Excelsior Springs council approves equipment purchases, zoning changes, tax abatement and utility surcharge in full meeting vote

At its Dec. 16 meeting the Excelsior Springs City Council approved a slate of resolutions and ordinances covering equipment purchases, zoning updates, labor contracts and a utility surcharge intended to shore up the general fund.

Key approvals included:

• Resolution 1539 — Appointment of Dan Carter to the Public Safety Sales Tax Oversight Committee to fill an unexpired term (approved; mover and second recorded; unanimous roll call).

• Resolution 1540 — Purchase of one John Deere compact track loader through Heritage Tractor for $35,500 after trade-in; Parks & Rec board had approved the request; resolution approved.

• Resolution 1541 — Letter of agreement with American Youth Soccer Organization to operate the "Tigers in Training" program and coach clinics for volunteer coaches; resolution approved.

• Resolution 1542 — Purchase of three LifePak 35 cardiac monitors totaling $122,966.19; $90,000 grant and trade-in funding reduce city share to approximately $32,009.66 to be paid from ARPA funds; resolution approved.

• Resolution 1543 — Construction of a retaining wall in the police parking lot at an estimated $53,615 paid from ARPA funds; resolution approved.

• Ordinance 24-12-04 and Ordinance 24-12-05 — Zoning and animals-and-fowl code amendments to clarify the definition of 'agriculture,' change the acreage threshold back to five acres, and correct a missing 150-foot reference related to backyard chickens; both ordinances were taken to second reading and approved.

• Ordinance 24-12-06 — Chapter 353 tax abatement for 205 South Kansas City Avenue (owners Pete and Veronica Meeks) for property improvements totaling $65,819.39 (10 years at 100% plus an extra five years at 50% for restoration of wooden siding); public hearing opened and closed with no public speakers; ordinance approved.

• Ordinance 24-12-07 — Collective bargaining agreement with International Association of Fire Fighters Local 42 with changes to pay and overtime calculations and a 14% Appendix B pay-scale change; ordinance approved.

• Ordinance 24-12-08 — Amendments to the personnel manual to align overtime provisions for 24-hour shift employees; ordinance approved.

• Ordinance 24-12-09 — Fiscal year 2025 budget amendment to implement the compensation changes; ordinance approved.

• Ordinance 24-12-10 — Water utility revenue surcharge increase from 2.5% to 4% (the city noted it could legally seek up to 6%); council debated the expected $70,000 additional annual revenue (roughly $16 per customer per year) and the measure passed with one recorded No vote from Mayor Pro Tem Spear.

Finance Director Yvonne DeFoy presented the November 2024 revenue report for audit; the report required no council action. City manager Molly McGovern announced a rescheduled planning/design charrette (Feb. 18–19) and other project updates. The council adjourned at the close of the meeting.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Res. 1539 — approved (unanimous) - Res. 1540 — approved (unanimous) - Res. 1541 — approved (unanimous) - Res. 1542 — approved (unanimous) - Res. 1543 — approved (unanimous) - Ord. 24-12-04 — approved (unanimous) - Ord. 24-12-05 — approved (unanimous) - Ord. 24-12-06 — approved (unanimous) - Ord. 24-12-07 — approved (unanimous) - Ord. 24-12-08 — approved (unanimous) - Ord. 24-12-09 — approved (unanimous) - Ord. 24-12-10 — approved (4–1; Mayor Pro Tem Spear recorded No)

The council recorded multiple roll-call votes; staff and council indicated follow-up on implementation details where needed, including monitoring of ARPA-funded projects and the Republic Services addendum for trash service.