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"The progress we’ve made this year is a result of thoughtful planning, collaboration and strong community support. "

- City Manager Mark Dunning

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MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER

It is my privilege to present the City of Lee’s Summit’s 2024 Annual Report highlighting how our City continues to lead the way, through bold vision, responsible planning and a deep commitment to serving our community. From transformative new developments that will shape our future to the continued improvements made to our roads and infrastructure, progress is visible across the City.

Green Street, a vibrant new public space in the heart of our historic downtown, is taking shape. The project team has thoughtfully designed every element of Green Street to create a community amenity where Lee’s Summit residents and visitors can come together, connect and thrive. Featuring distinctive public art, a home for the popular Farmers Market, a playground and the Green Street Lawn that will soon become the epicenter for festivals and gatherings, Green Street is nearing completion in summer 2025.

The recent selection of an executive director for the newly formed Visitors Bureau is an exciting step forward in strengthening the City’s presence as a destination for tourism and events. The Visitors Bureau represents a strategic investment in local economic growth by attracting visitors whose spending supports local businesses.

I want to thank those who participated in the 2024 Citizen Survey. This feedback is invaluable in helping the City set priorities, guide investments and identify opportunities for improvement. Survey results indicated a high satisfaction among our residents in the quality of fire and police services and the City’s parks and recreation programs and facilities. Residents identified street maintenance, traffic flow and the quality of new commercial development as important areas where we should continue to prioritize investments in the future.

Work has been steadily progressing on public safety projects funded by the general obligation bonds approved by voters in 2023. Construction started on the Joint Operations Facility, which will be the central command for emergency preparedness, management and disaster management, and day-to-day emergency response coordination. Renovation of the former Fire Station No. 5 into the South Police Substation is underway. The substation will extend police presence in southern Lee’s Summit, focusing on the safety of our residents and businesses.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. The progress we’ve made this year results from thoughtful planning, collaboration and strong community support. As we look to the future, I remain committed to working alongside residents, employees and businesses to invest in projects and priorities that matter most and deliver results that move our City forward.

Yours Truly,

Mark Dunning
City Manager


GOVERNANCE

Mayor Bill BairdBill Baird
Mayor

Mia Prier District 1 Mia Prier
District 1

Hillary Shields District 1Hillary Shields
District 1

John Lovell District 2 John Lovell
District 2

Trish Carlyle District 2Trish Carlyle
District 2

Cynda Rader District 3Cynda Rader
District 3

Beto Lopez Mayor Pro Tem District 3Beto Lopez
Mayor Pro Tem/District 3

Donnie Funk District 4Donnie Funk
District 4

Faith Hodges District 4Faith Hodges
District 4

 

Green Street

Green Street

Construction is underway for Green Street, a mixed-use project in the heart of downtown Lee’s Summit. The Green Street public components (Green Street Market, Green Street Lawn, Green Street Grove) are set to open in late summer 2025.

Green Street

Constructing the Future

Constructing the Future

The City continued progressing on several major road improvement projects, paving the way for a brighter future. The Chipman Road Improvements Project, launched in July 2023 to enhance safety and accessibility, is expected to be completed in late spring 2025. This project will reconstruct a section of Northwest Chipman Road as a two- and three-lane roadway with sidewalks, a shared-use path, streetlighting, a traffic signal, a new pedestrian bridge and the relocation of 4,700 feet of water main and 1,400 feet of sanitary sewer.

The Colbern Road Improvement Project is the largest capital improvement project in the history of Lee’s Summit. This major project, slated for completion in May 2025, will transform Colbern Road into four lanes with turn lanes, a sidewalk, a shared-use path, curb and gutter, street lighting and bridge replacement, including bicycle and pedestrian accommodations over the Union Pacific Railroad. Recognized for its significant economic and public benefits, the project secured crucial funding from Missouri’s Governor’s Transportation Cost-share Program, one of only 20 projects statewide to do so.

Hangar 2

Hangar 2

The City broke ground in April on Hangar 2 at the Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport, a $16.8 million project funded by both general obligation bonds approved by voters in April 2023 and the Transportation Sales Tax. The development of Hangar 2 is a key component of the Airport Master Plan, which includes implementing infrastructure to provide sufficient capacity and service levels to meet future aviation demand. With corporate aircraft hangar storage, first-class amenities for passengers and crews, an observation deck and an area for the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District Aerospace Academy, this 50,000-square-foot facility marks a significant milestone in the future of aviation in Lee’s Summit.

Uncoupling of Fire Stations No. 4 and No. 5

Uncoupling of Fire Stations No. 4 and No. 5

The Uncoupling Ceremonies of Fire Station No. 4 and Fire Station No. 5 took place, marking the completion of the two final projects funded by the 2019 No Tax Increase Bond initiative. Both stations include three pull-through apparatus bays, fitness facilities and space for personal time and peer support. With a design focused on addressing the occupational stress and safety of firefighters, the stations feature a dedicated decontamination area to mitigate risks associated with exposure to hazardous materials and sleeping quarters designed to promote sleep and reduce environmental disturbances. This milestone represents the City’s commitment to delivering on promises to residents to enhance public safety and community services without adding a financial burden.


FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT

   

PUBLIC WORKS

Public Works received reaccreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA). This achievement recognizes the department’s commitment to excellence in public works management and operations. This is the department’s sixth accreditation since 2004, solidifying its position as a leader in public works management. Lee’s Summit Public Works joins a select group of seven other accredited agencies in Missouri.

Mill and overlay - 40.4 lane miles replaced
Surface seal - 43.8 lane miles sealed
Curb replacement - 16.7 miles of curbs replaced
Crack seal - 51.8 lane miles repaired
Ward road

1. Ward Road Improvements Project

Began spring 2024. | Estimated to be completed in fall 2025, this project will fully reconstruct Ward Road from Northwest O'Brien Road to Northwest Blue Parkway with a new base, concrete surface, curb and gutter, and five-foot bike lanes in each direction. The project also includes four- to five-foot parkways, five-foot sidewalks on both sides with LED lighting on one side and a roundabout at Blue Parkway and Ward Road to improve safety. These improvements will create a safer and more functional Ward Road corridor for all users, supporting the City’s Livable Streets Policy. The City's Capital Improvements Program and the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program fund the project.

2. Pryor Road Improvements Project

Set to begin construction in 2025. | The City is designing infrastructure improvements for the Pryor Road corridor from Longview Road to Hook Road, a project approved by voters with the passage of the 2017 sales tax initiative. These include roadway widening to two lanes in each direction with curb and gutter, and enclosed storm drainage, additional turn lanes and signal improvements, a divided median, improved roadway lighting, added pedestrian and cycling features such as continuous sidewalk and multiuse path, utility relocations and access management modifications. The project goals are to enhance safety, improve roadway operations, provide pedestrian and bicycle amenities and facilitate growth and livability for southwest Lee’s Summit residents.

3. Scherer Road Alignment Study

Completed in spring 2025 | The Scherer Road Alignment Study is a precursor to the Scherer Road Reconstruction projects outlined in the current Capital Improvement Plan and funded by the voter-approved 2023 No Tax Increase Bond initiative and the CIP Sales Tax. This alignment study will provide a comprehensive vision of the area's future arterial roadway system to guide private development and City capital improvement projects supporting improved safety, operations and livability. The Scherer Road Reconstruction consists of two projects to upgrade the existing unimproved Scherer Road: Jefferson Street to Ward Road in the first phase and then from Ward Road to Sampson Road in the second phase. Phase one should begin construction in the fall of 2027.

   

Water Utilities

Lee’s Summit Water Utilities received full American Public Works Association (APWA) accreditation. This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that Water Utilities complies with the recommended management practices set forth by the APWA. Lee’s Summit Water Utilities is one of only nine water utilities in Missouri that have received APWA accreditation.

ETC Institute’s Leading the Way Award
The ETC Institute’s Leading the Way award was given to Lee’s Summit Water Utilities to recognize its ranking in the top 10% of municipalities for outstanding performance in core areas assessed in the DirectionFinder Survey. In 2023, the ETC Institute conducted the DirectionFinder survey on behalf of 200 municipalities across the United States to gauge resident satisfaction with government services. Lee’s Summit Water Utilities’ results indicated high satisfaction with regard to the quality of services, customer service and customer-perceived value.  

Customer Service Excellence Award
Advanced Utility Systems selected Lee’s Summit Water Utilities as a recipient of its 2023 Customer Service Excellence Award for providing outstanding service to its customers. Advanced Utility Systems provides customer information and billing solution software to 90 utilities across North America and the Caribbean, awarding one utility and municipality this achievement.

   

PARKS AND RECREATION
 

Turf Resurfacing Project

All playground surfaces were replaced with safe and environmentally sustainable materials. The new turf offers improved stability during play, minimizes maintenance and water consumption, and enables wheelchair users to access the playgrounds more easily. 

Live Entertainment

Parks and Recreation hosted eight musical amphitheater events in 2024.

Public Art

Two new sculptures were added to the Sculpture on the Move initiative. Tree Branches can be found at Lea McKeighan South Park, and Say My Name at the Longview Community Center.

Grant From the Recreational Trails Program

A $250,000 grant from the Recreational Trails Program, through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, was used to construct 1.2 miles of paved trail for bicycles and pedestrians along Mouse Creek in south Lee's Summit. This is the largest grant Parks and Recreation has received for a local trail project.

Park Renovations

Lower Banner Park, Williams Grant Park, Wadsworth Park and Woods Park were renovated with updated equipment and turf.

Park Impact Fee

A Park Impact Fee (PIF) was approved to provide additional resources to assist with the park system's growth. The PIF will go into effect in 2025.

   

ADDITIONAL ANNUAL REPORTS