Harrisonville aldermen adopt budget-language correction ordinance, set Royal Street right-of-way hearing for April 7; enter closed session

The Harrisonville City Board of Aldermen adopted an administrative ordinance correcting budget language and closed a public hearing on a request to vacate portions of right-of-way adjacent to lots near the Royal Street extension, the board confirmed at its regular meeting.

The adopted measure, Council Bill 11, amends the city budget ordinance language to correct how a power-and-demand rate was described; the board voted to suspend rules and adopt the ordinance in the same meeting. A separate public hearing on vacation of certain right-of-way adjacent to Lots 567 and 8 of the Ventura Subdivision (described in the meeting transcript also as “Venture Subdivision”) was closed; the council bill tied to that hearing (Council Bill 10) was read and scheduled to return for additional consideration on April 7.

City Administrator and staff presented the budget-language correction as a technical fix. City staff said a table copied into the budget ordinance had incorrectly described the power-and-demand rate thresholds; the correction replaces the erroneous verbiage so the rate language matches the fee schedule. The board moved to suspend the rules to move Council Bill 11 to immediate reading; Alderman Turner made the motion and Alderman Mills seconded. A roll-call vote recorded ayes from Aldermen Turner, Davidson, Fouch, Franklin, Chaney, Mills and Doerhoff; Alderman Milner was excused. Council Bill 11 was adopted and designated as Ordinance 3718.

On the right-of-way item, a city staff member described the request as a vacation of portions of the existing cul-de-sac of Royal Street adjacent to Lots 567 and 8 of the Ventura Subdivision in exchange for newly obtained right-of-way associated with the Royal Street extension project. The public hearing on that request was closed with no speakers, and the ordinance (Council Bill 10) was read; staff said the item will return for further reading on April 7.

The board also approved the minutes from the Board of Aldermen regular meeting and work session of March 3. Both motions passed on voice votes after motions were made by Alderman Chaney (seconded by Alderman Franklin) for the regular minutes, and by Alderman Franklin (seconded by Alderman Chaney) for the work session minutes.

Late in the meeting the board voted to move into a closed session under RSMo §610.021 to discuss hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting city employees. The motion to enter closed session was made by Alderman Mills and seconded by Alderman Turner; the roll-call vote recorded ayes from Aldermen Mills, Turner, Davidson, Franklin, Fouch, Chaney and Doerhoff.

Votes at a glance: - Council Bill 11 — “An ordinance of the board of aldermen of the city of Harrisonville amending the budget ordinance language found within ordinance 3713 for the city of Harrisonville, Missouri for the fiscal year 01/01/2025 through 12/31/2025 and establishing an effective date.” Motion to suspend rules and move to immediate reading by Alderman Turner; second by Alderman Mills. Roll-call ayes: Turner, Davidson, Fouch, Franklin, Chaney, Mills, Doerhoff. Outcome: adopted; becomes Ordinance 3718. - Council Bill 10 — “An ordinance of the board of aldermen of the city of Harrisonville, Missouri vacating certain portions of rights of way as described below and attached associated with the Royal Street Extension Project and located adjacent to Lots 567, and 8 of Ventura (transcribed also as ‘Venture’) Subdivision, Harrisonville, Cass County, Missouri, and establishing an effective date.” Action: public hearing held and closed; item read and scheduled to return April 7 for further reading/action. Outcome: no final adoption at this meeting (return scheduled). - Approval of minutes (Board of Aldermen regular meeting, March 3): motion by Alderman Chaney; second Alderman Franklin. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approval of work session minutes (March 3): motion by Alderman Franklin; second Alderman Chaney. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion to enter closed session under RSMo §610.021 (personnel): motion by Alderman Mills; second Alderman Turner. Roll-call ayes: Mills, Turner, Davidson, Franklin, Fouch, Chaney, Doerhoff. Outcome: approved; board recessed to closed session.

Nut graf: The most consequential action at the meeting was the immediate adoption of a technical budget-language correction in Council Bill 11 and the scheduling of the Royal Street right-of-way vacation for further consideration; the board also completed routine approvals of minutes and formally moved into a closed session under Missouri statute to discuss personnel.

Background and details: City staff characterized Council Bill 11 as a correction to ensure the budget ordinance language matches the fee schedule for power-and-demand billing. The right-of-way vacation concerns the cul-de-sac at Royal Street and is described by staff as part of the Royal Street extension project; staff said the vacation would be exchanged for newly obtained right-of-way associated with that extension. The transcript records no public speakers on the right-of-way item. The city administrator updated the board on several ongoing projects and events during the meeting packet review, but those updates were presented as informational and not acted on as ordinances at this meeting.

Ending: The board recessed into closed session following the public business; items set for future action include the return of Council Bill 10 to the April 7 meeting for further reading and possible final action.