A Missouri Senate committee on Tuesday heard from an overflow crowd overwhelmingly against a proposed landfill in South Kansas City.Multiple city leaders, residents, and business leaders from municipalities surrounding the proposed landfill spoke against the project, as landfill developer, Jenny Monheiser, once again confirmed to Missouri lawmakers she is pushing forward with a plan to build a landfill south of Missouri 150 Highway.Monheiser said her company is under contract for or has acquired nearly 500 acres in the area, after last week releasing a list of frequently asked questions about the project to KMBC 9 Investigates. The developer has started sharing the FAQ with Missouri lawmakers claiming the landfill would not drive down property values or negatively affect schools in the area.However, Monheiser did not answer questions from KMBC 9 Investigates about the project Tuesday, walking out of the Capitol building with her spokesman. She has also remained publicly quiet on the exact details of the proposal with neighbors most directly affected by the project. Neither she nor her team has held public hearings or listening sessions to discuss her ideas for the land. She told senators Tuesday she wanted to speak to decisionmakers in Kansas City, Missouri first.“To me, hindsight is 20/20,” she said Tuesday. “To me, I need to go get, talk with the people who are going to be permitting this, where it resides, before I go talk to the communities outside,” she told a senate committee.Monheiser also confirmed she has irrevocable agreements with landowners in the area.“So regardless of what happens here at the state,” she said. “I’m going to own 500 acres, just under 500 acres of land, no matter what.”Sen. Barbara Washington (D-Jackson County) asked Monheiser what she would do with the land if she could not build the landfill.“I don’t have a Plan B at this point,” Monheiser said.BILLS THAT COULD KILL THE LANDFILLThe City of Raymore has led the charge against the landfill among various neighborhoods, cities, communities, and school districts surrounding the project.Now those communities and Monheiser are locked in a battle over legislation that could potentially kill the landfill proposal.A senate committee is deciding on bills that would put a larger buffer zone between any new landfills and a large, populated area.Right now, that buffer zone remains at a half-mile. If passed, the legislation would expand the zone to one mile between a solid waste disposal area and a service area with more than 400,000 residents.House Bill 909, sponsored by Rep. Mike Haffner, passed the Missouri House of Representatives last month by a vote of 138-16. It has moved to the Missouri Senate.Sen. Rick Brattin introduced an identical bill in the senate. That bill is now in the senate’s Local Government and Elections committee.The mayors of Raymore, Lee’s Summit, Grandview, Pleasant Hill, and all spoke against the landfill proposal in front of the committee Tuesday.Second grader Macie Thomas spoke to lawmakers, too.”Every morning, when I wake up, I do not want to smell trash,” she said. “I don’t want my family to get sick. I don’t want my community to get sick.”Thomas and her mother McKenzie Clark-Thomas came to tell lawmakers how the landfill would have a negative impact not only on their family but the surrounding neighbors, too.Clark-Thomas’ husband is 100 percent disabled from toxic waste after his deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, she said. She also said her mother is immuno-compromised and is currently in cancer treatment, saying she will have to move if a landfill comes to the area.Monheiser testified her team is planning at least $2 million worth of odor treatment at the landfill.“I don’t believe there is going to be an odor issue,” she said. “There is technology that has big pipes basically that go over the open face of the landfill that would basically like Febreze perfume the odor.” She also said she is working to minimize any impact on groundwater in the area, too.Monheiser also said she has also asked Pastor Darron Edwards of United Believers Community Church to work on a community benefits agreement with the Hickman Mills School District to help with before and after school programs. Senator Washington pushed back on the potential CBA with just Hickman Mills, saying any agreement should help students in Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Grandview, Raymore, and Belton, along with private schools in the area.Monheiser said the possibility remains to work with more schools. Edwards also confirmed he is working with Hickman Mills schools since his church is in the district.“This development could provide a resource so that we can do better for our children who are coming behind us,” he said.Edwards also said he has urged Aden Monheiser, Jenny’s husband, to speak more publicly about the proposal. The city of Raymore has identified him as a developer in the project. Edwards invited KMBC to his church in February for a meeting with Aden Monheiser to discuss the proposed landfill. KMBC 9 Investigates has attempted via email and through phone calls with their spokesman since then, multiple times, to schedule an interview with the Monheisers. After weeks without a firm commitment on an interview, KMBC 9 Investigates asked questions of the Monheisers in the hallways of the Capitol building.Jenny Monheiser walked out of the capitol without answering questions. A spokesman urged KMBC to try and schedule another interview.Aden Monheiser declined an interview, as well, referring KMBC back to their public relations person for comments, saying he has respectfully asked KMBC to work with the public relations manager.“If you presented the facts in a fair way, we would absolutely sit down and talk to you, but you don’t,” he said.When asked what has not been fair, Monheiser, chose not to answer more.“That’s all I have to say, Matt, end of comment.”After those interactions Tuesday, KMBC emailed both the Monheisers and their spokesman, offering another opportunity to answer questions about the project.KMBC did not immediately hear back.The City of Raymore, meanwhile, said it would keep residents up to date on an executive session that would push forward the buffer zone legislation to the full senate.If you have any tips about this story or suggestions for coverage, email investigates@kmbc.com.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. —
A Missouri Senate committee on Tuesday heard from an overflow crowd overwhelmingly against a proposed landfill in South Kansas City.
Multiple city leaders, residents, and business leaders from municipalities surrounding the proposed landfill spoke against the project, as landfill developer, Jenny Monheiser, once again confirmed to Missouri lawmakers she is pushing forward with a plan to build a landfill south of Missouri 150 Highway.
Monheiser said her company is under contract for or has acquired nearly 500 acres in the area, after last week releasing a list of frequently asked questions about the project to KMBC 9 Investigates.
The developer has started sharing the FAQ with Missouri lawmakers claiming the landfill would not drive down property values or negatively affect schools in the area.
However, Monheiser did not answer questions from KMBC 9 Investigates about the project Tuesday, walking out of the Capitol building with her spokesman.
She has also remained publicly quiet on the exact details of the proposal with neighbors most directly affected by the project.
Neither she nor her team has held public hearings or listening sessions to discuss her ideas for the land.
She told senators Tuesday she wanted to speak to decisionmakers in Kansas City, Missouri first.
“To me, hindsight is 20/20,” she said Tuesday. “To me, I need to go get, talk with the people who are going to be permitting this, where it resides, before I go talk to the communities outside,” she told a senate committee.
Monheiser also confirmed she has irrevocable agreements with landowners in the area.
“So regardless of what happens here at the state,” she said. “I’m going to own 500 acres, just under 500 acres of land, no matter what.”
Sen. Barbara Washington (D-Jackson County) asked Monheiser what she would do with the land if she could not build the landfill.
“I don’t have a Plan B at this point,” Monheiser said.
BILLS THAT COULD KILL THE LANDFILL
The City of Raymore has led the charge against the landfill among various neighborhoods, cities, communities, and school districts surrounding the project.
Now those communities and Monheiser are locked in a battle over legislation that could potentially kill the landfill proposal.
A senate committee is deciding on bills that would put a larger buffer zone between any new landfills and a large, populated area.
Right now, that buffer zone remains at a half-mile. If passed, the legislation would expand the zone to one mile between a solid waste disposal area and a service area with more than 400,000 residents.
House Bill 909, sponsored by Rep. Mike Haffner, passed the Missouri House of Representatives last month by a vote of 138-16. It has moved to the Missouri Senate.
Sen. Rick Brattin introduced an identical bill in the senate. That bill is now in the senate’s Local Government and Elections committee.
The mayors of Raymore, Lee’s Summit, Grandview, Pleasant Hill, and all spoke against the landfill proposal in front of the committee Tuesday.
Second grader Macie Thomas spoke to lawmakers, too.
“Every morning, when I wake up, I do not want to smell trash,” she said. “I don’t want my family to get sick. I don’t want my community to get sick.”
Thomas and her mother McKenzie Clark-Thomas came to tell lawmakers how the landfill would have a negative impact not only on their family but the surrounding neighbors, too.
Clark-Thomas’ husband is 100 percent disabled from toxic waste after his deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, she said. She also said her mother is immuno-compromised and is currently in cancer treatment, saying she will have to move if a landfill comes to the area.
Monheiser testified her team is planning at least $2 million worth of odor treatment at the landfill.
“I don’t believe there is going to be an odor issue,” she said. “There is technology that has big pipes basically that go over the open face of the landfill that would basically like Febreze perfume the odor.” She also said she is working to minimize any impact on groundwater in the area, too.
Monheiser also said she has also asked Pastor Darron Edwards of United Believers Community Church to work on a community benefits agreement with the Hickman Mills School District to help with before and after school programs.
Senator Washington pushed back on the potential CBA with just Hickman Mills, saying any agreement should help students in Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Grandview, Raymore, and Belton, along with private schools in the area.
Monheiser said the possibility remains to work with more schools. Edwards also confirmed he is working with Hickman Mills schools since his church is in the district.
“This development could provide a resource so that we can do better for our children who are coming behind us,” he said.
Edwards also said he has urged Aden Monheiser, Jenny’s husband, to speak more publicly about the proposal. The city of Raymore has identified him as a developer in the project. Edwards invited KMBC to his church in February for a meeting with Aden Monheiser to discuss the proposed landfill.
KMBC 9 Investigates has attempted via email and through phone calls with their spokesman since then, multiple times, to schedule an interview with the Monheisers. After weeks without a firm commitment on an interview, KMBC 9 Investigates asked questions of the Monheisers in the hallways of the Capitol building.
Jenny Monheiser walked out of the capitol without answering questions. A spokesman urged KMBC to try and schedule another interview.
Aden Monheiser declined an interview, as well, referring KMBC back to their public relations person for comments, saying he has respectfully asked KMBC to work with the public relations manager.
“If you presented the facts in a fair way, we would absolutely sit down and talk to you, but you don’t,” he said.
When asked what has not been fair, Monheiser, chose not to answer more.
“That’s all I have to say, Matt, end of comment.”
After those interactions Tuesday, KMBC emailed both the Monheisers and their spokesman, offering another opportunity to answer questions about the project.
KMBC did not immediately hear back.
The City of Raymore, meanwhile, said it would keep residents up to date on an executive session that would push forward the buffer zone legislation to the full senate.
If you have any tips about this story or suggestions for coverage, email investigates@kmbc.com.