​​Weston • Platte County • Missouri

The Weston Chronicle

N. Platte Historical Museum receives $1,000 grant
​

Platte County Commissioners listened to more than two dozen supporters of the Children’s Tax Fund in a two hour meeting Monday, then voted on an order to not levy a new sales tax.
The Childrens Fund Tax issue won with 56.39%. 31,857 to 24,641 in the November 5 General Election.
Commissioners opposed the tax issue from the moment it was requested by “Platte County Kids,” an advocacy group, March 11, 2024, first refusing to put the issue on the ballot, then having to be taken to court to put it on the ballot after a petition drive met the requirements. After the measure passed, they said the statute had one more step - a vote by the commission to levy the tax. 
Sherri Kisker to commissioners - You can help prevent suicides
Sherri Kisker, former West Platte teacher and retired community health development specialist, told of being tasked with dealing with suicide ideology. “In an 18 month period, we lost six teens as a result of suicide. I ask you to rethink your thoughts. Noting that she had had 300 kids from all over Platte County considering suicide, she told commissioners they can help prevent these suicides.
“The leaders knew we opposed the measure,” said Second District Commissioner Joe Vanover, blaming the proponents for wasting supporters’ time and money on the issue. He said he opposed setting up a board of unelected know-it-alls. “Everyone knows health insurance covers these costs,” he said to the laughter of the packed commission meeting room.
Laura Bruce told commissioners, “I stood in this room awhile back and you all said go get the signatures. Prove that the county wants it.
“Remember you told us that. You told me to and I followed your directions.
You get to vote and your vote matters more than mine.”
Dagmar Wood said she was opposed  because it would put a financial burden of a forever tax on the citizens. The possibility of corruption and political activism.
Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker said “Yes, the majority of the Platte County residents who voted in the most recent election supported this new tax, but this tax affects everyone in Platte County, not just voters. And those that voted in favor represent less than 30% of Platte County’s total population. I’m speaking here today for the other 70%.
“In my opinion, the 30% that hopes to impose this new tax on everyone else does not represent the majority of
Platte County residents, who I believe do NOT want new taxes like this one. They support taxes that benefit the general population, like the law enforcement, roads, and parks taxes that we have in place today, but they don’t want new taxes that serve special interests, as this proposed new tax would do.”
Kelly Fricker to the commissioners - It is arrogant of this minority to feel your opinion is the right one.
Kelly Fricker, Scott Fricker’s wife, noted that less than half of all voters, voted in favor of the tax, and that those who supported it were less than a third of the population of Platte County, which is 112,000. “Because it’s a fore ever tax, as we grow, the percentage of people who voted for the tax will be an even smaller minority.” That brought laughter from the audience, as well. 
“I’m against sales taxes because they’re regressive, affecting those with the lowest incomes the most. I’m happy the legislature had the foresight to rewrite the legislation in 2005. It is arrogant of this minority to feel your opinion is the right one.
Dennis Meier, Director of Synergy Services later said, “Most of the arguments by the commissioners to support their decision today were based on mistruths or misinformation that they propagated. I hope that can be cleared up as we find a path forward.  
“I felt that the commissioners disregarded the voices in the meeting room today just like they disregarded the election results.   The commissioners locked in their votes well before the meeting.  Presentations of well-defined evidence for the need, reports of the well-documented use and effectiveness of these funds in other counties, and any other information would have made no difference.  We will consult with legal counsel to determine our next steps.”
The facts of the issue are that the tax would levy a 1/4¢ Sales Tax or use by Beacon (formerly Tri- County Mental Health) and Synergy Services.
By state statute the required ballot language is “revenue would be for the purpose of providing services described in section 210.861, including counseling, family support, and temporary residential services to persons nineteen years of age or less.”
It would also have set up a nine-member board members appointed by the county commissioners to six-year terms. The board members would not be paid, but may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses.
The statutes say “The board may contract with public or not-for-profit agencies licensed or certified where appropriate to provide qualified services and may place conditions on the use of such funds.  
The board shall reserve the right to audit the expenditure of any and all funds.  The board and any agency with which the board contracts may establish eligibility standards for the use of such funds and the receipt of services.
(1)  Up to thirty days of temporary shelter for abused, neglected, runaway, homeless or emotionally disturbed youth; respite care services; and services to unwed mothers;
 (2)  Outpatient chemical dependency and psychiatric treatment programs; counseling and related services as a part of transitional living programs; home-based and community-based family intervention programs; unmarried parent services; crisis intervention services, inclusive of telephone hotlines; and prevention programs which promote healthy lifestyles among children and youth and strengthen families;
(3)  Individual, group, or family professional counseling and therapy services; psychological evaluations; and mental health screenings.”

State Representative Ashley Aune, incoming minority leader of the Missouri House, told commissioners, “This is an absurd overriding of the will of the voters.
“Your job is to solve the problem. If you have a problem with the statute, you can call myself and others and we would work together to amend it. 
“Rejecting the will of the voters undermine the faith of voters in the system and our entire democracy. 
“You were elected to represent the people of your county. They told you loud and clear what they wanted.
“It’s easy to say no. It’s a lot more difficult to solve the hard problems.
“You appoint the board, you have control.”

MDC needs birders to help with Audubon Christmas Bird Count​

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages experienced Missouri birders to become citizen scientists by helping with the National Audubon Society’s 125th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, 2025.
The CBC is an annual bird census where thousands of volunteers across the U.S., Canada, and other countries go out over a 24-hour period on one calendar day to count birds between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5. The data on winter bird populations helps track the long-term status of species and large-scale trends. Each CBC has a coordinator who assigns portions of a 15-mile diameter count circle to participants to count all birds seen and heard over a 24-hour period.
Missouri hosts about 20 CBCs. Learn more at audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-birdcount and contact the CBC organizers listed for details on the specific count circles.

 The Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) has awarded a grant of $1,000 to the North Platte Historical Museum and Cultural Center in support of the project titled “Preserving and Sharing Our Rural Communities History”. The MHC is the only statewide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages. It has served as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.
One part of the mission of the NP Historical Museum and Cultural Center is to record oral interviews with community members to preserve and share our history. The MHC grant will be used to purchase a new camera and laptop to continue the interviews we are doing and transcribe them for sharing and archiving. 
In the past two years we have recorded analog camcorder interviews with veterans, retired schoolteachers, farmers and older residents of Camden Point, Edgerton, Dearborn and the surrounding area. The new equipment will eliminate the digitization step necessary for preserving our previous and future interviews.
Interviews in 2025 will include former TWA employees, business owners, veterans and additional area farmers. Recordings will include presentations of Camden Point and Edgerton history
For additional information on this program, call 816-387-3741 or 816-809-3182.
For more information about the grants program of the Missouri Humanities Council, call 314/781-9660 or 800/357-0909 or email clarice@mohumanities.org
NPHM&CC is a 501 non-profit entity at 210 Main Street, Dearborn MO

Become citizen scientists by helping with the National Audubon Society’s 125th Christmas Bird Count Now till Jan. 5

Cont. in 'news' tab

Commissioners Refuse to Implement Children’s Tax Fund

Type your paragraph here.

For all of our news in full, please see this week's print and/or e-edition of the Weston Chronicle

​  News