On Tuesday the newly formed Jackson County Assesment Review Commission held a public hearing to gather input from citizens and property owners in Jackson County to explore ways to decrease property taxes. Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders introduced the Commission members, who include Angelo Mancini, chair, Rafaela Garcia, Rev. Kim L. Gladney, Molly McGovern, Phil Perry, Derek Ramsey, Molly Korth Williams and ex-officio member, Curtis Koons, Jackson County director of assessment. In January 2008, Sanders established the Assessment Review Commission to evaluate the process of assessing real estate and personal property values in Jackson County in an effort to ensure property tax assessments are fair for everyone. “We’ve begun to see a dramatic rise in our property tax values,” Sanders said during the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council meeting in April. “We are overvalued as a community in terms of property taxes and our goal is to take a hard look at reducing the property tax values over the next 12 to 24 months.” The commission will gather public input and prepare a report for Sanders later in the year, said Jeph BurroughsScanlon, Jackson County public information officer. “There were lots of suggestions thrown around about how things could be changed and done differently, if not better,” BurroughsScanlon said about Tuesday’s meeting. He said Sanders and the review commission intend to take the public comments seriously and also conduct their own assessment of the property tax assessment and appraisal process in Jackson County. In addition to the public hearings, the commission also is providing an opportunity for public input to be provided through the Jackson County Web site. Residents and property owners can post comments, suggestions or questions regarding issues the Assessment Review Commission should consider and be aware of in their review process and the comments will go to each member of the Commission for his or her consideration. BurroughsScanlon said the Commission members are community activists and professionals in the property tax field. “This was a good opportunity for the public to have their input, but ultimately I think Sanders wants their professional input,” BurroughsScanlon said. “All of them live in Jackson County, so obviously they have their own property taxes and experiences to bring to the Commission.” In April, Sanders said the reason property taxes in Jackson County have been rising is because his predecessor was told Jackson County had to catch up on 15 years of taxes. “They over corrected and that’s why you are seeing massive jumps in property tax rolls,” Sanders said. A second public hearing is scheduled for Tueday, June 17. The location is yet to be determined, but according to a news release, will be somewhere in Eastern Jackson County. For more information on the Assessment Review Commission or to submit a comment for the Commission, visit www.jacksongov.org.

Each week Blue Springs native and “American Idol” contestant, David Cook has impressed both fans and the judges with his talent and creativity. Cook has been rocking his way through Season 7 of the popular reality television show “American Idol.” He has been praised by the judges for putting original, contemporary and relevant twists on songs throughout the season. Cook’s version of Lionel Ritchie’s “Hello” first caught the judges’ attention before the top 10 were even announced. “David, that was a very brave thing to do — and I loved it,” said the panel’s harshest critic, Simon Cowell. And since then, Cook has sung everything from Mariah Carey and Andrew Lloyd Weber to Neil Diamond and The Beatles without losing his rocker-vibe. But to his friends, family and former teachers, Cook is just showing what he can do. “Having seen David perform in the past, he’s equally capable in all genres,” Cook’s stepfather, Grenvell Foraker told the Journal in March. “He can do things other than just rock — and do them well.” Although Foraker has only known Cook since he and Cook’s mother began dating while Cook was in high school at Blue Springs South, Foraker knows him well enough to know he has the experience, the talent and the stage presence to succeed in “American Idol.” “He has the experience; he’s been singing since the second and third grade and he truly enjoys performing,” Foraker said. “And he’s a very talented and capable musician.” “American Idol” viewers know that Cook can sing and play the guitar, but Foraker said Cook’s musical capabilities have exceeded even Foraker’s expectations. A few years ago, Cook put together a small album, “Analog Heart,” and on one song Cook played almost all the instruments himself — “including the piano,” Foraker said. Foraker did say that Cook hired a percussionist to record that portion of the song for him. “I didn’t even know he knew how to play the piano,” he said. “He’s pretty adept with instruments.” Since his “American Idol” fame, “Analog Heart” topped Amazon’s digital download chart in late April before being pulled from the Web site by “American Idol” and as of Thursday afternoon, the bid for the out-of-print CD featuring Cook was $380 on eBay. Cook’s interest in music really began in the second grade with a teacher Cook credited in his official “American Idol” biography — Fredalyn Gentry of Thomas Ultican Elementary. “His singing ability was exceptional from the first,” Gentry told the Journal. “But he was a little shy early on. He remembers second grade and says I ‘made’ him sing a solo, but he was always willing and eager to perform.” In high school, Cook built on that love for music and performing as a cast member for several musicals — including “Singing in the Rain” and “West Side Story” — and as a member of the debate team. “I noticed David’s talent the first time he came in to audition,” said his high school drama teacher, Susan Cooper. “He had leads in several of our productions. He was always playing his guitar and entertaining backstage and during down times of rehearsals.” Cook even qualified for the National Speech Tournament in both his junior and senior years of high school, said Cook’s former forensics coach, Georgia Brady. “His creativity and stage presence were incredible from the beginning,” Brady said. She said as a junior he made it to the semi-finals at the national tournament performing humorous children’s poetry and his senior year he and his partner, Ben Williams, performed a duo interpretation entitled “Greater Tuna.” “Every time I think of that performance I laugh out loud — it was hilarious,” Brady said. In high school and throughout college at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo., Cook was the lead vocalist in the Kansas City-area band, Axium. After graduating from Central with a bachelor of science in graphic arts management in 2006, and after Axium “ran its course,” Foraker said David moved to Tulsa to play with the Midwest Kings, a Tulsa-based band. “He’s a bright young man,” Foraker said, “And he can adapt quickly to whatever situation he finds himself in.” And perhaps that ease to adapt is what helped him to succeed at the “American Idol” auditions in Omaha. Foraker said originally Cook was just going to Omaha to be there for his younger brother, Andrew. “Actually, it was Andrew who had an interest in going to Omaha to audition and David came up to be supportive of Andrew,” Foraker said. But the boys’ mother, who has been in Los Angeles for each of David’s “Idol” performances, encouraged Cook to audition, too. “I’m not sure David even had an interest in “American Idol” until he had success in Omaha,” Foraker said. But even though Andrew didn’t see his “Idol” hopes come to life in Omaha, he has been supportive of his brother’s success every step of the way — helping to organize David Cook watch parties at Central and doing everything he can to get people to vote, Foraker said. And so far, Cook’s fans and, of course, his talent, have taken him far in the popular singing competition. “What you see on TV is David. I watch him and I think to myself, ‘That’s David,’” Cooper said. “I’ve loved every one of his performances, and feel he is taking these songs and giving them an interpretation that is uniquely his. He took risks in his auditions for me and also in his performances and so, yes, I would say he has always been a risk-taker. He has been willing to put himself and his talent out there to try something and see if it succeeds.” “You usually have to take some risks to experience success,” Brady added. Cook will be back in his hometown of Blue Springs today after he survived elimination on Wednesday. Members from the city of Blue Springs, the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Blue Springs School District, family and supporters of David Cook are hosting a homecoming celebration for Cook. Because Cook advanced to the “Top 3” contestants on “Idol,” a community-wide event will be held in Cook’s honor today. The event will consist of a parade featuring “American Idol” contestant David Cook, followed by an assembly at David’s former high school, Blue Springs South. The assembly, to be held at Blue Springs South High School stadium is sold out — only 10,000 tickets were available. The assembly program will begin at 4 p.m. Fans attending the assembly can expect special presentations from Blue Springs Mayor Carson Ross, a special guest Master of Ceremonies from a local Kansas City radio station, the Kansas City Chiefs’ cheerleaders, a one-of-a-kind performance by David Cook, and more. Gates to the Blue Springs South High School Stadium open at 3 p.m. and seating is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. No reserve seating is allowed, so ticket-holders are encouraged to arrive early to ensure their seat at the David Cook “American Idol” Homecoming Celebration. The parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. and will travel North on Adams Dairy Parkway from Moreland School Road to Ryan Road. The parade will conclude at approximately 4 p.m., ending at the rear entrance of the Larry Stewart Memorial Stadium at Blue Springs South High School, 1200 S.E. Adams Dairy Parkway. For more information, visit www.bluespringsgov.com/index.asp?NID=628, or call the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce at 816-229-8558.

Traffic could soon be diverted from Blue Parkway south of Chipman Road. During the Lee’s Summit City Council meeting on Thursday, Bob Sight Ford requested that the portion of Blue Parkway in front of the business be closed so the construction at the car dealership can be completed. Tom Sight told the Council that Aquila could not finish its work to complete the construction to be complete until the road is shut down. Sight said the road also needs to be shut down as soon as possible because the further into the summer months, and the warmer the weather, the work may not be able to be completed until the fall because the transmission lines carry so much electrical power in the summer months. “If we cannot divert the traffic, this scenario would come into play because it would be until July before we had the road through the south side of the lot (completed), which means the snow could fly before I could totally be done (with the construction),” Sight stated in a letter to the city. Sight said detouring traffic would allow the road to be built along the south side of the building and the west side of the project to be completed at the same time. This would allow him to move into the new building in mid-July, when the building is scheduled to be completed. Sight requested to the Council that the portion of Blue Parkway be closed and traffic diverted to N.W. Park Lane, Libby Lane and N.W. Penny Lane by May 27 for a period no longer than seven weeks. The Council was about to vote on a motion that would have approved the request until Lee’s Summit Traffic Engineer Michael Parks spoke about some concerns. Parks said the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is strongly opposed to the closure. He said they would not be able to maneuver their buses along the detour route, as the street widths are smaller. Thus, they would have to detour to Third Street. Parks said the KCATA has discussed the possibility of charging more to the city if this were to occur. “If KCATA wants to charge us, I suggest that before next week they get their act together and get back to our staff,” said Mayor Karen Messerli. The Council agreed to give staff a week to gather more information on the traffic concerns presented before moving forward with the motion to approve the request by Bob Sight Ford and amend the contracts.