Leawood residents urge sidewalks on Lee Boulevard and question TRUN contract

Residents used the March 2 public‑comment period to press the Leawood governing body for safer pedestrian infrastructure on Lee Boulevard and to raise concerns about the city's contract with facilities manager TRUN.

Ron Vine told the council he reviewed the city's contract with TRUN and estimated, based on his calculations and a comparison to a Cape Coral, Florida contract, that Leawood will "be overpaying TRUN more than $1.2 million over the next 10 years," saying the city's contract triggers an incentive bonus starting at $1.8 million in revenues and that incentive terms differ from the Cape Coral arrangement. Vine framed his remarks as an appeal for the city to reexamine the contract or pursue a new RFP.

Two residents asked the council to prioritize sidewalks on the east side of Lee Boulevard. Sarah Herz Woo said the recent speed limit reduction on Lee has made traffic noticeably slower and asked the Leawood Police to continue enforcement; she asked the council to pursue sidewalks north of 103rd so schoolchildren could walk safely to bus stops. Lauren Deville said she supports a residential sidewalk between 103rd and 95th streets, described near misses she and her children have experienced while crossing Lee Boulevard, and cited a recent fatal accident in the area as evidence of the risk.

Both speakers called sidewalks a safety investment that improves access to schools, parks and neighborhood amenities. City staff did not announce funding sources or a timeline during the public‑comment responses; the council thanked speakers and moved on to the evening's agenda.