City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome to the April 20th Blue Spring City Council If you will stand with me, I will lead us in the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. You can be seated. I'll now call the meeting to order. First item on the agenda is confirmation of a court. Council member Kaylor present. Tholan present. Ruml present. Ericson present.

Edmonson well for the last time present. Rowan present. Mayor Lee here. We have a quorum. Next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Roll call. Council member Kaylor. I. Then I RML. Hi. Ericson. Hi. Edmonson. Hi. Rowan. Hi. Mayor Leves. Hi. Motion carries.

Well, as was just alluded to, we are here tonight to uh to give some presentation to a longstanding council member. Council member Kent Edmonson did not stand for re-election this time. So, this is his last meeting. And so, I'm going to ask the entire council and council member Edmonson to join me down here on the floor. We got a few things to give to you if that's all right. Are you ready? So, council member Edinson has been elected here in Blue Springs for 18 years. Actually served for about eight months before that as an appointed council member in 2001, I believe. 2002. And so we got a few things to give you. I'm going to kick us off here. I have a proclamation on behalf of the city for all your years of service. And I just want to say, you can see the room filled with people from a lot of different walks of life. You've uh had a long-standing relationship with the chamber and served. I'll go over some of that. You were president of Rotary Club. You've owned three businesses in town, been heavily involved in downtown and the success of downtown. We're building on that now because of all of your hard work. And so I just want to say personally and you know there's going to be a lot of trying to keep it together up here this this this evening. Uh but uh I've been um my entire elected experience has been with you as a council member of district 2 with me. We are very like-minded and so it made working together uh very enjoyable and also we we got some stuff done. And so uh I just say personally I know Ken is the kind of person that literally if you ask him to give you the shirt off his

back he would do it. He'd do it with a smile. And so I know uh from from my uh my experience as well as uh I mean I I don't want to make you feel old or anything, but I have several people in my life I consider father figures. I would say Kent is one of those as well. Uh he has helped me fix my car, let me borrow tools, has let me uh uh given advice both professional and personal. And so it's just not going to be the same without you around here. Uh we're definitely going to miss your leadership uh your involvement in the community. I know you're not going anywhere. you'll spend a little bit more time in Florida than you have previously, but a little more time on the beach. Uh, so with those comments, I'm going to start the round of things we have to present to you tonight. The proclamation on behalf of myself and the city council here. Whereas Kent Edmonson has been a Blue Springs resident for over 32 years and has served as a district council me district two council member for nearly 19 years. Whereas he has served on many boards and commissions. He helped start the art commission uh when he was first around. He did. He was one of the first commissioners to the art commission, helped start that up. But before a council member, before he did other things, served on the park commission, served on several other city boards and commissions. So, you had leadership and involved in the community before you were ever in elected office. Uh he's been an advocate for development and growth, particularly of downtown. He served as member of the downtown redevelopment committee, had three main street businesses, Quick Copy, Toontown DJ Service, and Roses and Such, which is still in business. Uh he served as chairman of the board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce. Uh I'm going to give the years so I'm sorry if it makes it feel a little old. Back in the 1900s, in 1995 he was vol Yeah. Yeah. The late 1900s, volunteer of the year in 1992, outstanding citizen of the year in the new millennium 2002. And then his business was although business of the year in 1993, literally every award you could win from the chamber of commerce. He also was uh was in the first class of the citizens please scatter with me

where would been a bit vit for a long time your Rotarian of the year in 2002 and president of the blue springs Rotary club in 2004 and just if you thought he was just doing all the city stuff he was also on the blue springs school board from 1998 to 2001 serving as treasurer from 2000 to 2001. All of those things I just mentioned, he did before he was ever an elected person in the city of Blue Springs. And he also, I will let you talk about your family here in a minute, but him and his wife Suanne will celebrate their 42nd anniversary this year. They have three sons and two grandchildren. And now therefore, Chris say Mayor Blue Springs and Blue Spring City Council. Four grandchildren. I'm sorry about that. We missed a couple of them.

Congratulations. You have two more grandkids. Yeah. Yeah. That's a natural growth. It happens that way. And then we dedicate today and proclaim today, April 20th, 2026 as Kent Edinson Day. Give him a round of applause. CONGRATULATIONS.

We do have a lot more to give you. Would you like this time to make some comments before we continue to shower you with gifts? Well, I would like to introduce my wife, Susie. She's on the second roll over here. And my oldest son, Chris, uh he's a nurse practitioner in town and he can help you out if you got problems with your stomach. Right. Yeah. I don't know whether I should wait till you guys get done with this or or is this to give you a a breath to get caught up? We can keep going. If you want to think some more, um yeah, let's do that. Okay. Okay. Here I'm going to turn it over to Council Member Ericson here. He's got a proclamation on behalf of the state for you.

You want to help me hold this thing? You got the lightweight one, dude. Uh I'm here uh incognito as John Fowler in the Missouri House of Representatives to read an incredibly long resolution for you. You ready for this? Yeah. Whereas, it is with special pleasure that the members of the Missouri House of Representatives pause to recognize Ken Edmonson, an esteemed resident of Blue Springs, Missouri, who will step down from his duties as Blue Springs City Council District 2 council member on April 20th, 2026. Are you looking at me read?

Okay, we'll do. Whereas Ken Edmonson is an outstanding individual who has faithfully performed his important duties and responsibilities to his community with utmost professionalism, conscious conscientiousness and fairness. And whereas during the several decades, I think it's three, Jen Edmonson and his family called Blue Springs their home. He served on many city boards and commissions and was briefly appointed to the city council from August 2001 to April 2002 before being elected to represent constituents in district 2 in 2008. I'm going to, if you don't mind, pass on the next three or four because they're exactly what the mayor said.

Yeah. Yeah. It kind of is, but it's really cool. You can read it. Anyway, whereas a champion of public safety, Kent Edmonson volunteered many hours to the Blue Springs Volunteer in Police Service BIPS program and participated in the Blue Springs Citizens Police Academy. And whereas throughout his career, Kent Edmonson developed a well-earned reputation among elected officials for his remarkable success in business and card drawings. Card drawings. Anyway, whereas Ken Edmonson has been blessed with love and support of his devoted wife of 42 years, Suanne Edmonson, three sons, and how many grandchildren? Four.

Four grandchildren. You're not the only one. This one says, too. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives, I'm reading this for Ron Peller, 103rd General Assembly, join in expressing our utmost appreciation to Kent Edmonson for his nearly 20 years of unparalleled service as a representative for District 2 on the Blue Springs City Council. And be it further resolved that the chief clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for Ken Edmonson as a measure of our high esteem for him. Thank you, BUDDY. UM, KEN, I'm sorry you told me to speak more and sorry.

Thanks. Thanks. I appreciate just for you. Um, I'm going to give you this plaque in just a minute, but I do have a couple words to say. Um, we said a lot of things about you tonight. Um, we've you've been part of the city school board on city council. Um, but personally, um, you've made a big impact on me. Um, when I started running for city council, you were one of the first ones that came and sat with me. You've helped me with my car. Um, you've done all kinds of things for me. Gave me this sweet pin that works and I didn't even know I was supposed to wear my new one, but I did it just for you. Um, but it's been an honor sitting next to you. It's I'm going to miss you there. Um, you've been very helpful and uh, man, uh, yeah, I'm going to try not to Well, anyway, uh, what we're saying, Kit Edmonson, District 2 city council member, 2008 2026, that's today. With heartfelt gratitude, we honor your dedication, leadership, and commitment to the residents of Blue Springs. Thank you. and your unwavering service has made a lasting impact on our community from the Blue Springs, Missouri public. Thank you very much, Kim.

Oh, we need to move over. We need to move over,

Ken. Since you have your name pretty much on every single building here in town, we thought you need your own street sign, too. Um, like Katie said, thank you for everything has told me behind the scenes, thank you for everything that you've done for us. You are going to be on speed dial with all of us still. Um, I mean, I believe it like Jeremy said, from day one of us stepping on council, we appreciate everything you've done, everything that you've helped us with and and helped us get better at what we're doing. You're hard shoes to fill and Brian, you got big shoes to fill with this one here. But we really do appreciate everything. Like I said, there's a sign for you. Hopefully it stays here. Not Florida, but who knows? Anything? I can't

I didn't delete you. I didn't delete you.

I had to tell everybody I did. Kent, you're more than a mentor. You are you're a friend. You were a friend before I even got on city council. We worked together a lot on the BIPS. We have a lot of fun in that dare. Some things we won't share. But as a token of the city council here, we have a gift card for you. And I I'm just going to be upfront. I I taped it because I forgot to put the gift card inside.

Actually, yeah, actually Deb said, "No, Jerry, you can't keep it. It was for Kim." So anyway, uh to your favorite restaurant there, buddy. And again, you'll be well missed, but we know we won't be far from you.

Appreciate you, buddy. We're done. Um, yeah, Katie, you didn't have to cry. That that you're getting me on that one. Um, first off, I I want to thank the city, uh, the council and the citizens of Blue Springs for the honor of being able to serve in that position as District 2. U, it meant the world to me. I enjoyed it. This is, you know, one of the best cities in the state and we have one of the best staff, both administrative, directors, public works, parks department, police department, even down to janitors. Uh, they're all friendly. They all do their job. They all do an effort. Uh, and I really do appreciate the fact that you trust me to be up front here and and do what I can do to help make this city better. Uh, Brian, um, I know you're going to do good in the job. U, you got a great group. You got a great staff behind you. Uh, it makes your job a whole lot easier. So, I look forward to seeing you have a prosperous three years and on. Guys, uh, and gals. love you guys. It's a pleasure and an honor to be with you up here and uh I'll come back and watch and see what goes on sometime and do me just, you know, grace some popcorn, sit in the back and watch the show. U on a personal note, it was a great time we had together. We did a lot of good things together. Uh I appreciate your kind words and I I did look on you as somebody that adopted so

to speak. Uh some of our conversations we had as you were driving back from St. Louis or some place in the middle of Kansas was uh we got some good plans that we went through real well. So I I respect you and and I know you're going to do really well as mayor and hopefully for a long time because it'll be good for the city of Blue Springs. So thank you all. I appreciate you coming and being here. So thank you. Not done yet.

All right, council. We can go back to our seats. We got to finish up this meeting and then we'll continue on with the next one. I think we at least have to adjourn. I don't know what else we have to do, but we have to formally end the meeting.

Do you have to adjourn with us? Yes. Can't. I still need you. You're not done yet. We got one more. I wasn't joking. We got one more thing for you. You can move to adjourn. I got to retire. We do have some speaker pierce forms. We have a second meeting. I'm going to keep those for that. So, all I have left is a motion to adjurnn. Council member Edmonson, would you like to make that motion? So moved. Is there a second? Second. If we vote no, we never have to leave. So, okay. All in favor? I. Any oppose? No.

No. Unfortunately, the motion carries. We are adjourned for the first meeting. Can we give council member another round of applause?