Raymore officials oppose rumored landfill. Kansas City denies it’s even being planned

Raymore, Missouri, Mayor Kris Turnbow came out in public opposition this week to a rumored landfill proposal in his city after he said he received word from multiple sources of preliminary discussions.

Kansas City officials, however, said they have not been part of any landfill conversations.

Turnbow, who didn’t reveal the names of his sources, said several private citizens with access to the information voiced concern to him and other city officials.

“Our calls were not responded to by Kansas City, so we felt it was incumbent on us to let our public know that there were potential plans,” Turnbown said.

The City of Raymore released a statement Tuesday with a map of the area. The hypothetical area would span from Missouri Route 150 Highway to 155th Street and from Southwest Peterson Road to Morridge Road, taking up roughly 960 acres of space.

The alleged landfill would back up to Raymore city limits and touch areas that Turnbow said are developing. The expanding Creekmoor subdivision — an area with a lake, golf course, upscale homes and an elementary school — would be affected.

But Kansas City responded with a statement saying it has not been formally approached about the possibility of such a project, nor has any proposal been submitted.

“If a project were to be proposed in the future, it would have [to] pass through a significant exploratory, development, and permitting process which would take years to develop,” the statement read.

City Manager of Kansas City Brian David Platt responded on Twitter to the allegations, saying it was news to them and that they were “on the same page” with Raymore officials.

“Great spot for housing if anything,” Platt said.

Jeffrey Williams, Director of City Planning and Development for Kansas City, said there hasn’t been any “real conversation” about placing a landfill in that spot.

“We, on our end, have no plans that have been filed and submitted for the creation of the landfill. I have not been in a conversation about that,” Williams said.

Many landowners said they haven’t been approached about the possibility of a landfill, either.

James Priegel, owner of American Topsoil, said neither he nor neighbors he’d spoken with had heard about the landfill prior to the City of Raymore’s release. His business lies inside the proposed landfill area.

Still, Turnbow said he would still like to see Kansas City release an official statement saying they would not support any such proposal if it did come. He said he believes there’s evidence of some sort of discussion, whether the city has had any formal part in it or not.

“I want some official word from Kansas City that … they would fully support Raymore’s position that it’s a poor spot for a landfill,” Turnbow said.