County government continues in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, with a highly modified meeting of the Platte County Commission held Monday.
With presiding commissioner Ron Schieber present by conference call, the Monday, April 6 administrative session was live streamed via YouTube. Commissioners Dagmar Wood and John Elliott were physically present, but stayed apart from one another and other employees in attendance.
A letter of engagement was approved with Clout Public Affairs, headquartered in Jefferson City, for public education on a future sales tax ballot issue, at a cost of $48,816.
Last week, the commission-appointed sales tax advisory committee issued its final report, recommending the county reduce the parks, recreation and stormwater sales tax to one-quarter cent and create a one-quarter cent sales tax for law enforcement (see related story). The parks tax is scheduled to sunset at the end of the year and commissioners have long stated they intended to alter the tax and attempt to pass a law enforcement tax. Voters would be asked to approve the two taxes, for a term of 10 years each, in either the August or November elections.
Services proposed in the public relations agreement for these potential ballot initiatives include identifying interested voters in the county; developing appropriate ballot language, under the leadership of the county's legal counsel; establishing a website for the information campaign; executing a direct mail and phone campaign; maintenance of a Facebook page and other social media; training of volunteers, including members of the sales tax advisory committee, Platte County Parks Board and Platte County Economic Development Council; and other services.
Democratic candidate for the second district seat David Park questioned the process by which the county selected Clout, asking if the service was put out to bid. Elliott responded that because the agreement is considered a professional service it is exempt from the competitive bid process. Three firms were considered, he said, but only Clout provided the services needed at a reasonable cost, according to Elliott.
Park said Clout Public Affairs was not listed as a business with the Missouri Secretary of State. Elliott said the commissioners would investigate that claim.
Clout Public Affairs is a subsidiary of Axiom Strategies, founded by Jeff Roe. Roe is most recently noted as campaign manager for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign.
EMERGENCY RESOLUTION
Commissioners also approved the previously drafted proclamation of state of emergency for Platte County. The Platte County Sheriff's Office prepared the document last month in the event it become necessary to move forward with approval.
Under the resolution, Schieber declared a state of emergency allowing the county to “exercise all necessary emergency authority for the protection of lives and property of the people of Platte County and the restoration of local government with a minimum of disruption.
“Citizens are called upon and directed to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperate with public officials and the Platte County Emergency Management Agency forces in executing emergency operational plans, and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified public offices,” the resolution states.
Capt. Tony Avery told commissioners that the social distancing efforts in Missouri seem to be working to push out the estimates of the peak of infection further, flattening the curve as intended.
Wood was also appointed to serve on the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) COVID-19 multi-agency coordination group along with sheriff Mark Owen.
PARKS AND REC GRANTS
Parks and Recreation Outreach grants funded by the half-cent parks and recreation sales tax were also approved by commissioners.
Director of parks and recreation Daniel Erikson said 17 of the 18 grants awarded were approved this week, with paperwork from the City of Weston still pending. Grants were approved for City of Parkville, $10,820, for lighting on the Waddell bridge in Platte Landing Park; Midwest Adaptive Sports, $6,110, for program equipment; City of Platte Woods, $8,924, for lighting and signage improvements at Imerson Park; City of Riverside, $25,000 for a linear trail project; City of Edgerton, $10,862, for purchase of a lawn mower; Platte County Historical Society, $15,317, for repairs to the Ben Ferrel Museum; Kansas City Parks and Recreation, $25,000, restrooms at t-ball fields; Platte City Friends of the Arts, $1,500, outdoor summer concert series; Friends of Parkville Nature Sanctuary, $4,144, trail side exhibit signage; City of Camden Point, $22,668, improvements to playground equipment; Southern Platte County Athletic Association, $20,000, softball field upgrades; City of Northmoor, $13,713, picnic area for the city park; Platte County Youth Football League, $5,770 and $22,676, field goal posts and scoreboards; Park Hill School District, $25,000, improvements to tennis courts off Barry Road; North Platte School District, $11,999, scoreboard at Dean Park in Dearborn; and Wings Over Weston, $5,795, for the 2020 program.
Commissioners also approved the annual law enforcement appreciation week and law enforcement memorial day for May 9-16 and May 15, respectively.