The fill is killed: Governor signs bill officially shutting down chance of south KC landfill

By Don Bradley

Today, Governor Mike Parson signed a bill that effectively ends the controversial landfill near Raymore. “This commonsense measure will ensure homeowners have more of a say in what developments are allowed in their communities,” he said. 

“Relief. That’s the only way to describe how our community feels,” Raymore Mayor Kris Turnbow said. “The governor’s signature lifts the veil that has hung over our city for nearly two years since we first learned of this proposed development.”

The Raymore landfill fight ended before the final showdown.

The city of Raymore and a Kansas City developer had to first come to a $3.73 million settlement agreement after nearly 18 months of bitter conflict that played out in the Missouri General Assembly and appeared to be headed for a courtroom.

The two sides agreed to a resolution that had developer Jennifer Monheiser walking away with cash, and Raymore getting assurance the city won’t have a landfill at its front door.

Raymore Mayor Kris Turnbow described the agreement as a “win-win.”

“I think we did good,” Turnbow said. “With what this could have cost to fight over the next five or so years, I think we were prudent with taxpayer dollars. And it saves us a lot of anguish and worrying about the landfill.”

In a statement to media, Monheiser said her company remains committed to waste solutions for the Kansas City region.

The agreement called for Raymore to pay Monheiser and her company the $3.73 million in exchange for her to halt plans for a landfill on property she owns and to agree that the land’s use be limited in the future to residential, agriculture and light commercial.

The money includes $440,000 for purchase of 12 acres of Monheiser land that Raymore plans to use for an eventual boulevard through the proposed landfill site.

Turnbow said the payout would not affect the city’s budget and that cities and school districts who joined Raymore in the fight would be asked to contribute.

The agreement was contingent on the General Assembly approving legislation that would extend the distance a city could reject a landfill from the current half-mile to a mile from the city’s border.

The senate approved the measure on April 17. On Tuesday, April 23, the House approved the measure that specifies:

 “The Department of Natural Resources is prohibited from issuing a permit for the operation of a solid waste disposal area designed to serve a city with a population greater than 400,000 inhabitants located in more than one county, if the site is located within one-half mile of an adjoining municipality without its approval. This bill changes the required distance from the adjoining municipality from one-half mile to one mile.”

On May 6th, Gov. Mike Parson’s signed the bill, ending any opportunity for the south Kansas City landfill.

When Monheiser, who owns KC Recycling and Waste Solutions, acquired the property, she did not publicly announce her plans.

Raymore heard rumors and investigated, setting off a firestorm in the area about health concerns and property values. Citizens packed community meetings.

Monheiser told a Missouri House committee she had acquired 500 acres and planned to use 270 of those for the landfill.

The site is in southeast Kansas City, between Missouri 150 Highway and 155th Street, between Horridge Road and Peterson Road, north of Raymore’s Creekmore subdivision, golf course and lake. An elementary school is within two miles.

Virtually every city and school district in the area signed on in opposition to Monheiser’s plan.