Raymore city leaders on Friday warned city residents once again about a potential landfill they say could impact their city’s economic development and quality of life for years to come.Residents, meanwhile, have started organizing for a community-wide February 16th meeting to discuss ways to stop any landfill development from moving forward.Raymore city leaders first raised concerns with the proposal last year after residents brought forward details from private discussions to city leaders about 960 acres just north of East 155th Street between 150 Highway and from Southwest Peterson Road on the west to Horridge Road on the east as a potential landfill site.Raymore Mayor Kris Turnbow on Friday announced a new lobbying effort with state legislators in Jefferson City to halt any landfill by a private developer for the land just north of Raymore city limits.But he said the developer had spoken to many of the same state legislators the day before with details and timelines about a landfill application.“Any application would bring our development to a standstill on the north side of our community,” Turnbow said.An email to the developer named by the city of Raymore was not immediately returned on Friday.The land in question sits in Kansas City, Missouri. A spokeswoman for city manager Brian Platt said the city’s position on a potential landfill had not changed since last November, when Platt said, “We aren’t doing a landfill anywhere in Kansas City.”Turnbow isn’t convinced, saying city leaders in Kansas City have been radio silent since a resolution passed by Raymore’s city council denouncing the potential landfill site and asking Kansas City’s city council to do the same.“The end answer may be no,” Turnbow told KMBC 9 Investigates about any application process for a landfill. “But what happens to the development of my community and surrounding communities over the five to eight to 10-year process that process has to run through?”Sarah Thompson has followed the developments and discussions about the landfill closely. She lives in a neighborhood just across the street from the proposed site named by the City of Raymore.“We want this to stop,” she said. Thompson invited two other neighbors to speak to KMBC 9 Investigates about the landfill issue. All three said they recently bought their homes and have concerns about wildlife, environmental hazards, and resale values if a landfill development moves forward.“We’re scared for more reasons than just property value,” said Miranda Creech, who recently moved to Raymore from Chicago. “We want to know that the community that we’re living in is safe.”Raymore resident Jennifer Putthoff said she was thankful for communication from city leaders about the landfill issue, including a new website.“We truly appreciate the city of Raymore for keeping us informed, starting a website, getting everybody knowing where to go, what to do, how to be involved, and how to have a voice to protect your livelihood, your family, or community,” she said.Meanwhile, Thompson said she hopes to see a huge contingent of residents at the February 16th meeting. The city has yet to announce a location for the meeting, but she hopes people save the date to speak their minds.“We want action,” she said.If you have any tips, documents, or developments about this situation KMBC 9 Investigates should see, email investigative reporter Matt Flener at investigates@kmbc.com.
Raymore city leaders on Friday warned city residents once again about a potential landfill they say could impact their city’s economic development and quality of life for years to come.
Residents, meanwhile, have started organizing for a community-wide February 16th meeting to discuss ways to stop any landfill development from moving forward.
Raymore city leaders first raised concerns with the proposal last year after residents brought forward details from private discussions to city leaders about 960 acres just north of East 155th Street between 150 Highway and from Southwest Peterson Road on the west to Horridge Road on the east as a potential landfill site.
Raymore Mayor Kris Turnbow on Friday announced a new lobbying effort with state legislators in Jefferson City to halt any landfill by a private developer for the land just north of Raymore city limits.
But he said the developer had spoken to many of the same state legislators the day before with details and timelines about a landfill application.
“Any application would bring our development to a standstill on the north side of our community,” Turnbow said.
An email to the developer named by the city of Raymore was not immediately returned on Friday.
The land in question sits in Kansas City, Missouri. A spokeswoman for city manager Brian Platt said the city’s position on a potential landfill had not changed since last November, when Platt said, “We aren’t doing a landfill anywhere in Kansas City.”
Turnbow isn’t convinced, saying city leaders in Kansas City have been radio silent since a resolution passed by Raymore’s city council denouncing the potential landfill site and asking Kansas City’s city council to do the same.
“The end answer may be no,” Turnbow told KMBC 9 Investigates about any application process for a landfill. “But what happens to the development of my community and surrounding communities over the five to eight to 10-year process that process has to run through?”
Sarah Thompson has followed the developments and discussions about the landfill closely. She lives in a neighborhood just across the street from the proposed site named by the City of Raymore.
“We want this to stop,” she said. Thompson invited two other neighbors to speak to KMBC 9 Investigates about the landfill issue. All three said they recently bought their homes and have concerns about wildlife, environmental hazards, and resale values if a landfill development moves forward.
“We’re scared for more reasons than just property value,” said Miranda Creech, who recently moved to Raymore from Chicago. “We want to know that the community that we’re living in is safe.”
Raymore resident Jennifer Putthoff said she was thankful for communication from city leaders about the landfill issue, including a new website.
“We truly appreciate the city of Raymore for keeping us informed, starting a website, getting everybody knowing where to go, what to do, how to be involved, and how to have a voice to protect your livelihood, your family, or community,” she said.
Meanwhile, Thompson said she hopes to see a huge contingent of residents at the February 16th meeting. The city has yet to announce a location for the meeting, but she hopes people save the date to speak their minds.
“We want action,” she said.
If you have any tips, documents, or developments about this situation KMBC 9 Investigates should see, email investigative reporter Matt Flener at investigates@kmbc.com.