State of the County Address
Posted By J.T. on September 18, 2009
Yesterday (9/17) the Cass County Commission gave a State of the County address during the Harrisonville Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at the Butcher Block Restaraunt.
The commission spoke of energy independence, grants it has received, the airport and ways to entice businesses to bring jobs to the area. “This is about making Cass County ready and attractive to businesses” said South Commissioner Bill Cook.
From the public notice (accessible at the end of this article):
Cass County is supporting a Midwest Research Institute grant proposal and assisting in applying for a grant to look at algae production (and then turning it into fuel). The goal is to work in association with the Bio-mass reactors that are being discussed for here in Cass County.
This discussion centers on deploying second generation, carbon neutral, bio-hybrid methane gas energy production concepts for power generation at several sites in the county. The process utilizes cellulosic silage: converting it to gas and using the gas to generate electricity. It is environmentally friendly and could help bring energy savings to Cass County.
Presiding Commissioner Gary Mallory discussed the new Cass Regional Medical Center and the county’s plans to sell the old Medical Center to help pay down the debt on the new one. A Request For Proposal (RFP) has been issued and the county is waiting on input from interested parties.
Asked why the County is involved in selling the old Medical Center instead of the city of Harrisonville, North Commissioner Brian Baker said “Cass County owns the property that the Cass County Medical Center currently sits on. The agreement drafted when the Cass Medical Center was constructed is that if they vacated it, it would then become the property of Cass County. The Hospital Board has approved the go-ahead, as they vacate to the new hospital, to sell the current medical center.”
The commission also mentioned they have received nearly $800,000 in grants for a variety of projects. Another excerpt from the public notice:
This includes the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant where Cass County applied for $378,500 to reimburse the county for the cost of the Energy Audit Intern Program that looked at energy efficiency in 75 public buildings across Cass County this summer. The report shows cities how they can reduce costs and save dollars through energy efficiency.
Cass County applied for the State of Missouri’s Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, receiving $185,715 over the next two years. This was done in partnership with Hope Haven of Cass County, Inc, a not-for-profit domestic violence shelter and Heart-n-Hand Ministries, Inc. a not-for-profit public assistance agency. Universal Assets in Harrisonville helped Cass County apply for this grant at no cost.
Congressman Ike Skelton aided in helping Cass County receive the FY 09 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. Cass County applied for $10,519 to develop a business plan to update the current law enforcement communications infrastructure in Cass County.
The County has also received Historic Preservation Grants and grants to assist the Cass County Health Department in offering services to citizens.
You can view the public notice in its entirety HERE.
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