Property Tax Relief Program

At last night's City Council meeting, the Council approved a Property Tax Relief Program designed to refund a portion of the City's property taxes to our qualifying low-income residents, seniors, and disabled veterans.

Applications will open one month from today, on June 3rd, with refunds up to $500 per applicant available.

Stay tuned for more information, including details on open houses in the Senior Center, where we’ll guide applicants through the application process.

Water Line Materials Survey

Under recent EPA regulations (called the Lead & Copper Rule), all water providers (like the City) are required to catalog the materials used in all water service lines — these are the pipes that deliver water from the City’s main water supply directly to your property.

The goal is to ensure that lead and copper levels in your entire water supply—from the Water Treatment Plant to your faucet—are controlled and within safe limits; for the City-owned side (up to the meter), the Water Department is performing manual inspections of every water service line connection around De Soto.

Now, we need your help to inventory the portions that run into your homes and businesses. Please help us build our records by participating in a survey about your property's water service lines.

Visit our City Lead & Copper webpage for more information.

FlashVote Survey Results

View the results of our most recent FlashVote survey, which asked the community for their feelings on growth and development. Thank you to everyone who gave their input.

If you'd haven't already joined "the panel" of our community survey tool, this is an opportunity to give your feedback on topics that impact you!

New Mural Downtown

Earlier this month, the City Council approved a funding request from the De Soto Arts Council to create a mural on the Caprine Supply building downtown. Along with the City funding, the Arts Council won a matching grant by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission.

The mural, designed and executed by Alex Eickhoff, brings many local and historical themes to life and aligns with the City's focus on enhancing the community with public art initiatives.

Keep an eye out for the mural’s completion by the end of May, and enjoy watching our downtown become even more baaaa-utiful!

Oh, and why goats? That's at the request of the building owner, who specializes in goat supplies!

Swim Team Signups Due Today

Today is the last day to sign up for the 2024 De Soto Dolphins Swim Team!

• Registration Fee: $80 (includes a team shirt and swim cap)
• First Practice: Tuesday, May 28th
• Practice Schedule: Monday - Thursday mornings
• Swimmer Requirements: Must be able to swim the length of the pool using front stroke, back stroke, and have knowledge of the breaststroke.

Cookie Decorating Class

Grab your friends and come "bake" some memories with us at our summer-themed cookie decorating class!

• Date: May 20th
• Time: 6-7:30pm
• Cost: $20 per person
• What You Get: 6 cookies to decorate with step-by-step guidance
• Deadline: May 17th @ 4pm

Disclaimer: the instructor bakes the cookies before the class; we just have to decorate (and eat) them!

Swim Lessons

The first swim lesson session of the season kicks off one month from today! Whether you're a beginner or just looking to improve your strokes, our instructors can help you make a big splash in your swimming skills.

Classes are 30-40 minutes each day from Monday to Thursday, with Fridays reserved for make-up sessions. Each two-week session is $40.

• Session #1: June 3-14
• Session #2: June 17-28
• Session #3: July 8-19
• Session #4: July 22-August 2

Reminder: K-7 & 83rd Closure

Kansas Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin repair work on the 83rd Street bridge over K-7 on Monday, May 13.

• Full closure of the bridge will start next Friday, May 10th. Traffic will still be able to enter and exit K-7 on the ramps but will not be able to turn left onto the bridge.
• KDOT expects the bridge to be closed for 14-16 weeks, with 83rd Street reopening in late August or early September.

Detours will be marked:

• Eastbound traffic will be detoured south on K-7 to Prairie Star Parkway, then back north to the 83rd Street off-ramp.
• Westbound traffic will be detoured north on K-7 to Shawnee Mission Parkway, then back south to the 83rd Street off-ramp.

DHS Named Top 10 High School

The ‘2024 U.S News & World Report's Best High Schools’ rankings put De Soto High School in the top 10 of the entire state AND the Kansas City metro area.

Congratulations; you make us so proud!

Arts Council Plein Air Event

The De Soto Art Council is hosting their 3rd Annual Plein Air Event, Saturday May 4th from 10- 2pm in conjunction with the Happy Valley Spring Festival. 

More event info here.

Uptown Evenings

Check out Uptown Evenings, hosted by Anabel’s Makers Market, on Thursday, May 9th, from 4:30 to 7:30pm. Located near 33021 W 83rd Street.

This event is open to everyone and will be

filled with local vendors, food, and live music!

City Wide Garage Sale

The community-organized City-Wide Garage Sale is scheduled from Thursday, May 30th, to Saturday, June 1st.

If you'd like to host a garage sale and have it listed on the garage sale map, please email your info (name, address, and dates you will be having your sale) to group organizers by May 20, 2024.

This event is coordinated by community members, not the City of De Soto.