Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mental Health Board topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Platte County to withdraw from regional mental health board, appoint local member and loan start-up funds
Summary
Commissioners approved an agreement to withdraw from the Clay-Platte-Ray Mental Health Board effective Dec. 31, authorized an audit of any funds collected on Platte County's behalf, appointed Sam Sinclair to the county mental health board, and approved a $91,200 promissory note to cover start-up costs (3.5% blended interest).
The Platte County Commission voted to formalize its withdrawal from the Clay-Platte-Ray Mental Health Board and to support a newly established Platte County Mental Health Board with an appointment and temporary loan.
County counselor Rob Redman said after lengthy negotiations Platte County obtained an agreement with Clay and Ray counties that authorizes withdrawal effective Dec. 31. The agreement includes an audit to determine whether Clay or Ray collected any funds on behalf of Platte County; any discovered funds would be returned to Platte County's board. Redman said roughly $3 million in mental-health-related funds will flow to the new Platte County board for services beginning in 2026.
"After long negotiations, we finally came to an agreement," Redman said, and described provisions to track and return funds to Platte County if applicable.
As part of establishing the new local board, the commission approved resolution 2026RES055 appointing Sam Sinclair to the Platte County Board of Services for the Developmentally Disabled to fill a term through April 11, 2029.
County administrator Wes Minder additionally requested a short-term intergovernmental promissory note to loan the new board $91,200 so it can meet immediate operating needs while property tax collections are not yet available. Auditor Kevin Robinson characterized the loan as "highly unusual" but said it will carry a blended 3.5 percent per annum interest rate to offset foregone county interest income and that repayment is guaranteed when property tax revenues arrive in 2027.
The commission approved the withdrawal order, the appointment and the promissory note by unanimous votes of 3-0.
Next steps called for the audit to be completed (Redman estimated it may not finish until March or May 2027 because some contracts extend payment periods), and for the new Platte County Mental Health Board to set bylaws, bank accounts and grant processes so it can begin awarding funds next year.
