Lees Summit Journal

Exergonix extends talks for Lee's Summit incentives

Lee’s Summit and entrepreneur Don Nissanka have recharged their negotiations after Nissanka threatened to pull the plug on his energy storage systems plant.

The founder and CEO of Exergonix Inc. said in mid-May that he would find another city for his project if Lee’s Summit didn’t agree to a modified development deal.

Nissanka told the city in a letter that he needed to meet a May 31 deadline to buy an 83-acre property owned by Pfizer Corp.

Lee’s Summit posted a news release Tuesday stating that Exergonix was seeking a two-week extension to close on the Pfizer property at Missouri Highway 291 and U.S. Highway 50.

“This has allowed more time for the city and Exergonix to create mutually agreeable conditions,” City Manager Stephen Arbo said in the release. “Public/private agreements must be well-constructed for everyone involved. The Exergonix partnership deserves the additional time and energy to make certain there is a successful outcome for all parties.”

Nissanka asked the city to maintain its commitment of paying $1.4 million to help buy the land in spite of dialing back the project’s overall size by roughly half. He now proposes building a $50 million “Green Energy Park” that will create 150 jobs, rather than the original plan to build a $90 million production facility and headquarters with 275 jobs.

Nissanka scaled back his projections after Exergonix failed to win $100 million in federal money to kick-start the project.

Downtown Lee's Summit's Emerald Isle St. Patrick's Day Parade ...

Events@downtownls.org | 816-246-6598

Please click here to download this press release.

The Sixth Annual Emerald Isle St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held Saturday, March 12, in Downtown Lee’s Summit. Approximately 50 entries and 700 people participated in the parade, and great weather brought out a few thousand spectators.

The theme for this year’s parade was “Lee’s Summit: Your Pot O’ Gold!” Entries interpreted the theme in various ways, with rainbows and pots o’ gold abundant. In the end, seven awards were given out which included: St. Patrick’s Award (Best Use of Theme) – Lee’s Summit Garden Club; Shamrock Award (Best Business Entry) – Cockrell Mercantile; Best Float Award – John Mills; Best Marching Unit – Steppin’ Out; Best Musical Entry – KC Drum Tribe; Best Vehicle Award – KC Jeep Club; and Most Unique –KC Drum Tribe.  All winners were presented with trophies following the parade.

This year’s Grand Marshall was Karen Messerli, former Mayor of Lee’s Summit. The parade chairman was Chuck Denton of Doherty & Sullivan’s Irish Goods.  Parade sponsors were Bank of Lee’s Summit and The Lee’s Summit Journal.

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Rowell's American newspaper directory

Lee's Summit community survey, a report to Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce, Lee's Summit Journal

The working press of the nation

A History of Lee's Summit, Mo., 1865-1990, from the files of the Lee's Summit journal & ledger