The Friday Newsflash - April 3, 2026

Fire at Smithville Plaza
Staff has received a number of questions relating to Monday’s fire at Smithville Plaza.  These questions relate primarily to the inspection and maintenance program for fire hydrants and the development review process relating to fire protection.  City and Smithville Area Fire Protection District (SAFPD) staff held a debrief meeting and plan to provide information during the City Administrator’s Report at the meeting on Tuesday, April 7.

Dates to Remember  

• Board of Aldermen Meeting: April 7 
  • Work Session: 6pm
    • Update on Combined Water and Wastewater Services Capital Improvement Projects
    • Presentation on the Utility Rate Study by Raftelis
  • Regular Session: 7pm
• Planning & Zoning Commission: April 14
• Board of Aldermen Meeting: April 21
• City Wide Garage Sale: April 25 hosted by Smithville Main Street District
• Bulky Item Pick-Up: April 27 - May 1
• E-Waste & Shredding Event at the City Hall Parking Lot: May 2 from 9am - 12pm 
• Sports – REGISTER HERE
  • Fall sports online registration opens July 1! – youth soccer, little kickers soccer clinic, youth volleyball, t-ba
• Programs & Events – REGISTER HERE
  • Chamber of Commerce’s Community Egg Hunt: April 4 | FREE
  • Adult Egg Hunt: Rescheduled due to weather April 10 - spots still available!
  • Pickleball Lessons May session: May 1, 8, 15, 22
  • KC Symphony in the Park: May 3 @ 6:00 | FREE
  • SPR at Farmers’ Market: May 6 | FREE
  • SPR at Farmers’ Market: May 20 | FREE
  • Splash Pad opens for the Season: (Memorial Day Weekend) May 25
  • Pickleball Lessons June session: May 29, June 12, June 19, June 26
  • WildHERness Camp & Craft: May 30-31
  • Let’s Learn Mahjong: June 6
  • SPR at Farmers’ Market: June 10 | FREE
  • wildHERness Women’s Hike (16+): June 20 | FREE
  • Let’s Learn Mahjong: June 27
  • Challenger Sports Smithville Soccer Camp: June 8-12
  • Clay County under the stars & stripes / America 250: July 4 | FREE
  • SPR at Farmers’ Market: August 19 | FREE
  • Smithville’s Haunted Campground: October 24 | FREE
  • Parks and Recreation Month! | FREE
    • Mondays: Books & Bites (registration required)
    • Tuesdays: Mini Makers (registration required)
    • Wednesdays: Popsicles at the Pad
    • Thursday: Yoga at the Courtyard
    • Friday: Picnic on the Playground
    • Saturday: Story Walk

• April 2026 Citizen Newsletter
• Help Us Rename Diamond Crest Park! This park has grown beyond its original name—now connecting three neighborhoods and becoming a true community space. It’s time for a name that reflects what it is today: a place for everyone. 
  • Submit your name ideas by April 19
  • New name revealed before our Memorial Day ribbon cutting
    For more information, to follow along with the progress of this renaming, or to submit your own idea visit: www.smithvillemo.org/RenameDC
• SPR Sponsorship Opportunities are here! For more information visit www.smithvillemo.org/sponsor
• Sign up for our Parks & Rec monthly newsletter HERE

• Senior Center new phone number effective as of April 2: 816-608-1323. Use this number to contact SC staff and for lunch reservations.  Old number will be disconnected.
• Congratulations to our Spring Pool Tournament winners: 1^st Richard Failer, 2^nd Ken Boyce, 3^rd Archie Devers
• Worked on completing 1^st Quarter metrics for Clay County Senior Services grant reporting
• Added two new Meals on Wheels clients
• April Activity Calendar

Project Updates
Current projects can be found on our website at Smithville, MO. 

Maintenance Updates

• Parks
  • Had pre-construction meeting for the OK Railroad Trail and they are scheduled to break ground on April 13
  • Started the process to rename Diamond Crest Park
  • Started mowing route with batwing (wildflower and Smith’s Fork)
  • Laid sod at City Hall
  • Campground opened and shower house up and running
  • Ball fields are in the process of being prepped for season
  • Equipment maintenance on painting rig, zero turns and batwing
• Streets
  • Restriped city-owned parking lot on Meadow Dr
  • Mowed around shop and retention pond.
  • Repaired outfall on Woodruff St and installed 10 tons of rip rap rock around apron
  • Evaluated asphalt conditions at 1410 NE 196th Ct
  • Reinstalled stop sign at 500 Newport Dr
  • Replaced two signs with reflectivity issues on Liberty Rd
  • Repaired potholes on NW 144^th St, 180^th St, Cedar St, Asher Bay St, N Virginia Ave, S Commercial Ave, Stonebridge Ln and NE 188^th St.
  • Inspected culvert at 902 Spelman Dr
• Utilities
  • Total Drinking Water Production 6,688,000 gal
  • Completed all testing required at the WTP
  • Conducted weekly chemical level checks at the WTP for ordering
  • Collected 5 bac’t samples and delivered to the state
  • Backwashed filters #1,2,3,4 and 5
  • Completed maintenance on the WTP lawn mower
  • Removed old, unused piping from the basement at the WTP
  • Emptied the Southwest tower for routine exterior painting
  • Completed wiring to new chemical pumps for SCADA
  • Completed mowing at the WTP
  • Completed 17 work orders
  • 106 locates completed
  • Completed 1 new water service connections
  • Completed all testing required at WWTP
  • Treated 4,056,000 gallons of wastewater
  • Completed weekly checks of all booster station and towers in the distribution system
  • Disconnected old service at 413 Highland Ave and repaired the yard and street
  • Repaired the sewer main behind 204 Owens Avenue
  • Utilities staff stayed on-site during the fire at the Smithville Plaza, shut the water off to the building and put out a small grass fire. Came out the next morning to help disconnect water service to the burnt building and restore water to the other building
  • Completed monthly water meter reads
  • Currently working on the charging system on the WWTP generator