Voters will soon decide whether to expand the city’s limits to include farmland and roadways west of town, a decision that could determine how growth, zoning and mining oversight unfold for years to come.On Nov. 4, Excelsior Springs residents will weigh a ballot question asking if the city should annex more than 50 parcels and several public right-of-way corridors in unincorporated Clay County. The area includes stretches of Cameron Road, Rhodus Road and Northeast 136th, 136th Terrace and 140th streets, surrounding territory already within the city’s boundary.The ballot asks: “Shall the City of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, annex the following described real property into the corporate limits of the City?”Supporters view the proposal as a chance to protect family farms and strengthen city planning. Opponents warn it will raise costs and restrict rural life while doing little to stop nearby mining activity.The measure follows months of public debate...