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INDEPENDENCE, Mo. —

Independence, Missouri, is putting three general obligation bonds in front of voters on April 8.

[Click here for all election results.]

Question No. 1 focuses on public safety. Specifically, the city is asking for $130 million to acquire, construct, renovate, improve and equip public safety buildings. This includes the construction of a new justice center/jail on the site currently occupied by Independence Power & Light, along with a neighboring vacant lot. IPL would shift to the now-city-owned GEHA building along Interstate 70. Question 1 also would allow the acquisition of the animal shelter facility from the county.

Question No. 2 focuses on city infrastructure. This $55 million bond, if passed, would call for the construction and repair of specific streets, roads, bridges and culverts in the city, with several improvements aiming to ease issues around several schools, along with resurfacing and widening parts of Noland and Truman roads.

Question No. 3 asks for improvements to three historic sites and the Independence athletic complex.

What is a GO bond?

G.O. bonds are used by state and local governments, along with school districts, to raise money for projects that don’t generate revenue on their own, like roads, parks and schools. They must be put to a public vote.

They are not backed by a revenue-producing asset; instead, they are funded by the entities' ability to tax.

Under the Missouri Constitution, these bonds can stretch no longer than 20 years.

Where does the money come from?

Taxes — specifically real and personal property taxes.

City officials said for the median home value in Independence ($150,800), property taxes would be anticipated to increase by $19.57 per month if all G.O. bond capacity was approved and issued at once; however, G.O. bonds will be issued over several years, and, therefore, property owners will not see the full increase in the first year. The amount is based on the passage of all three questions.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. —

A Jackson County District Judge decided Friday afternoon he needed more time to decide if the proposed sale of the beleaguered Independence Towers (728 Jennings Road) should be approved.

Earlier this week, an emergency motion to sell was filed by the attorneys for TRIGILD, Inc., the current property owner of the building, stating in court documents the "eroding value" of the property warranted an expedited sale.

Judge Charles McKenzie asked TRIGILD attorney Aaron Jackson and Fannie Mae attorney Zachary Hemingway (representing the federal agency that holds the loan on the property) if any of them knew much about the proposed buyer, Indiana-based property management company PG Independence Tower LLC.

The LLC placed a $2.8 million bid for the Towers.

The attorneys stated they did not know much about Indiana LLC's history.

Court documents state that 11 different real estate companies toured the property, and TRIGILD received "seven qualified offers," of which PG Independence Tower LLC was selected.

McKenzie disagreed Friday afternoon that the sale was an emergency, and said he did not want to rush to a decision. He said, vaguely referring to the ongoing states of disrepair at Independence Towers, tenants of the building shouldn't have to "go backwards" and they deserved a home.

Currently, only 47% of the building's 122 units are occupied.

Court documents filed by Fannie Mae and TRIGILD attorneys state the property has a total financial delinquency of over $216,000, with 40 current tenants owing one or more full months of rent.

Many tenants of the Independence Towers belong to the KC Tenants Union, which is participating in a near-seven-month-long rent strike.

Independence Towers was placed in a court-ordered receivership on May 16, 2024, after a Jackson County judge appointed TRIGILD as receiver, following allegations of FTW Investments, the former property owner, failing to repay Fannie Mae and maintain the building.

Tenant Anna Heetmann says Friday's delay of sale is encouraging.

She said, "I think in receivership cases, usually the whole point is just to sell the building to get it out of receivership, so that Fannie Mae can basically recoup as much money as they can, from their loan. And here it's really clear to me that the judge is also considering the people living in the building, which, of course, we believe should always be the case in situations like this when there are folks living in this building."

Last October, Fannie Mae gave $1.35 million toward structural improvements, but tenants say living conditions are continually sub-par.

"I'm encouraged by what we've been able to do just by, you know, also just showing up, being in the courtroom, even not as a legal party, like we are still having an influence. And I think that's very encouraging for our situation. And just hopefully for cases like this moving forward," Heetmann said.

The next case management conference concerning the sale of the Towers is scheduled for Friday, April 18, at 1:30 p.m. in Division 13 of the Jackson County Court.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - The company in charge of Independence Towers is a step closer to selling the apartment building.

A company named Trigild currently responsible for the apartments and asked a judge to allow it to sell the property to PG Independence Tower LLC, according to a court filing.

An attorney representing some of the people who live in the building filed an objection to the sale, which led to the judge’s decision to extend the hearing on Friday.

This outcome is one all parties involved said they were pleased with, including tenants. Independence Towers tenant leaders told KCTV5 they believe this will allow for more time to research potential new ownership.

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“This is a tenant reckoning and if it’s got to start with Independence Towers Tenant Union and the KC Tenants Union, then that’s where it’s gonna start,” Diasha White, Independence Towers tenant, said.

Tenants living at Independence Towers have complained about mold, roach and rodent infestations, and say they have had enough.

“We should not have to share an inch of our space with cockroach infestations, mice infestations, and yet you’re still expecting your $1300 rent every month,” White said.

White is one of multiple tenants hoping for the chance to shed light on these conditions in court as they inch one step closer to finding out who will own the property next. They demand improved living conditions, forgiveness on backed rent debt, and collective bargain leases. The Independence Towers’ current ownership Trigild told KCTV5 they refused to comment.

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“Are these people willing to see us as people over profit? Will they only be able to see us as numbers and not be able to see the humanity in those numbers,” White said.

Logan Todd has been living at Independence Towers for one year and said he is already looking for a way out.

“I will accept money to leave so that we don’t have to go through the eviction process,” Todd said.

Although many tenants are willing to leave, others say they plan to fight to the finish for better living conditions.

“The city is already too full of slumlords. There are way too many properties out there already dying because no one’s willing to take care of the property and they can’t keep them full because if the dwelling is empty it dies,” White said. “It needs life in it to live and our city is too full of all of that already. Rent is too damn high and if we’re gonna keep the rent high, then we need these properties up to standard.”

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The tenants’ attorney said they believe it’s important they have a say in their future.

“That was our argument to the judge in this case was that this is bad enough of a case you should make an exception and let tenants have a role of some sort in the final disposition of the property,” Dan Hobart, KC Tenants attorney, said.

The next court hearing is scheduled for April 18 at 1:30 at the Jackson County Courthouse.

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - An Independence man is behind bars after he allegedly attempted to run multiple people over with a stolen excavator before he spurred a chase and it was sucked into the Missouri River.

Jackson County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed on Friday, April 18, indicate that Victor E. Abel II, 40, of Independence, faces multiple charges in connection with the incident.

A probable cause statement filed by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office revealed that just after 6:50 a.m. on Thursday, April 17, law enforcement officials were called to the Tri-County Water Authority at 28405 E. Blue Valley Rd. with reports of a possible hit-and-run crash.

Dispatchers told first responders that the suspect, later identified as Abel, was believed to be under the influence as he attempted to run his victims over in a Bobcat excavator. When they arrived, they learned the excavator was last seen headed east along the railroad tracks near E. Atherton Sibley and N. Blue Valley Rd.

Law enforcement officials said they spotted the excavator near the Tri-County Water Authority Facility as they realized Abel intended to drive it through a secured gate. In an attempt to stop Abel and alert workers in the area, emergency lights and sirens were activated.

Investigators noted that an employee could be seen running from the gate as Abel rammed into it with the excavator. He continued to evade law enforcement officials for about an hour before the excavator was sucked into the Missouri River. Despite this, Abel remained inside as he broke out the front glass door.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Troopers responded to the scene with a boat. Shortly after, Abel surrendered and was taken into custody. The excavator was recovered and found to have been stolen out of Sugar Creek earlier that day. Ultimately, two gates were damaged in the process, totaling $2,000.

During an interview with investigators, Abel denied that the Bobcat was stolen or that he had damaged any property. However, he did admit that he had been under the influence of methamphetamine.

As a result, Abel has been charged with tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, two counts of property damage and driving while intoxicated. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 23 years behind bars and be forced to pay up to $50,000 in fines.

A bond review hearing has been set for 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 1, with a preliminary hearing expected at 10:30 a.m. on May 19. As of Friday, April 25, he remains behind bars on a $30,000 bond. No further information has been released.

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - Millions of dollars in improvements will soon be heading to Independence after voters approved two of three general obligation (GO) bond issues.

Voters approved Question 2. The bond issue will fund $55 million in improvements to roadways, bridges, and sidewalks outside seven different elementary schools in Independence, Fort Osage, and Blue Springs (within the ISD).

Two other bond issues failed.

Question 1 asked voters to approve $130 million to build a new justice center and acquire the animal shelter currently owned by Jackson County.

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Question 3 asked voters to approve $12 million for deferred maintenance on historical sites including Vale Mansion, the Bingham Wagner Estate, and the Truman Memorial Building, as well as for the Independence Athletic Complex. The question needed 57% of the yes vote to pass, which it did not.

“This is a historic moment for Independence – and we know history,” City Manager Zach Walker said. “This is the first time we’ve ever considered a general obligation bond, and this is a true victory. Make no mistake: this is a major step forward and we’re going to make the most of it.”

“We are investing in Independence,” Walker said. “This is $55 million dollars for roads, bridges, sidewalks - things that impact every Independence resident.”

If all three bond issues had passed, the city said the debt levy would be paid back through homeowner’s property taxes, an estimated $0.82 per every $100 assessed.

This is the first time Independence voters have voted on GO bonds.

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.