by Dennis Sharkey
Landmark reporter
The second half of the local news year in 2009 centered around political happenings, including a park tax proposal that drew some opposition for its size but still passed, and some controversy at the Platte County Administration Building surrounding the county auditor and the county commission.
Following is a week-by-week look at the months July through December of 2009.
July 1: A former Platte County man who served jail time for the murder of a teenager was arrested again in southern Missouri for impersonating a police officer. Mark E. Sager, 48, was charged with murder in 1977 and later convicted on a manslaughter charge. Sager was released on parole in 1985. Officers with the Stone County Sheriff's Department in southern Missouri became suspicious of Sager who drove around in a car with sirens, carried a gun and who would assist with traffic accidents. Sager told police he was a retired Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire Arms agent.
The arrest records of attorney Michael Gunn were expunged from public record by Judge Daniel Czamanske. The arrest records were from a 2005 alleged assault against a process server. Gunn previously served as an assistant counselor for the Platte County Commission.
The city of Platte City held a sub-committee meeting to address the issue of sewer service east of Interstate 29. At issue was who has the right to provide service east of the highway. Bob Shaw, attorney for the Platte County Regional Sewer District told the committee that the PCRSD has the right to serve the area because the land was annexed after the 1992 agreement. Shaw indicated that the district felt slighted and left out of the conversation. City Administrator Jason Metten said he scheduled a meeting in November of 2008 that never materialized. Other options would be for the Timber Creek Sewer Company to serve the area or the city itself. Metten said the city's plant currently only uses about 25 percent of its capacity.
July 8: Popular talk-radio personality Chris Stigall joined the Landmark as a columnist. Stigall hosts his show from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday on KCMO 710 AM. Stigall replaced 10 year veteran CK Rairden on Page 3.
The city of Parkville approved a master plan for the city. The plan covers issues such as annexation, transportation, environmental stewardship and land use. The plan covered a need to address roadway connections. Sean Ackerson, assistant city administrator, said the city relies mostly on roads operated by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
July 15: The Platte County Republican Central Committee by an overwhelming margin passed a resolution to oppose the county's half-cent sales tax extension for parks.
The Platte City Chamber and Economic Development Council sent a revised agreement for development that removed traditional language and inserted language more focused on economic development. Previously the Board of Aldermen did not renew an annual agreement for $10,000. The board was split 3-3. Mayor Frank Offutt chose not to exercise a tie-breaking vote.
July 22: For the second time in less than two years a case of reverse-discrimination against the City of Kansas City was filed in Platte County. The two separate cases were filed by attorney Mark Jess with the Employee Rights Law Firm of Kansas City. Jess previously won a reverse-discrimination lawsuit against the city for $2.1 million for a white-woman who was passed over for a municipal judge position.
Two days after the Platte County Republican Central Committee passed a resolution to oppose the county's half-cent sales tax for parks, so did the Platte County Democratic Central Committee.
The Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company announced that 460 workers from the Kansas City Plant in Platte County would be laid off. The company laid off more than 1,000 workers county wide.
July 29: Once again an agreement for services with the Platte City Chamber of Commerce failed with yet another 3-3 split. The board did approve a separate agreement with the Platte County Economic Development Council for $2,000 by a 6-0 vote.
An apartment maintenance man was arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old woman while in her apartment to fix an air conditioner. Mark D. Morris, 52 worked at an apartment complex along Fontana Ave. in Platte City. Two other complaints had been filed against Morris by other females in the complex. Morris' nickname among residents was “Uncle Bad Touch.”
August 5: The half-cent sales tax for parks passed with 54 percent of the vote. The approval means a 10-year extension to the tax that begins in 2011. Only a little more than eight percent of registered voters participated in the vote. The issue carried favorably in the southern half of the county while voters in northern precincts strongly opposed the tax.
The city of Parkville approved a temporary permit for a downtown hotdog vendor even though an application was never submitted. Sean Ackerson, assistant city administrator said the hotdog cart currently isn't allowed under city code except during festivals. The motion passed by a 5-3 vote.
August 12: Former Landmark Publisher Ethel Mae Foley passed away. Foley and her husband, Donald Dwayne Foley, purchased the Landmark in 1979 from Lucy Jones. She was the mother of current Landmark owner/publisher Ivan Foley.
After twice not approving an agreement with the Platte City Chamber of Commerce Mayor Frank Offutt indicated to the Board of Aldermen that he would like to explore the idea of forming another sub-committee to address economic development issues. Offutt said the matter of economic development has created a divided house and a perception that there is no support for economic development in his explanation for wanting to form a new committee.
August 19: An anonymous tip led to the arrest of an Iatan man for allegedly manufacturing methamphetamines. Lloyd D. Harris, 45, was taken into custody after a search warrant was executed at his home. Harris was on parole for manufacturing methamphetamine and was allegedly using his mother's home.
The city of Parkville lost an alderman. David McCoy, 61, was a longtime alderman for the city. The city had considered postponing their regular meeting but decided to go forward after speaking with McCoy's widow. McCoy was first elected in 1994.
August 26: A Farley man who forcible raped and sodomized a 14-year-old girl and molested a six-year-old girl was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Roger W. Keeton, 44, received the sentence after pleading guilty. The reported abuse spanned a nine year period.
North Platte R-1 School Board members unanimously approved ballot language that would put a $6 million bond on the ballot to construct a new intermediate school in Edgerton. Remaining funds would be used to do upgrades at other facilities.
The Platte City Board of Alderman approved a special agreement to be forwarded to the PCRSD. The agreement spells out under what jurisdiction certain areas are for sewer service.
September 2: An audit of the city of Tracy revealed the need for improvements in the controls and procedures for the handling of records. Concerns identified were unidentified cash balances, the court clerk does not file a monthly report with the city, court allows payments to be made overtime, however, no written agreements are obtained, a summary list of balances due to the court is not regularly reviewed and back-up copies of computer programs are not stored in an off-site location.
Privately owned Timber Creek Sewer Company filed an application with Missouri Public Service seeking to expand services to include 2,900 acres generally east of Platte City. The PCRSD was expected to challenge the request.
September 9: Case Dismissed: A Platte City police officer, Shannon Case, was fired after a closed session by the Platte City Board of Aldermen. The board voted unanimously to dismiss Case's appeal and terminate employment permanently with the officer. The police personnel board recommended dismissing Case. City officials declined to comment as to why Case was dismissed.
After turning down two presented offers from the Platte City Chamber of Commerce for economic development services the city formed an economic development sub-committee. Aldermen Debbie Kirkpatrick, Aaron Jung and Ron Stone were appointed to the committee.
“The Big Stone” won the Paxton Award. The award recognizes property owners who put hard work into restoring historic properties. “The Big Stone” was the second property to receive the award. The Landmark's building was the first to win the award.
September 16: The school board members of the North Platte R-1 School District decided bond funds if passed would be used to build a new Intermediate School in Edgerton. Board members reviewed different plans for renovating the existing school or building new before making a decision.
A couple operating a hotdog cart in downtown Parkville was allegedly bullied by neighboring business owners. Parkville Alderman Marc Sportsman and Main Street Parkville Association Chair Carol Kuhns butted heads at a Board of Aldermen meeting. Sportsman accused MSPA members of harassing and intimidating the owners of the hotdog stand. Kuhns said little input from MSPA or the public was sought in the decision to allow the vendor.
The PCRSD decided they would file paperwork with the Missouri Public Service Commission to oppose the application by Timber Creek Sewer Company to expand its services east of Platte City. The board voted 4-1 with Second District Commissioner Jim Plunkett strongly opposed to intervention.
September 23: Classes in the Park Hill School District went on despite a threatened strike by school bus drivers. First Student, the company that provides school bus service to Park Hill faced a possible strike by drivers. District and city officials developed a contingency plan if the strike moved forward.
A Kansas City man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for purse snatching. Gary D. Hill, 22, was arrested after an alert Riverside police officer noticed Hill acting suspicious outside the Corner Café in Riverside. The officer watch Hill struggle with an elderly woman using a cane before running away. Hill was chased down by the officer.
September 30: A Weston police officer was arrested and charged with selling prescription drugs Oxycodone and Morphine. Kyle Zumbrunn, 26, was arrested by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation after Zumbrunn allegedly sold the prescription drugs to an undercover officer in Atchison, Kan. Zumbrunn was released on a $40,000 bond.
A newspaper publisher and a downtown Parkville business man were both arrested and charged with assault after an incident in downtown Parkville. Mark Vasto, publisher and businessman Tom Hutsler were both involved in an altercation shortly after midnight during the city's Bluegrass Festival weekend. Hutsler also filed for an order of protection against Vasto.
An impending strike by bus drivers in the Park Hill School District was adverted. Although negotiations were still ongoing with the drivers, busses continued to operate.
Platte County Auditor Siobhann Williams held a press conference to announce she was launching a probe into the county's human resources department after a lack of cooperation from that department. Williams listed as many as 20 issues she would be investigating. County Commissioners admitted there were issues in the department and said one employee in the department, LeAnna Fannon, had been demoted as a result.
October 7: Platte County officials acknowledged a step-brother of the county's director of administration is involved in brokering the county's insurance/benefits package and recently took part in a cursory review of the county's human resources department.
An outside independent audit presented to the Platte County Commission confirmed some of the claims made by County Auditor Siobhann Williams the week before. The audit performed by Cochran, Head, Vick and Co. outlined several problems with the payroll department.
An active downtown Parkville businessman and restaurant owner Frank McCall, 49, unexpectedly died. McCall operated Frank's Italian Restaurant. McCall's brother Jim said it appeared he died of a heart attack.
October 14: The Platte City Board of Aldermen approved a contract with Clarence M. Kelley and Associates to perform a personnel evaluation of unspecified city departments. City officials would not say why or what departments were being evaluated.
The Leavenworth Kan. School District Superintendent Kelly Harris was arrested and charged with DWI in Parkville. Harris and another person parked next to her were found with their cars running in a parking lot near city hall at about 4 a.m.
Scott McRuer was unanimously approved to fill the vacated spot of alderman for the city of Parkville. McRuer replaced David McCoy who passed away in August.
County commissioners at the recommendation of Bob Shaw, county counselor, hired People Wise of Missouri Inc. to perform another independent audit of the county's HR department. Shaw said People Wise has no involvement with the department or issues that have arisen due to an audit of the department by County Auditor Siobhann Williams. The 30-day audit costs the county $9,000.
October 21: Elected officials in Platte County voted in favor of giving their offices a raise beginning in 2011. The only elected official to vote against the increase was Second District Commissioner Jim Plunkett. Officials voted for a six percent increase in pay. Sheriff Dick Anderson made the motion and said this raise would grant office holders cost of living increases that had been given to county employees but not elected officials. The meeting of office holders does not include the prosecutor or circuit judges whose salaries are set by state statute.
Assault charges against a Parkville businessman and a publisher of a newspaper were dropped. Both men were arrested after an altercation between the two men after the Parkville Blue Grass Festival. Parkville city prosecutor Peter Schloss refused to comment as to why the charges were dropped.
October 28: Platte County authorities are now actively seeking a person of interest in an unsolved 2007 Riverside murder. Charles V. Cammisano was found shot to death at his home in September of 2007. His ex-wife, Letti Strait, was questioned and later released by police. Now authorities are seeking Strait to face four felony counts in relation to false tax returns filed by Strait.
Third Ward Platte City Alderman Aaron Jung resigned from his post. Jung said in a statement released that his family had recently moved out of city limits into unincorporated Platte County.
In an effort to pass a bond issue, the North Platte School Board passed a resolution that pledges to roll back taxes next year if the bond passes. Superintendent Jeff Sumy said the district will payoff the high school early allowing for the rollback.
Platte County Second District Commissioner Jim Plunkett provided the media with a report from People Wise that refutes two claims made by Auditor Siobhann Williams. Williams said the findings are not substantiated.
November 4: A school bond issue in the North Platte School District passed by the narrowest of margins. The issue needed a 4/7 majority to pass or 57.1 percent of the vote. The issue passed with 57.3 percent of the vote with 38 percent of registered voters participating. The issue got two more votes than what was needed.
The Platte County Republican Central Committee voted to denounce salary hikes given to offic holders the month before by a vote of all office holders. The resolution praised Second District Commissioner Jim Plunkett for being the only dissenting voice. The only member not to vote was assistant prosecutor Joe Vanover. He abstained saying he thought the Sheriff deserved a raise.
Samples taken from Weatherby Lake conducted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources confirmed unacceptable levels of E. Coli in the lake after a sewer line bypass resulted in untreated sewage flowing into the lake. Levels showed E. Coli to be 10 times greater than the federal recommended maximum.
November 11: Former Platte City Alderman John C. Higgins was nominated by Mayor Frank Offutt to replace Aaron Jung on the board. Higgins indicated to the Landmark that he was only filling the remaining term of Jung and would not seek re-election.
Former Platte City Alderman Aaron Jung quickly found himself back in public service. Jung was appointed to a five-year term to the PCRSD Board. Jung replaced Rebecca Rooney, whose term had expired last spring but continued to serve. Rooney told the Landmark that she was surprised by the move and called it political.
The city of Weston is once again attempting to voluntary annex properties along Highway 273. The board voted to spend up to $3,000 paying for title fees for those seeking annexation.
November 18: Platte County officeholders are reconsidering a pay raise given to their offices last month. Officeholders met and discussed the possibility of reconvening the salary commission that meets once every two years to decide these issues. Some officeholders said they had second thoughts after hearing news that sales tax revenues are projected to decline and that county employees may need to take a pay cut in order to balance next year's budget.
Homeowners in a sub-division located near NW 76th Street and Highway K may be footing the bill for a new sewer system many say they do not want or need. All of the homes in the sub-division operate on septic tank systems. The Platte County Health Department says that close to 20 percent of the systems in the sub-division are failing and a sewer system needs to be installed. Unhappy residents approached the PCRSD board.
November 25: The Leavenworth Kan. School District Superintendent Kelly Harris pled guilty to a DWI charged and received probation. Parkville Municipal Judge Sandra Ferguson suspended imposition of sentenced and placed Harris on 12 months probation. Ferguson refused to release the details of Harris' probation despite request from the Landmark to release the conditions. Missouri Sunshine Law states that if an imposition of sentenced is suspended, records pertaining to the case shall be closed after the case if fully terminated. The case would not be considered terminated until after the probationary period.
Platte County Circuit Judge Gary D. Witt upheld the order of protection granted to Parkville businessman Tom Hutsler against newspaper publisher Mark Vasto. Vasto, who did not attend the originally scheduled hearing, sought to have the order expunged.
December 2: A former Weston Police officer was sentenced to prison for selling prescription drugs Oxycodone and Morphine. Kyle Zumbrunn, 26, was sentenced to 15 months in prison by Atchison Kan. County Circuit Court Judge Martin Asher. Prosecutor Jerry Kuckelman had asked for probation for Zumbrunn, however, Asher went for a stiffer punishment. Asher said that Zumbrunn deserved jail time because he was an officer. It is alleged that Zumbrunn stole the prescription drugs from the evidence locker of the Weston Police Department.
Mary Robinson, wife of People Wise of Missouri Inc. president Kevin Robinson, was hired by the Platte County Commission to be the county's HR director. People Wise was hired by the commission for $9,000 to conduct an independent audit of the HR department in response to allegations made by County Auditor Siobhann Williams. No announcement of Robinson's hiring was made public until The Landmark inquired about the position.
Platte City Police Chief Richard Sayles cleaned out his desk and told City Administrator Jason Metten that he would announce his retirement the next week. Former Platte City Police Chief William Massock was appointed to fill in until Sayles replacement can be hired. Massock will serve as chief up until March 1 or if someone is hired.
County Collector Donna Nash announced that she will not seek re-election in 2010.
December 9: Platte County Human Resources employee LeAnna Fannon filed a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights against Platte County Auditor Siobhann Williams alleging she sexually harassed her. Fannon said in the complaint that Williams created a hostile working environment after she refused Williams' alleged advances towards her. Fannon said Williams' actions and a press conference called by her to illustrate problems in the HR department led to her demotion.
In related news, county commissioners filed a civil lawsuit against former payroll employee Kendra Montgomery for allegedly falsifying time reports and stealing more than $2,200 in unearned pay. Interestingly Montgomery is listed as the only witness in Fannon's complaint. Montgomery told the Landmark that she believes the allegations against Williams are false.
Ward One Alderman Marsha Clark resigned. Clark cited a personal business expansion and increased family obligations as her reason for stepping down.
December 16: After becoming aware of a civil lawsuit against a former county employee for allegedly falsifying and stealing more than $2,200 in unearned pay, Platte County Sheriff Dick Anderson has launched an investigation into the matter. When asked by the Landmark why criminal charges were not brought forth, Presiding Commissioner Betty Knight referred the matter to Bob Shaw, county counselor. Shaw refused to answer the question and said it was a confidential legal matter.
A Sunshine Law request by the Landmark was denied by the Platte County Commission. The Landmark had requested any reports associated with a 2007 investigation into HR employee LeAnna Fannon's complaints against County Auditor Siobhann Williams. The commission did release a report from a recent investigation conducted by attorney Paul Seyferth to investigate Fannon's claims from a complaint filed by Fannon against Williams.
Betty Knight, presiding commissioner of Platte County since being elected in 1994 is stepping down at the end of her term. Knight announced that she will not seek re-election in 2010. Missouri State Rep. Jason Brown, R-Platte City, announced he would seek the position on the Republican ticket.
December 23: A Weston man faces statutory rape charges after he allegedly had a relationship with a girl since she was 14-years-old. Jay Warder, 38, told police that he had known the victim for 13 years. The sexual relationship continued until this year when authorities were alerted to the alleged crime.
Park Hill School Board member Ron Schieber announced he will not seek re-election to the school board but rather will seek the seat in the Missouri House of Representatives currently being held by Jason Grill, D-Parkville.
Former Platte County Assistant Prosecutor Rob Willard announced hit intentions to run for the State Senate seat currently occupied by Senate President Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph. Shields has reached his term limit.
December 30: After 16 years with the city of Riverside, Louise Rusick, city clerk, will retire. Rusick began with the city in 1993 as a sewer billing clerk.
Platte County R-3 School Board member Mary Temperelli has filed for re-election in 2010. The other seat up for election is held by Board President Bob Shaw. Shaw has indicated he will not seek re-election.
PCRSD board member Valerie McCaw has filed for the Park Hill School Board. McCaw's term on the PCRSD is over in April. Longtime Park Hill School Board member Laurie Burgess' term is set to expire, but she has made no indication of whether or not she intends to file.
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