Platte County Commissioners this week officially withdrew from the Clay Platte Ray Mental Health Board, effective at the end of the year.
At the Monday, July 20 commission administrative session, County Attorney Rob Redman presented an order authorizing the execution of the withdrawal agreement with Clay and Ray counties, following approval by those counties’ commissions earlier this year. Additionally, the Clay Platte Ray Mental Health Board will perform an audit to determine if any unused tax revenue belonging to Platte County remains in its funds. A reimbursement of those funds may be possible.
“A lot of people said we wouldn’t get it done, a lot of people said that mental health services in Platte County will suffer as a result,” said Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker. “The way it’s turning out is the way we expected it to turn out, and that is that mental health services for people in Platte County will improve substantially. There will be more options for services, we have a fantastic board – they are an incredible group of professionals who are extremely committed to this project.”
Redman said Clay and Ray counties were easy to work with, and the communication centered on recovery of financial assets, which will probably not be complete until next spring.
Commissioners also approved what is essentially a $91,000 loan to allow the newly-appointed board to function until funding becomes available in 2027. Auditor Kevin Robinson said the loan is highly unusual, and a three and one-half percent interest rate will be charged to the board to allow the county to recoup its full costs.
In late 2025, commissioners voted to end the county’s decades-long involvement with the Clay Platte Ray Mental Health Board to establish its own board.
Established by a public vote in 1980, since its formation in 1981 the CPR board has supported comprehensive mental health services throughout the tri-county area. The three counties passed a levy of 10 cents per $100 assessed valuation to help purchase services from existing community mental health centers. Services funded through CPR include Synergy Services, Beacon Mental Health and the Platte County juvenile and treatment court system as well as detention center services.
According to commissioners, there are persistent issues with CPR’s oversight and administration, which to them has raised concerns about the value of the partnership for Platte County residents.
Key deficiencies include:
Lack of Local Control: With only two seats on CPR’s nine-member board, Platte County has limited influence over how its tax dollars are allocated and managed.
Lack of Transparency: For eight months, Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker sought documentation to confirm that Platte County funds were being used for Platte County residents. After initial resistance from CPR staff, rudimentary reporting provided by CPR revealed that Platte County tax dollars have been subsidizing services in Clay and Ray counties.
No Program Evaluation: CPR lacks meaningful assessments of program effectiveness, leaving taxpayers without assurance that funds are achieving intended outcomes.
Absence of Financial Audits: Despite managing a $10 million annual budget, CPR, a publicly funded nonprofit, does not conduct financial audits, undermining fiscal responsibility.
According to the county, the discovery of these shortcomings led the commission to take action to withdraw from CPR and redirect its $3 million annual mental health budget to a Platte County Mental Health Board.
Earlier this year, the Platte County Commission formed the Platte County Mental Health Board Advisory Committee, a dedicated group tasked with developing the application process for the establishment of the Platte County Mental Health Board.
With over $3 million in annual property tax revenue now redirected to support Platte County-specific mental health initiatives, the new advisory body will play a critical role in shaping how the future Platte County Mental Health Board is formed and operates. The Mental Health Board Advisory Committee will be responsible for:
Designing a fair and open application process for individuals interested in serving on the Platte County Mental Health Board
Recommending qualifications, selection criteria, and appointment procedures to ensure the board reflects the diversity and priorities of the community
Providing recommendations to the Platte County Commission for final approval of the application framework and board structure
In May, commissioners appointed the founding members of the new mental health board, including three providers of health care and six representatives of consumers of psychiatric or behavioral health services (or their family members).
Members include Ali Syed, DO, a board-certified psychiatrist and Regional Medical Director for Outpatient Behavioral Health at Mosaic Health System in St. Joseph; Carmen McHenry, MA, LPC, is a mental health therapist with 27 years of experience providing individual, family, and group therapy in Platte County and the surrounding Northland; Doug Burgess, MD is a licensed physician, board-certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry; Patricia Harris is a wife, mother of two grown daughters, and grandmother of three; Neil Getzlow is a 25-year public relations and communications executive; Paul Campbell is a dedicated law enforcement leader with over 23 years at the Riverside Police Department, including 10 years as a Patrol Supervisory; Jason Reed has family in the local area and has lived in Platte County, off and on, since 2013; Karen Bartlett is a resident of Platte County with over 40 years of experience in the healthcare sector; and Suzanne Zimmerman is a co-founder of The Farmer’s House (TFH), a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) in Platte County and surrounding communities.