EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. — Voters in both Excelsior Springs and Mosby have approved annexation measures involving the same 86-acre tract of farmland west of Excelsior Springs, setting up what could become a jurisdictional dispute between the two cities.
According to unofficial results from the Clay County Board of Election Commissioners, Excelsior Springs voters approved their annexation measure with 802 votes in favor (56.36%) and 621 votes opposed (43.64%).
In Ray County, where a small portion of Excelsior Springs voters reside, the measure also narrowly passed, 24–21 (53.33% to 46.67%), bringing the combined citywide total in favor of annexation to 826–642.
Meanwhile, Mosby voters overwhelmingly supported their own annexation proposal, which applies only to the 86-acre parcel owned by David Rhodus, with 37 votes in favor (75.51%) and 12 opposed (24.49%), according to the same report
What the Results Mean
Because both cities passed annexation measures covering the same land, it is expected that the matter will hinge on which jurisdiction took the first legal step in the annexation process. The Rhodus family claims they filed a voluntary annexation petition with Mosby earlier this year, before Excelsior Springs formally placed its broader annexation measure on the ballot, a timeline that could prove significant if the issue goes to court.
If the courts determine Mosby’s annexation petition was properly filed and accepted first, the land would likely be incorporated into Mosby’s city limits. If, however, the filing or documentation is found incomplete, as some officials have previously suggested, Excelsior Springs could prevail.
The land in question sits adjacent to Ideker Mining’s underground quarry, and its ownership and potential use have been the focus of months of public meetings, heated discussions, and campaign signs across the area.
David Rhodus, who owns the property, has expressed interest in leasing it to Ideker for quarry expansion, an idea opposed by many nearby residents along Cameron Road and surrounding rural neighborhoods who say mining activity has already caused cracked foundations, dust, and noise.
City officials in Excelsior Springs have said their annexation plan is aimed at long-term growth management, ensuring that development west of the city proceeds in a way that protects property values and public infrastructure.
Mosby leaders, on the other hand, have framed their annexation as a chance to generate new revenue and maintain local control over the quarry-adjacent area.
While the legal conflict centers on the 86-acre Rhodus property, the remainder of the land included in Excelsior Springs’ broader annexation proposal is not in dispute. At this time, it is unclear exactly how certification and potential litigation may affect the larger annexation area, but based on preliminary interpretations of the law, it appears likely that the additional surrounding parcels will move forward under Excelsior Springs’ jurisdiction once results are certified. For now, the fate of the Rhodus farm itself remains unresolved, pending legal clarification on which city holds the rightful claim.
Both elections remain unofficial until certified by the Clay County and Ray County election boards later this month. Once results are certified, attorneys for both cities are expected to review the timeline of filings and determine how to proceed.
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