By Mike Genet mike.genet@examiner.net
Jackson County says it is relaxing an indoor dining time restriction, effective Thursday, to lessen confusion and be fair to businesses around the county.
Bars and restaurants will be allowed to serve food and alcohol until midnight, and all patrons must exit by 12:30 a.m. Since November, when COVID-19 cases noticeably surged again in the metro area, bars and restaurants have had to close at 10 p.m.
The revised county guideline does not apply to Kansas City or Independence, though it is similar to the guidelines in Independence, and Kansas City Mayor Quentin Lucas also announced Wednesday that the city is allowing indoor dining until midnight.
Audit: Jackson County assessment increase 70% higher than all Missouri counties
Audit: JaxCo assessment increase 70% higher than MO counties
Posted at 4:40 PM, Jan 12, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-13 00:01:40-05
KANSAS CITY, Mo. â Jackson County residents saw
assessment increases more than 70% higher than any other Missouri county in 2019 and failed to renew contracts in a timely manner, according to a state audit.
Thousands of Jackson County residents
Jess Buck and his next door neighbor Kenneth Herron both appealed their reassessments, which tripled for both men. It s something I want to forget, Herron said. The way they did it was just ridiculous. It was just a jump all of the sudden.
Jackson County allows bars, restaurants to stay open later
Order doesn t apply to KCMO or Independence
KSHB
and last updated 2021-01-13 10:34:14-05
KANSAS CITY, Mo. â Jackson County bars and restaurants will now be allowed to serve food and alcohol until midnight under a new health order.
The new order goes into effect Thursday.
While food and drink can be served until midnight, all patrons must leave the facility by 12:30 a.m.
The order only applies to Jackson County jurisdictions outside of Kansas City and Independence. Guidelines within those cities have not changed.
âLet me be clear â our situation has not improved over the past two months. COVID-19 cases are up, our 14-day percent positive remains high as well as hospital capacity,â Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. said in a release. âHowever, to remain consistent with neighboring jurisdictions, lessen confusion among residents and create fairness for Eastern Jackson County businesses, w
By Jeff Fox jeff.fox@examiner.fox
Jackson County starts 2021 with a slimmer budget, thanks to county legislators’ decision last fall to hold the property tax levy in place despite falling revenues in a slow economy.
County spending for the year is set at $341.66 million, down about $19 million, or 5.3 percent, from 2020.
“The budget is down and is reflective of the COVID-19 pandemic – the economic recession brought on by that, primarily brought about by sales tax collections … But you’re seeing an overall sluggishness in all our revenues,” County Administrator Troy Schulte told legislators when outlining the proposed budget of County Executive Frank White Jr. as legislators began budget considerations several weeks ago.
By Jeff Fox jeff.fox@examiner.net
Missouri’s state auditor says Jackson County has in recent years not done a good job of tracking spending and that several department heads have compensation above their defined pay ranges when car allowances are counted.
County officials pinned some of those practices on the previous county executive – Mike Sanders, who left office nearly five years ago – and say some of the issues in State Auditor Nicole Galloway latest audit have been addressed.
Galloway has released a series of audits of the county in recent months, after county officials requested an audit nearly three years ago. The latest audit, taking a look at payroll and personnel issues, was issued last week.