Mission mayor brings change by listening to residents

iwibacibem.wordpress.com
One key accomplishment is the proposed redevelopment of the former Plans for the Gateway developmentthere weren’t on her mind when McConwelk first ran for City Council. But with a 70,000-square-foot an eight-screen movie theate and other amenities, the project will help accomplish the revitalizationshe “At the time, I recognized that I showe d a part of Mission that wasn’t beint met — young families,” McConwell “A lot of the council memberds had grandkids or high schoolers; I was concernefd for the kids of After being named as mayotr in 2002, McConwell and the city began a new visiomn plan for Mission.
“I told the community that I would be like a freigh t train and announced where we neederdto go,” McConwell said. “Ig we needed to switchy tracks, we could, but we needed hones decisionsand input.” Blake Schreck, president of the , called McConwell a “one-woman campaign for her community.” McConwelol balances her community service as mayor with a full-tim career in law and her which now includes two “I was fortunate to find a good city administratotr and staff that works well McConwell said. “I can count on them to be trustworthy; it wouldd be difficult to do both ifI didn’tf have that.
” As mayor, McConwell has worked to raiswe the visibility and profile of the city. Ed president and CEO of , worked with McConwell on four piecews of legislation while working as a state legislatod from NortheastJohnson County. The most notable of those enableda $20 million flood plainn remediation project running through Mission’s commercial Three other pieces of legislation concernedf redevelopment. McConwell was also a big played in the push to get state approvalof $63.23 million in sales tax revenue (STAR) bondds for the Gateway project, making it the secondr project in the Kansas City regio n to receive the financing. in Wyandotte County was the first.
The amount of change going on in Missionn canbe scary, McConwell When residents are concerned or have she and the council have breakfast and lunch forums to address questions and go over plans. McConwello and the council have formed committeexs for community members to discuss theie visions forthe city. “Iu couldn’t dream this up on my own,” McConwell said. “We get everyone’s brains together.” O’Mallet said Mission has a strongv senseof community. “Laura has been a big part of advocatin g and supportingthose things,” O’Malle said. McConwell said she is committed to the communith and itsfuture vision.
“Thd reward is everyone feels they have a handin it,” McConwell