The city is leasing out some of its property for farming.

On Aug. 1 at the Hall of Waters, the City Council approved two cash lease farming agreements – one with Big Paw Farms LLC, one with David Rhodus. Big Paw has agreed to lease 26 acres at $75 per acre in the vicinity of the Excelsior Springs Municipal Airport, per the approved ordinance.

“This is an increase from the previous bid,” said Molly McGovern, city manager, shortly before the vote.

Rhodus has agreed to lease 15 acres in the vicinity of Hillcrest Cemetery, that agreement states. The agreement also sets the lease rate at $165 per acre.

“I’m going to assume that it’s just better conditions because the airport’s got a lot of depressed areas,” McGovern said.

City documents state that both agreements will run 38 months, with both starting in October and concluding in December 2025. In addition, city documents state the city government contacted “16 local farmers” to request they submit bids, that Big Paw was the sole bidder for the airport area land and Rhodus was the sole bidder for the cemetery area land.