The Weston Chronicle
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A new gym in Weston could be your link to fitness. Steve and Elyssa Unfred unveiled their new business with an open house over the weekend.
Link Fitness is in the former Hull Lumber building on Hwy. 45. It underwent a total transformation since the Unfreds bought the building late last summer. Windows bring light in, both on the south and east sides. The lean-to on the east side of the building is now enclosed and the back storage area is now a room for classes.
Throughout are cable machines for targeted isometrics and free weights to tone every part of your body.
“Exercise is a passion of ours,” said Elyssa. “This is something we’ve always wanted to do for the community.”
Steve agreed, saying this was a long time dream of theirs.
The fate of the Children’s Services Sales Tax is still in doubt after a Circuit Court hearing before Platte County Judge Amy Benton on Monday March 31. The quarter cent sales tax was approved by 56.39% of the voters in last November’s election. The Platte County Commissioners oppose the tax and refuse to certify the tax saying that the vote is not mandatory but the Commissioners have discretionary power to certify or not to certify.
The sales tax supporters filed a “Petition for Writ of Mandamus” against the Missouri Department of Revenue and Commission claiming that the vote is the will of the people and mandatory. A Writ of Mandamus compels a government official to perform a legally mandated duty.
Attorneys for the sales tax supporters argue that the Platte County Commission and the Missouri Department of Revenue “acknowledge the vote of the people” to collect the tax and to appoint a nine-member board to administer the funds. Their legal filing lists five points.
First, the Commission has “no power to override the will of a majority of voters….” Second, the Department of Revenue has “a ministerial duty to process the Children’s Services Tax.” Third, “The use of ‘may’ at the beginning of Section 67.1775 simply identifies the pre-conditions for a County to have authority to levy a Children’s Services Tax. It does not vest Commission Respondents with discretion to do what they want after a vote of the people.” Fourth, the amendment to 67.1775 passed in 2005 does not make it discretionary, but goes into more detail and provides a timeline. Fifth, the Commission must “appoint a nine-member to administer the funds generated by the Children’s’s Services Tax.”
The attorney representing the Commission and the Missouri Department of Revenue, on the other hand, argue that the use of the word “may” in the 2005 amendment instead of “shall” means that certification is discretionary not mandatory. Prior to 2005, the word “shall” was in the law. Their view is that the vote last November “authorizes” but doesn’t “mandate” a sales tax.
Judge Benton didn’t immediately rule on the Writ of Mandamus at the conclusion of the hearing, saying she would take the matter under advisement.
Congratulations to West Platte School District Superintendent Brock Dover on receiving the “Emerging Superintendent Award” from the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) at the organization’s spring conference, March 26, 2025.
This award recognizes superintendents in their second or third year who exemplify exceptional leadership and a commitment to educational excellence.
Now in his second year as superintendent and fifth year serving the West Platte School District, Mr. Dover continues to demonstrate outstanding dedication to students, staff, and the broader school community.