Lee's Summit Town Hall

It's primary time

Nick and Jason take a quick look at next week's primary elections, highlighting a few races and issues capturing their attention.

This is Elaine Metcalf

She was a business teacher, a grant writer, a district administrator and a principal. She spent more than 30 years inside the Lee's Summit R-7 School District before retiring after the 2017-2018 school year. Her retirement did not last long. Today, she is the new executive director of the Lee's Summit-based Pro Deo Youth Center. This is Elaine Metcalf.

Pearl Tavern has tacos?!?!

The Wonder Twin powers of Andy Lock and Domhall Malloy seem to have struck again. This time in form of a new seafood restaurant in the Summit Woods Crossing shopping area. Jason and Nick discuss their first foray into the menu before the promised return of our Taco Review Board. This week, we hit Stuey McBrew's Taco Tuesday specials. In actual news, the duo discuses recent conceptual incentive request presentations to the Lee's Summit City Council. While no formal requests have been made, this is a good opportunity for the public to learn about proposed developments as well as gauge the Council's appetite for the use of incentives in these particular projects.

Grow the circle, grow the giving

Sometimes there are no better community conversations to have than ones focused on people doing good works. This week, Jason and Nick sit down with Eastland Giving Circle board member Christine Foresee and founding member, Jane Stepp. Eastland Giving Circle utilizes annual donations from its membership to award a grant to one organization each year. Foresee and Stepp talk about what drew them into this organization and how it chooses its annual grant recipients. 

This is Andy Campbell

He was a star basketball player at Lee's Summit High School. He went on to become a teacher, and then an administrator in his home school district. His story, however is not as stereotypical as one might think. In fact, he says, we need to discard that stereotype altogether. Now, he uses his story to better connect with students and create new and improved paths to graduation and success. This is Andy Campbell.

The State of the Great American Cocktail address

It's July 4. We're celebrating our nation's independence and purposefully putting aside our serious civic discussions. Today, we want to relax, enjoy family and friends and celebrate. And since much of America enjoys mixing that celebration with a fine adult beverage or two, we thought we would once again turn to our local experts cocktails and beers, Seth Allen and Nigel Woodbury. Seth, the owner of Libations & Co., is an amateur historian, avid reader and darn good bartender (despite his lack of a tuxedo.) Nigel is, as proclaimed by hosts Nick Parker and Jason Norbury, the ambassador of downtown Lee's Summit night life. Join us this week for a discussion on the state of the great American cocktail and a look at our favorite summer beverages.

This is Rick Viar

He is an entrepreneur. He is a mentor and president of growing local bank. His plan for success combines a passion for community with an analytical approach to business. For him, strategy sessions and financial planning go hand-in-hand with relationship building. And when it comes to getting involved in the community, he offers this advice — Do it with purpose and passion so the organization will truly benefit from your involvement. This is Rick Viar.

Some notes, some quips & anticipating the new Council's response to its first major incentives ask

The Independence Day celebrations approach. Nick is humbled a few people may think he actually adds value to their mission. A new budget will be passed and after all the noise of the previous six months, it looks pretty similar to the previous year. And man oh man, one developer is gearing up for a pretty big ask from the City…

We're talking ROI, baby

Mayor Bill Baird said he was ready for a City Council conversation analyzing the City's return on investment as related to funding its Public Service Agreements. The use of plural in that sentence is a little gratuitous. The reason why? Council member Bob Johnson wasted little time two weeks ago changing discussion…

PSAs, raises & the budget — There's been a whole lotta talkin', but...

The budget has been at the forefront of any public conversation about our City Council for the past 8-to-10 months. And there's been no shortage of hyperbole and shots across one group or another's bow. Just this week, newly (re-) elected Council member Bob Johnson once again set his sights on the City's Public Service Agreements. But despite all the rancor, Jason and Nick point out there really aren't many differences between this year's proposed budget from the previous year. As Jason simply put it, "Ain't nobody gettin' those raises." So is the lack of drastic change good or bad? We don't yet know. But it's worth noting the change in language and tenor now that the election cycle is over.