EDITOR:
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened public awareness of the Platte County Health Department and of the elected Board of Trustees who oversee the department. The pandemic became a political football during this time which made matters worse. The Health Department had considerable impact on our daily lives during the past year while it worked to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease. And it became clear that it needs to continue to operate in a nonpartisan manner to minimize any negative impacts.
Due to the focus on the pandemic, however, you may not have been aware of the many other programs found within the health department. For example, the department provides clinic services, including women’s healthcare, STD testing, and immunizations. Consumer protection services like inspections of restaurants, childcare facilities, and swimming pools are also provided. The department addresses environmental concerns and teaches classes on CPR, food handling and more. AND the department handles birth and death certificates, food establishment permits and sewage permits. What the activities of the health department all have in common is the protection of our community’s health.
A nonpartisan elected board of trustees oversees the health department. The role of the trustees is to ensure the various programs of the department accomplish their goals and objectives and do so in an effective, efficient, and nonpartisan manner. We all want our health protected and our tax dollars to be wisely used.
Before I retired from the City of Kansas City, I was the director of a department like the Platte County Health Department, only bigger. There were over 200 employees delivering public services in a wide variety of programs in a nonpartisan manner. So, I have lots of experience with assessing the success of programs in accomplishing their objectives. And, whether they are doing it in the most cost-effective manner possible.
I am a candidate for a trustee position that will be on the ballot April 6. I want to use my nonpartisan administrative expertise to ensure the Platte County Health Department is protecting your health and using your tax dollars wisely.
–David Park
Kansas City in
Platte County