It’s been an active month for the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, with Major Erik Holland updating commissioners on thefts, apprehensions and other activities.
At the Monday, Dec. 16 administrative session, Holland updated commissioners on a string of thefts in the northern part of Platte County. He reported a series of burglaries last week involving suspects stealing items from sheds and vehicles, including the theft of some firearms.
“We’ve had a decent amount of activity up north,” Holland said, noting much of the activity was in the vicinity of Interurban Road. While some suspects have been apprehended, others remain at large while the cases are under investigation.
One suspect was driven from the woods near Interurban Road with the assistance of a canine officer, a drone and armed property owners.
“It’s been a busy few weeks in the northeastern quadrant,” Holland said.
Also at the meeting, commissioners approved an agreement for the sheriff’s office to purchase new inmate uniforms at the detention center. The nearly $10,000 purchase from Bob Barker Company prompted commissioners to crack several jokes congratulating the sheriff’s office on finding the price to be right.
The commission plans to approve the 2020 county budget in January, with a public hearing set for Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. The commission’s proposed budget will be available to the public online by Thursday, Dec. 26.
Commissioners approved the purchase of a portable crime deterrence camera for $8,500, which will be placed in park facilities to curb vandalism. In another parks department purchase, the commissioners approved a nearly $20,000 change order with Stinnett Stone and Supply to remove trees at the south trail head of Prairie Creek Greenway, where creek bank erosion has caused extensive damage to the trail.
Updates to several building codes were also approved, with the commissioners approving the adoption of 2018 International Residential Code, 2017 National Electric Code, 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, 2018 International Plumbing Code, 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Fuel Gas Code. Previously, the county operated under the 2012 building codes.
According to director of planning and zoning Daniel Erickson, the new code does not contain any radical changes, but will allow the county to remain compliant with current standards.