Thursday, Nov. 08 2012 5:29PM
Committee begins work on bond issue
By Russ Pulley
rpulley@lsjournal.com
Print
E-Mail
AIM
ReprintLee’s Summit began hearings on a possible bond election next April, with a City Council ad hoc committee to break down a long list of possible projects.
So far the Capital Improvement Project Committee meeting Nov. 7 raised more questions than providing answers.
Councilmember Derek Holland, chairman, said he expected the first meeting to be informational and asked members to talk about how it would proceed. No decisions on particular projects were going to be made.
One couple at this week’s meeting asked for gaps in the sidewalk on Sampson Road to be completed.
Otherwise discussion was dominated by city staff, council members and members of the city’s Cultural Facilities Task Force which has proposed a $2.7 million package for renovating Arnold Hall, enhancements for the Legacy Park amphitheater or building a festival space/stage on Market Street.
Committee members discussed how to “pare down” the city staff’s master list of $147 million in unfunded projects.
As prior bond issues are paid off, the city could borrow from $7 million to $12 million, depending on how long it wanted to take to pay off the debt.
They directed city staff to chop away projects costing more than $12 million or that can’t be finished incrementally in amounts less than that. The remaining projects are to be ranked in priority by public safety, economic development and if it benefits the city overall. Committee members are to submit their favorites.
The committee has another meeting at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and public is again invited to make their suggestions.
Holland said the committee needs to decide if it will consider individual pieces of the $2.7 million package for cultural arts or look at it as a package. He ventured that comparing a festival space to a new fire station is “apples and oranges.” He alluded to the possibility of cutting some of the cultural arts facilities. But Holland noted that roads have other sources of financing, so he is leaning toward a bond issue as the best method for financing the cultural arts facilities.
Councilmember Allan Gray said he thought the cultural arts project should be considered as a single item, with the other projects considered in addition.
He suggested changing the task force recommendations to switch exhibit space for the Lee’s Summit Historical Society from Arnold Hall to the former City Hall on West Main Street.
He said that would create a synergy with the proposed festival space.
Councilmember Brian Whitley said he wanted to see projects ranked for comparison purposes, but that cultural arts could be adjusted in priority because they are of a different nature than streets or a fire station.
He suggested changing the task force recommendations to switch exhibit space for the Lee’s Summit Historical Society from Arnold Hall to the former City Hall on West Main Street.
Councilmember Bob Johnson, who is not on the committee, testified he didn’t support even putting the full $7 million on a ballot.
Tornados or other natural disasters could wreck infrastructure, such as a bridge, and he wants to be prepared for an unexpected event.
“I want to make sure we have some kind of bonding capacity available for emergencies,” Johnson said. “I would not be offended if April passed without a bond issue.”
Christine Bushyhead, chairman of the Cultural Arts Facility Task Force, said they didn’t prioritize their recommendation.
“The task force would be disappointed if the only thing that goes on the ballot is the amphitheater,” Bushyhead said. “We feel pretty strongly about the package.”
