Over 50 people attended a public hearing Monday, Dec. 15 in Sedalia, many of them critical of a proposed landfill outside La Monte.

The hearing hosted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources fielded formal testimony from the public on whether DNR should issue a construction permit to the facility that Pettis County Development Corporation and Presidio Environmental seek to establish east of La Monte.  After opening remarks from DNR, Presidio president Derrick Standley said the new facility was needed to continue handling the region’s refuse.
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Presidio Environmental President Derrick Standley (photo by Kyle Hill, KMMO News)

Standley’s comments were the only ones lodged in support of the proposed site Monday, as at least ten residents spoke in opposition. They included Pettis County Presiding Commissioner Bill Taylor.

Pettis County Presiding Commissioner Bill Taylor (photo by Kyle Hill, KMMO News)

Residents close to the proposed location on Buckley Road also stated their opposition, including Russell Bogard. He told DNR his belief that the site would primarily import garbage from other parts of the state, including by rail.

After 50 minutes, DNR pivoted the public hearing to a Q-and-A session. During that session, residents also voiced complaints about the current landfill just outside Sedalia, ranging from trucks improperly securing their loads to concerns about odors and wastewater discharge.

Pettis County resident Fred Peters spoke in opposition to a proposed landfill outside La Monte, during a hearing hosted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 in Sedalia. (Photo by Kyle Hill, KMMO News)

The hearing comes as the Pettis County Commission continues to argue for their ordinance restricting future landfills in court. The commission filed an appeal late last week at the Western District Court of Appeals, after a Moniteau County judge rejected a request for a new trial following the court striking down key provisions of the ordinance. DNR will continue to field public written comment on the permit until Dec. 29.