Press Releases

Rick Viar has been selected by Mayor Bill Baird to receive the 2023 West Gate Division of the Missouri Municipal League's Annual Civic Leadership Award. The award recognizes the outstanding contributions of business and civic leaders in developing stronger cities. Viar will be honored at a banquet on Oct. 26 at Belvoir Winery in Liberty. Viar is a dedicated community public servant who has served on numerous boards and committees over the years, including the United Way of Greater Kansas City, Lee's Summit Educational Foundation Advisory Finance Committee, Lee's Summit Civic Roundtable and Lee's Summit Industrial Development Authority. He has contributed his leadership abilities to the boards of Lee's Summit Economic Development Council, Lee's Summit Educational Foundation, Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce, John Knox Village, Lee's Summit Symphony...

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 5:03 p.m., the Lee's Summit Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 1500 Block of SW Highway Lane. A passerby reported smoke and fire from the house's roof with no one around. When the fire department arrived, smoke was visible from the roof of a one-story, single-family vacant residence under renovation. A worker was in the backyard attempting to extinguish a brush pile fire near the house.  The house fire involved burning debris in the gutter that spread into the attic. Firefighters pulled down the ceiling in the kitchen and extinguished the fire in the attic, while crews extinguished the fire in the gutter and the brush pile in the backyard. The incident was under control by 5:15 p.m.  The fire damaged half of the attic. The fire did not extend into the living space of the house. The fire outside the home...

The City of Lee’s Summit announced that work on the Colbern Road Improvements Project begins Sept. 5. The project will improve the safety and flow of traffic on Northwest Colbern Road between Northeast Douglas Street and Missouri Route 350 and will require that section of road to be closed to through traffic until spring 2025.   The first phase of construction will require a complete closure of Northwest Colbern Road from approximately Missouri Route 350 through the roundabout at Northwest Blue Parkway. This phase includes the reconstruction of the roundabout and realignment of Northwest Blue Parkway from the roundabout to the frontage road along Unity Village. This closure will continue through spring 2024, weather permitting. Detours will be put in place and signage will mark the detour route. Once this phase is complete, Northwest Colbern Road from Missouri Route 350...

On Friday, September 1, at 9:23 p.m., the Lee's Summit Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 1000 Block of SW Whistle Drive. The occupant returned home Friday evening to find smoke coming from the house and called 911. When the fire department arrived, heavy smoke was coming from the garage, and fire was visible inside the two-story, single-family residence. The occupants were safe outside. Firefighters entered the building and knocked down the fire in the first-floor kitchen that had started to burn through to the second floor. A search of the building confirmed that everyone was out. The incident was under control by 9:59 p.m. The fire caused heavy damage to the kitchen and second-floor bedroom, with extensive heat and smoke damage throughout the remainder of the structure. The fire originated in the kitchen. The cause is yet to be determined.

Lee’s Summit Water Utilities released results from the 2023 Customer Satisfaction Survey that show customer satisfaction ratings significantly higher than the U.S. and regional averages. The survey is administered by ETC Institute to a random sample of households and provides a snapshot of how customers view the delivery of water and sewer services. Of the 402 respondents, 84% indicated overall satisfaction with the delivery of services, a 2% increase over last year. As a whole, customers continue to have confidence in the reliability of water service (96%), the reliability of sanitary sewer service (95%), the clarity of drinking water (89%), the smell of drinking water (88%) and variety of bill payment options available (87%). “We appreciate our customers investing their time in helping us with our goal of continual improvement,” said Director of Water...