Point of View

"August is ripening grain in the fields blowing hot and sunny, the scent of tree-ripened peaches, of hot buttered sweet corn on the cob." Jean Hersey,writer, gardener (John Richard Hersey was a writer and journalist who was one of the first western journalists to cover the events in Hiroshima after the atom bomb explosion on 6th August 1945. He decided to write about the aftermath of the explosion & selected six survivors whose experiences he chronicled in an issue of the ‘New Yorker’. As a journalist he was greatly respected for his writing style and is considered one of the earliest journalists to practice ‘New Journalism’—the usage of unconventional literary techniques in journalism.)

CCPHC recommends > age 12+ get vaccinated; No masks/social distancing if vaccinated.

Tuesday, 10:30-11:30 AM - Free Blood Pressure Check @ESCC; 4:30PM - Municipal Court

Wednesday, 7AM - Noon - Farmer's Market @ ESCC

Thursday, 10AM - Housing Authority

• Community Center's Farmer's Market is planning to add evening hours & food trucks beginning September 1st;
• Deadline for setting property tax rates has changed to September 30 due to the change with Clay County government; assessed valuation increased by 9.4%, cost-of-living is 1.4%; tax rates will be decreased to keep revenues from increasing more than cost-of-living

• MARC offers a Recognition Program as an incentive for your city to become a Community for All Ages. This program recognizes communities that have taken steps to become more welcoming to residents of all ages &, in the process, more vibrant, healthy & prosperous. A community can earn one of three levels of recognition representing the extent of its work in becoming a Community for All Ages: Bronze (Awareness), Silver (Assessment) or Gold (Implementation). Recognition for each level requires a community to complete a set of tasks. Excelsior Springs has achieved the Bronze & Silver levels & is ready to apply for the Gold Level.

• Celebrating Work Anniversaries this week: Community Center Building Monitor Debra Einerson - 2 years; Parks/Rec Recreation Program Supervisor Lillian Mawby, Lifeguard Jadin Assel, & Child Watch Attendant Sydney Shepard - 1 year.
• Our Fire Department is certified to provide CPR & AED training.
• August is National Water Quality Month. The largest use of household water is to flush the toilet, followed by taking showers & baths. Toilets account for nearly 30% of an average home's indoor water consumption.
• The Council established seven goals for the next five years. The 4th goal, PROTECT CAPITAL ASSETS will focus attention on the need for continuous improvement. We manage millions of dollars in capital assets (buildings, grounds, water, sewer & storm water facilities, & streets). Unfortunately, infrastructure maintenance dollars are some of the first things cut or diverted in favor of other more visible programs. The result is not seen immediately. In some cases, it takes years before problems begin to appear, but eventually they show up in noticeable ways. Neglect leads to deterioration & can require expensive replacement instead of repair. Failing to protect assets not only costs more in the future, but also exacerbates community deterioration. We will be updating our 20-year plan to identify the annual investment needed to sustain the plan.

Although the springs are no longer accessible & the water craze of the late 1800s & early 1900s have long passed, Excelsior Springs, MO still retains many of the original architecture & charm of its historic past. Located about 28 miles outside of KC (30 minutes in good traffic), the town still has a variety of cultural & historical attractions. You can also walk on a self-guided tour of the mineral wells that used to dot the landscape during the early part of the 20th century. Found on travelartsy.com

Email: mmcgovern@excelsiorsprings.gov
Website: cityofesmo.com
Location: Hall of Waters, 201 E. Broadway, 64024
Phone: (816) 630-0752