Cass County Commission approves health contracts, zoning lot splits and opts into opioid settlement

The Cass County Commission on Aug. 13 approved a series of health department contracts, accepted road-and-bridge material bids, approved three lot-split and rezoning applications and authorized county participation in the Purdue opioid settlement, then recessed into executive session under state law.

The meeting included several routine health agreements: a Women, Infants and Children (WIC) contract for $303,377 to fund nutrition services and three staff positions; a technical support services agreement tied to this year’s community health needs assessment with Cass Regional Medical Center; a public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) contract that county staff said is currently about 50% of its usual funding; and a practicum memorandum of agreement with A.T. Still University to host a master of public health student.

“These funds support three of our staff members that facilitate the WIC grant. They provide nutrition education, breastfeeding support, supplemental food and referrals to other health agencies at no cost to participants,” said Matt, a Cass County Health Department staff member, describing the WIC contract.

Matt also told the commission the PHEP contract has been reduced to about half of its usual amount and that state contacts expect clarity in October. “They will either amend the contracts so it’s less work or they will add additional funds to pretty much make us whole again,” he said.

The commission unanimously approved a resolution authorizing participation in a direct settlement related to Purdue Pharma and directed the presiding commissioner to execute necessary documents. Jared, who spoke briefly at the meeting about the opioid matter, described the action as continuing local participation in opioid-related settlement efforts.

Road and Bridge officials presented bids for salt and sand; commissioners accepted the bids and noted supplies are in better shape this year. Travis, a road-and-bridge staff member, said bids and supply conditions had changed from last year.

On land-use items, the commission approved three applications from the county Codes and Zoning Department: - Application 3154: Lot split and rezoning of a 41.27-acre parent tract at 27323 S. State Route D in Harrisonville, splitting approximately 12 acres (the remaining parcel to remain agricultural). The planning board recommended approval 6–0; the commission voted to approve. - Application 3155: Lot split of a 20.1-acre tract at 20206 S. School Road in the Braemore area to formalize an existing two-piece use; the planning board recommended approval and the commission approved. - Application 3156: Lot split and rezoning of a 60.18-acre tract at 39000 E. 215th Street in Kingsville, splitting approximately 5 acres around the house; the planning board recommended approval and the commission approved.

Kevin Anderson, speaking on behalf of the applicants for application 3154, told the commission the 12-acre split would not change current use: “There’ll be no change in use, no change in access, no change of anything. But just the ability to sell it to the sod farmer.”

All routine meeting minutes and the agenda were approved at the start of the session. Before adjourning the public portion of the meeting, the commission voted to enter executive session citing RSMo. 610.021(1) (legal), (3) (personnel) and (13) (personnel records).

Votes at a glance (each item carried by unanimous recorded 3–0 votes unless noted): - Resolution 25-78 — WIC contract, $303,377 — approved. - Resolution 25-79 — Technical support services agreement with MHA Management Services Corp. d/b/a QualityWorks (Cass Regional Medical Center community health needs assessment support) — approved. - Resolution 25-80 — Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) contract with Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (federal funding currently ~50% of prior levels) — approved. - Resolution 25-81 — Practicum memorandum of agreement with A.T. Still University for a master of public health student placement — approved. - Resolution 25-82 — Participation in Purdue direct settlement and authorization for the presiding commissioner to execute documents — approved. - Resolution 25-83 — Acceptance of bids for salt and sand for Road & Bridge — approved. - Application 3154 — Lot split and rezoning, 27323 S. State Route D, Harrisonville — approved. - Application 3155 — Lot split, 20206 S. School Road, Braemore — approved. - Application 3156 — Lot split and rezoning, 39000 E. 215th St., Kingsville — approved.

The commission then moved into a closed executive session under the cited sections of the Revised Statutes of Missouri; no additional public actions were taken before the recess.