The Friday Newsflash -  November 7, 2025

The Big Takeaways 
The Board of Aldermen met in regular session on Tuesday, November 4. 

The Board took the following action:

  • Approved the October 21, 2025, Board of Aldermen Work Session Minutes
  • Approved the October 21, 2025, Board of Aldermen Regular Session Minutes
  • Approved on second reading an Ordinance annexing certain adjacent territory into the City of Smithville, Missouri - Lots 1 & 4, Phase I Whispering Creek Farms
  • Approved on first reading an Ordinance amending Sections of Chapter 400 of the zoning code authorizing new overlay district regulations.
  • Approved a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement Williams & Campo, P.C. for City Attorney Services.
Please find the City Administrator's report here.

Please find the agenda materials and video here. 

Dates to Remember 

  • City Hall will be CLOSED on Tuesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day
  • Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting: November 13 at 7:00 PM
  • Board of Aldermen Meeting: November 18 
    • Regular Session: 7:00 PM
  • Sports -  REGISTER HERE
    • Spring sports online registration will open Jan 1. Youth soccer, little kickers soccer clinic, youth baseball, youth softball, youth t-ball
      • Youth Basketball: Practices have started
      • Little Hoopsters: Until full 
  • Programs & Events – REGISTER HERE
Community Engagement Updates
  • Smithville Main Street Art Mural on the Courtyard Restroom is complete. 
  • Police Department Hosted Community Events
    • November 8 at 8am: Keeping Your Kids Safe Online
    • November 8 at 9am: Protect Yourself Online
  • Check out the October 2025 Citizen Newsletter HERE
  • The City is hosting a Smithville High School Intern in partnership with the Real World Learning Program. We are excited to have her as part of the city team this semester!
  • SPR Sponsorship Opportunities are here! For more information visit www.smithvillemo.org/sponsor
  • Sign up for our monthly newsletter HERE
Senior Center Updates
  •  Our Clay County Senior Services Grant was renewed for 2026. 
  • The Senior Center Kitchen passed the Clay County Public Health Department inspection 
  • Air fryer cooking classes continue to be popular on Thursdays at 12:30 PM.
  • Had a big turnout for the costume contest on Halloween. Congrats to Martha aka Dorothy, who took the top prize!
  • The Senior Center will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, for Veterans Day and November 26-28 for Thanksgiving.
Project Updates
  • Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Improvements – Filter #1 at the water plant has all new under drain system installed and grouted in. It must cure for another week before work can continue. Next will be the installation of the new filter media.
  • Commercial Sidewalk - The contractor originally awarded the Commercial Avenue Pedestrian Project informed the City they were ceasing operations and would not be able to complete the work.
  • The new contractor, Selby Excavating LLC, began work this week on the south side of the project near the school.
    The northbound lane of Commercial Avenue (From Stonebridge to Hospital Drive) will be close from 7 am to 5 pm from November 5 – Nov 14 to allow the contractor to complete work near the school. The project is anticipated to be completed in January.
  • 144th Pump Station (PS) – Epic is making substantial progress with the pump station wet well and force main. Project is approximately 30% complete. Force Main from HWY 169 north to Hwy 92 is nearly complete. The bore under 169 HWY for the 144th street project is underway now.
  • Church and Mill watermain replacement – Mill Street water line passed the pressure test. They have chlorinated and de-chlorinated the line and taken a Bac’t sample. If this passes tie ins should be completed next week Nov 12. Cleanup and disconnecting the old main will be final work items to complete this project.
  • OK Trail – Bids opened 10/28 and will be awarded 11/18 pending DNR’s approval.
  • Street Maintenance Program – Awarded to Asphaltic Surfaces. With the Commercial Sidewalk project delayed, the overlay of the Commercial Avenue will be completed next Spring.
  • 169/Richardson Signal application for Cost Share was submitted on 10/3
Winter Preparations Underway
With winter right around the corner, the Street Department has been hard at work getting everything ready to keep our roads safe and clear. Over the past week, crews have been busy checking equipment, repairing lights, and making sure every truck is ready to roll when the first snowflakes fall.

Truck 102 received some attention with new lights installed and tested, while Truck 109 got a fresh cutting edge to take on snow and ice. The Street Department also prepared the Parks Department’s vehicles for winter by mounting a spreader and plow on Dump Truck 701 and a plow on Truck 702.

To improve visibility and safety during nighttime operations, new LED lights were purchased and installed on the backs of the salt spreaders. Crews also turned their attention to the brine system flushing the tank multiple times, repairing a stuck pump, and verifying that the system is operating correctly.

Every bolt tightened, every light replaced, and every test run brings us one step closer to being fully prepared for winter weather.

Maintenance Updates  

  • Parks 
    • Collaborated with Smithville Main Street and the Street Department to decorate the downtown for Christmas
    • Cleaned up Fall Decorations
    • Fixed two water leaks in the campground
    • Winterized all restrooms, irrigation, and water fountains
  • Streets
    • Conducted various equipment instillations on vehicles 
    • Purchased and installed LED lights for the backs of salt spreaders.
    • Prepared the brine trailer and brine tank system for winter:
      • Tested brine pump (repaired a stuck brine pump and flushed the tank six times).
      • Verified that the system operates correctly.
    • Repaired two streetlights on Bridge Street.
    • Ordered eGFI plugs needed repair other streetlight poles.
    • Installed back lights on salt spreaders for Parks plow trucks.
    • Changed summer banners to winter banners.
    • Installed lights and garland on all downtown street light poles 
    • Completed all downtown holiday setup work
  • Utilities 
    • Total Drinking Water Production 6,476,000 gal.
    • Treated 3,828,000 gallons of wastewater
    • Completed all testing required at the WTP and WWTP.
    • The new header is installed on filter #1 at the WTP. Crews will be working on installing new grout and anchors this week.
    • Carbon feeder was put online at the WTP to help with taste and odor.
    • Starting on plumbing a new raw water sample line into the lab to eliminate a yard hydrant as a sample point. This will involve installing around 100 feet of ¾” poly through the concrete wall of the water plant.
    • Installed new drain lines on the waste valves of the filters to reduce the water buildup in the basement during backwash cycles.
    • Insulated the chemical feed lines going to the clarifier, so they don’t freeze during the colder weather.
    • Completed 26 work orders and 52 locates
    • Still working on completing the first round of fall dead-end water main flushing.
    • Repaired a water main break on Richardson Street.
    • Repaired a water service line on 136th Street.
    • Repaired the vacuum prime system on pump #2 at Quail ridge lift station.