Platte County Commission approves Axon purchase, park grants and resurfacing contract; opens traffic-sign hearings

The Platte County Commission on April 21 approved a package of contracts, grants and bid awards including a five-year cooperative purchase agreement with Axon Enterprise for new Taser 10 devices, a set of parks outreach and partnership grants, survey and stormwater work, and a $1,415,399.90 award for the asphalt portion of the county's 2025 road resurfacing program.

The actions complete procurement and funding steps for multiple public-works and parks projects the county has planned for 2025 and implement recurring programs such as household hazardous waste collection and motor-grader maintenance. The commission also opened a statutorily required multi-step public-hearing process to update stop signs, speed limits and restricted-parking schedules and accepted a request from the Weston Special Road District to consider a local speed reduction on Spratt Road.

Most items on the consent and business calendar passed unanimously. Sheriff's Office staff told commissioners the Axon cooperative purchase (Omnia Partners contract 3544214615) will replace end-of-life Tasers and that negotiated pricing keeps the first-year cost within the sheriff's existing equipment budget. The county will spread the remaining cost across proposed future budgets; the five-year total cost presented was $371,938.80 and year one was listed as $74,387.76.

Parks and recreation staff described two pavement-related actions: a request for bids (Resolution 2025-RESD-035) for concrete and asphalt repairs at the county's north and south community centers and a continuation of the parks' outreach and partnership grant programs. The outreach grants (Order 2025-CO-045) fund 12 community projects this year, including a $40,000 contribution to the Parkville Veterans Memorial Committee; Skate 3 No Limits' planned skate-park work in Weston; lighting upgrades at Weatherby Lake courts; and a pair of awards to the Northland Sports Alliance.

Public-works staff presented multiple road- and stormwater-related items. The commission authorized a topographic-survey contract with surveying firm Benesta & Kim Inc. for design work in a flood-prone area near Weatherby Lake (item 2025-CO-043), accepted performance and maintenance bonds for subdivision public improvements (Chapel Hill Reserve and Copper Hill Reserve), and approved a one-year extended preventive maintenance agreement for two John Deere motor graders to reduce long-term repair risk (2025-CO-039).

In procurement actions, public works confirmed the low responsive bidder for asphalt resurfacing was Tandem Paving Company Inc., with a bid of $1,415,399.90; the commission voted to award that contract (2025-CO-042). Staff said two bids were reviewed and that the low bidder was vetted before award. A separate small-dollar annual maintenance contract with Blue Valley Public Safety to service outdoor warning sirens was approved for $17,289 (2025-CO-046).

The commission also approved the county's annual household-hazardous-waste participation agreement with the regional hazardous-waste district (2025-CO-047). Staff said the 2025 county cost is $34,136.17 and that the county funds part of the program from stormwater funds because improperly stored household chemicals can enter local drainage and ponds.

Two items affect intergovernmental distributions and grants: a partnership agreement for a trail project with the city of Dearborn (2025-CO-048) for a $180,000 project, and a transportation road-sales-tax distribution agreement with the Village of Avaton (2025-CO-038) allowing that village to request held distributions under the county's 2023'2033 program.

The required public hearing on traffic ordinances (Resolution 2025-RES-034) was opened and closed the same morning; staff said this is the first of three hearings required by state statute 304.13 and that notices were posted and published. Weston Special Road District requested a reduction of Spratt Road's speed limit from 45 mph to 25 mph for dust control; the commission voted to proceed to the second hearing on May 5 with a final hearing scheduled for May 19.

During public comment, a county employee who identified himself only as Drew described changes after the county switched employee health coverage from Blue Cross and Blue Shield to UMR/UnitedHealthcare and asked commissioners to consider alternatives because durable medical equipment and an augmentative communication device were reported as not covered under the new plan. Drew said the two items cost his family about $10,000 out of pocket and that the county plan's $10,000 family out-of-pocket maximum was causing recurring hardship. The commission acknowledged the concern; no formal action was taken at the meeting.

Leanne Fadler, chair of the Platte County Board of Equalization, reported difficulties getting timely participation and communication from the assessor's office and asked the commission to note the board's preference that assessor staff appear for July hearings; commissioners said scheduling is handled by the clerk and encouraged the BOE to proceed if assessor staff do not attend.

Votes at a glance

- 2025-CO-040 (Axon Enterprise cooperative purchase, contract 3544214615): Approved. Five-year total $371,938.80; year one $74,387.76 (in sheriff's current budget). Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-046 (Blue Valley Public Safety annual siren maintenance): Approved. $17,289. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-RESD-035 (Request for bids: asphalt/concrete repair at community centers): Approved to advertise/seek bids. Funding: YMCA reserve funds (membership fees). Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-045 (Parks outreach grants): Approved. Multiple awards to municipalities and nonprofit groups; one noted award $40,000 for Parkville Veterans Memorial. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-048 (Partnership agreement with City of Dearborn for trail): Approved. Project cost $180,000; local match by Dearborn. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-041 (Acceptance of performance & maintenance bond, Chapel Hill Reserve, grading/storm sewer): Approved. Bond amount estimated $1,165,000. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-043 (Topographic survey services, Hampton Road area): Approved. Purpose: survey for stormwater/flood mitigation design. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-044 (Performance & maintenance bond, Copper Hill Reserve paving): Approved. Bond amount $371,022.22. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-047 (Household hazardous waste program agreement): Approved. County cost $34,136.17. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-RES-034 (Public hearing: traffic ordinances — proceed to second hearing May 5): Approved to continue hearings; request to review Spratt Road speed reduction noted. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-037 (Acceptance of CART funds for gravel/maintenance reimbursement): Approved. CART contribution $10,880. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-038 (Transportation tax distribution agreement with Village of Avaton): Approved. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-039 (Preventive maintenance agreement for motor graders, Murphy Tractor): Approved. $13,136.69 certified available. Vote: 3-0. - 2025-CO-042 (Bid award: 2025 road resurfacing, asphalt portion to Tandem Paving Co.): Approved. Award amount $1,415,399.90. Vote: 3-0.

Ending

The commission adjourned at 10:43 a.m. after the roll call indicated unanimous approval of the day's business. Several items will move to implementation steps: contract execution, public bid openings (May 7 for community-center repairs), and the next traffic-ordinance hearing on May 5. Commissioners and staff noted routine follow-up with departments for scheduling and vendor vetting.