On the agenda: Smithville Minutes — ALPR (Aug 18)

SMITHVILLE
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
REGULAR SESSION
August 18, 2026,
7:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers and Via Videoconference
1.

Call to Order
Mayor Boley, present, called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m. following the work session. A
quorum of the Board was present: Marv Atkins, Kelly Kobylski, Melissa Wilson, Dan Hartman
and Leeah Stone.
Staff present: Cynthia Wagner, Gina Pate, Matt Bond, Chief Lockridge,
Hendrix, Matt Denton and Linda Drummond.
City Attorney

present:

of Allegiance

Rick Welch, Jack

Padraic Corcoran.

2.

Pledge

lead

by Captain

Trevor

3.

Consent
Agenda
*
Minutes
August 4, 2026, Board of Aldermen
August 4, 2026, Board of Aldermen

Ballard

Work Session Minutes
Regular Session Minutes

*

Finance
Report
*
Finance Report for July 2026

*

Resolution
1608,
Leak Adjustment
A Resolution approving a water and wastewater

leak adjustment

request for Randy

Kienzle in the amount of $279.55.
*

Resolution
1609,
Annual
Fireworks
Sole Source Contract
A Resolution approving a sole source Fireworks Display contract
Pyrotechnics.

Alderman
motion.

Atkins moved to approve

the consent

agenda.

Alderman

Renewal
with Premier

Hartman

seconded

the

No discussion.
Ayes - 5, Noes - 0, motion
REPORTS
4.

FROM OFFICERS

carries.

Mayor Boley declared

AND STANDING

the consent

agenda approved.

COMMITTEES

Committee
Reports
Alderman Wilson reported on the August 11 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
They
discussed and approved two of the items on the agenda this evening, a rezoning request, plat
approval and a conditional use permit for a battery storage facility, and the Clay Creek
Meadows conception plan. Alderman Wilson also reported that following the discussion of the

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Whispering Creek Farms plat at 4200 Northeast 144'h Street, the Planning and Zoning
Commission postponed the item for consideration at a October meeting.
Chief Lockridge announced the promotion of Trevor
summary of his background and experience
Captain Trevor

Ballard to the rank of Captain and gave a

Ballard's wife Lani Ballard pinned on his captain

badge.

FigureI CaptainBallardand his wife LaniBallard

Mayor Boley called for a short recess at 7:40 p.m.
5.

The meeting

reconvened

at 7:49 p.m.

City Administrator's
Report
Cynthia Wagner noted the City Administrator's
report is in the packet. Cynthia recognized
recent staff promotions including Trevor Ballard to captain in the police department
and the
promotion of Levi DeDonder to Streets Crew Leader.
Cynthia noted the upcoming
encouraged both community

public forums for the City's strategic planning process and
members and governing body members to participate.

The September 15 Board of Aldermen meeting has been cancelled due to the Missouri
Municipal League annual conference that the Mayor and Board will be attending. The meeting
is rescheduled for September 29.
ORDINANCES
6.

& RESOLUTIONS

Bill No. 3126-26,
FY2026 Budget Amendment
No. 7 - Ist & 2nd Reading
Alderman Atkins moved to approve Bill No. 3126-26, amending the FY2026 budget to add

$144,000 to the General Fund expenditure budget and $101000
Sales Tax Fund expenditure
the motion.

budget.

Ist reading

by title only.

to the Capital Improvement
Alderman

Hartman

seconded

No discussion

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Upon roll call vote:
Alderman Stone - Aye, Alderman Hartman - Aye, Alderman Kobylski - Aye,
Alderman Wilson - Aye, Alderman Atkins - Aye.
Ayes - 5, Noes - 0, motion carries. Mayor Boley declared Bill No. 3126-26 approved for first
reading.
Alderman Atkins moved to approve Bill No. 3126-26, amending the FY2026 budget to add
$144,000 to the General Fund expenditure budget and $10/000 to the Capital Improvement
Sales Tax Fund expenditure budget. 2nd reading by title only. Alderman Hartman seconded
the motion.
No discussion.

Upon roll call vote:
Alderman Hartman - Aye, Alderman Atkins - Aye, Alderman Stone - Aye,
Alderman Kobylski - Aye, Alderman Wilson - Aye.
Ayes - 5, Noes - 0, motion carries. Mayor Boley declared Bill No. 3126-26 approved.

7.

Bill No. 3127-26, Rezoning,
Storage - Is' Reading

Plat Approval

& Conditional

Use Permit - AYPA Battery

Alderman Atkins moved to approve Bill No. 3127-26, approving a plat, changing the zoning
from B-3 to I-1 and granting a Conditional Use Permit to AYPA Power for a Battery Energy
Storage Facility at 14600 North 169 Highway. Ist reading by title only. Alderman Hartman
seconded the motion.
Penny Huff, 2120 County Road KK, opposed the proposed battery storage facility, citing a
recent lawsuit against NextEra related to a thermal runaway fire at another site. She
expressed concerns that toxic chemicals, including PFAS, could contaminate groundwater,
nearby waterways, and agricultural land if a fire occurred. Ms. Huff also warned that
firefighting efforts, smoke, ash, and possible battery explosions could create long-term
environmentaland public health risks for nearby residents and farms, with some impacts
potentially not becoming apparent for years.
Ganesh Gupta, 17422 Thomas Lane Road, expressed concerns about approving the
conditional use permit for the battery storage facility without a clear long-term
decommissioning plan. He questioned who would be responsible for removing the batteries
and managing any hazardous materials at the end of the facility's lifespan, especially if the
companywere to face financial difficulties or cease operations. Dr. Gupta also raised concerns
about the long-term viability of the AI and data center industry that could support such
projects.
Dr. Gupta urged the Board to require detailed plans for site closure, environmental protection,
and financial responsibility to ensure the community would not be left with a contaminated or
abandoned site. He noted that the company has the financial resources to address these
questionsand should provide clear assurances regarding future cleanup, containment, and
remediation

efforts.

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Lori Chapman, 14601 Mount Olivet Road, urged the City to delay approval of the proposed
battery storage facility. She noted that it may not fit Smithville's character and raises safety
concerns. Ms. Chapman said that there would be risks such as battery fires, toxic emissions,
explosions, and possible contamination of water and soil. She asked the Board to slow the
process and conduct further review before approving the rezoning and conditional use permit.
Staff responded to the concerns about site cleanup and long-term responsibility for a
proposed battery storage project and explained that a reclamation bond will be required to
ensure the site is restored when operations end. The bond will cover costs such as removing
batteries and remediating the property, which will be reviewed and adjusted every five years
based on updated cost estimates and can be used by the city if the owner fails to perform the
cleanup.The required bond amount is expected to exceed $1 million, the amount will be
finalized at a later date. Staff clarified that the bond would remain in place until the site is
fully restored and would include environmental remediation requirements.
Alderman Atkins voiced his concern that Missouri currently has only a few operating facilities
of this type, with many others still proposed or rejected, and no other city appears to have
multiple projects concentrated in one location. While he was supportive of the first battery
storage facility, he was unsure about a second facility coming so quickly. Alderman Atkins
said he worried the City may be moving too fast without fully understanding the long-term
impacts.
Staff clarified that both companies began the application process around the same time and
were effectively moving through development in parallel, although one advanced through the
process more quickly. Staff noted that the projects are being attracted to Smithville because
the City has major electrical infrastructure, including transmission lines and substations. Many
communities do not have access to this level of transmission capacity, making Smithville a
logical location. Staff explained that both proposed sites are located near major transmission
corridors and substations, including lines running near the site.
Upon roll call vote:
Alderman Wilson - Aye, Alderman Atkins - No, Alderman Hartman - Aye,
Alderman Stone - Aye, Alderman Kobylski - Aye.
Ayes - 4, Noes - 1, motion carries. Mayor Boley declared Bill No. 3127-26 approved for first
reading.

8.

Bill No. 3128-26, Clay Creek Meadows Conceptual Plan - Ist Reading
Alderman Atkins moved to approve Bill No. 3128-26, approving the Conceptual Plan for Clay
Creek Meadows subdivision. 1st reading by title only. Alderman Hartman seconded the
motion.
No discussion.

Upon roll call vote:
Alderman Atkins - Aye, Alderman Kobylski - Aye, Alderman Stone - Aye,
Alderman Wilson - Aye, Alderman Hartman - Aye.
Ayes - 5, Noes - 0, motion carries, Mayor Boley declared Bill No. 3128-26 approved for first
reading.

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9.

Resolution 1610, Award Bid No. 26-10, Concrete/Crack
Seal Repairs
Alderman Atkins moved to approve Resolution 1610, awarding Bid No. 26-10 to Southwinds
Contracting,LLC for concreterepairsin the amount not to exceed $291000. Alderman
Hartman

seconded

the motion.

No discussion.

Ayes - 5, Noes - 0, motion carries. Mayor Boley declared Resolution 1610 approved.

10.

Resolution 1611, Award Bid No. 26-12, Raintree Waterline
Replacement
Alderman Atkins moved to approve Resolution 1611, awarding Bid No. 26-12 to Menke
Excavating,LLC for the Raintree Waterline Replacement in an amount of $117,630. Alderman
Hartman

seconded

the motion.

No discussion.

Ayes - 5, Noes - 0, motion carries. Mayor Boley declared Resolution 1611 approved.
11.

Resolution 1612, Amendmg B!d N0. 26-04, ASpOalt Iiupi(ivamCiiL
riajects
Alderman Atkins moved to approve Resolution 1612, amending Bid No. 26-04 Forest Oaks
Improvement Project to include overlay of Heritage Park parking lot overlay in the amount not
to exceed $110,000. Alderman Hartman seconded the motion.
No discussion.

Ayes - 5, Noes - 0, motion carries. Mayor Boley declared Resolution 1612 approved.
12.

Resolution 1613, Addendum to Agreement
with Navigate
Alderman Atkins moved to approve Resolution 1613, approving Task Order Number TO2 to
the Master Services Agreement with NAVIGATE Building Solutions, LLC to complete a Financial
Viability Study updating facility needs review. Alderman Hartman seconded the motion.
No discussion.

Ayes - 5, Noes - 0, motion carries. Mayor Boley declared Resolution 1613 approved.
OTHER

13.

MATTERS

BEFORE

THE BOARD

Public Comment
Austin Armstrong, 17702 North 169 Highway, asked the Board to consider keeping the School
Resource Officer (SRO) program and unban Kristine Bunch.
Penny Huff, 2120 County Road KK, suggested that the City slow down and consider a one-year
moratorium on new data centers and future battery energy storage facilities. She said that this
pause would give the Board time to better evaluate the environmental impacts of such
developments on Smithville. Ms. Huff expressed concerns about regional water usage, noting
that large data center projects near Smithville rely on municipal water infrastructure connected
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to the Kansas City water system, which draws from sources including the Missouri

River,

Smithville Lake, and the Pfatte River Basin. She noted the importance of protecting local water
resources, Smithville Lake and the community's rural character.
Mark Krokstrom, 109 West Pine Street, inquired about ALPR or Flock cameras.
Mayor Boley informed him that the City does not have those types of cameras in the proposed
budget.

Lori Chapman, 14601 Mount Olivet Road, spoke in support for the SRO program. She hoped

the Board, the school board, and the superintendent could work together successfully to move
the program forward. Ms. Chapman noted she used to work at the school and spoke of an
experience involving a child who was the victim of a crime. She explained how positive
interactionswith law enforcement helped provide comfort and reassurance during recovery.
Ms. Chapman noted that SROs contribute more than security, serving as trusted and
supportive figures for students.
14.

New Business from the Floor
Alderman Wilson asked that staff with the City Attorney to bring an Ordinance forward
pertaining to banning the sale of kratom.

15.

Adjournment
to Executive Session Pursuant to Section 610.021(1&12)RSMo.
Alderman Hartman moved to adjourn to Executive Session Pursuant to Section
610.021(1&12)RSMo. Alderman Kobylski seconded the motion.
Upon roll call:

Alderman Hartman - Aye, Alderman

Atkins - Aye, Alderman

Alderman

Stone - Aye.

Kobylski

- Aye, Alderman

Wilson

- Aye,

Ayes - 5, Noes - 0, motion carries. Mayor Boley declared the Regular Session adjourned to
Executive Session at 8:26 p.m.

Li

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