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After winning the April 7 election by a landslide, Mayor Greg Canuteson is wasting no time in getting the city headed in a new direction.

In following through with what he promised during the campaign, Canuteson said among his first actions as mayor would be to appoint several five-member task forces to study pressing issues and find ways to create high-paying jobs and provide basic services.

He said the ad hoc groups would focus on infrastructure needs, light industrial and science and technology parks and going green.

“I don’t want to waste time studying things for a year and a half,” Canuteson said. “I want to put people on the task forces that are knowledgeable and can assess the situation quickly and report back in eight weeks.”

The mayor said each committee would be composed of one council member and four residents.

Canuteson said in this tough economic climate, Liberty could lose no time in positioning itself for success.

“We can’t lose one minute. Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit are already ahead of us, and I want Liberty to be the leader in the Kansas City area,” he said. “We have to plan for the future today with a solid economic foundation.”

Canuteson said he had spoken with Ford Motor Co. officials and with representatives of William Jewell College in his efforts to get light industrial expanded and high tech facilities operating in Liberty.

“I plan to go to Jefferson City in the next few weeks to talk to the governor,” Canuteson said. “Our state representative and senator are on board.”

Rep. Tim Flook, R-Liberty, said he had talked to Canuteson about his ideas on the science and technology park. Canuteson formerly held the office now held by Flook.

“Greg and I are on the same wavelength on this,” Flook said. “This is the direction we need to be going, focusing on primary jobs. If he’s got the council behind him, we can build our foundation.”

Canuteson, though, could find himself with some 4-4 splits, after voters retained two incumbents that were often on opposite sides, Ward 1 Councilman Harold Phillips and Ward 4 Councilman Nick King, and two newcomers, Ward 2 Councilman Jeff Moore and Ward 3 Councilman Jeff Watt, who beat incumbent John Parry. Although new to the council, both Moore and Watt have been attending meetings and served on city committees.

Phillips said he was looking forward to working with the new council and mayor.

“There’s a lot of good energy, different dynamics sitting around the table,” Phillips said.

“Liberty is in a great position to move forward, we just have to make sure we are ready to move forward when the opportunity presents itself,” Watt said.

Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .