Here’s a little society news for you. Comedian Rodney Carrington’s son is married to country singer Alan Jackson’s daughter.
I only know this because Rodney Carrington mentioned it during his recent comedy act at Ameristar.
Trying to remember how many times now I’ve seen Rodney Carrington when he brings his act to Ameristar. I think it’s four. Always some good laughs. The only act I’ve seen more times at Ameristar is, of course, Air Supply. Don’t be jealous.
We’ve been breaking a lot of growth and development news for you in recent weeks. The latest, which you’ll be hearing more about in the future I assume, is that Google has acquired 236 acres in the Northland for a potential data center. This has the potential to be huge, so if/when more information becomes available we’ll of course pass it on.
Google just purchased the 236 acres in December, so definite plans have not yet made it into the public realm. The land is said to be north of an additional 79 acres that Google has owned for years in the Hunt Midwest Business Center.
Hey, big news to report. Copies of The Landmark are once again making their way inside Parkville City Hall. Weekly copies addressed to the mayor and to the police chief are making it through the channels and reaching the hands of the recipients with no problems, I’ve been told. Life gets more pleasant for everyone when a teenager is no longer in charge, apparently.
Fore!
Heads up to golf cart drivers taking to the streets inside Parkville.
The city says it has received reports of golf carts being driven on the sidewalk along the east side of Hwy. 9. “Golf carts are not allowed on any sidewalks or trails,” the city says on its Facebook page.
Golf carts are also not allowed on state highways, unless you are simply crossing the highway from one city street to another. And remember, golf carts operating on Parkville city streets must be registered with the city. Cost of registration is $30, registrations must be renewed every two years. All carts. must be inspected if over two years old and all carts must be insured. The city sticker must be displayed on the back bumper and the registration form must be in the cart at all times.
So sayeth the law.
More breaking news from Parkville: New Parkville Mayor Dean Katerndahl will soon be our guest on Landmark Live.
“Sure,” he responded with genuine pleasantry when I extended the invitation in a phone conversation on Tuesday. He’ll be the first Parkville mayor to ever come on the show. Of course he is only the second mayor of Parkville in Landmark Live’s five year history. The previous Parkville mayor–her name escapes me at the moment–declined multiple invitations to join us, including once when I told her she could choose the topics to be discussed. I don’t know how much easier I could have made it for the former person to engage in conversation, but alas, new blood is in control at Parkville now. Katerndahl sounded excited about the invitation to come on and bring viewers up to date on happenings at Parkville.
The new low-key Parkville mayor will be joining us from our Landmark Live studios in downtown Platte City on Thursday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Should be a fun and interesting conversation with Parkville’s new leader.
Change is in the air when it comes to a city attorney for Parkville. We touched on this recently when I mentioned in my April 13 column that the city is sending out a request for proposals for “a municipal law firm or individual attorney to provide city attorney services for general municipal counsel, basic legal services and advice on special projects on a contract or in-house basis.”
Chris Williams of Williams & Campo has been city attorney for Parkville for several years. His head has likely been spinning during some of the previous mayor’s antics in regard to open records and such, so it might not come as a surprise that Williams wants to step away from the post. Katerndahl told me Williams has indicated he wants to cut back on his work load and therefore is giving up the position as city attorney for Parkville. The city did not request the change, Katerndahl says. Williams agreed to stay on for 60 days or so until the city has chosen its new general legal counsel, the mayor indicated.
Speaking of change, change orders are what is prompting the City of Parkville to contract with yet another law firm. At a meeting Tuesday night, the Parkville Board of Aldermen was set to approve a deal for special legal counsel with the law firm of Siegfreid Bigham PC. The mayor tells me this pertains to the road construction project on Hwy. 9 just south of Hwy. 45. “This has to do with anticipated suits involving change orders. The city has paid some change orders, but the city has not accepted all change orders” from the contractors, Katerndahl said Tuesday.
The City of Platte City is inviting the public to a Meet the Goats event on Friday, May 13 from 4-7 p.m. when goats from Storm Dancer Farms will be at Platte City’s Riverview Park at 150 W. Mill St., apparently to cut the grass. “Learn about targeted grazing, observe goats at work and get a chance to see baby goats,” the city says.
This will be baaaaad-ass.
(Find Ivan Foley watching goats cut grass or email him at ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)