Civil Municipal - Oct 2023

154 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 10 While some might label Spring Hill a “bedroom community” for Kansas City, such a moniker would overlook the town’s industrial prowess. “We have a lot of industry here,” Burton emphasizes. “Cardinal Glass, for instance, does a lot of the glass for skyscrapers, not only nationwide but worldwide.” Clorox, another industrial heavyweight in the area, specializes in kitty litter at the plant in Spring Hill. The city also has GemTech, an injection molding plant that primarily serves airlines. Spring Hill’s economic ensemble is not woven solely from the threads of large corporations. “We now have a hardware store and a lot of smaller businesses that are really good community participants,” Burton points out. The recent addition of a Kwik Trip store serves as a compelling indicator of the town’s attractiveness to large corporations. Infrastructure and Innovation: The Pillars of Progress In a rapidly evolving community like Spring Hill, infrastructure isn’t just a necessity—it’s a strategic asset. “One of the positives about being in a community that has high growth is that there are a lot of projects moving forward,” says Massey. “We have five-year capital plans that look at infrastructure needs within roads. We’re currently working on 199th Street and will be looking at 207th Street, among others.” The city is also conducting multiple studies on sewer-related infrastructure, a crucial component for sustainable growth. “All this growth does create a lot of needs within the infrastructure,” Massey acknowledges. “We probably have more needs and upcoming requirements for growth than we currently have the funding for, but that’s something we have to figure out.” Infrastructure isn’t the only area where Spring Hill is making strides. Berkey is particularly excited about the town’s advancements in broadband connectivity. “We’ve had a major lack of broadband issue here for 20-plus years,” he says. “After meeting with several companies for about six months, one big national company is building the entire town out in fiber internet. Now we’re giving our citizens multiple options, whereas we didn’t have any a year and a half ago.” A Magnet for Tourism and Local Culture When it comes to attractions and tourism, Spring Hill is far from a one-trick pony. “We’re currently working on Veterans Park, which has a lake and we’re putting a memorial out there,” Massey notes. The city also boasts the Sycamore Ridge golf course, described as a “top-five public golf facility in the state of Kansas.” Burton adds another layer to the city’s appeal with its proximity to Hillsdale Lake. “It’s not only a provider of water for several communities but also a very good