Infrastructure and Maintenance

The Public Works Maintenance Division provides the manpower and equipment to maintain the public infrastructure within the City of Leawood. It is the department’s goal to provide quality service in a timely and cost effective manner. Providing quality service in a timely manner assures the infrastructure remains in best possible condition, free from defects and safety hazards. Planned maintenance activities include, but are not limited to: pot hole patching, pavement surface repairs, sub-base repair, minor overlays, street cut repairs, street striping, sign replacement, curb and gutter repair/installation, storm sewer inspection / maintenance / repair, street evaluations, sidewalk repair on city property, guardrail repair/installation, and street sweeping.

Included in this Division are snow and ice removal and storm damage repairs. During snow removal events, personnel are scheduled 24 hours per day, as needed, to insure the safest possible travel conditions on public roads. The Street Division also responds to emergency calls as situations merit.

Bridges

In May of 2020, the City hired George Butler Associates (GBA) to perform the City’s biennial bridge inspections.  The City has 26 structures that are classified as a bridge with the Kansas Department of Transportation.  The contract also includes the inspection of one (1) culvert, eight (8) pedestrian bridges on park trails, twenty-two (22) pedestrian bridges on the Ironhorse Golf Course and one (1) Levee.

Street Lights

The purpose of roadway lighting:

Studies have shown that roadway lighting is an effective tool in helping provide a safer driving environment. Numerous before and after nighttime crash studies have shown that roadway lighting helps prevent accidents and that the benefits far exceed its cost. It should be remembered that roadway lighting is to assist the motorist during nighttime driving and any additional area being illuminated is of secondary benefit.

Who does what? 

Existing street lights in Leawood are operated and maintained by either the City or some HOA’s. Street lights in new subdivisions are installed by the developer (at their expense) after the street light plans have been approved by the Engineering/Design Division. In existing developed areas, residents may complete a Street Light Petition for the installation of a street light.

How do I report a streetlight outage? 

Click on the following link Street Light Service Request Form.

Street Trees

Street Trees shall mean trees, shrubs, bushes, and all other woody vegetation within the street right-of-way.

The City of Leawood shall maintain an extensive list of recommended trees for planting in public areas. This list shall be available to residents of the city upon request to aid in the selection of trees for private and public properties. The list of recommended trees shall be updated periodically to reflect new developments or species that will affect the population of the community forest.

Street Trees Ordinance

No Parking Signs

How do I request temporary No Parking Signs?

  • Call Police Records Division (913) 642-5555 (please call at least 72 hours before event)
  • When making a request, please provide the following information to the Records Clerk:
  • Contact person and phone number.
  • The date of your event.
  • The address the event will take place at.
  • Time of the function or event.
  • Approximate number of cars expected.

Approved Sign Work Orders are sent to the Public Works Sign Division. The Sign Crew will install the signs before the event and will remove the signs on the next business day after the event. For weekend events, signs will be put out prior to 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.

The signs are typically installed on one side of the street; which will allow parking on the opposite side. This will allow for a more passable street and make it easier for moving traffic and emergency vehicles to get through if needed.

If you have questions about the signs after you have placed the order please contact Public Works at (913) 696-7701 for assistance.

If you forget to call or if you miss the deadline for a weekend event, kindly ask your guests to park on one side of the street or the other.

Snow Removal Operations

The SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL PROGRAM is intended to keep vehicular traffic moving at a safe and constant speed. In order to accomplish this, the City is divided into ten (10) districts. Each district has three (3) priorities for snow and ice removal:

  • FIRST PRIORITY: Arterial roadways. Arterials are heavily traveled north- south, east-west, cross city routes and thoroughfares, (e.g. 95th Street, 119th Street, Mission Road). These streets are maintained at all times by continuous plowing and applying deicing material until these roads are cleared of snow and the snow has stopped.
  • SECOND PRIORITY: Collector streets. Collector streets in residential areas provide primary access to arterial streets, (e.g. Manor Road, 105th Street, 121st Street). Snow removal on streets in this classification begin once the snow has stopped or all First Priority Streets have been cleared. These streets are plowed with applying deicing material (when the temperature is under 32 degrees) until cleared of snow.
  • THIRD PRIORITY: Local residential streets. Snow removal on streets in this classification begins once the First and Second Priority Streets are cleared. Generally plowing of Third Priority Streets begins shortly after the snow event ends. These streets are plowed along with applying deicing material until the snow is cleared.
  • HOT SPOTS: Throughout the storm, known trouble locations, “hot spots” (steep intersections, hills and bridges) are continually plowed and treated with deicing material during the snow storm.

All snow is plowed to the side of the street. The City does not remove snow from in front of driveways or sidewalks. The removal of snow on sidewalks is the responsibility of the abutting property owner.

The City has recently established two different priorities for clearing streets:

  1. Snow events with forecasts predicting four inches of snow or less are staffed with 14 Public Works vehicles equipped for snow removal. Snow removal operations run 24-hours a day utilizing two 12-hours shifts until all streets are cleared.
  2. Snow events with forecasts predicting over four inches of snow are staffed with 19 vehicles equipped for snow removal. Both Public Works and Parks Maintenance equipment are used for these events. Snow removal operations run 24-hours a day utilizing two 12-hours shifts until all streets are cleared.

Vehicle Maintenance Personnel are called in on a 24-hour basis utilizing two 12-hour shifts during snow removal operations to perform vehicle maintenance and repairs.

The Leawood Public Works Department utilizes GPS technology, Automated Vehicle Locators (AVL) in all snow removal equipment. This added technology tracks the location of all vehicles including speed, direction, whether a plow is up or down, and rate of material application. The data will be overlaid on a City map showing where the trucks have been, direction they are going, streets that have been plowed, and streets that need plowing. This technology allows management to monitor the operation in real time improving response time and eliminate streets from being missed before a truck leaves its area.

These changes have been implemented to enhance the City’s response time to clear all streets of snow. The Current Policy and Goal is to have all streets cleared within 24-HOURS OF THE SNOW EVENT ENDING.

Snow Removal Guidelines

  1. Parking off the street during inclement weather.If street parking is absolutely necessary, do not park directly across from another parked car. Visibility is poor during snow removal and the trucks are large and need room to maneuver. Please give the trucks plenty of room.
  2. Trimming low hanging branches from right-of-way trees.Trees located close to the street must have their branches trimmed a minimum of fourteen feetabove the pavement at the curb line. In the past, snow removal trucks have been damaged by low hanging limbs, resulting in equipment down time and a slower snow removal program.
  3. Clearing the sidewalk in front of your home or business.It is the duty of the property owner and/or occupant of any lot(s) abutting upon any sidewalks to clear all snow and ice within 48-hours of a snow event ending.
  4. Not allowing children to construct snow structures or sled in the right-of-way.Snow plow trucks move several tons of snow off the pavement. It is extremely dangerous to allow children to play near the road during snow removal. Truck drivers cannot always see children playing and the weight and force of moving snow could cause serious injury.

Staff

Superintendent of Public Works

Vacant
14303 Overbrook Road
(913) 696-7701

Monday through Friday

 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Leawood Locates

For fiber, street lights, traffic signals, storm sewers email Kansas One Call ticket to:

Utility Locates

Kansas One Call
1.800.DIG.SAFE or dial 811 or 1.800.344.7233

WaterOne
(913) 895-1806