A week after the Platte County Health Department’s board of trustees discussed their lack of CARES Act funding from the federal government via the county commission, commissioners approved a grant.
A little more than $300,000 was approved for the health department’s COVID-19 response at the Monday, Dec. 21 commission session, held at the Platte County Resource Center near KCI Airport.
The CARES session was held prior to the regular administrative session, and grants were awarded to both public entities and private businesses. The City of Kansas City received the largest chunk by far, with $1.1 million approved in what was listed as the city’s first application. The Platte County Health Department was awarded $308,166.
Last week, the health department’s board of trustees voted to discontinue offering free COVID-19 testing for most county residents due to lack of funding. The health department started absorbing the costs of testing in August when the University of Kansas Medical Center stopped offering free testing. After months of footing the bill, the health department said most residents would need to pay $100 per test beginning on Jan. 1, 2021.
Health department officials, particularly board member Paula Willmarth, were critical of the commissioners’ lag in funding of the health department and other public entities.
Also at the CARES session, commissioners awarded business grants to Envy Salon, $25,726; Brow Threading, $46,113; Little Gym of Kansas City North, $120,418; Fountain of Life Family Chiropractic, $6,128; and LaFerla Family Eyecare, $62,892.
An amendment to the county’s CARES Act programs will also allow the county itself to recoup money expended from the emergency fund to cover COVID-related expenses.
FARLEY ROAD PROJECTS UPCOMING
Also at the Monday meeting, commissioners voted to move forward with a long-planned cooperative project with the Farley Special Road District. The $3 million project is funded through the county’s three-eighths cent sales tax for roads projects and will kick off early next year with $100,000 in preliminary site improvements to North Farley Road. The road district plans to replace culverts and pave the currently gravel road with asphalt. Guard rails, pavement markings and signage will also be installed.
Improvements first outlined in the 2013 Roads Master Plan include improvements to North Farley Road north from the intersection of Farley Road and Humphrey’s Road to the intersection of Farley Road and Highway 92; Hackberry Lane from Hwy. 92 to its intersection with Highway 273; improvements to Main, First, West, East and Wallace streets in the Village of Farley; asphalt overlay on Humphrey’s Road from Farley Road to the Platte River bridge; and asphalt on Farley Road from the south side of Humphrey’s Road to the northern limits of Farley. Asphalt will also extend onto Ode Road and Brandt Lane.
All projects will be funded through sales tax proceeds and completed by the road district. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of October 2021, barring weather delays.
PORTABLE METAL DETECTORS
Commissioners also approved an agreement to purchase metal detectors and associated equipment for the Platte County Sheriff’s Office at a cost of $20,390, to be reimbursed through the county’s CARES Act funds.
According to Major Erik Holland, the equipment will be used for off-site jury selection, to help in social distancing efforts for the Circuit Court. After the COVID emergency calms, Holland said the portable units can be used in the Platte County Detention Center to search for contraband, which is often hidden in mattresses.
FAREWELL TO ELLIOTT
Commissioners bid farewell to second district commissioner John Elliott at the session, which included a statement from Elliott’s wife, Julie. Elected in 2016, the longtime member of the Platte County Republican Central Committee often helped others win election before seeking the seat himself. Elliott chose to not seek re-election this year and will be replaced by fellow Republican Joe Vanover at the end of the year.