Liquor license OK’d for new Platte City restaurant

A new restaurant is coming to Platte City.

During the board of aldermen meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24, the board voted 5-0 to issue a city liquor license to allow beer and wine by the drink with Sunday sales to Iron Horse BBQ.

The business will be located at 2405 Prairie View Road, formerly the site of Mr. Goodcents. The business still has to apply for a state liquor license but needed the city license as a prerequisite.

The owner of Iron Horse BBQ wasn’t released in the information provided prior to the meeting.

The liquor license will run from Oct. 1 to June 30, 2020.

The board also approved a list of surplus items to sell which included various cameras, radios, printers, computer towers, ballistic vest panels, a concrete saw, Bobcat grader attachment and a box blade for a tractor. Most will be sold on govdeals.com, which specializes in local and state equipment sales.

BUDGET NEWS

The board adopted a budget for the 2020 fiscal year, starting Nov. 1.

In the supplemental request for the 2019-20 year, a number of items were approved. That included a WatchGuard in-car camera for the new patrol vehicle, which will cost the city $3,145 after being reimbursed from MIRMA. The police department will also add radio equipment to a 2014 Chevrolet Impala. This vehicle serves as a back-up patrol car and the cost is $2,905.

The parks and recreation department will be getting a utility vehicle for use at Harrel Ferrel Sports Complex and other locations in the city for the cost of $9,000.

A total of $750,000 was approved for a splash pad and shelter/rest rooms at the location of the former Rising Star Elementary School. This is the first phase of a multiple phase project that could span construction projects for the next 30 years. First up would be a water amenity that could be open by next year and incorporated into a larger aquatic facility in the future.

For public works, ultraviolet lights at the wastewaster treatment plant will be replaced at the cost of $11,000. Also approved was a preliminary design study for $20,000 to look into construction of an additional capacity of the wastewater treatment plant, which is running between 60 to 65 percent of capacity. The best practice model calls for an addition prior to reaching 80 percent and the city expects to be close to 80 percent between 2023-2025 after development east of Interstate 29 booms.

Cost of living, progressive and tenure pay increases were approved, which factors out to be $58,000. An added bonus was the approval of the city having a $50 a month contribution match for the 457(b) retirement plans.

One change for the employees will be an online time and attendance software program that should streamline the payroll process that takes between eight to 10 hours.

The budget also features $1 million for property acquisition, site preparation and facility design/bid specification for a new police station/administration building with an anticipated start date of Nov. 1.

A 2006 Ford Taurus vehicle used for code enforcement will be replaced, making it the oldest over the road vehicles in the city’s fleet.

IN OTHER NEWS

  • Kenny Loy, the public works director, quit his job effective Sept. 20. Parks and recreation director Ryan Crowley will serve as the acting public works director.

  • Pedal for Platte is slated for Oct. 12 with race routes of five, 13 and 30 miles or a family fun short route. The event starts at 8 a.m. in downtown Platte City. Donations benefit the Platte City Rotary and Platte City Chamber of Commerce.

  • The Platte City Police Department will host a MoChip event at the Civic Center, 308 Zed Martin Drive, on Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where parents are encouraged to bring their children from newborns to 21 years to have comprehensive child identification completed.

  • The YMCA Trunk n Treat is set from 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the Platte County Community Center North.

  • A Drug Take Back is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Platte City Police Department at 355 Main Street.

  • In the most recent police statistics available, Chief Joe Wellington noted that there is a 39 percent decrease in overall crime and 33 percent decrease in traffic accidents, which also led to 29 percent fewer calls in July 2019 compared to July 2018.

  • Crowley noted in his monthly report the registration number for fall soccer (187) and volleyball (25) were down from the previous year.