Platte City mayor Frank Offutt gave a glowing report on his city during a luncheon held on Thursday, Oct. 17 at Northland Career Center.
“I stated the state of the city was strong last year and this year, the state of the city is stronger,” he said. “Just as it should be.”
Offutt praised the growth of the city’s infrastructure from new streets, sidewalks and trail ways to new traffic intersection improvement.
One of those was just down the road from NCC where traffic cones have been at Kentucky Avenue and Platte Falls Road.
The lights are hung up and the city only awaits the arrival of a computer programmer to get it going to help ease the traffic flow from the Platte County School District and local dining establishments.
That is one of a few traffic flow issues the city is addressing.
The city and MoDOT have partnered up to improve exit 18 in the summer of 2021, but before that work is done, exit 20, the Tracy/Weston stop, will have to be done to handle to traffic flow that will happen with exit 18 closes. He even mentioned the goal one day is to have Highway 92 east of I-29 become four lanes with turn lanes built in.
Offutt highlighted the work to replace bleachers at Harrel Ferrell Park and the expansion of the adjoining skateboard park’s new quarter pipe.
“I want to tell you about catching air,” Offutt said in jest. “If you don’t catch air, you’re not doing it right, OK?”
Nearby that location, the city is still working on a splash park/pad the former Rising Star Elementary property that could also feature a new city administration building.
Offutt noted growing the local economy, improving the city’s water and wastewaster system and maintaining a high-quality municipal services are three key points to focus on.
The city surveys results ask for more restaurant options, more parks services and more trails.
“We know that all the facilities are aging and we know that cost,” Offutt said. “The effectiveness to condense the facilities and staff is one method we can use to be more efficient with our limited tax dollars. We have to improve and we shall; we’re on the right track.
“We know where we are going and that’s not just because the mayor, it’s because we have good people on the staff that advises the board of aldermen.”