Another unsolicited, unpaid Between the Lines endorsement:
It’s hard to go wrong with most barbecue places in and around KC, but my favorite combination of food and atmosphere has become the Jack Stack Barbecue in the converted historic Freight House in the Crossroads Art District. With its 25-foot ceilings, a fireplace lounge, and great food it’s hard to beat.
All the reignited talk about the downtown Parkville speakeasy seems a good time to plug our friend’s video.
Landmark Live co-host Brad Carl released his hit music video “Meet Me at the Speakeasy” with a wink to the mayor’s time at that secret store in downtown Parkville on April 1, 2021 (his 50th birthday). This was after a couple of months of chatter about the ‘secret’ Parkville spot in this column and on Landmark Live. And still three weeks before the speakeasy–more formally known as The Watch Club–got its business license on April 21, 2021.
This talk no doubt is making you want to see the music video again. Find the “Meet Me at the Speakeasy” video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anm1KEtS9l4 &t=137s.
If that’s too long of a link for you, just find the Platte County Landmark’s YouTube channel and you’ll see the Meet Me at the Speakeasy video logged there, along with all of our Landmark Live episodes.
We put this edition of The Landmark to bed earlier than normal this week, due to the fact there’ll be no mail service on Thursday because of Veterans Day.
The early deadline made it impossible for me to get to Parkville City Hall for the first meeting since 2008 of the Parkville Ethics Commission. The ethics commission is in the process of figuring what to do with an 8-page complaint with 170 pages of supporting documents against Mayor Nan Johnston.
“Well, why not just watch the livestreamed video of the meeting while you’re working?” you might ask. Strangely, the city chose not to livestream the ethics commission meeting dealing with the complaint against the mayor.
Expect a video (not courtesy of the city) of the meeting to be available later in the week. Check the Platte County Landmark’s Facebook page for more info and a link to the ethics commission video.
Though I wasn’t able to make it to the Parkville ethics meeting, I did get some updates after the fact. Seems like the start of the process has been a bit bumpy. One highlight is that two members of the ethics board had resigned their posts before the meeting even started. It was reported Deborah Butcher and Peggy Parolin had resigned prior to the meeting. Parolin, by the way, was listed as treasurer for one of Nan’s prior election campaigns, so potential conflict avoided there with her resignation.
So, the list of ethics commission members–previously numbering five, but as of now at three–includes Bryan Dehner, chairman; Gil Scott, and Jerry Felker.
On Monday night, city attorney Chris Williams advised the ethics commission to seek outside legal counsel.
So there’s your update. More drama ahead in the weeks to come, no doubt.
A tentative agenda for the ethics meeting listed this activity:
1. Call to order.
2. Roll call.
3. Oath of office (remember, the city’s ethics commission hasn’t met since 2008, so these folks haven’t yet met as a group).
4. Overview of Chapter 107 Code of Ethics and Ethics Commission Role.
5. Vacancies on commission and appointment issues.
6. Complaint regarding Mayor Nan Johnston
A. Acknowledge receipt of the complaint
B. Establish a timeframe for the mayor’s response.
C. Request for outside counsel to advise commission.
7. Other Business
A. Timing for next meeting.
8. Adjourn.
Getting ready for Thanksgiving? With all the supply chain issues, will there be a shortage of turkeys this year?
Apparently no shortage, but experts are still advising not to wait too long to make your turkey purchase, if that’s your main course of choice at Thanksgiving this year. Also, be prepared for higher turkey prices than you’ve become accustomed to over the years.
Market experts are saying turkey is more expensive largely because the price of corn, which most commercial turkeys feed on, more than doubled in some parts of the country from July 2020 to July 2021. Much of that cost is being passed on to the consumer, of course.
Newsweek recently reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released data showing that the average wholesale price of a Grade A frozen 8-16 pound turkey has increased about 22 percent from last year. This equates to $1.41 per pound as of Oct. 22 compared to $1.15 per pound a year ago.
In late October 2019, the same turkey would have cost 96 cents per pound, and in October 2018 just 84 cents per pound.
No turkey at the Between the Lines Thanksgiving dinner this year, in case you were wondering. Looking forward to smoked brisket as the main course this year.
(Contact The Landmark’s top turkey at ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)