by Kim
Fickett
Landmark reporter
A judge’s ruling in a current case in the
Missouri Supreme Court may make a direct economic
impact to the Platte County government.
During Presiding Commissioner Betty Knight’s
unscheduled comments at last Thursday’s county
commission meeting, she commented that a St. Louis
company is challenging the local use tax, stating
that they are not taxed equally because each local
entity has a different local use tax.
“If the local use tax is found to be an
illegal tax, this could be devastating for us,”
said Knight.
“Last year we took in $3.5 million alone
in local use tax. This decision could be very
serious for Platte County.”
Knight stated that a decision in the case is
expected to be reached in the summer or early
fall.
In other action, Planning and Zoning Director
Aaron Schmidt presented the commission with a
year-in-review of his department.
According to Schmidt, the large concentration
of growth since the 1980’s has been located
south of Platte City and to the west of Parkville.
Over the past 20 years, the number of single
family dwelling has increased dramatically, with
the largest growth spurt seen in 2000.
A graph, presented by Schmidt, showed exactly
how much of a jump in single family dwelling permits
occurred. In 1987, 98 single family permits were
issued compared to 296 permits issued in 2004.
Schmidt also explained that the average lot size
for a minor subdivision has increased from 2.71
in 1987 to 13.32 last year.
While the average lot size for a minor subdivision
has increased, the average lot size of a major
subdivision has decreased. In 1987 the lot size
equated to 1.15 compared to the 2004 figure of
.98.
Schmidt concluded his presentation by informing
the commission that the growth in Platte County
is not going to be slowing down, but instead staying
on a fast track.
Currently south of Platte City, there are 620
existing lots. Schmidt reported there are 2,900
proposed lots expected in the future.
In other planning and zoning news, “weather
conditions” may have been the key contributor
to low building permit figures for the month of
January, according to Gale Cantu of Planning and
Zoning.
For January, Cantu reported that her office issued
nine single family dwelling permits, with a total
of 20 permits issued for the month. Total valuation
for January equaled $2,064,614 in the unincorporated
portion of the county.
The commission also heard three bids for construction
of the public works building/community storm shelter.
Three bids were received from: Bruner Contracting
of Kansas City, Mo, Geiger Steel of Oak View,
Mo, and Design Sense of Olathe, Ks.
Bids were also received for the purchase of new
Ford vehicles for the sheriff’s department.
Two bids were received from Thoroughbred Ford
for $23,620.65, and Dennis Sneed Ford for $20,352.60.
Commissioners also rejected the one bid they
received for the flooring at Shiloh Springs Golf
Club and issued a new bid request with new specifications.
The new bids will be due by 1:30 p.m. on March
3.
Second District Commissioner Jim Plunkett was
appointed to the MARC Air Quality Forum effective
immediately.
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