• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Thursday, May 19, 2022
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Login / Sign-up
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Login / Sign-up
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
No Result
View All Result
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
No Result
View All Result

County hears criticism of CARES grant program

Ivan Foley by Ivan Foley
June 24, 2021
in Headlines
Money changing hands
13
SHARES
317
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Resident also asks for better transparency

Another round–this one totaling 65-70 recipients-of CARES grant awards to businesses and organizations received approval from the Platte County Commission last week.

(See the list of approvals that were made last week in a separate story in this week’s edition of The Landmark.)

RelatedNews

‘I’m proud of making a difference’

The Landmark enters 158th year of publication

City extends lease on temporary police station

Among the recipients again was the Southern Platte County Athletic Association, in the amount of $14,000. This grant is in addition to many other grants the SPCAA has received through action of the county commission recently. The wife of Ron Schieber, presiding county commissioner, is the paid director of the SPCAA.

In roll call votes for the multiple grants received by the SPCAA in recent years with Schieber in office–which is approximately 10 or more–Schieber has voted yes on some and has abstained on some. For the vote on the CARES grant last week, Schieber abstained.

The latest round of awards came after county auditor Kevin Robinson said the grant program is winding down, as the total amount of the federal CARES dollars distributed to Platte County–$12.2 million–has been earmarked and in many cases already distributed.

“With that, we will be–depending on a few variables–the money will be completely disbursed,” Robinson said at last week’s meeting.

Shortly after Dagmar Wood, first district commissioner, claimed that she had not received any criticism of the county’s CARES grant program, a resident stood to speak opposition. Despite Wood’s claim, the program has been critiqued in a variety of print publications and radio outlets, receiving statewide media attention at various points over the past several months when it was often pointed out Platte was one of the few counties to withhold CARES funds from the local public health department while giving grants as high as $225,000 to private businesses.

Sharen Hunt, who was the director of the University of Missouri Extension in Platte County for many years prior to retiring, spoke to the commission about the program. Hunt, who is now on the board of directors for the Platte Land Trust, said she has concerns about the program and mentioned the award to SPCAA and Schieber’s connection to the organization.

“I’ve worked with youth for 35-plus years and I’m a very strong advocate for youth, but I think this one organization is limited geographically,” Hunt remarked, further questioning the total amount awarded to the SPCAA over the course of the CARES grant program.

Referring to the Schieber family’s financial connection to SPCAA, Hunt added: “I think this also reflects on the conflict of interest (ordinance that was later on the county commission’s agenda that day). This group–they knew how to get the money, I guess.”

Hunt went on to question the commissioners about transparency issues.

“Some of us don’t know, still, if the health department got the help it needed because hundreds and hundreds of people depend on that agency not just for COVID but for all sorts of things,” Hunt remarked. She pointed out that some businesses received thousands–in some cases hundreds of thousands–in grant approvals but services such as pantries were not funded.

Commissioners said grants were reviewed and recommendations for approval were made via a county commission-appointed committee under the assistance of the Platte County Economic Development Council and a couple of agencies who were contracted to assist with handling of grant application paperwork. Meetings of that group were open to the public, Schieber said. She responded that people weren’t aware of that information or how to find it.

Schieber responded: “I think it is a lack of knowledge of how to access the information and not that it’s not available.”

Hunt suggested the county commission could hold Zoom video calls with interested members of the public on items of concern in the future, saying that would be a good way to improve transparency.

CARES grant recipients listed

Tags: dagmar woodHealth Departmentplatte countyron schieber
Ivan Foley

Ivan Foley

Ivan Foley, owner/publisher of the Platte County Landmark, has been on the news beat in Kansas City's Northland for 40 years. He provides weekly observations in his Between the Lines column and serves as host of Landmark Live, a light-hearted videocast featuring newsmakers in the Northland.

Related Posts

45 Years Ago–May 13, 1977

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Dr. Carl Myers purchase the Platte Medical Clinic in Platte City this week and plans to open his office here in the near future. Dr. Nourbaksh will continue to be located in the Platte Medical Clinic. Mr. and Mrs. Louis...

30 Years Ago–May 15, 1992

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Bob Foster, vice principal of Fort Osage Junior High in northeast Independence, has been hired as principal at West Platte High School in Weston. Two girls tied with the same grade point average have been declared valedictorians of the class...

15 Years Ago–May 9, 2007

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

It has been a hectic week for Platte County residents and business owners with property in low-lying areas, as heavy rains across the region have forced rivers and streams out of their banks. Areas in and around Parkville, Riverside, Tracy...

The 80's

Kim Carnes and never buy gas on Tuesdays

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Gonna hit you with some pop culture stuff this week. Just because I want to. Season four of Ozark on Netflix. Have you finished it yet? Let's get through this without spoiling it for those who haven't made it all...

Next Post
Pandemic relief

CARES grant recipients listed

Popular News

  • Area distillery releases first new bourbon in 30 years

    Area distillery releases first new bourbon in 30 years

    23 shares
    Share 9 Tweet 6
  • Bee Creek Bridge replacement set

    11 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • Memorial Day Weekend Celebration planned

    7 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • Large logistics park planned east of I-29

    199 shares
    Share 80 Tweet 50
  • City extends lease on temporary police station

    7 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Call us at 816-858-0363

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

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Online
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish

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

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?