by Kim
Fickett
Landmark reporter
Platte City residents will no longer have to drive
to Barry Road or St. Joseph for immediate medical
care. Tuesday night’s board of alderman meeting
brought the announcement by Heartland Health clinic
administrator Steve McCamy that Platte City will
be the new home of a medical clinic by the end of
the year.
"As Platte City has been
growing the last couple of years, I’ve been
wanting to do a clinic here in Platte City,”
McCamy announced. “The goal is to bring internal
medicine and pediatrics" to a location off
Running Horse Road, he said.
McCamy stated that the facility
will start out with three primary care physicians,
with the capabilities to expand to six physicians.
Heartland Health will also bring specialists-such
as cardiologists-to the clinic weekly to visit
patients.
"Our goal is to bring our
medical capabilities to the community,” said
McCamy.
"We want to service people
who live five to ten minutes from here. We’re
not looking to go down to Barry Road or up I-435.”
McCamy stated they are currently
in negotiations with the land owner of the final
three lots on Running Horse Road to determine
the agreeable land price. Heartland Health also
has a builder ready to construct the facility.
The facility is expected to be
an estimated 12,000-20,000 square feet initially.
The Platte City clinic will house 17 employees
and x-ray, lab, and mammogram capabilities.
"We want to purchase all
three lots for expansion capabilities,” said
McCamy. “I would like to have an imaging
center or an out-patient surgery center here at
some point in the future.”
During City Administrator Keith
Moody’s report he addressed the recent failure
of the 3/8 cent sales tax issue at the election
last week.
"The results of the sales
tax issues leaves me with an inconclusive feeling
of why the citizens supported the general obligation
bonds with a 66% approval, but it was the complete
reversal of the sales tax,” said Moody.
According to Moody, City Attorney
Keith Hicklin advised him that the city could
put the ballot question back on in the February
election.
"I think it’s an issue
that may take a more active involvement such as
the school district does when trying to pass a
bond issue,” stated Moody.
Moody recommended that the board
may want to consider establishing a committee
for the 3/8 tax.
"We need to get the message
to the citizens in as clear of fashion as possible,”
said Moody.
Aldermen Ron Porter, George McClintock
and Mayor Dave Brooks stated that they have heard
from voters they didn’t understand the language
of the ballot question.
"I think it was a misunderstanding
of what the sales tax was really for,” said
Brooks.
"What we’re trying
to do is to finish the CIP so everybody in town
has new streets, new sidewalks, and new sewers
just like your neighbor has.”
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