RAYMORE – Mayor Kristofer Turnbow, in a Friday update to stakeholders, encouraged residents to attend a public hearing at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 opposing the possible installation of a landfill in the southeast Kansas City area, a threat he characterized as “very real.”
According to the update, the city plans to continue lobbying against such a project.
In the update, Turnbow explained that city staff, legal counsel and lobbyists met with legislators in Jefferson City to discuss the city’s concerns surrounding the negative impacts a landfill would have on the surrounding communities.
“While in Jefferson City, we were informed that Aden Monheiser and his lobbyist met with many of those same legislators on Tuesday, Jan. 10, in an attempt – as one legislator put it – to ‘humanize’ themselves with our elected officials prior to making a formal application to place a landfill at this location.
“A separate legislator was told by Monheiser and his lobbyist they had secured 237 acres of land to date. Coincidentally, this happens to be the same amount of land owned by the Dusselier cousins in the northeast portion of the area. A few weeks ago Paul Dusselier informed Mayor Turnbow in a text that he was no longer able to discuss the landfill issue with him because he had signed a non-disclosure agreement,” wrote Turnbow.
On Dec. 12, the Raymore City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the installation of a landfill in the area directly abutting Raymore’s north border, located in southeast Kansas City, between 155th Street and 150 Highway. The resolution also called for the City of Kansas City to join them in opposition.
“At this time, the Kansas City City Council still has not responded to this resolution nor have they offered any commitment to oppose a landfill in this location,” wrote Turnbow.
Turnbow wrote that Monheiser had informed legislators that application is expected in April. According to Turnbow, the City of Raymore will continue to regularly update the city’s website raymore.com/KillTheFill on the topic.
One major concern of this possible landfill is the deterioration of home values and a negative impact on future development.
“We are 100 percent opposed to this location for a landfill, which would produce a number of negative environmental impacts as far as six miles away, including landfill odors and near constant excavation noise for up to 50 years,” stated an Oct. 25 press release from the City of Raymore.
Turnbow said in a phone interview Monday morning that the City of Kansas City has remained silent on the issue.
“We believe they [a private developer] are discussing that site with Kansas City, but they’re not including us in the conversation,” Turnbow said on Monday.
He said that he believes that the City of Raymore and other neighboring cities should have been included in the discussion. Turnbow cited Missouri statute 260.205(9) which he said prevents the Department of Natural Resources from issuing a permit for the operation of the landfill without the approval of cities located within a half mile of the site.
Turnbow said he hopes to receive recognition from the developer that the location in question is a poor location for a landfill for the reasons stated above. He also stated that he wants the Department of Natural Resources to take note of the City of Raymore’s opposition.
