Mo. Rev. Stat. § 88.063: Condemnation of property — right to take possession after payment of damages.

Any city shall have the right to advance the amount of damages awarded on the filing of the report of the commissioners assessing the damages and thereupon enter upon and take possession of such property and proceed with the public improvements for which such property is sought to be taken or damaged, and to be reimbursed from the benefits assessed when the same are collected. Any subsequent proceedings shall affect only the amount of compensation to be allowed for the property taken or damaged and shall not in any way interfere with the right of such city to the property sought to be acquired or damaged for public purposes.