Raytown approves easement for Raytown Water Company to relocate water main near City Hall

The Raytown Board of Aldermen on Dec. 17 approved an ordinance allowing the city to grant an easement to Raytown Water Company so the utility can relocate a water main in conjunction with a large city stormwater project on 50 Ninth Street and Raytown Road.

Public Works staff said the utility prefers a grass-side alignment for new main lines and the proposed work ties into a larger ARPA-backed stormwater effort. An appraisal by Valbridge placed the permanent easement at $1,550. When an alderman pointed out the recorded grant-of-easement form shows a $1 payment, staff explained that the template commonly uses a nominal $1 and the actual compensation is documented elsewhere in the appraisal and related paperwork.

Public Works said the water company has already started work at the bottom of the hill and that the City typically secures appraisals and records easements before work begins; the council voted to waive the usual posting interval and adopted the ordinance.

One alderman asked whether the appraisal and easement arrangement presented a conflict because a consultant’s name appeared in the packet; a council member clarified the city did not hire that consultant — the Raytown Water Company did — and staff confirmed the appraisal and negotiation were handled by the water company’s contractor, not the city.

The board approved the easement; staff said the utility will not begin the City Hall-front work until early 2025 and that the notice and appraisal documents are included in the packet files.