Press Releases

The City of Lee’s Summit is pleased to announce Jeff Thorn's appointment as director of Water Utilities, effective March 20. Thorn replaces Mark Schaufler, who retired in February after serving the City for 31 years. Thorn has more than 28 years of experience in engineering, project management and the construction of water and wastewater projects. For the past five years, he has been the deputy director of Lee’s Summit Water Utilities, managing the Engineering Division, Operations Division and Facilities Group. In this role, he provided specific technical support and guidance related to the water distribution systems, wastewater collection systems and facilities, equipment and controls. Before that, he served as the utility’s assistant director of engineering, managing all engineering aspects for the water and wastewater utility.  In his new role,...

The Lee's Summit Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 1300 block of Southeast Princeton Place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 10:15 a.m. The resident noticed smoke in an upstairs bedroom after extinguishing a fire in the downstairs fireplace. A further investigation outside revealed that the enclosed chimney was on fire above the roof. All occupants of the house were safely evacuated. When firefighters arrived, flames were visible from the roof of the two-story, single-family residence. Inside, smoke alarms were sounding, and there was light smoke in the living area. Firefighters opened the ceiling in an upstairs bedroom to find smoke and fire in the attic. Crews quickly extinguished the fire in the attic and on the roof, bringing the incident under control by 10:45 a.m. The fire caused damage to the attic, a portion of the roof, and the enclosed...

The City of Lee’s Summit will host a Career Fair & Expo from 1 to 6 p.m., March 20 at the Gamber Community Center, 4 SE Independence Ave. Job seekers will find outstanding job opportunities with the City of Lee’s Summit in several departments. The event is free and open to the public. The City offers meaningful work that positively impacts the safety and quality of life for residents. Professionals representing Development Services, Parks and Recreation, Human Resources, Information Technology, Water and the Police and Fire Departments will be in attendance. Attendees can visit with hiring departments about job opportunities, complete applications and interview on-site for select positions. City of Lee’s Summit employees enjoy generous benefits, competitive pay, work-life balance and a positive workplace culture inspired by our core values of service...

The City of Lee's Summit is partnering with the Community Blood Center to host a blood drive to replenish the area's blood supply. The drive will be held on Thursday, March 13, from 1-5 p.m. at Harris Park Community Center, 110 SW Blue Parkway. The blood drive aims to address the critical need for blood donations in the region. All eligible community members are encouraged to participate. One hour spent donating can save up to three lives. Donors can register at savealifenow.org/group using the group code KCJN. Specific requirements apply to blood donors. They must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good overall health. Sixteen year olds can donate with written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Donors should drink fluids and eat a good meal before donating blood. Appointments are strongly recommended. Walk-ins will only be...

The City of Lee's Summit's Human Relations Commission is promoting kindness in the community during Take Time To Be Kind Week, Feb. 10-15. Community members are encouraged to perform random and purposeful acts of kindness to promote positivity. These acts can be as simple as writing a letter of appreciation, giving a small care package to a co-worker, volunteering at a local organization or practicing self-care through journaling. The public is asked to share their acts of kindness on social media using #LSKindness. The Human Relations Commission will host activities, including a Gratitude Station and a Kindness Passport. Community members are invited to visit the Gratitude Station in the lobby of City Hall during business hours to create cards and signs with thoughtful messages that they can share to spread kindness and appreciation throughout the community. The...