Liberty City Council OKs takeover of Missouri Route A

The City Council at a special session Monday, July 30, approved taking over responsibility from the state for 1.9 miles of Missouri Route A between Missouri Highway 291 and 112th Street.

The previous week it appeared the transfer of Route A could be in jeopardy, creating a domino effect that threatened the timing of other construction projects.

At their meeting July 23, some council members expressed concern about adding more roadways to the city's already over-burdened street system.

Not accepting Route A could have created problems immediately for Roger's Sporting Goods and potentially later for New Town at Liberty, a 939-acre development proposed along Route A. A second high school is also planned for construction on Route A, which will likely be renamed.

“The public works director had just told us that 60 percent of our streets are crap,” said Councilman John Parry. “Why would we want more when we can't take care of what we have? We didn't know that we could hurt Roger's if we didn't take A.”

Parry said council members, especially those newly elected, were not given enough information earlier about the ramifications of not approving the transfer of Route A to the city.

Mayor Bob Steinkamp said council members had the information, but some apparently didn't read it or understand it.

“It bothers me that they didn't think this through,” Steinkamp said. “I don't understand this wall of silence. If they don't understand it, they should ask.”

Shannon Peisert, vice president of Roger's, said it was important for the city to take over Route A because it would allow the business to move forward with its project, which involves relocation of utilities in Liberty's rights of way.

Roger's is in the Triangle but will move to Roger's Plaza, a sports-themed shopping center, next spring. Once that happens, Roger's old building will be torn down to allow Blue Jay Drive to connect to Highway 291, opening the eastern side of the Triangle for new businesses.

Steve Hansen, public works director, said the state wanted the city to take over all state routes in the city limits with the exception of Highway 291 in exchange for the state accepting responsibility for the proposed Flintlock overpass.

“The maintenance and liability connected to the overpass is huge,” Hansen said. “And by taking over A highway we would have more control, like setting speed limits.”

With the relinquishment agreement approved, MoDOT will forward a quit-claim deed for approval to the Missouri Highway Commission for the conveyance of Route A to the city, Hansen said.

In other road business, the council at its July 23 meeting unanimously approved spending $650,000 for micro surfacing and overlay and kept back $40,000 in contingency. Contracts approved included $76,393 with Musselman & Hall Contractors for micro-surfacing and $458,732 with Superior Bowen Asphalt Co. for overlay. The council also agreed to spend $113,846 with Superior Bowen for the Dalles subdivision roads. The roadwork is expected to take two to three weeks to complete, according to city engineer Brian Hess.



In other action, the council:- approved unanimously a rezoning application and preliminary development plan for Liberty Farms, an upscale subdivision at the southeast corner of La Frenz and Richfield roads, despite objections from neighbors. According to the applicant, the development includes about 50 homes priced in the $400,000 to $800,000 range to be constructed on 33 acres. Surrounding residents expressed concern about traffic congestion, density and potential crime encroaching on their rural lifestyle. Their greatest concern was about water runoff and possible damage to their properties. Developer BTF Management is expected to return later to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council with a final development plan, when any concerns would be addressed fully, officials said.

- approved road improvements for portions of Bent Oaks, Camelot, Claywoods and Blueberry and along South Wales, Blue Jay Drive, Murray Road, Richfield Road and Bristol Way.

- approved an easement agreement with the Liberty school district for an 8-foot wide paved park trail through the Blackberry development south of the Community Center.

- approved an amendment to the city's parking regulations to create a parking district in neighborhoods surrounding William Jewell College. Under the plan, residents would be allowed one parking permit per household to park on the street. This is the latest effort by the city, college officials and residents to control parking problems on neighborhood streets when classes are in session.