KC mayor pitches annexation of Village of Loch Lloyd, tying issue to South Kansas City landfill debate miles away - KMBC Kansas City

Kansas City mayor pitches annexation of Loch Lloyd, tying issue to landfill

KC mayor pitches annexation of Village of Loch Lloyd, tying issue to South Kansas City landfill debate miles away

Kansas City, Missouri’s mayor has pitched annexing one of Missouri’s wealthiest communities while tying his proposal directly to a hotly contested potential landfill site miles away.

The mayor tells KMBC 9 Investigates annexation of the Village of Loch Lloyd allows Kansas City to better help with infrastructure improvements and development in Cass County, if Kansas City would give up land near Raymore around the site of a proposed 580-acre landfill.

But the plan has drawn criticism from leaders in Cass County aiming to stop the landfill site in South Kansas City, saying the mayor should have never tied the landfill and the Village of Loch Lloyd’s annexation together.

Mayor Lucas, last week, sent leaders in the Village of Loch Lloyd, Raymore, Cass County a letter suggesting Kansas City, Missouri should annex the Village of Loch Lloyd, a 450-home partially gated golf-course community with nearly 1,000 residents.

In return, the mayor pitched giving up land within Kansas City, Missouri city limits near Raymore. The mayor’s letter stopped short of naming the exact land near Raymore the city might give up.

But Raymore city leaders in June asked Mayor Lucas for a 160-acre plot near the corner of East 155th Street and N. Madison Street, currently within Kansas City, Missouri, and Jackson County limits.

With that specific parcel in Raymore’s city limits, it would trigger a state law that could prevent a landfill from coming within ½ mile of an opposing municipality.

Raymore city leaders have vehemently opposed developer Jenny Monheiser’s 580-acre landfill proposal for the past year.

Loch Lloyd annexation into Kansas City proposed last week

Loch Lloyd is a 1,200-acre community in northwestern Cass County that became a legal municipality on September 4, 2003. The community became a village to maintain independence and regulate development around its perimeter, according to its website.

“Unincorporated areas run the risk of involuntary annexation by another city, such as Kansas City, Missouri, or Belton,” the website says.

Loch Lloyd leaders did not immediately respond to emails from KMBC 9 Investigates regarding Mayor Lucas’s land annexation proposal.

The mayor’s letter says Kansas City has taken a bridge improvement along Kenneth Road near Loch Lloyd and continues to receive requests for multimillion dollar infrastructure improvements in the area.

“If we are looking to expend substantial sums so we have infrastructure costs that are adjacent to Loch Lloyd, then we might say, ‘Is there some sort of exchange we can work on,’” Lucas told KMBC 9 Investigates Tuesday.

The mayor tells KMBC 9 Investigates he does not simply want to “give up” Kansas City land near Cass County with development potential, highlighting the site near Raymore.

As for annexing Loch Lloyd, the mayor’s letter also said, “understanding the fiscal impact to Cass County residents becoming new Kansas City residents, we would be willing to evaluate the availability of freedom from certain Kansas City tax liability.”

But Lucas's proposal for Kansas City, Missouri to take on Loch Lloyd is not sitting well with leaders in Cass County.

“The notion that we would pit one group of our citizens against another group of our citizens is just ridiculous, it doesn't really portend for good governance or good faith,” said Cass County Commissioner Ryan Johnson.

Johnson provided Mayor Lucas’s letter to KMBC 9 Investigates.

“This is a public matter, and I felt like the public had a right to know.” Johnson said. “Simple as that.”

Mayor Lucas responded.

“I don't think it necessarily pits a group of residents against each other,” he said. “I think it says one thing that I have said in past meetings including with leadership in Raymore which is that we do remain interested in our potential growth our potential investment in South Kansas City.”

A Raymore spokeswoman released a statement to KMBC 9 Investigates Tuesday:

“The City of Raymore is in receipt of the letter and respects the Village of Loch Lloyd’s decision, whatever that may be,” the statement said. “Just as we wish to have a meaningful say in what impacts our own community, Loch Lloyd should be afforded that same opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Commissioner Johnson says he and his neighbors just want the landfill stopped from coming near their homes.

“What are you prepared to do to end the threat to my constituents, to his constituents, today?” he asked of Mayor Lucas.

“What are you prepared to do to stop this landfill from coming in?” KMBC 9 Investigates asked Lucas.

“I think we're going to make sure that we follow all the laws and fair due process in connection with any types of requests that come to us,” he said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THIS ISSUE:

Chronicle: Dirty Kansas City
'We have a trash problem': Developer speaks out on proposed landfill in South Kansas City
Cleanup in Kansas City’s third district prompts discussion about future landfill needs
City, regional, state leaders discuss next steps for South Kansas City landfill project
Kansas City mayor calls for one-year ban on landfill projects as bill stalls in Jefferson City
Filibuster stalls passage of ‘landfill bill,’ Raymore leaders will continue the fight

Developer confirms plans for South Kansas City landfill near Jackson, Cass County border line
South Kansas City pastor supporting proposed landfill project, amid community debate
Raymore, Kansas City residents discuss latest updates for proposed landfill
Deeper concerns raised about environmental impact of potential South Kansas City landfill
Lee’s Summit opposes potential landfill near border
Grandview waste transfer station proposes alternative to landfill
Raymore, Kansas City leaders discuss landfill questions

Mayor Lucas’s letter causes confusion among Cass County leaders

An email obtained by KMBC 9 Investigates from the City of Raymore under Missouri Sunshine Law appears to show concern among Cass County leaders regarding Lucas’s proposal.

“Several of the individuals who were included in the letter from Mayor Lucas that you emailed out last Thursday have reached out to me somewhat confused,” Raymore City Manager Jim Feuerborn said in an email Monday to Mayor Lucas’s deputy Chief of staff Reid Day.

Mayor Lucas’s letter said there is a request of Kansas City to “de-annex portions of the City in Cass County where current plans appear to place the landfill.”

It also references other portions of Kansas City’s presence in Cass County.

However, the current landfill plans -- and the potential land to be absorbed by Raymore -- are in Jackson County, not Cass County.

“This makes the premise of the letter that Kansas City wishes to trade one presence in Cass County for another somewhat problematic, would you not agree?” Feuerborn’s email said.

KMBC 9 Investigates asked Lucas about his references in the letter to a potential landfill site in Cass County.

“I think anything could be drafted better,” he said. “But what we were looking at was Cass county interests, right, and they're interested in their own expansion into Jackson County.”

Lucas stated during KMBC 9’s interview Tuesday multiple correct references to the potential landfill site in Jackson County.

KMBC 9 Investigates will continue to seek comment from residents and leaders in Loch Lloyd regarding this proposal and the implications it could have.

If you have any tips or thoughts KMBC should know about this situation email investigates@kmbc.com.