Raymore council signals support to negotiate MOU with Silver Lake HOA after disputes over median tree care

Raymore City Council members met in a July 7 work session to discuss longstanding, informal city maintenance of trees and medians in the Silver Lake neighborhood and to authorize staff to negotiate a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Silver Lake Homeowners Association.

City staff said the issue stems from a 2012 letter that assigned mixed responsibilities between the city and the HOA and from decades of informal practice. Jim, a city staff member, told the council the longstanding arrangement has left the city exposed to unplanned expenses and said staff wants an MOU that clarifies responsibilities going forward. “When contacted by a designated HOA representative, which would be outlined in the MOU, we will cut down dead trees only,” Jim said.

The request matters, staff said, because the city has been removing dead trees without a formal agreement and the cost could quickly exceed thresholds that require council approval. Jim said stump grinding and removal typically run about $1,000 per tree, while trees that have grown into power lines can cost up to $5,000 each; he warned that several removals could push total…