25 Years with Prairie Village

The City of Prairie Village, KS has been an Affinis client since the beginning. Together, we’ve tackled projects of all scopes and scales, working to improve safety, boost connectivity, and enhance resident quality of life. In celebration of our long-term relationship, we asked Kristen Leathers-Gratton, PE, Principal, Operations Manager and Transportation Practice Leader, to share what makes this relationship so impactful.

How did you start working with the City of Prairie Village?
Kristen: Our team first started working with the City when we were still a part of Larkin. At the time, we were tackling pavement repairs, street design, and large stormwater projects, as well as performing surveys. Then, when we started Affinis, they decided to make the leap with us. It’s something we appreciate to this day. Prairie Village is a legacy/foundational client that has helped us hit our 25-year milestone.

How has your relationship changed over the years?
Kristen: When we first began working together, our team handled projects of all sizes. Now, their internal staff takes the lead on annual street maintenance and outsources their yearly infrastructure programs to consultants. For this effort, Affinis designs the City’s annual Paving Program. The City prioritizes streets based on condition. Then, a group of streets is selected based on the repairs needed and the City’s budget. This approach increases efficiency for the City in managing staff workload and program budgets.

That being said, they still ask for help beyond these programs when larger scale, one-time projects are needed. Our work on Brush Creek is a great example of how they leverage outside experts for large standalone projects.

What does the City value in infrastructure improvements?
Kristen: For years, the City of Prairie Village has been a sought-after place to live by those in the metro area. This is due in no small part to the Public Works team. When it comes to improvements, they are focused on keeping their infrastructure in good condition and are always looking for ways to improve safety for all users. As they make updates, their team considers new ways to enhance each area. That could mean the addition of islands to create pedestrian refuges on major collectors, preserving large street trees, or integrating public art. Their staff goes above and beyond to maintain a high standard of living for residents.

Why have they continued to work with Affinis?
Kristen: Because we’ve worked together for so long, we have become a resource for the City. Our team has historical and institutional knowledge of many of their programs and streets. When they have questions, we’re only a call or email away. Our close working relationship is built on trust, which allows us to really collaborate with one another to find holistic, practical solutions.

We work as an extension of their staff and can pivot easily when priorities shift. A great example of this is our work on their Paving Program. Our team makes the first assessment. Then, the City’s program manager reviews our findings. Often, they compare the cost of the needed repairs to the available budget to determine priorities and which streets will be repaired that year. Because we’ve worked together so closely, we can easily make these changes .

How has your relationship with Prairie Village grown?
Kristen: Our relationship has grown on multiple levels. Not only have we built connections with more members of their team, they’ve gotten to know our co-workers well. If they need a survey, they will contact Robert directly, instead of working through the project manager. The same can be said for any issue. Instead of working with a single point of contact, they’re comfortable getting in touch with whomever they need to. We truly act as an extension of their staff.

How has this long-term relationship benefited the City?
Kristen: We are another record keeper for the City. As organizations change and staff transitions, we maintain a record of our work together. They can use our team as a back-up to fill in any gaps that may pop up. This kind of historical knowledge is invaluable when staff changes occur or neighborhoods are revisited.

What have been the keys to your success?
Kristen: I think the largest key to our success has been investing time in getting to know each City staff member. We’ve come to understand how they work best and what they need from our team. This helps us meet their expectations and provide a high-quality client experience tailored to each individual.

What has Affinis learned from this relationship?
Kristen: As we’ve grown and changed, we’ve seen staffing changes both in our office and at Prairie Village. We’ve learned how important it is to maintain and build trust at all levels – not just with a single point of contact. This is something we try to cultivate on both sides of the relationship.