Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State bill to loosen 1933 restriction on Excelsior Springs mineral waters moves rapidly through legislature, local rep. says
Summary
Representative Myra told the Excelsior Springs City Council that a bill to allow limited public funding or activity related to the city’s mineral waters was filed and advanced quickly through committee, and she said supporters expect further progress at the state level.
Representative Myra, the state lawmaker who has sponsored legislation affecting Excelsior Springs’ mineral waters, updated the City Council on March 17 about a bill filed this legislative session that would remove long-standing restrictions on municipal action related to the city’s mineral waters.
Myra said the measure was filed in the final days of the filing period and “got to committee in less than 2 weeks. God smiled on us,” noting local advocates and staff helped draft and push the text. She told the council that testimony in committee went well and that the bill received positive attention from the committee chair, who indicated he would recommend passage out of committee.
Why it matters: council members and staff have said a 1933 restriction limited the city’s ability to use public funds for anything associated with the mineral waters. Mayor Spahn told the council the new language would “allow us some freedom” to undertake activities that were previously barred under the older language.
Details reported at the meeting: Myra said the bill began as a short text and was filed just before the deadline; local supporters including Curtis Gregory and Dennis Hartman helped bring the matter forward. She said a local advocate, Stacey Macy, provided in-person testimony to committee members, and that the bill won favorable committee attention fast enough to be placed on an executive (out-of-committee) recommendation. Myra said she would continue to keep city staff and the mayor informed as the measure advances.
Council context and next steps: Mayor Spahn and city staff said they appreciate the work by local advocates and the state delegation. Myra told the council she will continue to update city officials as the bill proceeds through the House. The council did not take a formal municipal vote on the measure; the presentation was informational.
Quotes from the meeting: "This has got to committee in less than 2 weeks. God smiled on us," Representative Myra said, describing the bill's rapid movement. "The restrictive language in this bill from 1933 prevented us from using any public funds whatsoever to do anything associated with the mineral waters. So this allows us some freedom," Mayor Spahn said.
What was not decided: the council heard no indication at the meeting that the city has yet allocated funds or made specific project decisions contingent on the bill's passage. Myra and council members said they will continue updates as the legislation proceeds at the state level.
