After a month’s delay, this week commissioners unanimously approved the authorization of a special warranty deed to the Platte County Health Department’s board of trustees.
The approval came after commissioners tabled the approval of a warranty deed turning over full ownership of the Platte City Health Department building to the Platte County Health Department Board of Trustees, allowing for the sale of that building.
According to the commission, during the sale of the Platte City location to allow for relocation of the health department to a central location near KCI Airport, it was determined the building belonged to the county and not to the health department. The health department disputed this, stating the original warranty deed issued in 1959 listed the ownership as the county, but “for the use and control” of the health department trustees.
Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker took the opportunity to request information from the health department regarding ownership of the building, the process of purchasing the central facility and the health department’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Later in February, after some correspondence between the health department director Andrew Warlen and Fricker, Fricker said while he disagreed with Warlen’s opinion on the ownership of the Platte City building, he intended to sign the special warranty deed.
Fricker attended the Tuesday, Feb. 21 meeting of the health department board of trustees, accusing the board of entering into a “speculative real estate deal” and calling for the resignation of all board members who voted in favor of purchasing the central facility building.
At the March 6 commission meeting, Fricker said he had learned a lot about the Platte County Health Department over the past month.
“As far as I can tell, those that were involved in the decision to purchase a new building in early 2020 really don’t care about transparency, fiscal responsibility, accountability to the taxpayers or the small business community,” Fricker said. “These things are clear, but what’s worse is they have no regret and would do it all over again if given the chance.”
He urged voters to elect new members to the board and to vote against the one incumbent on the April 4 election ballot, Paula Willmarth.