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After discovering letter of intent from late 1980s, Mission approves moving Lincolnshire subdivision into public road system

The Lincolnshire subdivision at Lamar Avenue and West 51st Street is now part of Mission’s public street system.

Mission has accepted the Lincolnshire subdivision, which was previously responsible for the maintenance of its own streets, into the city’s public street system.

The city had been treating the streets as private, which puts the responsibility of maintenance in the hands of the homeowners association. But last year, Mission staff discovered old documentation indicating the city’s intent in 1988-89 to take over maintenance and upkeep of the streets, said Laura Smith, city administrator.

The city council’s unanimous acceptance Aug. 15 of Lincolnshire as part of its public street maintenance program leaves Kennett Place as the only privately owned and maintained subdivision in the city. Smith said the neighbors in Kennett Place are “not interested” in making the streets public.

A similar situation occurred a few years ago when Mission accepted the Apollo Gardens subdivision into its public street system.

Carolyn Coleman, a Mission resident who lives in Lincolnshire, said the subdivision’s streets are in bad shape.

Councilmember Pat Quinn asked in the community development committee meeting Aug. 1 if the Lincolnshire homeowners association was going to ask for “retro pay” for maintaining its streets the past 30 years. Smith said the association would not because it had not done any upkeep.

“I think they very clearly understand that they’re going to factored in and prioritized along with every other street in the city,” Smith said.

Carolyn Coleman, who lives in Lincolnshire and is secretary of the home owners association board, said Mission had been clearing the roads of snow and otherwise assisting with upkeep in emergencies for years.

The legal description drafted by Olsson & Associates for street maintenance of Lincolnshire puts Mission in charge of the streets only. Smith said the homeowners association would still be responsible for the parking areas and carports.

Coleman said she wanted to work with the city on timing of maintenance work on the public streets and privately owned driveways and parking areas.

Councilmember Sollie Flora expressed concerns with letters from the city 30 years ago that “reflect no council action.” Councilmember Debbie Kring said the council probably never saw that letter of intent.

About the author

Leah Wankum
Leah Wankum

Hi there! I’m Leah Wankum, and I’m the Post’s Deputy Editor. I’m thrilled to call Johnson County home, and I’m deeply committed to the Post’s philosophy that an informed community is a strong community.

I’m a native of mid-Missouri, and attended high school in Jefferson City before going on to the University of Central Missouri, where I earned a master’s degree in mass communication.

Prior to joining the Post as a reporter in 2018, I was the editor of the Richmond News in Ray County, Missouri. I’ve also written for several publications, including the Sedalia Democrat and KC Magazine.

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