Platte County awards stormwater grants

The Platte County Commission this week approved $250,000 in stormwater grant funds to address water runoff problems for municipalities, individuals and organizations throughout the county.

According to director of planning and zoning Daniel Erickson, this year the county received 12 applications from 10 different entities to abate stormwater issues. The program has been funded for 20 years through the parks, recreation and stormwater sales tax. Although the tax was reduced from a half to a quarter cent last year, full funding for the stormwater grant program was retained.

This year’s grants were offered to Townhomes of Oak Valley, $8,578; City of Houston Lake, $24,000; Lake Waukomis Association, $25,104; City of Weatherby Lake, $10,500; City of Camden Point, $7,020; City of Platte Woods, $41,056; City of Riverside, $40,000; Village of Farley, $39,433; Randy and Nancy Stanley, $28,305; and Wales Enterprises, $26,004.

Also at the meeting, the commission approved two items indirectly related to the COVID-19 pandemic and various federal stimulus programs.

The first is a request for proposals to update the county’s telephone service to a voice-over internet protocol system, allowing cloud-based access to county phone services. This would allow employees to work from home more easily, access work phones via a mobile app and make relocation of offices and employees easier in the event of another emergency.

Commissioners also approved contracts for services to hire six additional hearing officers to handle an expected influx of real estate assessment appeals over the next few months. The contract workers will assist the Board of Equalization in handling appeals.

According to presiding commissioner Ron Schieber, many commercial properties have reduced in value due to the effects of the pandemic. Meanwhile residential property values have gone up as homeowners have decided to change or update their homes.

Schieber said he believes the county will be able to use a portion of its federal CARES funding to cover the contract costs, as the pandemic is to blame for some reassessment concerns.

County assessor Kevin Robinson said he, too, believes that with the proper amendments to funding paperwork, costs incurred prior to the June 30 deadline may be reimbursable through CARES.

FEDERAL COVID FUNDS

Also at the meeting, commissioners briefly spoke of the recent release of the 151-page guideline document released by the federal government outlining the possible uses of funds from the American Rescue Plan approved in March.

A committee formed shortly after the newest round of stimulus funds were approved has met twice to discuss using money for capital improvements to county facilities, such as the courts, sheriff and prosecutor’s offices.

An officeholder meeting consisting of other elected officials met last week to discuss their ideas for the expected $20 million in funding. A master list of ideas will be compiled.

After the release of the federal guidelines, second district commissioner Joe Vanover expressed disappointment.

“After a quick read, it looks like Christmas morning for the liberal elected officials across America,” Vanover said. “It authorizes spending the money on many big-government social programs to address perceived inequities.”

Vanover said the county government will examine the federal restrictions to find ways to spend the money on needed projects that do not create new bureaucracies. He said he was optimistic officials will find ways to spend the money on capital investments in public facilities to meet pandemic operational needs without an expansion of social programs.