Mo. Rev. Stat. § 91.170
When there are no waterworks in operation in any such city, and the city shall desire to construct waterworks, the city council shall, by ordinance, cause plans and specifications of the waterworks system to be constructed, to be duly made and filed in the office of the city clerk by the city engineer, or such other person as the council may designate, which plans and specifications shall give a full description of the plant to be constructed, the details thereof and the manner of construction; and the council shall cause the said engineer or the person so designated, to make the plans and specifications, to advertise for bids, and the council, by and through said city engineer, or such committee as the council may appoint, shall contract, subject to the approval and ratification of the voters of said city, as herein provided, with the person, firm or corporation who will agree to do the work on the lowest and best terms, and such person, firm or corporation shall agree to accept, in payment for the construction of said plant, bonds issued under sections 91.090 to 91.300, and containing substantially the recitals as provided in section 91.160; and the advertisement for bids shall state, among other things, that the work is to be paid for by bonds issued under sections 91.090 to 91.300, which will be a first lien in the nature of a mortgage or vendor's lien upon all the property, rights, issues and revenues of the waterworks system when erected, or in any way appertaining thereto, including any and all funds that may have been or may be derived therefrom, whether in existence at the time of the issuing of the bonds or thereafter acquired, but that the bonds shall not create any personal or general liability on the part of the city or the person signing them for the payment thereof, and that the same shall be paid only out of the property constituting the waterworks system and the revenue derived therefrom.
§ 91.170, RSMo