By Kellie Houx
KHoux@cherryroad.com
CLAY COUNTY — On Monday, Sept. 8, the Platte County Commission unanimously voted to terminate its participation in the Clay Platte Ray Mental Health Board. On Thursday, Sept. 11, the Clay County Commission took up the issue.
According to County Counselor Kevin Graham, the mental health levy came about in 1980 and in 1981, the board came about. This is year 44 of that agreement, Graham said.
“The statute allows any of the tree counties to withdraw,” he explained. “If Platte County wants to get out of the levy, the issue will have to go back to the voters. However, it appears that they are starting the process. Then it would require an equitable adjustment with Clay and Ray counties.”
Graham said the process to terminate will take two years. Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte said the Platte commissioners are looking at funding through 2026.
According to the Platte County commissioners, stepping away from the tri-county board will “actually result in increased funding for mental health services in Platte County,” Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker said in a news release.
According to the Platte County commissioners, the tri-county collaboration lacks oversight and devalues the contributions of the Platte County residents. The CPR’s nine-member board is made of 6 Clay Countians, two Platte Countians and one Ray Countian.
The lack of representation upsets the Platte County commissioners.
Clay County Western Commissioner At-Large Jason Withington said he believes no commissioner in Platte or Clay County doesn’t want to fight and protect mental health. However, he believes the change of one seat from a Clay to Platte county representative would be detrimental.
“Jerry, you dropped the ball,” Withington said to Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte.
Withington said Nolte failed to share an email Nolte received from Platte Presiding Commissioner Fricker on this topic.
“You don’t share information,” Withington said.
Eastern Commissioner At-Large JoAnn Lawson reminded Nolte that he is elected just as they are, but he also serves as the presiding commissioner.
“We are all representing the Northland and we need to pull together,” she said.
Eastern Commissioner Jay Johnson said one of the biggest failures in the county is dealing with mental health.
“I want to re-engage Platte County,” he said.
Western Commissioner Scott Wagner said one communication between the two presiding commissioners is not enough. He expected more points of contact would have been attempted.
“I want to suggest that our county administrator has a conversation with their county administrator,” Wagner said. “Let’s take the politicians out of this. We all have to agree that however it got here, we need to see what Platte County wants and how to come to a resolution.”
Despite managing a $10 million annual budget, CPR, a publicly funded nonprofit, does not conduct financial audits, undermining fiscal responsibility, according to the Platte County commissioners.
Clay County auditor Victor Hurlbert believes his office could take on an audit.
“I would like to work with the Platte auditor to define the objectives and see the financial distributions,” he said.
