May 2025

Jump to Events and Training Opportunities

Clay County appoints new county administrator — Damon Hodges has been selected to be the new county administrator following the announcement of the retirement of Dianna Wright. Hodges has been the city administrator of Raytown since 2018 and has over 20 years of experience in public service. He will assume the office on June 23, 2025. Learn more here.

Gardner receives Reliable Public Provider recognition — The American Public Power Association has recognized Gardner as a Reliable Public Power Provider citing excellence in reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvements. Learn more about the award.

Parkville named Tree City USA for 35th year — Parkville has earned its Tree City USA designation for the 35th consecutive year, reflecting its commitment to urban forest management. Read about the award. 

Overland Park reveals new brand — The city council has approved a new brand design after a community engagement. Officials will now begin the process of designing a city flag. View more information.

Independence announces Fairmount neighborhood infrastructure upgrades — Independence is set to begin infrastructure improvements in the Fairmount neighborhood, with upgrades connecting to other projects along US-24 Highway. Read more about the project.

Cost-share program available to Kansas City, Kansas, residents — Kansas City, Kansas, residents and businesses can apply for a cost-share program offering reimbursements for stormwater improvement projects. The program seeks to improve water quality. Learn more.

Riverside to host ribbon-cutting ceremony for aquatic center renovations — Riverside will celebrate renovations to its aquatic center — the biggest upgrade since its opening in 1998 — on May 24. The $3.5 million project includes more swimming space and a larger deck area. Read about the project.

If you have a job opening in your organization, share them on Metro KC Gov Jobs, the one-stop destination for public sector job opportunities in the KC metro area. Please contact Elizabeth Blakely.

Review and provide input on the plan update to Connected KC 2050 — MARC has released the final draft of the plan update to Connected KC 2050, the region’s long-range transportation plan. Major elements include refreshed goals and strategies, updated model scenarios and land use forecast, financial revenue forecast and enhanced public engagement and outreach. There will be an in-person open house on May 20 and May 27 at the MARC offices from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The public is invited to share their thoughts on the plan update until May 30, before it gets adopted in June. Provide input here.

Join Managers Roundtable this month — The next Managers Roundtable is on Thursday, May 15 at 2:30 p.m. at Lenexa’s Justice Center. The building houses the police department and municipal court, with a nearby police training facility. Lenexa staff will give a brief overview of the project and lead a tour of the facility. After the tour, attendees can continue networking at Brewbakers, located nearby. Register here.

Registration open for 2025 Regional Assembly and Leadership Awards — MARC has opened registration for the 2025 Regional Assembly, where it will present leadership awards. These awards honor people, organizations and initiatives that advocate regional concepts, approaches and programs; address regional challenges; apply innovative solutions to regional problems; and advance a regional vision of excellence and opportunity. Register here.

Build your network at Future Leaders Coffee — Ahead of the Regional Assembly, MARC is hosting Future Leaders Coffee, an exclusive opportunity to network with emerging public-sector professionals. Join keynote speaker Wally Bobkiewicz, city administrator of Issaquah, Washington, and your peers for insightful discussions in a small group setting. If you have 10 or fewer years in local government — or manage emerging talent — this event is for you. Space is limited, so register now.

States seek to improve service — Several U.S. states, including New York and Maryland, are making significant strides toward customer-centric government by focusing on improving service delivery and operational efficiencies. New York appointed the nation’s first chief customer experience officer to lead modernization initiatives and improve accessibility. Maryland has assembled a team of digital experience leaders focused on accessibility and user experience, using human-centered design and agile methods to streamline service delivery. Both states show how integrating customer experience into government operations can improve public services while increasing efficiency and reducing costs. Learn more.

Cybersecurity preparedness needed for states with federal funding changes — A 2023 report highlights increasing cyberthreats to critical infrastructure, including ransomware and foreign actors, as state and local governments struggle with limited resources and a lack of expertise. Cuts to federal cybersecurity funding under the Trump administration have further complicated efforts, though some states are creating new cybersecurity offices and legislation to bolster defenses. Despite these efforts, local governments continue to face challenges in securing their systems without sufficient federal support. Read more here.

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or celebrate regional government accomplishments.
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Visit our Grant Opportunity web page for current grant opportunities open to local governments.

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Managers Roundtable — Lenexa Justice Center
  May 15, 2:30 p.m.
• Total Transportation Policy Committee Meeting — MARC offices, 600 Broadway, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri
  May 20, 9:30 a.m.
• MARC Board of Directors Meeting — MARC offices, 600 Broadway, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri
  May 27, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
• Future Leaders Coffee — Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
  June 13, 9–10:30 a.m. 
• 2025 Regional Assembly and Leadership Awards — Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
  June 13, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

• ICS 300: Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents
  May 6
• ICS: Advanced Incident Command System for Complex Incidents
  May 12