Clay County approves easements for Liberty police facility expansion after questions about access and utilities

Clay County commissioners voted to approve a temporary construction easement and a permanent utility easement for the City of Liberty’s planned police facility expansion, approving the request with a 5–1 roll call after a period of questions about parking, courthouse access and utility impacts.

Sherry McIntyre, director of public works for the City of Liberty, told commissioners the project would add roughly 20,000 square feet to the existing police facility and require both temporary construction access (from the anticipated March start for an approximately 18‑month build) and a permanent underground utility easement under an existing sidewalk between the city and county facilities. “We appreciate the partnership that we often have between the city and the county as we are next door neighbors,” McIntyre said during the presentation.

Commissioners asked how construction would affect courthouse operations, jail utilities and parking. McIntyre said the contractor and city staff plan to keep the courthouse and jail operational, coordinate critical work during low‑use times, and limit impacts where possible. She also described plans for a new storm sewer tie‑in, relocated gas and electrical service and preservation of underground fiber that currently serves the courthouse.

Kip Jones, the county planning director, said he had reviewed the plans and had no issues. County staff described changes to the temporary easement area during project design to avoid using ADA parking stalls and to restore disturbed areas to current or improved conditions at project completion.

Commissioner discussion noted that Missouri Street would be closed permanently as part of property reconfiguration and that construction would use part of the northern parking area during the build. Commissioners were reassured that the design preserves 12 feet of separation between the new facility and county courtrooms and that weekly construction coordination meetings would include county staff to monitor noise, vibration and other potential courthouse impacts.

Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the easements; the motion passed with five votes in favor and one opposed. The county administrator and city staff said they will continue coordinating schedules and mitigation plans throughout construction.