A lot of you reading this have been to the Parkville Farmers Market at least once, if not many more occasions. That’s all it takes for you to give your input on future plans for the Parkville Farmers Market replacement/relocation after trucks damaged the existing market structure in two separate incidents.
I encourage you to head to the advertisement on pge A-10 of this edition of The Landmark, where you’ll find all you need to know to let your voice be heard. The ad entitled “Replacing Parkville’s Farmers Market” contains a web address where you can enter your thoughts and opinions, or better yet simply scan the QR code in the ad and it will take you right to the survey. I’ve already given my input using the QR code.
Not familiar with using QR code? Simply open the camera feature on your cell phone and aim it at the code. It will take you to the survey (you may have to touch the link that appears on your screen after scanning).
Do it now while you’re thinking about it. The city and its partners are looking for your input on this topic, so let your voice be heard. You don’t have to be a Parkville resident to take part in the survey. The options are: *Parkville resident; *Farmers Market vendor; *Farmers Market customer; *Other.
Pretty sure you fall into at least one of those categories. So take part in the survey.
The Platte County Commission’s feeling about the future of the countywide 3/8th cent sales tax for roads appears to have been all over the map. Earlier this year there was widespread behind-the-scenes belief that the commissioners had no intention of even putting a renewal option on the ballot for voters to decide. Then some of the entities, including cities and road districts, worked hard to get the commission’s attention with reports and presentations of how beneficial the sales tax has been to the various entities who deal in the important topic of transportation. After all, even the best-built roads eventually need maintenance.
At a meeting last week of county commissioners and EDC representatives, road district officials and some city representatives it became apparent that the commission desires to put some type of renewal on the ballot in November. But based on some comments, in particular a closing statement from Dagmar Wood, first district commissioner, it looks like the preference among commissioners is to cut the proposed renewal amount of the sales tax from 3/8th cent to 1/4 cent. Apparently the commissioners really want to say they’ve lowered taxes, or something, which is somewhat contradictory since just three years ago Wood and Ron Schieber, presiding commissioner, put a new half cent sales tax proposal on the ballot for an over-the-top expanded county jail. As we know, that half cent sales tax for a jail was absolutely bludgeoned at the ballot box by voters.
Maybe the commissioners are thinking ahead here. Maybe they want to cut one county sales tax before proposing another–perhaps another jail sales tax proposal is on the not-too-distant horizon to fill a temporary cut in the county sales tax structure.
Just something to plant in the back of your mind.
Schieber said at last week’s meeting that he doesn’t like that about half of the money raised by a road tax renewal is proposed to be used within the city limits of Kansas City in Platte County.
For some reason during his time in office Schieber has consistently had a stiffie for Kansas City. Same for Wood. This seems strange and misguided. Half of Platte County’s population is made up of residents within the city limits of Kansas City. And where is the majority of Platte County’s sales tax revenue generated? It’s generated within the city limits of Kansas City within the county, of course.
It’s time for county elected leaders to admit and openly recognize the fact that the Kansas City portion of Platte County is financially beneficial to the county, much more so than the other parts of Platte County are beneficial to the city.
In other words, we should always keep in mind the ‘outside of Kansas City’ portion of Platte County gets to take advantage of a lot of tax revenue that is actually generated within Kansas City.
That’s not an opinion. That’s a fact.
No need for our electeds to be openly hating on all things Kansas City. A thank you card might be more appropriate.
In recent years the most outspoken county commission advocate for a new and larger jail has been Dagmar Wood. Thus, we’ve been able to confirm there is a growing feeling among the electorate that a future jail proposal for Platte County include a plan to build any new and larger jail “somewhere close to Dagmar Wood’s residence.”
Wood resides in the Riss Lake area at Parkville, just fyi.
Not sure how her neighbors would feel about this. Maybe someone could mention it at the next HOA meeting and judge the reaction.
Some notable quips and quotes I jotted down in my notebook at various times in recent days while listening to local newsmakers speak:
•“Road projects are like turning an aircraft carrier, not a speedboat.”–DJ Gehrt, city administrator for Platte City when explaining why a five-year sunset on a roads tax would be too short a timeframe to accomplish much good.
•“TIF is a four letter word in Platte City.”–DJ Gehrt, city administrator for Platte City, in explaining that the people and leaders of Platte City prefer to have no TIF (tax increment financing) projects.
•“Investing in infrastructure has gotten us to the top growing county in Missouri.”–Aaron Schmidt, representing the Platte County EDC, on why continuing the road tax is important.
•“It’s easier to get a gun than it is to get a therapist.”–Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City.
(Emailing Foley at ivan@plattecountylandmark.com is cheaper than a visit to the therapist)