Medical marijuana may be legal in Missouri, but don’t expect to see any of those businesses in Platte City for a while.
During the board of aldermen meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 26, the board passed a resolution that directed staff to suspend or delay the acceptance and processing of development applications for building permits and building activities related to medical marijuana.
The economic development subcommittee recommended delaying acceptance and reviews until July 1.
This will provide the city a chance to approve land use, law enforcement or building code changes that will be needed following the forms issued to patients to take to health care providers on June 4.
That is also the month the Missouri State Department of Health anticipates publishing regulations.
Final application for cultivation, manufacturing and dispensing facilities is Aug. 4 and on Jan. 4, 2020, licenses will be approved for dispensing facilities — all in according to dates approved in Amendment 2.
City codes will need to be amended to comply with state regulations and zoning will need to be looked at to determine which activity is allowed and where. Also codes will need to change to prohibit open and public use of medicinal marijuana and to prohibit operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of medicinal marijuana.
Purchases
A new police vehicle will be purchased, as well as heavy equipment for the city.
A budget amendment of a little more than $6,000 was needed to fund the total cost of $38,088 for a 2020 Ford Explorer police vehicle from Thoroughbred Ford in Platte City that will include the installation of marked patrol vehicle equipment.
The city ordered a new vehicle last September but was notified by the Ford Motor Company they can’t provide the 2019 Police Interceptor ordered to replace a 2016 vehicle, which was placed in service in April of 2015. That vehicle has nearly 100,000 miles and falls in the four-year, 100,000-mile rotation schedule.
The vehicle was ordered on Sept. 4 for $32,040 with delivery expected by the end of the year, but an early end of production for a change in the 2020 caused the city to change course.
Platte City and many other law enforcement agencies were looking for already available 2019 models on car lots or switch to Dodge or Chevrolet police vehicles.
After negative results on a search of car lots and not wanting to have different vehicles in the fleet, the city turned its attention to buying a 2020 model. The changes to the utility vehicle includes a hybrid gas/electric engine — a 25 percent increase in rated fuel economy — and a powertrain that can handle faster acceleration and a higher top end speed.
Thoroughbred Ford agreed to match the state bid price of $34,588 with a $3,500 in equipment transfer preparation cost. The $6,048 difference will come from the asset replacement fund.
The purchases of a 2019 T650 track loader and E50 compact excavator were approved to not exceed $126,600 from the asset replacement fund.
This purchase was made after one-year lease program with Bobcat ended. Since 2014, the city used a municipal lease program which provided a new equipment each year for a one-time lease fee and in prior years the city had the option to extend the lease for one additional year, but the program ended last year.
The most cost effective option was to buy two new pieces of equipment rather than lease the equipment.
Grant application
The board approved and endorsed an application to the Platte County Commission for funding under the Stormwater Grant Program for the Wilson Creek improvement project. The total estimated cost is $134,026 and if the city could secure the matching grant, it would be $67,013.
Wilson Creek winds through Platte City and ends at the Platte River. Repairs are needed at Fourth Street, where the creek continues to encroach a resident’s property line by eight feet over the past 10 years. The edge of the creek is within 10 feet of a driveway at 1321 Fourth Street and continued erosion would undermine the driveway according to documents.
Other news
Platte County Commissioner John Elliott and Sheriff Mark Owen were at the meeting to talk about the capital improvement ballot issue. Both talked about issues in terms of numbers at the Platte County Detention Center, which swings a lot Owen noted.
A resolution was passed for special event permits for March 24 and Nov. 24 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The city and Platte County Parks and Recreation will partner together for a one-day pickleball clinic on Saturday, March 16. This sport combines the rules and characteristics of tennis and badminton. The city will use this to gauge interest in future clinics, open gym time and possible tournaments based on interest.
The Platte City youth basketball season ended on Feb. 16 and saw an 11 percent increase from last year. Platte City hosted the fourth grade girls end of season tournament at the Civic Center.
Baseball registration closes on April 8 and volleyball registration ends May 3 for youth sports leagues.
Kenny Loy, the public works director, noted the winter weather will cause the department to finish over the salt/sand budget.