Panasonic plant construction causing issues for some in De Soto

DE SOTO, Kan. — Nearly two years after Panasonic broke ground on a new $4 billion battery plant in De Soto, Kansas the work to get it up and running is slowly taking over parts of the city.

That is causing issues. According to one business, owners lost wages that can never be recovered.

For more than 25 years Janssen Stables has been a staple in De Soto and all across the Kansas City metro for their horse training, horse boarding and more but with the Panasonic plant coming, their future is up in the air.

This all started as a dream for Lesley Janssen and her husband.

That until Mr. Janssen passed away due to cancer 15 years ago, a loss that took its toll but Lesley persevered.

“I built this back from nothing, I mean blood, sweat and tears I worked seven days a week and they have come through because of the Panasonic plant,” Lesley said.

The issue for Janssen is the front of her property, where a significant portion on both the east and west sides have been passed to the hands of Evergy through eminent domain.

She says not only is it not safe for her animals anymore, but the noise is triggering to the point where her horses get spooked.

The end result, according to her, has been a loss in business, people no longer boarding their horses there, she’s lost training clients and she’s seen a drop in people taking lessons.

“They’re treading on the little man. I’m widowed, I’m a single mother, they’re picking on me,” she said.

Evergy was not available to respond to FOX4’s request Monday but did say they would get back with us Tuesday.

As for the City of De Soto that has dug up a large part of this area to insert sewer lines, they said in a statement: “As is the case with any construction project, there is temporary noise — and that’s the case along 95th Street. The City started its work extending a sewer line last week and our portion is expected to be complete by the end of August.”

“This is not a good place to do horses anymore. I have cried so many times and screamed and gone to meetings because we built this,” Lesley said.

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