How does Joe Vanover, second district county commissioner, feel about the dispute over the deed for the health department property in Platte City?
Vanover did not provide any public comment at the time he voted against tabling the matter two weeks ago. He then was out of town for a bit, then did answer our message seeking his comments. Vanover’s thoughts are:
“The commission tabled the deed for the health department in part because Presiding Commissioner Fricker had questions. Since the delay, the health department has responded to his questions and responded to his follow-up questions. I have read the letters and documents between Mr. Fricker and the health department. I will work to persuade Mr. Fricker and Commissioner Wood to put the issue back on an agenda so that we may vote to approve the deed.
“The 1959 deed states that Platte County is the owner “for the use and control” of the health department. In the decades since, the health department has used and controlled the property. They have now decided that the best use of the property is to sell it. We should abide by their decision to sell the property. After the sale, the health department will have the “use and control” of the sale proceeds.
“It is good for citizens to challenge the decisions of governmental bodies, like Mr. Fricker has done with the health department. But after all the questions are asked and answered, the county commission must accept the decision of the independently elected trustees of the health department. Platte County merely owned the property for their use and control. Just like a parent who owns property for a young child and must transfer it when the child comes of age, the time has come for the county commission to deed this property to the health department.”
Fricker isn’t in agreement with Vanover’s position on the ownership of the property. “We have documentation from 1960 that the health department was paying rent. They contributed various items like air conditioners in lieu of rent in 1960. It was clear they were a tenant. Long term tenancy does not grant you ownership,” Fricker said Tuesday.
Giving someone an air conditioner “in lieu of rent” sounds like a good ol’ boy deal that was a popular way of doing business in 1960 when property for a health department could be purchased for $6,000. It was probably broken and the health department was just looking for a place to dump it.
Don’t be getting any ideas, you guys. I will not accept a busted window AC unit in lieu of subscription payments.
Not sure why some local electeds have decided to go full Trump and relive political grievances from 2020, but here we are. So sit back and enjoy the drama, or simply tune it out, your choice. Honestly, I think most people are over it.
Really the only thing I miss about the pandemic is going on social media to read Dagmar Wood’s wackadoodle COVID conspiracy theories.
I’m old enough to remember when Scott Fricker served on a committee that recommended to the county commission that a travel agency that sells cruises to exotic places be approved for $225,000 in federal COVID aid money that was in Platte County’s control during the pandemic. Shortly after the travel agency’s request for a quarter million dollars had been approved by a county commission that included Dagmar Wood, the owner of said travel agency was posting pictures on social media of himself and his family on a vacation to a tropical island. It sure looked like fun. Expensive, too.
Considering the above, it is somewhat strange to hear Wood and Fricker spewing venom about the health department getting $400,000 in COVID money under county control. They keep mentioning it, so it’s obvious Wood and Fricker want a majority of folks in the county to feel outraged that the health department received $400,000 in CARES money during COVID. Color me crazy, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Let’s not forget that private businesses like the travel agency were eligible for other financial aid through federal programs, such as the Payroll Protection Program and more. The aid money through the county wasn’t the only avenue of assistance for businesses.
So to review, Fricker and Wood thought it was perfectly fine for the county to give $225,000 to a travel agency but they view $400,000 in COVID relief to the health department as a travesty? Which request seems more reasonable? I can tell you which recipient generated by far more negative buzz in the circles in which I circulate. Hint: it wasn’t the health department.
Kevin Robinson, county auditor, reminded the public this week that the federal government’s spirit behind the COVID relief money was to assist health departments and similar agencies respond to the pandemic. Other options–and the option chosen by the county commission at the time–was to offer grants to small businesses. Remember, the county had $12 million of federal money in its possession. Only $400,000 of that went to the health department.
All of the $12 million distributed by the county had to run through Robinson’s office, so he knows some things. Robinson pushed back against a claim made by Wood recently that in its CARES grant application to the county commission the health department was trying to “double dip” for reimbursement of payroll expenses. Robinson says that absolutely was not the case. “The health department requested labor reimbursement for trackers (individuals hired to assist the agency in notifying folks who may have been exposed to COVID),” the auditor said this week.
This tidbit is making the rounds among local political chatterboxes: Reportedly Dagmar Wood, first district commissioner, is considering running for county assessor in 2024. David Cox is the current assessor.
A couple of factoids of note: Wood does not like Cox. At all. She isn’t good at hiding it. In fact I’m not sure she tries. And a switch from commissioner would make sense politically for Wood, since there is a group in place actively working on finding a candidate against her if she puts her name and her Fox News talking points on the ballot for commissioner. Also, remember Wood barely won re-election in 2020 over a candidate who basically did not campaign, so a switch to a lower profile spot such as assessor might make sense. Friends might be advising Dagmar to put on her viking headdress and storm the board of elections office on the first day of filing.
Of course a contested race for assessor in 2024 may only be needed if the current assessor is back from Florida by then.