This Thanksgiving I will not sit idly by and tolerate words of slander against pumpkin pie. Please give pumpkin pie the respect it deserves. Thank you in advance. #HarmonyInAWorldOfDifference
If you know of an unloved pumpkin pie please let me know and I will personally find it a good home. #InMyBelly #Blessed
Every two years the group of elected officeholders in Platte County meet to discuss salaries–their own salaries, mind you. Yes, it’s a little weird but that’s the law. The meeting is technically known as a gathering of the Platte County Salary Commission. That’s a fancy way of saying it is the current county officeholders.Technically they’re not discussing their own salaries but the salaries of the person next elected to the position they currently hold. Yes, in most cases that person is the same person who currently holds the position. It’s always important to remember that, per the state constitution, any salary increase cannot take effect until the next term of the elected office.
Platte County Salary Commission meets in odd numbered years in the fall. The most recent meeting took place Oct. 28. I didn’t make it over for the fun because that was right smack in the middle of the 2.5 weeks when office manager Cindy was out of the country and I had my hands full doing Cindy stuff when I wasn’t doing Foley stuff. Not 100 percent sure of this, but I believe it was the first salary commission meeting I’ve missed in more than 20 years.
A copy of the minutes from the Oct. 28 gathering shows that two of the affected 11 members were absent. Sheriff Mark Owen was absent. Dagmar Wood, first district commissioner, was also absent.
The sheriff in the past at these sessions has consistently argued for raises for elected officials. Wood in the past year or two has developed a reputation as being the sheriff’s kind of awkwardly over-the-top public relations/full time promotional agent. So now that you know those two were absent, you can likely guess the outcome of the meeting.
No salary increase for the elected officials was approved.
At the meeting, Kevin Robinson, county auditor, made a motion that when county employees receive a COLA (cost of living allowance) increase that the officeholders receive a COLA of an equal amount.
Robinson’s motion did not receive a second, according to the minutes. Robinson eventually withdrew the motion and no vote was taken on the topic. The meeting didn’t last long, adjourning 17 minutes after the posted start time. It was adjourned on a motion by Robinson, seconded by presiding commissioner Ron Schieber and unanimously approved.
The nine officials who were there to take part in the salary commission session are Schieber, Robinson, second district commissioner John Elliott, assessor David Cox, collector Sheila Palmer, county clerk Nancy Armstrong, public administrator Jera Pruitt, recorder Gloria Boyer and treasurer Rob Willard.
In 2017, the salary commission voted 6-4 to give 2.5% raises to the county positions. That action took most county officeholders up to $67,398 (associate commissioners by law are paid $2,000 less than the presiding commissioner) and the sheriff up to $73,110. The county prosecutor’s salary ($135,059) is determined by state statute so the county prosecutor has traditionally never taken part in the salary commission discussions.
Remember when that GasBuddy.com expert told us gasoline would be down to $2 per gallon by Thanksgiving? I don’t think it’s going to make it. At least not here in Platte County, where prices are $2.30-ish.
The GasBuddy folks say there is at least one station in Kansas City priced at $2(s). I haven’t noticed any prices close to that in Platte County. Prices at stations throughout the state range from the aforementioned $2.04 up to $2.59. The average price in Kansas City is $2.34 per gallon. That compares to $2.22 a year ago at this time. Also, our friends at GasBuddy say the best day of the week to fill your tank is now Monday. That’s the day you’re most likely to find the lowest price.
Your copy of The Landmark was printed and mailed on Monday this week, giving folks plenty of time to receive this issue in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Also in plenty of time for Platte Countians to receive–in advance of Black Friday–the 72-page JC Penney brochure of Black Friday specials tucked inside this issue. Enjoy.
Platte City’s annual Thanksgiving Eve shindig seems primed and ready Wednesday evening. The downtown holiday lighting ceremony fun begins at 5:30 and runs till 8 p.m. on Main Street and throughout the downtown area. Mayor Frank Offutt will flip the switch to illuminate the Platte County Courthouse and the downtown buildings at 6 p.m.
Have we got a candy cane for you.
That wasn’t a question. That’s a statement. On Wednesday night during the Platte City lighting ceremony, your favorite elves of The Landmark will be giving away candy canes at the newspaper office, 252 Main St., beginning at 5:30 until the supply is gone. Drop by for a free treat.
Small Business Saturday is Saturday in downtown Parkville. Visit to the quaint and historic downtown area this weekend to patronize some of the small businesses if you get the chance.
And don’t look now, Parkville, but due to popular demand Landmark Live is coming your way next week. More details soon.
(Get Between the Lines on demand via Twitter @ivanfoley and on Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. Email ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)