Good Morning Platte County! Not much to update on local politics just yet but we are actively searching for any new updates and will be notified of new details from all the investigations now going on in Platte County.

On a brighter note, USA Spaceflight program got a boost this morning with the giant SpaceX Starship actually making it into orbit! It also successfully deployed 26 more Star Link Satellites and it appears the Starship will successfully splash down near Hawaii as planned, even if only after 2 orbits instead of 6. It flew for a little over 3 hours. The Booster also operated as scheduled, splashing into the Gulf after simulating moves for a Gantry catch.

This technology of actually catching a spacecraft is wildly amazing feats. It is planned to have Flight 15 catch the Booster and perhaps capture an returning orbital spacecraft. Pure scifi come to life type of events.

Some amazing video from SpaceX this morning. They hope to perform Flight 15 launch with similar program mission on the end of October or early November but they often get delayed.

Stay tuned for updates on Platte County and the controversies swarming around. We want to avoid rumors and inform with the facts. That can be difficult. So I may not be posting more this week. I am looking forward to catching up with old high school classmates as our 50th reunion meets this next weekend. A wonderful way to usher in Fall, but I will likely have to listen to the Chiefs game on the radio driving home Sunday.

Until next time, have a great Monday and a profitable week!

 Today, September 21st, would have been my bride's would have been 67.  We miss her every day.  I wondered why I felt anxious today thinking it was some looming medical bills.  Well I realize I had not noticed what day it was today!  And that makes me sad I didn't notice from first thing this morning.  This November will mark 18 years since she was taken from us, losing her fight with a rare cancer.  Yes, I have tried to move on and been semi-successful at doing so.  But I cannot relate to all of you just how difficult that is to actually do.  So she will simply always be a part of my life, a part of our lives.

Love you Bethy!

I am sure I share the same sentiments as all of my Platte County family at the shock to hear of Eric Zahnd's passing. No one I know would have believed this would happen. I am sure many of us are taking stock of our emotions and the events of the past year or two. It does not change what has gone on in the past but it may very well shape the future.

Not only prayers for the Zahnd family but also for Platte County which we call home. Let us start the healing.

Where Is Our Tax Relief? It’s Time for the Collector to Act

Platte County voters overwhelmingly approved local tax relief, and the County Commissioners have already done their job by passing the necessary ordinances to authorize property tax credit programs. The Commissioners have even brought up the issue publicly, noting that the delays sit squarely with the Collector's office.

Yet, as we look toward upcoming property tax statements, taxpayers are left asking the same critical questions:

• Where are the Senior Tax Credit refunds or adjustments for those who overpaid?
• When will the Homestead Act tax caps actually be reflected on our bills?

Every year of administrative delay is another year that working families and seniors on fixed incomes pay full, uncredited tax bills on relief they are legally owed. Bureaucratic foot-dragging shouldn't keep taxpayers' money sitting in county accounts.

A Barrier to Transparency: No Public Emails Provided

Adding to the frustration, the Collector and Auditor web pages do not list a single email address, just an office phone number.  Why no email addresses?

In a digital age, basic local government transparency requires offering taxpayers a clear, written channel to ask questions and document official responses. Forcing citizens to physically travel to the courthouse or navigate automated phone lines just to inquire about voter-approved tax relief creates an unnecessary hurdle for working families and mobility-impaired seniors.

The other offices are varying degrees of contact information and range from right up front contact information on the Commissioner’s, Recorder’s and Treasurer’s pages to other offices buried a click or two deep.  The County needs to direct the county IT department to remedy this situation and setup formatting rules to make access to contact information easy for the citizen to find and use.  Of course, the current culture at the Courthouse will fight such protocols because they operate as separate silos and believe they each can independently control their office sites.  Its one government folks, let’s present it as a cohesive institution.

Take Action: Demand Answers From the Collector

The County Commission has laid the legal groundwork; now it is up to the Collector to execute. If you are tired of waiting for the relief you voted for, reach out directly:

Call to Action for Platte County Citizens:

• Call the Collector's Office: Phone the administration office directly at (816) 858-3356. Ask specifically when property tax statements will reflect approved Senior Tax Freeze credits and Homestead Act adjustments.
• Visit in Person: If you are near the courthouse, visit the Collector’s Office in person (Platte County Administration Building, 415 3rd St., Room 212, Platte City, MO).
• Demand Digital Access: Ask why the Collector's office does not provide a direct, functional email address on their primary webpage for constituent inquiries and official correspondence.

Let your voice be heard. It’s your hard-earned money—demand that the Collector's office follow through on county orders and obey the law!

Just now I shared the post on Facebook from Chris Wright for Recorder announcing his office's implementation of full disclosure and records being on line for the public to access at will. This is a great innovation and simple common sense. It could actually save taxpayers money by not having to request and bog down staffers with filling requests for information.

But will other offices take the cue and implement similar pages to their County websites?

Probably not. Okay, the Commissioners might. I urge them to do so. There is some already up there like PDFs of County orders - but I urge the County to list the title and short description instead of just the County Record number.

The incumbent Clerk lost the election because she led hiding public information and the office dragging their feet responding to requests for information. The Clerk evidently has more power over website access by other departments than the county IT department. Does that make sense? It's not statutorily based the Clerk have that power.

The Collector's office - Will we see Homestead Act tax credits on our property tax bills in 2026? Will those of us who overpaid property taxes in 2025 get the promised refund/tax credit in 2026 on our "frozen" Senior Property Tax credits?

How about the Auditor and Treasurer blocking citizens from their social media posts because they didn't want opposing comments or questions about their conduct and job performance? This will take more research but some are calling for federal civil rights violations lawsuits based on SCOTUS decisions like 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑘𝑒 𝑣. 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑑 (2024) involving public elected officials and social media or website commentary. Stay tuned. I am looking into this. And I am keeping watch on potential investigations into alleged petition signature harvesting at memory and elder care centers by the four independents running and their campaign manager - an elder health care worker herself. Shameful.

January cannot come soon enough but November 3rd must come first and I am just trying to inform the voters so we can elect responsible people, or at least throw out the old guard that spent our money recklessly and kept matters under wrap. I am very disappointed with the elected and its why I ran - to solicit change. But others had different plans for me and so be it. The voters will get what they deserve. I pray the challengers, once elected, will stand up, do the right thing, fight the good fight and change the direction and culture. I know they all have promised to do so. Every campaign makes promises and once in office some successful candidates get promise amnesia. The lure and seduction of money and power over ride actually serving the people. And folks I am talking both political parties. Neither has a monopoly on "win at all costs but serve yourself once in office". This must stop. We need to hold them accountable. Best of intentions or not, actions and at least trying hard to implement change will benefit us all. Just stating intentions but never following through will simply not be tolerated. There are many of us out here ready to be watchdogs and, in a civil manner, hold our elected accountable. I do have faith many of our candidates will work to improve and change county government. Not sure all will or be able to. Now is the time for brutal honesty. Our tax dollars are at stake and perhaps to some extent, our way of life is at stake.

November 3rd will be an anxious night as election returns are reported. I believe it could be one of the most important in our Nation's history to date. Select your vote carefully. Even not voting on various issues or for various candidates is a vote. It says you don't agree with a yes or no for an issue or for either candidate for an office. I expect to see lots of write in votes this November. But staying home is not an option. Get out and VOTE! It is the last glorious right and power we the people have left. And even that is being manipulated this season. We didn't get to vote for a County Prosecuting Attorney. Nothing illegal. All the rules were followed. But it was shenanigans that resulted in an unopposed election. There is more and the issues will be addressed in future posts.

Remember to vote in November! Its your duty as a citizen!

Good morning all. Another day in the heat wave! Make sure you all take care in the heat and stay hydrated. This heat spell is said to be with us into mid next week! Welcome to high energy bills!

I am sad to report that there still is no announced investigation by any County or State agency on the petition harvesting scandal. Let me know if that scandal concerns you or whether or not it needs investigated. Just comment below and I will follow up.

Also let me know what issues concern you this election year. Can be at any level-- County, City, State or National.

It was a rough weekend as we said goodbye to a dear friend who passed away last week and I had to install a new water heater. I am so grateful my son was here to help me with that. He has a good eye at solving problems. I did the plumbing and he reengineered the new flue we had to install when we found the old flue had simply disintegrated. Got to expect that from galvanized metal that's been in use for over 50 years! The water heater was 14 years old. It was due. Sometimes home ownership isn't so grand!

We are coming together next Saturday to tribute Jack Birdsell who passed away on August 24th. He was 79 and one of the smartest men you'd ever meet. It will be good to congregate at Al's Bar & Grill at noon and remember Jack. Friends and family are said to be gathering. I am looking forward to it.

Let me hear from you on those issues and in the meantime, have a great weekend and enjoy the long Labor Day holiday! Always signals summer coming to an end though you'd never know it with this weather! Hope we get some rain soon!

Good afternoon folks.

I did not attend this morning's Commission Administrative meeting but watched it live on YouTube. I believe this is a great service the County does for our Platte County citizens. Though I noticed less than 10 actually joined the livestream! And it was a small crowd in attendance. This is rather sad to see so few take part or take in local government. On the other hand, I have always believed these meetings should take place at 6 or 7pm on Monday evenings to allow more interested citizens to attend after their day of work.

The Commission did vote to keep the County Property Tax levy at 1¢. This is a good thing for all of us. I will be watching closely how tax levies are handled in 2027 after the Assessor rockets our residential and business property assessments through the stratosphere. I expect the schools to resist reducing their tax levies or pull accounting tricks to keep levies high and rob citizens of their hard earned money.

So that brings us to the Homestead Act. And the Senior Tax Credit. The Senior Tax credit is already in place but the refund the Commission ordered has not been implemented. The Homestead Act is being slow walked as well and is now, again, said to be implemented in 2027, not 2026 as passed by the voters in April of 2026.

It is time for new leadership at the courthouse. New, never before served elected, to bring new ideas and proper execution of the offices. That means implementing the laws and ordinances approved by the Commission. This is not being accomplished now. November's election is very important this year. I am interested in installing good conservatives! Not Republicans In Name Only. And returning Missouri to a pro-life state by passing Amendment 3!