Fellow Residents:
We truly are in unprecedented times. We continue to recover from the pandemic and then an awful event occurred in Minneapolis late last week.
Not to minimize events unfolding nationally, but I will stick to five pandemic-related updates for our City tonight:
1) Last week Governor Kelly and the Kansas Legislature played what amounts to a game of chicken on the topic of Emergency Declarations. The net result was to put full control back at the local level.
Johnson County chose to ask residents and businesses to follow the Ad Astra guidelines. That said, those are guidelines only, so individuals and businesses are encouraged to use their best judgement.
2) Irrespective of what the State and County are doing, the City will continue the following through June due to our small City Hall space:
a. Board and Council meetings will continue to be held virtually.
b. Staff will continue to split time in and out of City Hall to ensure we do not have an infection across our small team.
3) We are working with the Community Engagement Committee on rescheduling several events including Verona en Blanc, the Keim Street Fair (please note it will NOT be this weekend!), and the pop-ups they had planned. More to come on this once dates are finalized.
4) I communicated with Chiefs Lopez and Schwartzkopf before the weekend and their teams continue to be healthy and are/were ready for any situations that should arise.
5) The Council held its first budget planning session today (Monday). The City’s finances overall are in good shape.
Mission Hills’ revenue mix is very different than other nearby communities, and the Council took several important strategic actions just over a year ago that have helped cushion the current situation.
Thank you for continuing to walk and bike across our City. Please stay safe as we slide into summer. As always, if you have feedback or questions, feel free to call City Hall at 913-362-9620 or email info@missionhillsks.gov. You are always welcome to email me directly at mayor@missionhillsks.gov.