handle the calls, plus still be able to have them on patrol. We were recently recognized as the 3rd safest city in Missouri based on FBI Crime Data and I want to make sure we stay that way. 2.) The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that everyone could be better prepared for emergencies. For that reason, I want to put together an advisory board of citizens and business owners so we can be better prepared for emergencies like this. We have a lot of knowledge in this community and we need to use it. It is important that we are able to keep everyone safe, but at the same time also make sure that we are limiting the impact on small businesses. 3.) I want to work in partnership with local businesses and citizens to turn the remainder of the Nichols Building into a Senior/Youth Center. I want to be able to offer lunches to seniors a couple days a week along with activities they can participate in. Then in the evenings after school I want to transition it to a youth center with activities for our youth. I also envision us having tutoring there for kids as well along with some mentor ships for kids we identify as possibly being At-Risk.
 
Do you support the proposed Community Campus project? If so, why? If not, why not, and what do you see as a viable alternative?
I do support the Community Campus. I realize that in today's climate of COVID-19 that it might not be for everyone and really its not a great time for it to be on the ballot. The truth is we have to do something to ease overcrowding we have at City Hall and the Police Station. We also have safety precautions we need to take to make the Police Station a better working environment for our officers. I personally don't believe the current Community Center meets the needs of most of our citizens as well. We are a growing community and with that comes the need for more recreation opportunities. I realize that not everyone would use a new Community Center and that they might not use it now, but our current facility is undersized, does not have adequate work out space, cannot offer child care during fitness classes, and has a pool that is only open fourth of the year. Ultimately it is up for the the citizens to decide and if they choose to not support this plan, that is totally fine. No matter what happens though we will have to do something in the near future.
 
In the current social media climate, it is easy to detect the things that divide us as a community. What, in your opinion, are the things that unite the citizens and leaders of Grain Valley? Among the things that divide the community, how can you as a leader address these divisions?
For me I think we have taken steps to try and lessen those things that divide us. You will notice that elected officials and City staff don't respond to things on non city social media pages. The reason for that is not to ignore citizens or to try and not be transparent. The purpose is to avoid the long back and forth conversations that divide us. I try to keep citizens up to date by posts on my page and we try to do the same on the City pages as well. We will respond to questions when asked with truthful answers. I think my record demonstrates that I do my best to avoid the conflicts and try to be as positive as I can at all times. As for the things that unite us, I think they are everywhere and just get overlooked. Our school district is great and I think 99.9% would agree. When we have a City event I see smiles everywhere and no one complaining. That is why it’s these types of things we have to make sure we continue to grow and add onto because those are what keep our "Small Town Feel" and keep us the great community we are.
 

Born in Los Angeles. Raised near Columbus, Ohio. Moved here to Missouri to 2003 for work. I finished my Master's degree in Computer Science in 2011. My job requires me to solve problems. In the programming realm, we have to approach solving those problems objectively. While I have no official education in politics, I feel my education and experience allows me to provide a unique, yet fresh, perspective in help guiding our city towards continued growth.
 
What do you believe is the role of Alderman/Mayor (as applicable for the position for which you are running) and why do you wish to serve your constituents in that role?
To represent the best interests of our city. As I type this, there's also the responsibility to try and guide the current Mayor to meet those objectives. I've owned property here for over a decade; I'm tired of being complacent in how our city is being managed.
 
What is your personal vision for the community of Grain Valley in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? Where do you see Grain Valley growing in the future?
I find this an interesting question. Asking this of any incumbent or candidate, none of us are prophets. No one can predict the future. All we can do is take current matters at hand and try some forward thinking with the future in mind.
 
What are your top 3 priorities in the next two years if you are elected/re-elected?
#1 Education #2 Commerce #3 Community
 
Do you support the proposed Community Campus project? If so, why? If not, why not, and what do you see as a viable alternative?
I don't believe we are there yet. The current population doesn't merit this large an investment. We would be using all our bonds on this one item. What happens when we have a legit issue. How would we cover this if our bonds are spent.
 
In the current social media climate, it is easy to detect the things that divide us as a community. What, in your opinion, are the things that unite the citizens and leaders of Grain Valley? Among the things that divide the community, how can you as a leader address these divisions?
Social media allows everyone an opportunity to speak their minds, anonymously. While sad that people need to hide their perceptions on how our city is run, it does provide them a medium to express themselves. I can't write them off.
 

I have lived in Grain Valley since July 1980. I retired May 1st after 49 years with Central Jackson County Fire. 35 years of my career were as an Assistant Chief. I'm widowed from my wife of 44 years and now share my life with Tank, my English Mastiff, and Pugs, my Persian cat.
 
What do you believe is the role of Alderman/Mayor (as applicable for the position for which you are running) and why do you wish to serve your constituents in that role?
I believe first and foremost, the job of any elected official is to be good stewards of the tax payers money. This is done by working with the other council members to layout a plan and give guidance to the City Manager. It is the role of the City Council to give guidance as to the path they wish it to take the City. It's then the City Managers job to take the city there, not, the other way around.
 
What is your personal vision for the community of Grain Valley in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? Where do you see Grain Valley growing in the future?
First, I would like to see a controlled growth. One that brings in a tax base as well as housing. We as a City must grow our commercial base to survive. This is needed so as not to place the burden solely, or mainly on the property owners. But, we need the correct growth at the correct time.
 
What are your top 3 priorities in the next two years if you are elected/re-elected?
First, making sure our Police department has the staffing and proper equipment to allow our Officers to preform their jobs at the highest standards. This would include, but not be limited to a new police station, or remodeling one of the current buildings now owned by the city. Second, getting the City out of the real estate buying business. This will allow the City reserves to remain in a higher state for unexpected expenditures. It would also stop taking real estate off the tax rolls. Third, bring the City streets up to standards.
 
Do you support the proposed Community Campus project? If so, why? If not, why not, and what do you see as a viable alternative?
No, I do not. First, there is no such thing as a no tax increase bond. While you may not see your taxes rise on the yearly statement, is does in fact increase the tax one pays by lengthening out the payments. So more taxes are paid. Even before the pandemic, I stated I was against it. I do not believe that the City should max out it's bonding capacity. Now in these uncertain times, I believe it would be a big mistake. I believe the City should have a list of needed items, and a list of wanted items to spend tax monies on. There is a large difference. I also feel, if, the YMCA wishes to come to our city, that they, the YMCA buy the property, build and run the pool and leave the City and it's tax payers out of it. While I believe the city needs either a new Police station, or a City hall. I do not believe that both are needed at this time. I feel we should look at building one, and remodeling the current City Hall/Police station for use as the other. It's also my feeling we have plenty of room at the current location to build. The City also has the building on Gregg, that with little work, could be utilized for the codes department or water department, lessening the overcrowding that is currently being felt at City Hall.
 
In the current social media climate, it is easy to detect the things that divide us as a community. What, in your opinion, are the things that unite the citizens and leaders of Grain Valley? Among the things that divide the community, how can you as a leader address these divisions?
I believe that social media is a good tool to understand the climate of the City. I feel that the one major divide between the City and its taxpayers is spending. It's my belief that City officials must be upfront and open. Full transparency. I also believe that City officials need to listen to what the tax paper is saying. I would work at opening the lines of communications between City officials and the taxpayers.
 

     As residents begin to slowly resume daily activities with the gradual lifting of restrictions on businesses and gathering places, many are looking forward to the opportunity to resume attending church in person. The stay-at-home order forced many congregations to further embrace online platforms, reaching out to parishioners through Facebook, YouTube, Zoom, and other services. But both local pastors and church members are growing weary of meeting virtually.
     Following often heated discussions, Jackson County amended the Phase One executive order on May 13th to allow gyms, fitness centers, and places of worship to open with occupancy limits. Places of worship are also now allowed to open with the same occupancy limits as nonessential businesses. Jackson County Health Department continues to encourage the use of drive-in and online services whenever possible, especially for high risk populations.
     Faith United Methodist Church in Grain Valley plans to continue to online-only worship through the end of May. Pastor Mike Cassidy explained his congregation is following guidelines from both the County and the Missouri UMC.
     “This has been a difficult decision because we do miss meeting together and have some members of our community who are unable to access the internet.  Also, May 31st is Pentecost, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church. It will be hard not to be together on that day, but we trust that we are making the best decision for the health and safety of our congregation and our neighbors,” Cassidy said.
     “When we do return to worship, we are looking at coming back in phases.  We've already set the chairs in our sanctuary 6 feet apart to get a feel for what it might be like. We've got plenty of hand sanitizer and disinfectant ready to go.  Most likely, our first phase will only include worship in smaller numbers without Sunday school or nursery care.”
    “One of the biggest long term changes for us will be the continuation of online worship. This has been something we've been working toward at Faith and the shutdown really sped that process up for us.  We've been reaching new people and even bringing back some families who had drifted away.  We are committed to continuing this online community even after we return to life in the sanctuary.  It is well known that churches see an increase in attendance and giving when they add online worship opportunities, and this has certainly proved true for Faith,” Cassidy said.
     Crossroads Church in Grain Valley resumed in-person services last Sunday and will continue again this Sunday, abiding by the social distancing and sanitization protocols as well as limiting building capacity. The church will only hold one service, with no nursery, preschool, or children’s ministry programming. Attendees are asked to RSVP for church service so the church may maximize seating and accommodate guests. RSVPs may be made at the following link: https://crossroadsgv.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/425319
Live streaming of services will continue on Facebook and YouTube.
     First Baptist Church Grain Valley will meet online this Sunday, but resume in-person services on May, 31st. The church has been utilitizing Facebook Live and their website, www.grainvalleyfirst.com to share online services, but Pastor Wayne Geiger said he and his congregation are looking forward to the day when they can worship together in person.
     “The notes and messages that we are getting from our folks are that people have appreciated our approach and are enjoying the online broadcasts but are really looking forward to meeting again in person when the storm is over,” Geiger said.
     Valley Community Church meets at Sni-A-Bar Elementary and have finalized plans with Grain Valley Schools to resume services this Sunday with 25% capacity.
     We will ask families not to arrive early, but to enter just before service time (10:00am) and go directly to the auditorium as a family. Families will sit together at a distance from other families for a shortened, family style worship service,” Valley Community Church Pastor Jason Williams said.
     “We will not have any kids ministries in operation for the foreseeable future. Several other suggestions for safety will be implemented as well.”
     “The last several weeks have been challenging and difficult for us, but our people have done a tremendous job of following the advice of our leaders.  Our most vulnerable will be staying home but many will be in attendance for much needed fellowship together,” William said.
     Church attendance is not the only factor affected by the shut-down. Youth, community programs, and ministry work has been impacted during this time, but not always negatively.
     “Throughout the shutdown, a lot of our programming has been either suspended or seriously pulled back.  Our children's and youth ministry have been hosting gatherings through Zoom, but we are definitely feeling Zoom fatigue at this point and it is not at all the same as sharing the same physical space.  Some of our small groups are also taking advantage of Zoom.  Our taekwondo, cardio class, and music groups have had to take a hiatus and we are still unsure when they will be able to resume.  A bright spot has been that we've been able to continue our relationship with the school system to pack and deliver backpack snacks to elementary students in Grain Valley.  This is a joint effort between the local churches, Bright Futures, and Grain Valley Assistance Council. We've seen an increase in support from the community for this project since the outbreak.  One family in the church stepped up to pack 100 bags each week while wearing masks and gloves to help minimize contact and possible spread of disease,” Cassidy said.
     “During the stay-at-home orders, most of our Groups, KidzMin classes for Elementary and Preschool, our Middle/High School Ministry and our Sunday Services have all offered Zoom or Livestream venues to continue to participate. We really enjoyed some wonderful things about this season of ‘The Great Pause’ - getting to do a lot of ministry in some really new ways was a challenge that stretched many of us and grew our church family,” Jones said.
     “During this time, our deacons, program leaders, and small groups leaders have continued to stay in touch with members. We have also provided online, downloadable content for families with children and youth and have done targeted Facebook Live and Zoom connections with them. We also have Zoom courses that have been happening during the week for men and women,” Geiger said.
     The ability of churches to continue to fund operations and ministries was certainly a concern, but the shutdown has created some positive results.
     “Our giving was down slightly initially, but as our people realized how long it was going to last, began giving online and we saw very little change. I'm thankful that our people are so generous! It allows us to continue to be a blessing as a church to our community and to many different ministries around the world,” Williams said.
     “Not having people at the church has been odd and saddening, and all of us are craving the opportunity to worship and fellowship together. However, God has continued to bless us as a church. We have not cut back on any of our missions giving and this time of not being able to get together has not affected our overall budget,” Geiger said.  
     “We certainly lived out, through this period, that the church is not a building.  Since our very beginning, we've always taught the value that we don't go to church...we are the church,” Jones said.
     “Financially, our offerings have never been better.  Not only have we continued to meet budget consistently, but our offerings have also increased over the first quarter.  Not only that, but we've raised several thousand dollars in special offerings for people groups suffering in our city and around our world.”
     “All in all - it's not the same, but we believe that God is in constant care for and absolute rule over all His creation, for His glory and the good of His people.   This pandemic didn't catch Him by surprise or off His game.  He's teaching us and strengthening us through these trials for the work that He's prepared for us to do,” Jones said.
 

     COVID-19 has impacted nearly every community in the United States, but none quite as much as New York. According to the New York Times, as of May 13th, New York State has 345,828 total cases and 27,450 deaths. It is hard to get a sense of what this actually feels like on the ground, but one Grain Valley woman saw the impact of this disease up close.
     Audrey Anderson, a wife and mother of four, left her home in Grain Valley on April 9th to drive with fellow emergency medical technicians (EMT) from Kansas City to New York to support their brothers and sisters in New York City.
     After several weeks of service in New York, Anderson returned home to quarantine at a campsite in Odessa for fourteen days, finally able to reunite with her family on Mother’s Day. Anderson’s experience in New York has given her a new respect for her colleagues on the ground in New York City and the virus that continues its grip around the world.
     Anderson graduated from the UMKC School of Medicine EMT program in December 2018 and has been a licensed EMT for nearly two years. Anderson recently began work with Midwest Medical, a transport company based in Nebraska with a station located in Kansas City. As COVID-19 began to spread throughout the country, Anderson’s boss asked if she would be willing to be deployed, as she was one of the few on staff with the Hazmat and FEMA certifications needed to go.
     “With no clue of where I would be deployed, what exactly I would be doing, and how long I would be gone, I said ‘yes’ without hesitation. One thing everyone needs to understand is that EMS workers get very little pay, work long hours and work in extremely difficult, emotional and dangerous conditions. We do this job because that is where our heart is. We all know these things when we signed up to risk our lives for others each day. This situation was no different. In my mind my brothers and sisters in EMS afar needed our help and I needed to be there for them,” Anderson said.
     “I knew leaving my family would be taking a huge risk, but we made the decision together as a family. So when I got the call back in April that said I was being deployed to New York City and need to have my bags packed and be at the station in less than four hours, I quickly packed my things and hugged my family goodbye. The thought of going to New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic was a scary thought, and I would be lying to say I didn’t panic and almost turn around a few times and head back home. The one thought that kept going thought my head was my EMS family needs help, so I cannot let them down.”
     Anderson left April 9th from Midwest Medical’s Kansas City station with a caravan of ambulances that took 36 hours to travel to New York. The caravan stopped in Lincoln, Omaha, Des Moines, and Cleveland to pick up trucks and crew along the way. A total of 15 ambulances and 30 crew members reported to the Bronx Zoo where their deployment staging area was located.
     “From there we met up with the other 500 EMS volunteers that had flooded in from across the country. Standing there at that moment and seeing all the others that left their families to come help was such an emotional and humbling experience,” Anderson said.
     The group was divided into two groups. The majority were assigned to interfacility transfers (IFT calls).  The remaining, including Anderson, were assigned to Fort Totten, a former army base in Queens, to run 911 calls throughout the five boroughs in the city.
     “To us, it felt like we had won the lottery. That may sound crazy to say in this situation, but the opportunity to run 911 calls along side FDNY, the most highly regarded EMS service in the country, maybe even the world, was truly a blessing. We were all split up into task forces and assigned to a specific borough. My task force was assigned to run calls in the central Bronx. We were required to be up and out of our hotel to catch the shuttle to the base by 8:00am and would not return to our hotel until 1:00am. Most nights we would be lucky just to get 4-5 hours of sleep.”  
     “Trying to decompress at the end of a long physically and emotionally draining shift was hard, especially if you still needed to do your laundry before you had to get up and do it all over again. I felt like a robot.”
     “The majority of calls we ran were COVID-19 positive or suspected COVID-19 patients. The others were your normal EDP (emotionally disturbed person), panic attacks, gunshot, stabbings, etc. The biggest heart break was that every 10-15 minutes, a call would come out over the radio for a cardiac or respiratory failure in progress. 90% of those calls were COVID-19 patients, and by the time we arrived is was too late or the all too often ‘well check calls’ that ended in COVID-19 patients being DOA (dead on arrival).”
     “There were buildings completely ravaged by positive COVID-19 patients because they all share the same elevators and stairwells and struggled with the lack of PPE (personal protective equipment) to protect themselves.”
     “Most still had to get up every day and go to work to provide for their families. They didn’t have the same luxury most of us do to stay put and wait it out. So many times, we were called out to a residence where most, if not all the family members were positive for COVID-19. One household of 7 already had 4 members of the family that had succumbed to the virus and the looks on their faces of pure terror each time we were called out will haunt my mind forever. They knew they had the virus and would most likely have the same fate as the others. I didn’t know what to do or say to make them feel better. It was incredibly sad. I spent many nights in my truck in between calls or in my hotel room crying for those who were suffering.”
     The severity of the virus and its ability to impact patients of all ages was a constant reminder while on calls.
     “This virus is no joke. I have seen firsthand what it can and will do if we do not take it seriously. It is not just the older generation or the people with pre-existing conditions that are being affected. I took countless patients to the hospital that were the perfect example of health and fitness. I saw a 12 year-old girl, the same age as my daughter, die from this virus who was a normal, healthy middle schooler just weeks before,” Anderson said.
     The memories of these calls and the sights and sounds in the hospitals are still vivid for Anderson.
     “The noises you hear as you would walk in the emergency department of each hospital. The sound a heart monitor makes when someone is flatlining and losing their life was constant. You would hear multiple going off at the same time and see the hospital staff and EMS frantically doing CPR. The faces of all of us after each call that we couldn’t save someone was devastating. We felt defeated and empty, but all we could do was clean ourselves, our cots, and our trucks, and then off to the next call we went.”
     “I hope those that read this article will stop complaining about being stuck inside and their inconvenienced social life, and stay at home, heed the warnings, and enjoy your family. Realize how blessed you are to wake up each day, because so many of the patients I transported did not have the same luck.”
     Back home, Anderson is grateful for the support of her family and friends during her deployment and quarantine. 
     “My family and friends are truly amazing. The love and support that was shown while I was deployed, in quarantine, and now while at home is truly heartfelt and humbling. I received many care packages while in New York City, and had many family and friends stop by my campsite in Odessa with food, booze, and goodies to keep me occupied and sane while I was there for 14 days. The calls and texts I received is what kept my spirits high and kept me going.”
     Anderson’s quarantine ended on Mother’s Day, and a friend who owns Chef J BBQ in the West Bottoms prepared a meal for her return.
     “Needless to say, it was the best and most memorable Mother’s Day ever.”
     Anderson continues to think of her work family in New York City and remembers their support fondly.
     “The love and support shown to us by FDNY was amazing. From the moment we got there, until the moment we left, they treated us like family. They fed us and welcomed us into their stations with open arms. They gave us shirts and patches and friendships I will forever cherish. We laughed together and cried together. Also, the mutual aid from across the country became family and I still stay in touch with them now that I am home.”
     “It’s much easier to talk about what happened with those that were out there fighting this pandemic with us than put those images in our family and friends’ minds. It was hard enough for us to handle, let alone telling others about it,” Anderson said.
      A lesson many of us know but do not often take to heart was solidified for Anderson during this experience.
     “Don’t take the ones you love for granted, for tomorrow is never promised.”
 
 
 
 
 

     A parade for graduating Grain Valley High School seniors will be held Sunday, 
May 17th at 4:00pm. Line-up for participants begins at 2:30pm. Participants should enter and check-in at the west entrance of Sni-A-Bar Elementary, 701 SW Eagles Parkway.
     The parade route will begin at Grain Valley High School, head east on SW Eagles Pkwy, north on Main Street, west on Walnut, and south on EE Kirby back to the high school.
     The public is encouraged to attend and cheer on the graduates. Please keep social distancing recommendations in mind at all times.
 

​Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. today is announcing phase one guidelines of the Jackson County Recovery Plan, which is planned to begin on May 11 in alignment with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/KCK and Johnson County, KS.
 
The Jackson County Health Department, under the leadership of Director Bridgette Shaffer, MPH, has prepared the phased-approach recovery plan that is focused on protecting the health and safety of residents, while beginning a safe and sensible path to economic recovery for all of Jackson County.
 
“Families, workers and businesses have made difficult sacrifices, but their cooperation has made it possible for us to develop a path to move forward,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said.

​“Far too many lives have been lost to this virus and we remain committed to protecting public health as we reopen slowly and safely. I appreciate the input and support of our communities during this unprecedented and deadly pandemic. The road ahead will have its challenges, but I am confident that if we stick together, we can overcome any obstacles that lie ahead.”
 
Under phase one, all businesses deemed essential during the county’s stay-at-home order will be allowed to remain open. In addition, most retail stores, personal service providers, restaurants and bars selling food will be allowed to reopen for business provided they follow the social-distancing guidelines and capacity limitations provided. Gatherings, of up to 10 people, will be allowed to resume, but social-distancing guidelines must be followed. In addition, certain businesses and activities including entertainment venues, gyms/fitness centers, and outdoor playgrounds shall remain closed.
 
The County strongly recommends that all residents continue social-distancing protocols, specifically, encouraging seniors and vulnerable populations to stay at home, working remotely if possible, and wearing a mask or face covering when in public.
 
“Every individual has a personal responsibility to stay safe and protect themselves, their neighbors, employees and customers. When we stop taking this virus seriously, we will be right back where we started or worse,” said Jackson County Health Department Director Bridgette Shaffer, MPH. “Social distancing has proven to be effective in our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and we urge people to follow our guidance, knowing that their actions will determine how we progress through this recovery process.”
 
A public survey issued by Jackson County on Friday, May 1 has so far, resulted in more than 9,000 responses and that feedback has been instrumental in the development of the County’s phase one plan. Additionally, here are some of the comments survey respondents shared when asked what steps they would like to see the County take to help them feel safe:

• “Open in phases, require face mask, ensure that health care workers and first responders have adequate PPE.”
• “Allow us to make our own decisions. Stop mandating stay at homes and business closures”
• “No there is nothing you can do except keep everything closed please.”
• “Encourage those who don't feel safe to stay home, but we need to open our businesses.”
• “Enforcement of social distancing, mask wearing & reducing maximum capacity”
• “Robust contract tracing and tracking, readily available testing for all citizens.”
• “No more then 25% capacity for at least one month if not two”
• “Do not open too quickly. As a healthcare provider it is upsetting that we are quickly opening that there will be a surge in cases.”
• “Would like to see closures again if we start to see an increase in positive cases again. I’d prefer to not reopen until we have significant and steady decline in cases.”
• “Monitor compliance and provide education in social media and signage.”

 
The survey will remain available until noon Friday, May 8. Individuals can go to www.jacksongov.org to take the survey. Additionally, the attached QR Code can be scanned on smart devices for easy mobile access.  The County will share the final results of the survey on its website and social media platforms after it is concluded.
 
Jackson County’s Recovery Plan can be found online by visiting www.jacksongov.org and www.jacohd.org. Residents and businesses with questions should call (816) 404-9883 or email COVID19@tmcmed.org.

     Prior to the American Revolution against Great Britain, Benjamin Franklin served as the first Postmaster General of the United States under the British Crown. Franklin’s career in the postal service came from unpretentious beginnings when he was appointed Philadelphia Postmaster in 1737. Franklin used his position to increase the circulation of his newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, by allowing riders to carry it to subscribers.
     Eastern Jackson County resident Jim Grohman has risen through the ranks of the United States Postal Service as well. Grohman’s 33 years of service has progressed from starting as a night clerk, before becoming a window clerk, then carrier before ascending to postmaster. Grohman was 24 years old when he started his journey.
     Grohman will have served as Grain Valley Postmaster just shy of eight years when he retires on April 30. Watching Grain Valley grow while seeing the community stay connected is something that has been a joy for Grohman.
     “Grain Valley is a nice place to live. It’s a quieter community with pride,” Grohman said.
     While away from his job, Grohman enjoys spending time with his family and playing Christian Rock music. Grohman is active playing in a faith based band and has written over 50 songs. This type of release has helped him achieve a good work-life balance.
     Even three decades into his chosen career, Grohman still finds things he enjoys about his work.
     “Helping people get their mail where it needs to go is rewarding. Knowing that you had part in accepting, sorting, or delivering a piece of mail that’s merchandise, a letter, or a package touches a lot of lives,” Grohman said.
     “I can’t imagine how much mail I’ve moved over the years. Millions of pieces of mail. My satisfaction has come from sorting mail into post office boxes, or as a carrier delivering mail to its final place. There’s a sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with that work.”
     Grohman continued, “That’s our job. Caring about the sanctity of mail and protecting it in getting it where it needs to go. Knowing you’re a part of an organization that dates to our colonial days in binding the nation together through correspondence is cool.”
     The weight of being a postmaster for a community is not without stress.  A postmaster serves as the head of an individual post office. Their duties include providing unit financial and delivery information to district post offices. Depending on the size of the post office and possible staff shortages, they may also jump in and sort mail, run the retail counter or deliver mail per the USPS website.
     “There’s a lot of expectations when you become a postmaster. It’s a position that’s recognized in communities as a leadership position that carries a lot of responsibility. When you accept that title, it makes you want to do a good job,” Grohman said.
     Grohman is thankful for the career he has had with the USPS, citing it has been a good job for a long time. Advice was also offered when asked what he would suggest for someone interested in a postal career.
     “There are a lot of different opportunities in the postal service. Window clerk, mechanics for automated equipment, delivery trucks, carrier, etc. Expect long hours, and starting out is rough, but it gets better with opportunities for advancement. Give it a shot. Go to usps.com and scroll down to the career link at the bottom of the page,” Grohman said.
     “City Carrier Assistants is the modern name for those that deliver mail. There’s major preparation in getting a route ready to deliver. You arrange packages after the route is prepared, scan them, and organize point of sequence mail.”
     Grohman concluded, “Approximately 90% of delivery point of sequence mail is sitting in trays in the order it is to be delivered that day as well as residual mail that you have to case. Packing the presorted mail, with residual letters or magazines, newspapers, and packages comes next. Some drivers have three to four bundles to deliver.”
     “You don’t know where you are going exactly when you start or where to park. It can be easy to get lost on rural routes. As you train, you also need to make the route in a certain amount of time while practicing safety at all times.”
     There were numerous people who contacted Grain Valley News requesting we do a story highlighting Jim Grohman’s service to the community. They all mentioned being grateful to know someone who cared about their job as much as Jim.
 

     Grain Valley’s Board of Aldermen continue to conduct business during the stay at home order, utilizing video conferencing to meet virtually. The Board met April 27th via video conference. Recognizing the steps all governmental and business organizations are taking to continue business as close to normal, Alderman Bob Headley asked City Administrator Ken Murphy how City staff are managing during this time.
      “I think everyone is kind of settling into the groove. It’s not ideal, but we’re making do,” Murphy said.
     The Board approved a resolution authorizing the City Administrator to execute an agreement with Blue Nile Contractors, Inc. for the Dillingham water main and trail. The resolution allows for the construction of a water main loop serving the Rosewood Hills area and extend the existing trail on Dillingham Road from Persimmon Drive to Lindenwood Drive and connect existing trail segments completing this section to the northern city limits.
     Additionally, the Board approved a resolution authorizing the city administrator to purchase equipment and materials for the installation of a fixed base meter reading system and computer software for the system. City staff currently drives the routes in town to collect the meter reads or physically reads the meters on site. The new system will be installed on current infrastructure and or sites to collect reads when needed for utility billing and customers.
     Community Development Director Mark Trosen also reported City staff has completed the replacement of 400 meters this year.
     In other business, Mayor Todd read aloud a letter of resignation from former City Administrator Ryan Hunt. As previously reported, the letter was a part of a settlement agreement between Hunt and the City, which stipulates that Hunt’s employment record be amended to reflect Hunt voluntarily resigned from the position and was not terminated by the City, stating he is eligible for re-employment.
     Todd also reported a memorandum of understanding had been completed with City Administrator Ken Murphy, who had been serving as Interim City Administrator after Hunt’s departure. The Mayor requested the Board ratify the memorandum, which outlines the terms of Murphy’s employment. The Board unanimously voted to ratify the memorandum.
     Todd also mentioned the upcoming bond issue for the proposed Community Campus on the June 2nd ballot, stating that there will be no active push to promote the issue.
     “The timing could not be worse with everything going on. We will provide updated information on website, but you won’t see us actively out and pushing the bond issue,” Todd said.
     While the true impact of the pandemic on City budgets is not yet known, Todd mentioned that Grain Valley seems better positioned than other local municipalities, due to Grain Valley’s lack of retail compared to other cities.
     “This is one time not being reliant on sales tax is a plus,” Todd said.
     The next Board of Aldermen meeting will be held virtually on Monday, May 11th at 7:00pm.
 

     Ken Murphy has been named City Administrator for the City of Grain Valley, a position he has held on an interim basis since former City Administrator Ryan Hunt’s departure last fall. Additionally, Theresa Osenbaugh has been named Deputy City Administrator after serving in an interim role for the same period.
     The Board of Aldermen authorized Mayor Michael Todd during the March 9th Board of Aldermen meeting to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Murphy.
     “They gave me parameters as to what they were okay with. This is different than what we have done in the past because in the past we had contracts with our City Administrators. This is like what we do with most employees when we hire them in and we negotiate a salary.  So Ken does not have a contract and the MOU lays out his salary and his requirement to move to Grain Valley,” Todd said.  
     “Since the Board authorized me to negotiate the MOU and we were within the parameters, we came to the agreement and removed the interim title.”
     The Board will vote to ratify the MOU at a future board meeting. The process has been delayed due to meeting cancellations caused by the COVID-19 related stay at home orders.
     Osenbaugh was promoted by Murphy to Deputy City Administrator, removing the “interim” title once he was appointed City Administrator. Osenbaugh’s position is not a board appointed position.  
     “I can tell you that she has really been an asset to the City since she came on as City Clerk and she has taken on a lot as she has moved up,” Todd said.
     An outside search for candidates was not conducted for both positions. Mayor Todd noted the cost of such a search and the background and qualifications of Murphy and Osenbaugh as primary reasons behind the decision not to open the positions to other candidates.
     “Those searches run north of $20,000, and Ken has been with the City for a number of years in several positions. He has shined in every position he has been in and the Board has always been very happy with his job performance.  He has a Master’s degree in City Planning and we felt that we didn’t need to spend the money to look outside the organization when we knew we had someone inside that was more than qualified,” Todd said.  
     “I’ve worked for the City in some capacity for almost fourteen years and I’ve enjoyed being a part of the growth that we’ve seen. I am extremely grateful and humbled that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen have shown the faith in me to name me the next City Administrator.  A City Administrator is only successful if they have a great staff around them and I think we have a great staff that will guide us into the future,” Murphy said.
     One of Murphy’s immediate challenges will be guiding the City through the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and related stay at home orders.
     “As far as COVID-19 and its effect on the economy and our budget, it is very early, and we won’t know the full effect for some time. We are limiting spending on any non-essential purchases to make sure we are in as good of a place as possible.  We have our finance team and financial advisors monitoring the economic climate as well as our revenue sources. With our fiscal year being the calendar year we aren’t faced with the challenge some other communities are in trying to forecast revenues for a new fiscal year at this point,” Murphy said.