• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Monday, March 1, 2021
49 °f
Platte
49 ° Wed
49 ° Thu
49 ° Fri
48 ° Sat
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
No Result
View All Result
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
No Result
View All Result

Health department trustees should have a single mission

Ivan Foley by Ivan Foley
November 18, 2020
in Between the Lines
Health department trustees should have a single mission
7
SHARES
175
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Not sure why but I watched a couple of those Hallmark Christmas movies over the weekend. I can’t get over the cheesiness. So much cheese I’m now lactose intolerant.

It’s true the movies have cute and cuddly (notice I didn’t say realistic) storylines and all, so I totally understand how some folks–particularly the sentimental types in the crowd–get hooked on these. But wow. You’ll find better acting on Landmark Live–and we’re not even acting.

RelatedNews

Investigations, rolling outages and building south

Concerts and conspiracy theories and such

Puffy coat alert and autopsy on the Super Bowl

And the camera work. It’s like they’re filmed with an old iPhone. Or a homemade drone. Or a toaster.


All that being said, I do admire the low-budget efficiency of those Christmas flicks. Not a lot of frills and whatnot.

Any revenue being produced is straight profit, I’m guessing.


David Park, unsuccessful in his run as the Democrat candidate for second district county commissioner, is continuing to follow happenings with the county commission. That can be a full time job, so those of us at The Landmark appreciate the help. There’s an update from Park on his Facebook page talking about the county commission’s train wreck known as the distribution of federal CARES dollars.

If you’re short on time, here’s my CliffsNotes version of what Park wrote: The county commission’s handling of CARES money continues to be a clown show.

Here is Park’s full report:

“On Nov. 2, the Platte County Commissioners announced they will begin considering requests from local governmental units for funds from the $12,250,000 in federal CARES grant that was given to the county in April. Although Congress intended for these funds to be given to those local units of government, our commissioners are just now getting around to doing it.

“It may be too late.

“Consider the timeline involved while considering the requirement that costs must be incurred by the end of December. The local units of government (cities, health departments, school districts, etc.) must complete and submit an application requesting funds by Nov. 30. It is likely that the boards or councils of the local unit of government will have to meet to approve the application being submitted. County staff will then review the submitted applications and the commission must approve the funding request at a commission meeting. That may leave two to three weeks for the local units of government to spend the amount awarded.

“The local units of government could request funds for reimbursement of costs already incurred on pandemic related activities. But, for the last six months, it was not clear if they would have access to any of these funds, how much they may receive, or when they may receive the funds. In fact, the commission initially indicated they were going to give all the funds to businesses. They opened it up to local units of government only after it became clear there would be millions unspent.

“The uncertainty about funding likely resulted in local units of government not taking action to address COVID-19, thereby increasing the risk to our health. For example, the Platte County Health Department could have increased testing and contract tracing during this time if they knew the costs would be reimbursed.

“Also, the commissioners could have created a program using the funds to assist Platte County residents who are facing eviction because of being unemployed or furloughed due to the required shutdowns. Helping a tenant with rent also indirectly helps the landlord. And there is a negative impact on a community when the number of mortgage foreclosures increases. Remember what happened to property values about 10 years ago when foreclosures increased?

“Up until this point, the commission has only been awarding grant funds to businesses whether or not those businesses suffered losses due to the required shutdown or reduced capacity requirements. These awards to businesses total $2.8 million so far (Park’s message was written Nov. 8), leaving a balance of over $9 million in grant funds.

“I seriously doubt the remaining $9 million can be spent by the end of December and we could lose the funds. So, the funds intended to reimburse for costs incurred in Platte County could end up being given to other counties because of the inept manner our commissioners handled the situation.”


Kudos to the Platte County Health Department Board of Trustees for their decision to match Kansas City and Clay County with updated COVID guidelines. With the level of community spread of the virus now in all parts of the county, it is the responsible thing to do. Maybe the decision shows that the health department this time is determined not to be intimidated by outside forces such as the Platte County commissioners, deniers, and conspiracy theorists (but I repeat myself).

It was disappointing that a couple trustees–specifically Cathy Hill and Kent Jackson–said they are reluctant to make the move and say they feel the order “has some major issues.” You’re the health department board of trustees. Your only priority needs to be public health. Doing the right thing. Not worrying about your re-election chances. Not economics. Not playing to both sides of the issue. Not trying to appease county commissioners who have dabbled in denial about the pandemic. Not kissing up to the county commissioners just because they’re holding the purse strings to CARES money over your head in an embarrassingly control-freakish move.

A health trustee’s position at this time should be to believe that if an error is to be made, it is to error on the side of caution, not to error on the side of political pressure from the fringe.

(Maybe you can find Ivan Foley watching Hallmark Christmas movies. Or maybe not. But you can always email him at ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)

Tags: covid-19electionsHealth Departmentlandmark liveplatte county
Ivan Foley

Ivan Foley

Ivan Foley is owner/editor/publisher of the Platte County Landmark. Foley has been on the news beat in Platte County with The Landmark for 38 years, specializing in local government issues and accountability journalism. He has penned multiple award-winning investigative pieces. He provides weekly observations and editorial commentary in his Between the Lines column and serves as host of Landmark Live, a light-hearted videocast featuring newsmakers and events in the Northland. During his time at the helm of The Landmark, the newspaper has been awarded on multiple occasions for General Excellence in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. In 2016, Foley won the Tom and Pat Gish Award, a national honor given by the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Kentucky for displaying courage, tenacity and integrity in rural journalism. A big fan of the Chiefs and Royals, Foley resides in Platte County not far from KCI Airport.

Related Posts

45 Years Ago–February 27, 1976

by Ivan Foley
February 26, 2021
0

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Buxton of Weston announce the birth of their daughter, Valerie Sue, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 1976 at St. John Hospital in Leavenworth. Mrs. Buxton formerly worked at Bobbi's Hair Fashions in Platte City. Doug Hunt, Platte...

30 Years Ago–March 1, 1991

by Ivan Foley
February 26, 2021
0

The Platte City Chamber of Commerce Thursday heard Mayor Steve Wegner deliver a "State of the City" address. The KCI Conference of Schools, hosted by Smithville R-2 School District and Parents as Teachers, will present "The Power of Positive Parenting"...

15 Years Ago–February 23, 2006

by Ivan Foley
February 26, 2021
0

The call to serve his country has come once again for State Rep. Jason Brown of Platte City. Brown, a member of the United States Army Reserves, told The Landmark that he has been called to fulfill a one year...

Praise for local road district

Praise for local road district

by Landmark Digital Staff
February 26, 2021
0

EDITOR: One of the best examples of taxpayer dollars at work has to be credited to the Parkville Special Road District  for providing excellent road cleaning during the lethally frigid weather. Against continued below zero temperatures, even more bitter wind...

Next Post
Assessor’s office should be audited

Assessor's office should be audited

Popular News

  • Vaccine shot

    Around 1,700 shots to be offered in the next week

    16 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • City ‘finds’ 2,300 records, gives them to Jason Maki

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • Why the urgency for R-3 bond issue?

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • County health department eases restrictions

    13 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Investigations, rolling outages and building south

    8 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Call us at 816-858-0363

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Subscribe Online
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist