Blue Springs, Mo. – Mayor Carson Ross has challenged seven area mayors to see which municipal leader has the best jump-shot in the eighth annual Mayor’s Hotshot Basketball Challenge at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2 at the Grain Valley Community Center, at 713 Main Street in Grain Valley.
Mayor Ross will compete against Mayor Mike Todd, Grain Valley; Mayor Leonard Jones, Grandview; Mayor Eileen Weir, Independence; Mayor Bill Baird, Lee’s Summit; Mayor Jeremy Martin, Oak Grove; Mayor Mike McDonough, Raytown; and Mayor Mike Larson, Sugar Creek.
Immediately following, will be the City Administrators’ Hotshot Basketball Competition where Blue Springs City Administrator Eric Johnson will take on Ryan Hunt, Grain Valley City Administrator; Zach Walker, Independence City Administrator; Steve Arbo, Lee’s Summit City Administrator; Steven Craig, Oak Grove City Administrator; and Shelby Teufel, Pleasant Hill City Administrator.
Both basketball challenges are part of the Fall kick-off celebration for the eighth annual Eastern Metro Municipal Challenge. This program has grown to include the cities of Belton, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Grandview, Independence, Liberty, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, Raymore, Raytown and Sugar Creek.
“The Municipal Challenge provides a chance for city employees to come together for fun, wellness and fellowship between neighboring communities,” said Mayor Carson Ross. “This is the eighth anniversary of the hotshot challenge and I look forward to seeing which mayor brings home the gold!”
The Municipal Challenge grew out of a desire for Eastern Jackson County municipalities to create an event that would promote health, wellness and camaraderie along with a little competition though Olympic-style games. These events offer employees a chance to meet and network with their counterparts from neighboring municipalities while adding a social component for those who choose not to compete and cheer on their colleagues.
The 2018 Challenge games officially began in March and continue through September 28 on various days and locations located throughout Eastern Jackson County. All full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees, as well as elected officials from each city, are eligible to participate. Each city will earn points based on employee participation as well as how teams place in the competition. The city with the highest number of points at the end of the competition will win a trophy that will remain with the winning city until the next year’s competition.
The 2018 Municipal Challenge games include horseshoes, table tennis, dodgeball, 3-on-3 basketball, sand volleyball, archery, and kickball among other events.
For Municipal Challenge questions, please contact Sheryl Morgan at (816) 655-0494.