​​Weston • Platte County • Missouri

Bids for surveying “The Green Space formerly known as Antwinette Park” will be solicited by the Weston Board of Aldermen as they take steps to potentially sell the three-plus acres of land between Fiddler’s Ridge, Siler Estates and commercial buildings along Highway 45. 
The area contains a city lift station and a retention pond, and collects rain water from the lots and streets around it. It was originally proposed as a park, set aside to provide green space in exchange for platting smaller residential lots in Fiddler’s Ridge.
Although it was supposed to remain as green space, Mayor Kim Kirby said at the Aldermen meeting Monday, that the use of the space would depend on who buys it. Proposals have been floated for several years that it might be split up and sold to adjacent landowners. 
Sebus Brothers Hardware owners have also asked to buy part or all of the land. They own one of the buildings in the commercial area.
The proposed park has been hindered by landowners who closed off access easements over the years. Now the city has bought the last vacant lot bordering the space, proving a potential public entrance just as the land may be sold. 
The lot will be an entrance to the green space, with a gravel road restricted to use by emergency services as a second entrance to Fiddler’s Ridge and link to P Highway. Sebus Brothers owns the only realistic outlet on to Highway 45 at the south end of the planned roadway.
Fill dirt will need to be used on the lot and part of the “Green Space” to make a more gradual slope for the emergency roadway. The city plans to approach the West Platte Fire District about paying for a part of the gravel road.
Alderman Greg Hoffman offered the only alternative to the use, saying “I still think it has potential as a park.”
After a closed session to discuss legal matter, personnel and real estate, the mayor and aldermen said finding out how much a survey would cost was just a first step toward a possible sale of the land.
In other surveying news, the City is suggesting that owners of property in Humes Addition have a survey done showing where they want to establish a road to eventually be turned over to the city for maintenance. The road into the subdivision is now a private road, splitting one property to gain access to the driveways to other homes in the addition. 
The city provided some maintenance for years, but when the low-water crossing into the addition was replaced with a bridge at city expense several years ago, the aldermen determined the city had no business maintaining a road the city didn’t own. 
Several of the property owners recently contacted the city about turning over the road for maintenance. A survey showing where the right of way would be is the first step in that process. The alderman have also discussed requiring the road be brought up to city standards  before it is accepted.
Ordinances Passed
The Aldermen passed ordinances:
• Authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement for sewage flow monitoring to determine the actual capacity of the lagoons and land application in use.
• A revised golf cart ordinance to change the location of a required city decal to the lower left side of the windshield.
• Opting out of a state law that would allow bars to stay open 23 hours a day during the FIFA World Soccer games.
• Adding a new charge for water shut-offs when requested by a customer. The charge for shutting the water off and for restarting the water is $25 for each-call out, and $50 per call-out after 4:30 p.m. and until the start of the next business day.
• An agreement with MoDOT to use a $150,000 grant to pave a part of South Bluff Road and repair parts of the hiking-biking trail from City Hall to South Bluff Road. The city will match the grant with $30,000 in cash or in-kind work. 
• Adopted by resolution changes to the personnel policy.
• Voted to authorize the city’s police to participate with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department during the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup events, but only on their days off.
• Tabled a request for a business license for RR Muscle Car until the owner provides a Sales Tax number. The owner added a note that he would not do business until he retires. “If he’s not going to do business, there’s no reason to have a business license,” Mayor Kirby said.
• A model of the proposed murals at the Thomas Street Bridge will be arranged by the Black Ancestors Awareness Campaign so the Aldermen can see if they will interfere with sight lines at Thomas and Blackhawk Streets. Plans were presented that showed the murals attached to the bridge and the barrier to the south. The murals would start just above the railing on the bridge extend five feet higher. Aldermen asked that BAAC have an engineer sign off on the plan.
Events approved were:
• Weston Lions and Boy Scouts Flag Retirement Ceremony at City Hall November 8.
• Jonah Vandel will have a 10 x 20 tent in parking spaces on Market St. for food service at a private event at Cactus Creek 4-11 October 11.
• O’Malley’s will have outdoor music events 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. October 4, 5, 11, 18 and 25.
• The Royal Deluxe will partner with Weston Ghost Tales at the Masonic Lodge, 507 Main St. 6-9 p.m. October 17, 18, 24 and 25.
• The Weston Chamber will have Applefest October 4 and 5, with setup beginning the afternoon of October 3. 
The Board of Aldermen will have their next regular meeting on Monday, October 20. Their usual date landed on a holiday, Columbus Day

The Weston Chronicle

--NOW OPEN: Online comment period for I-435 Bridge Replacement at 
Cookingham Dr., Sept. 8- 22

Platte County Commissioners voted Monday to withdraw from the Mental Health Board that contracts for services to residents of Clay, Platte and Ray Counties.
If Clay or Ray Counties object, it could take two years for the separation to take place. 
Voters approved a tax levy for community mental health services November 6, 1980. The three counties entered a cooperative agreement July 21 the next year. 
The Board is governed by Sections 205.975-205.986 RSMo. and by-laws. Commissioners want to keep the $3 million now going to the cooperative. They would set up and appoint a nine-member Mental Health Board to oversee the expenditure of funds.
“We believe in the work that is being done by CPR to provide mental health services over the three-county area, but we are concerned that our community is not receiving its fair share of that support,” said Commissioner Allyson Berberich.
“This decision ensures greater local control, accountability, transparency and efficient use of over $3 million annually in Platte County tax dollars dedicated to mental health services,”
Platte County contributes less than one-third of the $10 million annual CPR budget.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is seeking public input regarding the replacement of the NW Cookingham Dr. Bridge over Interstate 435 in Platte County. 

The comment period will open at 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8 and will remain open until 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22. The public is invited to leave questions and comments on the project webpage, Interstate 435 Bridge Replacement in Platte County | Missouri Department of Transportation. There will not be in-person public meeting for this project.  

Cookingham Drive bridge over I-435 was originally built in 1977 and carries 2500 vehicles per day. The existing bridge is nearing the end of its service life.

-- Commissioners Vote to Leave Clay, Platte, Ray (CPR) Mental Health Board

 City Surveys Possibilities for Fiddler’s Ridge 2nd Entrance

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

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