Our Beginnings
The Village of Pleasant Valley was founded in 1955 and is located in Clay County, Missouri. In the early days, it was more of a farming community. Early ordinances dealt mostly with regulation of streets and traffic codes.
The Village had its own school where most of the community activities were held. The ordinances changed as time passed. An August 1960 ordinances states, "Motor vehicles in operation within the Village of Pleasant Valley, Missouri, during the period from thirty minutes past sunset to thirty minutes before sunrise, shall carry lighted lamps . . . shall be equipped with at least two approved headlamps mounted at the same level with at least one on either side of the vehicle."
On July 21st, 1961, an ordinance was passed to issue a bond in the amount of $70,000 to construct a village hall. The hall was built near the corner of Sobbie Road and Pleasant Valley Road. In 2000, a new City Hall and Police Department was built at its present location at 6500 Royal Street (the corner of Royal Street and South Church/Sobbie Roads, at the entrance of the business park.)
On January 14, 1963, the Village of Pleasant Valley was incorporated into a fourth class city and became the "City of Pleasant Valley." Often referred to as "The Valley" by residents, the new City found itself without many services. There was no street department, no fire department, no sewers and the water system was a 1930’s WPA project. There was nowhere to go but "UP" and so began the progress that has given us the Pleasant Valley we know today.
The young city evolved because of the dedicated residents who cared about their city. When winter arrived and snow fell, the streets were treated by Ben Linhart and Dave Kane shoveling sand from the back of Bob Lehman’s dump truck. Today, we have a Public Works Department to keep the streets clear and safe. This Department is now responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of 4 municipal buildings, 2 parks, building permits, street maintenance, storm water drainage, the city's sewer service lines and a temporary animal shelter. It is staffed by a Director and two full time employees.
Jess Gabbert was elected Marshall and the Police Department was staffed with Will Carder, Bill Francis and Bob Wheeler. In 1978 and again in 1984, the City submitted to voters to change the elected position of Marshall to an appointed Police Chief. In 1984 it passed.
The current Police Department consist of a professional Chief of Police and 9 full time Police Officers, 4 part time Reserve Police Officers who assist with court sessions, special events and projects. A Communications Department with 6 full time and 7 reserve Communications Officers that dispatch not only for Pleasant Valley but also two other communities.
Fire protection was provided by Liberty at the cost of $100 per truck and $4.00 per man—"if they didn’t have another call." In 1963 meetings were held and plans made to have their own fire department. A new building to house the city offices and a fire house were built and in December 1964 the city purchased its first fire truck.
Today, the Chief of the Fire Department provides leadership and direction to approximately 30 part time medics and EMTs and 16 volunteer firefighters.
The City is approximately one square mile. The 2019 population of the City of Pleasant Valley was 3,003.
The City has a comprehensive plan and incentives in place to continue to spark economic development and growth.