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                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                             --------------------

          THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into this 12th
day of January, 2001, by and between Inergy Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the "Company"), and Phillip L. Elbert, an individual (the
"Employee").

          WHEREAS, all of the shareholders (including the Employee) of Investors
300, Inc., Domex, Inc. and L&L Leasing, Inc., all Indiana corporations (the
"Domex Companies"), have entered into that certain Asset Purchase Agreement,
dated as of September 8, 2000 by and among the Domex Companies, Jerry Boman,
Wayne Cook, Glen E. Cook, the Employee and the Company, as amended (the "Asset
Purchase Agreement"), whereby the Company will purchase all of the assets of the
Domex Companies specified in the Asset Purchase Agreement; and

          WHEREAS, the entering into of this Agreement is a condition to the
closing of the Asset Purchase Agreement;

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the employment of the Employee by
the Company and the payments to be made to the Employee pursuant to the Asset
Purchase Agreement and other good and valuable consideration the adequacy of
which is hereby acknowledged by the Employee and in addition to the other terms
and conditions of the Employee's employment, it is hereby agreed as follows:

          1.   Employment. The Company agrees to employ the Employee and the
               ----------
Employee agrees to be employed by the Company as the Executive Vice President -
Retail Operations of the Company upon the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, commencing on the date hereof and continuing until terminated as
provided in Section 11 below.  The Employee shall report to the President of the
            ----------
Company. The Employee shall be appointed to the Company's Senior Management Team
which sets the strategic direction of the Company. In the event the IPO (as
defined below) is effected, the Employee shall be elected to the Board of
Directors of the Company.

          2.   Compensation.
               ------------

          (a)  For all services rendered by the Employee to the Company, the
     Company shall pay the Employee a salary at the annual rate of One Hundred
     Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) (the "Salary") payable bi-monthly in
     arrears.

          (b)  In the event that the Company arranges for the organization of a
     master limited partnership (the "MLP") and effects a public offering of
     units of the MLP (the "IPO") in a manner similar to public offerings made
     by publicy traded master limited partnerships that are engaged in the
     distribution and sale of propane, effective immediately upon such IPO, the
     Employee's Salary shall be increased to Two Hundred Thousand Dollars
     ($200,000) per annum payable bi-monthly, in arrears.

          3.   Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Employee for all
               --------
ordinary and necessary expenses incurred and paid by the Employee in the course
of the performance of the Employee's duties pursuant to this Agreement and
consistent with the Company's policies in effect from time to time with respect
to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, and
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subject to the Company's requirements with respect to the manner of approval and
reporting of such expenses.

          4.   Additional Benefits.
               -------------------

          (a)  The Employee shall be eligible for such fringe benefits, if any,
     by way of insurance, hospitalization and vacations normally provided to
     other members of the executive management of the Company generally and such
     additional benefits as may be from time to time agreed upon in writing
     between the Employee and the Company.

          (b)  In the event that the Company effects the IPO (or at such earlier
     time as the Company may elect), effective immediately upon the IPO (or at
     such earlier time), the Company will have in place a key employee equity
     plan that the Employee will participate in, such that, assuming (i) the
     value of the units (or other securities pursuant to such key employee
     equity plan) grows at a fifteen percent (15%) annual rate (compounded
     annually) from the date of the IPO, and (ii) the Employee is employed by
     the Company continuously for a five (5)-year period from the date of the
     IPO (subject to the proviso below), the Employee would have equity value
     (computed as the difference between the value of the units (or other
     securities pursuant to the key employee equity plan) and the strike price)
     under such key employee equity plan equal to One Million Dollars
     ($1,000,000) on the fifth anniversary date of the date of the IPO.  The
     Employee will vest in full (with no partial vesting) on the fifth
     anniversary date of the IPO; provided, however, if Employee ceases to be
     employed by the Company by reason of his death or disability or by reason
     of the Company terminating his employment without cause, he or his legal
     representative shall have the right to exercise that portion of such option
     that is equal to the number of full years he was continuously employed
     since the IPO divided by five, so that by way of example, if Employee were
     continuously employed by the Company for two and one-half years after the
     IPO but at that time became disabled, he (or his legal representative)
     would have the right to exercise 40% of such option at any time prior to
     its expiration.  Such option will expire ten years after the date of the
     IPO.

          (c)  Subject to Section 4(d) below, the Company agrees to pay the
                          ------------
     Employee certain performance bonuses based on targeted Operating Cash Flow
     (as defined below) for each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year
     beginning October 1, 2000.  For each fiscal year during the term hereof the
     Company shall establish a targeted Operating Cash Flow for such fiscal
     year, and the Employee will receive a cash bonus to be paid within three
     months after the end of such fiscal year in the amount of:  (i) $75,000, if
     the Company has Operating Cash Flow equal to or greater than targeted
     Operating Cash Flow for such fiscal year but less than 110% of such
     targeted Operating Cash Flow; or (ii) $100,000, if the Operating Cash Flow
     is equal to or greater than 110% of targeted Operating Cash Flow for such
     fiscal year but less than 120% of  such targeted Operating Cash Flow for
     such year; or (iii) $150,000, if the Company has Operating Cash Flow of
     equal to or greater than 120% of targeted Operating Cash Flow for such
     fiscal year; provided, however, that for fiscal year beginning October 1,
     2000, the $75,000, $100,000 and $150,000 amounts shall be reduced to
     $56,250, $75,000 and $112,500 respectively (with such amounts representing
     9/12ths of the original amounts because of the

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     Employee's start date occurring three months after the beginning of the
     Company's fiscal year). For purposes of this Section 4(c), "Operating Cash
                                                  ------------
     Flow" means net income in accordance with generally accepted accounting
     principals plus (i) income taxes, (ii) interest, (iii) depreciation, and
     (iv) amortization of intangibles, to the extent used in computing such net
     income, and minus capital expenditures made to maintain and service
     existing business expended by the Company during the fiscal year in
     question. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to receive a bonus
     pursuant to this Section 4(c), the Employee must have been continuously
     employed by the Company from the date hereof until the end of the relevant
     fiscal year.

          (d)  In the event that the Company effects the IPO, effective at the
     beginning of the fiscal year of the Company next succeeding such IPO, in
     lieu of any payments under Section 4(c) above, the Company agrees to pay
                                ------------
     the Employee certain performance bonuses based on targeted Distributable
     Cash Flow ("DCF") (as defined below) for each fiscal year.  For each fiscal
     year as to which there is to be a bonus under this Section 4(d), the
                                                        ------------
     Company shall establish a targeted DCF, and the Employee will receive a
     cash bonus to be paid within three months after the end of such fiscal year
     in the amount of:  (i) $100,000, if the Company has DCF equal to or greater
     than targeted DCF for such fiscal year but less than 110% of targeted DCF
     for such fiscal year; (ii) $150,000, if the Company has DCF equal to or
     greater than 110% of targeted DCF but less than 120% of targeted DCF during
     such fiscal year; or (iii) $200,000, if the Company has DCF equal to or
     greater than 120% of targeted DCF during such fiscal year.  For purposes of
     this Section 4(d), Distributable Cash Flow shall have the same meaning as
          ------------
     such term (or any comparable term, such as "Available Cash") is defined in
     the documents relating the MLP.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to
     receive a bonus pursuant to this Section 4(d), the Employee must have been
     continuously employed by the Company from the date hereof until the end of
     the relevant fiscal year.

          (e)  It is anticipated by the parties hereto that in the event that
     the Company effects the IPO:

               (i)   The Company will receive Subordinated Units (as described
          in Exhibit B hereto) in the MLP that will have a yield equal to (but
             ---------
          subordinated to) the yield on the publicly-traded common units;

               (ii)  At the expiration of the subordination period, the
          Subordinated Units will convert to common units of the MLP on a one-
          for-one basis and will receive distributions pro rata with all other
          common units;

               (iii) The subordination period will terminate based on the
          performance of the MLP in achieving certain earnings and distribution
          levels.

     The Employee shall receive cash bonuses totaling $500,000 as the
     subordination period of the Subordinated Units terminates, such bonus to be
     paid within sixty (60) days after the date of such termination on a
     proportional basis, so that by way of example, if the subordination period
     terminates with respect to 25% of the Subordinated Units on December 31,
     2004, the Employee will receive a cash bonus in the amount of One

                                       3
<PAGE>

     Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000) on or before March 2, 2005.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to receive a bonus with respect to
     the termination of the subordination period for any Subordinated Units, the
     Employee must have been continuously employed by the Company from the date
     hereof until the date of termination.

          (f)  The parties hereto acknowledge that the Employee and Inergy
     Holdings are concurrently herewith entering into an option agreement
     attached hereto as Exhibit A whereby the Employee will have the option to
     purchase 7.1% of the member interests in Inergy Holdings on the terms and
     conditions set forth in such option agreement.

          (g)  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4 to the contrary and
                                                ---------
     for the avoidance of doubt, the Employee must have been continuously
     employed by the Company from the date hereof up to and including the
     applicable date set forth in the relevant subsection of Section 4 in order
                                                             ---------
     to receive any amounts set forth in such subsection.

          5.   Duties. The Employee agrees that so long as he is employed under
               ------
this Agreement he will (i) to the satisfaction of the Company devote his best
efforts and his entire business time to further properly the interests of the
Company, (ii) at all times be subject to the Company's direction and control
with respect to his activities on behalf of the Company, (iii) comply with all
rules, orders and regulations of the Company, (iv) truthfully and accurately
maintain and preserve such records and make all reports as the Company may
require, and (v) fully account for all monies and other property of the Company
of which he may from time to time have custody and deliver the same to the
Company whenever and however directed to do so.

          6.   Disclosure and Assignment of Inventions.
               ---------------------------------------

          (a)  The Employee agrees that any Inventions (as hereinafter defined)
     that he, alone or with others, may conceive, develop, make or perfect, in
     whole or in part, during his employment by the Company which relate or
     pertain in any way to the existing or reasonably anticipated scope of the
     Company's or any subsidiary, parent or affiliate of the Company's business,
     or that he, alone or with others, may conceive, make or perfect in whole or
     in part, in the performance of the duties of his employment by the Company,
     shall be promptly and fully disclosed in writing immediately by the
     Employee to the Company (but to no other person or persons prior to
     procuring patents therefor).  All of the right, title and interest in and
     to any Invention shall be and hereby is assigned exclusively to the Company
     or its nominee regardless of whether or not the conception, development,
     making or perfection of such Inventions involved the use of the Company's
     time, facilities or materials and regardless of where such Inventions may
     be conceived, made or perfected and shall become the sole property of the
     Company or its nominee. For purposes hereof, the term "Inventions" shall
     mean inventions, discoveries, ideas, concepts, systems, works, trade
     secrets, know-how, intellectual property, products, processes or
     improvements or modifications of current products, processes or designs, or
     methods of manufacture, distribution, management or otherwise (whether or
     not covered by or able to be covered by a patent or copyright).

                                       4
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          (b)  The Employee agrees to execute and deliver all documents and do
     all acts which the Company shall deem necessary or desirable to secure to
     the Company or its nominee the entire right, title and interest in and to
     said Inventions, including, without limitation, applications for any United
     States and/or Foreign Letters Patent or Certificates of Copyright
     Registration in the name of or for the benefit of the Company or, in the
     discretion of the Company, in the Employee's name, which patents and
     copyrights shall then be assigned by the Employee to the Company.  Any
     document described above prepared and filed pursuant to this subsection
     shall be so prepared and filed at the Company's expense.  The Employee
     hereby irrevocably appoints the President of the Company as his attorney-
     in-fact with authority to execute for him and on his behalf any and all
     assignments, patent or copyright applications, or other instruments and
     documents required to be executed by the Employee pursuant to this
     subsection, if the Employee is unwilling or unable to execute same.

          (c)  The Company shall have no obligation to use, attempt to protect
     by application for Letters Patent or Certificates of Copyright Registration
     or promote any of said Inventions; provided, however, that the Company, in
     its sole discretion, may reward the Employee for any especially meritorious
     contributions in any manner it deems appropriate or may provide the
     Employee with full or partial releases as to any subject matter contributed
     by the Employee in which the Company is not interested.

          7.   Covenant Not to Disclose Confidential Information. The Employee
               -------------------------------------------------
acknowledges that during the course of his employment with the Company he has or
will have access to and knowledge of certain information and data which the
Company or any subsidiary, parent or affiliate of the Company considers
confidential and that the release of such information or data to unauthorized
persons would be extremely detrimental to the Company.  As a consequence, the
Employee hereby agrees and acknowledges that he owes a duty to the Company not
to disclose, and agrees that, during or after the term of his employment,
without the prior written consent of the Company, he will not communicate,
publish or disclose, to any person anywhere or use any Confidential Information
(as hereinafter defined) for any purpose other than carrying out his duties as
contemplated by this Agreement.  The Employee will use his best efforts at all
times to hold in confidence and to safeguard any Confidential Information from
falling into the hands of any unauthorized person and, in particular, will not
permit any Confidential Information to be read, duplicated or copied.  The
Employee will return to the Company all Confidential Information in the
Employee's possession or under the Employee's control when the duties of the
Employee no longer require the Employee's possession thereof, or whenever the
Company shall so request, and in any event will promptly return all such
Confidential Information if the Employee's relationship with the Company is
terminated for any or no reason and will not retain any copies thereof.  For
purposes hereof the term "Confidential Information" shall mean any information
or data used by or belonging or relating to the Company or any subsidiary,
parent or affiliate of the Company that is not known generally to the industry
in which the Company or any subsidiary, parent or affiliate of the Company is or
may be engaged, including without limitation, any and all trade secrets,
proprietary data and information relating to the Company's or any subsidiary,
parent or affiliate of the Company's past, present or future business and
products, price lists, customer lists, processes, procedures or standards, know-
how, manuals, business strategies, records, drawings, specifications, designs,
financial information, whether or not reduced to writing, or information or data
which the

                                       5
<PAGE>

Company or any subsidiary, parent or affiliate of the Company advises the
Employee should be treated as confidential information.

          8.   Covenant Not to Compete. The Employee acknowledges that during
               -----------------------
his employment with the Company he, at the expense of the Company, has been and
will be specially trained in the business of the Company, has established and
will continue to establish favorable relations with the customers, clients and
accounts of the Company or any subsidiary, parent or affiliate of the Company
and will have access to Inventions, trade secrets and Confidential Information
of the Company or any subsidiary, parent or affiliate of the Company. Therefore,
in consideration of (i) such training and relations, (ii) his employment with
the Company, and (iii) the payments made to the Employee pursuant to the Asset
Purchase Agreement, and to further protect the Inventions, trade secrets and
Confidential Information of the Company or any subsidiary, parent or affiliate
of the Company, the Employee agrees that for a period commencing on the date
hereof and ending on the later of (i) one year from and after the date of the
voluntary or involuntary termination of the Employee's employment by the Company
for any reason or no reason (including, without limitation, a termination due to
the fulfillment of the term of this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof),
provided, however, that in the event that the date of the voluntary or
involuntary termination of the Employee's employment by the Company for any or
no reason occurs on or after the second anniversary of the date hereof, the
Company shall have the option to extend such one year period of time by an
additional one year period by electing to continue to pay the Employee's salary
at the time of termination, payable bi-monthly in arrears, for the period of one
year following the date of the voluntary or involuntary termination of the
Employee's employment by the Company for any or no reason, (ii) the third
anniversary of the date hereof, and (iii) in the event the Company makes any
payments under Section 11(f) hereof, the later of (x) the fifth anniversary of
the date hereof, and (y) one year from and after the date of the termination of
the Employee's employment by the Company, he will not, directly or indirectly,
without the express written consent of the Company, except when and as requested
to do in and about the performing of his duties under this Agreement:

          (a)  own, manage, operate, control or participate in the ownership,
     management, operation or control of, or have any interest, financial or
     otherwise, in or act as an officer, director, partner, member, principal,
     employee, agent, representative, consultant or independent contractor of,
     or in any way assist any individual or entity in the conduct of, any
     business located in or doing business within a fifty (50) mile radius of
     any current or future business location of the Company or any subsidiary,
     parent or affiliate of the Company which is engaged or may become engaged
     in any business competitive to any business now or at any time during the
     period hereof engaged in by the Company or any subsidiary, parent or
     affiliate of the Company, including, but not limited to, any business which
     markets or distributes propane gas and other petroleum-related products or
     sells, services and installs parts, appliances or supplies related thereto;

          (b)  divert or attempt to divert clients or customers (whether or not
     such persons have done business with the Company or any subsidiary, parent
     or affiliate of the Company once or more than once) or accounts of the
     Company or any subsidiary, parent or affiliate of the Company; or

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<PAGE>

          (c)  entice or induce or in any manner influence any person who is or
     shall be in the employ or service of the Company or any subsidiary, parent
     or affiliate of the Company to leave such employ or service for the purpose
     of engaging in a business which may be in competition with any business now
     or at any time during the period hereof engaged in by the Company or any
     subsidiary, parent or affiliate of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Employee may own not more than
five percent (5%) of the outstanding equity securities in any corporation or
entity (including, but not limited to, units in a master limited partnership)
that is listed upon a national stock exchange or actively traded in the
over-the-counter market. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Employee
shall not, directly or indirectly, without the express written consent of the
Company, except when and as requested to do in and about the performing of his
duties under this Agreement, engage in any actions under subsections (a), (b) or
(c) above, at any time the Company is making payments to the Employee pursuant
to this Agreement.

          9.   Specific Performance. Recognizing that irreparable damage will
               --------------------
result to the Company in the event of the breach or threatened breach of any of
the foregoing covenants and assurances by the Employee contained in Sections 6,
                                                                    -----------
7 or 8 hereof, and that the Company's remedies at law for any such breach or
------
threatened breach will be inadequate, the Company and its successors and
assigns, in addition to such other remedies which may be available to them,
shall be entitled to an injunction, including a mandatory injunction, to be
issued by any court of competent jurisdiction ordering compliance with this
Agreement or enjoining and restraining the Employee, and each and every person,
firm or company acting in concert or participation with him, from the
continuation of such breach and, in addition thereto, he shall pay to the
Company all ascertainable damages, including costs and reasonable attorneys'
fees sustained by the Company by reason of the breach or threatened breach of
said covenants and assurances; provided, however, that in the event such court
of competent jurisdiction finds that a breach or threatened breach of the
covenants and assurances of the Employee has not occurred, then the Company
shall pay the Employee the costs and reasonable attorneys' fees sustained by the
Employee in connection with such proceeding.  The obligations of the Employee
and the rights of the Company, its successors and assigns under Sections 6, 7,
                                                                --------------
8, 9, 10, 12, 16 and 18 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this
-----------------------
Agreement. The covenants and obligations of the Employee set forth in Sections
                                                                      --------
6, 7 and 8 hereof are in addition to and not in lieu of or exclusive of any
----------
other obligations and duties of the Employee to the Company, whether express or
implied in fact or in law.

          10.  Potential Unenforceability of Any Provision. If a final judicial
               -------------------------------------------
determination is made that any provision of this Agreement is an unenforceable
restriction against the Employee, the provisions hereof shall be rendered void
only to the extent that such judicial determination finds such provisions
unenforceable, and such unenforceable provisions shall automatically be
reconstituted and become a part of this Agreement, effective as of the date
first written above, to the maximum extent in favor of the Company that is
lawfully enforceable. A judicial determination that any provision of this
Agreement is unenforceable shall in no instance render the entire Agreement
unenforceable, but rather the Agreement will continue in full force and effect
absent any unenforceable provision to the maximum extent permitted by law.

                                       7
<PAGE>

          11.  Term and Termination.
               --------------------

          (a)  Subject to Sections 11(b), 11(c) and 11(d) below, the term of the
                          --------------  -----     -----
     Employee's employment under this Agreement shall be five (5) years from the
     date hereof.

          (b)  Notwithstanding Section 11(a) above, this Agreement shall
                               -------------
     terminate immediately upon the death, disability or adjudication of legal
     incompetence of the Employee, or upon the Company's ceasing to carry on its
     business or becoming bankrupt. For purposes of this Agreement, the Employee
     shall be deemed to be disabled when the Employee has become unable, by
     reason of physical or mental disability, to satisfactorily perform his
     essential job duties and there is no reasonable accommodation that can be
     provided to enable him to be a qualified individual with a disability under
     applicable law. Such matters shall be determined by, or to the reasonable
     satisfaction of, the Company.

          (c)  Notwithstanding Section 11(a) above, the Company may terminate
                               -------------
     the Employee's employment at any time for Cause or without Cause. "Cause"
     means (i) the Employee has failed to devote reasonable attention and time
     to the business and affairs of the Company or the Employee has repeatedly
     failed to perform the duties assigned to him and the Company has previously
     notified the Employee of such failure, (ii) the Employee has been convicted
     of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, (iii) the Employee
     has engaged in acts or omissions against the Company constituting
     dishonesty, breach of fiduciary obligation, or intentional wrongdoing or
     misfeasance, (iv) the Employee has acted intentionally or in bad faith in a
     manner which results in a material detriment to the assets, business or
     prospects of the Company, (v) the Employee has been guilty of habitual
     absenteeism, chronic alcoholism or other form of addiction, or (vi) the
     Employee has breached any obligation under this Agreement.

          (d)  Notwithstanding Section 11(a) above, the Employee may terminate
                               -------------
     the Employee's employment at any time with Good Reason or without Good
     Reason.  "Good Reason" means any of the following:  (i) the Company
     requiring, as a condition of the Employee's employment, that the Employee
     commit a felony or engage in conduct that is a crime under the Securities
     Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended; and (ii) Employee being required by the Company to be based at any
     office or location that is more than thirty-five (35) miles from the
     location where Employee was employed immediately preceding the date of the
     voluntary or involuntary termination of the Employee's employment.

          (e)  In the event (x) the Company elects to terminate the Employee's
     employment with the Company for Cause or as a result of the death,
     disability, adjudication of legal incompetence of the Employee or the
     Company's ceasing to carry on its business or becoming bankrupt, or (y) the
     Employee terminates his employment with the Company without Good Reason,
     the Company shall pay or provide to the Employee:

               (i)   such Salary as the Employee shall have earned up to the
          date of his termination;

                                       8
<PAGE>

               (ii)  such earned but unpaid performance bonus, if any, pursuant
          to either Section 4(c) or 4(d) hereof, as applicable;

               (iii) such earned but unpaid subordination bonus, if any,
          pursuant to Section 4(e) hereof; and

               (iv)  such other fringe benefits normally provided to employees
          of the Company as the Employee shall have earned up to the date of his
          termination.

          (f)  In the event (x) the Company elects to terminate the Employee's
     employment with the Company during the five (5)-year period referred to in
     Section 11(a) above and such termination is without Cause, or (y) the
     -------------
     Employee terminates his employment with the Company with Good Reason, the
     Company shall pay to the Employee:

               (i)   the unpaid amount of the Employee's Salary for the
          remainder of the term of this Agreement, with such amount to be paid
          bi-monthly in arrears;

               (ii)  such earned but unpaid performance bonus, if any, pursuant
          to either Section 4(c) or 4(d) hereof, as applicable;

               (iii) such earned but unpaid subordination bonus, if any,
          pursuant to Section 4(e) hereof; and

               (iv)  such other fringe benefits (other than any bonus, severance
          pay benefit or participation in the Company's 401(k) employee benefit
          plan) normally provided to employees of the Company as the Employee
          shall have earned up to the date of his termination.

          12.  Waiver of Breach. Failure of the Company to demand strict
               ----------------
compliance with any of the terms, covenants or conditions hereof shall not be
deemed a waiver of the term, covenant or condition, nor shall any waiver or
relinquishment by the Company of any right or power hereunder at any one time or
more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of the right or power at any
other time or times.

          13.  No Breach. The Employee represents and warrants to the Company
               ---------
that neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement, nor the performance
of the Employee's obligations hereunder will conflict with, or result in a
breach of, any term, condition, or provision of, or constitute a default under,
any obligation, contract, agreement, covenant or instrument to which the
Employee is a party or under which the Employee is bound, including without
limitation, the breach by the Employee of a fiduciary duty to any former
employers.

          14.  Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement cancels and
               ---------------------------
supersedes all previous agreements relating to the subject matter of this
Agreement, written or oral, between the parties hereto and contains the entire
understanding of the parties hereto and shall not be amended, modified or
supplemented in any manner whatsoever except as otherwise provided herein or in
writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

                                       9
<PAGE>

          15.  Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have
               --------
been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall in no way restrict or
otherwise modify any of the terms or provisions hereof.

          16.  Governing Law. This Agreement and all rights and obligations of
               -------------
the parties hereunder shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Indiana applicable to agreements made
and to be performed entirely within the State, including all matters of
enforcement, validity and performance; provided, however, that to the extent any
provision herein is deemed unenforceable in the State of Indiana, then this
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware.

          17.  Notice. Any notice, request, consent or communication under this
               ------
Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and personally delivered
or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, by a
nationally recognized overnight delivery service, with delivery confirmed,
addressed as follows:

          If to the Company:

               Name:                              With Copy To:
               ----                               ------------
               Inergy Partners, LLC               Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C.
               1101 Walnut, Suite 1500            1201 Walnut, Suite 2800
               Kansas City, Missouri 64106        Kansas City, Missouri 64106
               Attn: John J. Sherman              Attn: Paul E. McLaughlin

          If to the Employee:

               Phillip L. Elbert
               1525 Thornapple Dr.
               Fort Wayne, Indiana 46845

or such other persons and/or addresses as shall be furnished in writing by any
party to the other party, and shall be deemed to have been given only upon its
delivery in accordance with this Section 17.
                                 ----------

          18.  Assignment. This Agreement is personal and not assignable by the
               ----------
Employee but it may be assigned by the Company without notice to or consent of
the Employee to, and shall thereafter be binding upon and enforceable by, any
affiliate of the Company, and any person which shall acquire or succeed to
substantially all of the business or assets of the Company (and such person
shall be deemed included in the definition of the "Company" for all purposes of
this Agreement) but is not otherwise assignable by the Company.

          19.  Expenses. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to
               --------
enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be
entitled to reasonable attorney's fees, costs and necessary disbursements in
addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.

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<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Employment Agreement
to be duly executed, and the Employee has hereunto set his hand, on the day and
year first above written.

                                        INERGY PARTNERS, LLC


                                              /s/  JOHN J. SHERMAN
                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             John J. Sherman, President


                                          /s/  PHILLIP L. ELBERT
                                        ________________________________________
                                        PHILLIP L. ELBERT

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