Jackson County Legislators Stand Up Exec & Denounce 'Charade' Meeting

The showdown over COVID cash continues with a voting bloc of legislators now opting out of emergency meetings. 

Again . . . 

Remember the fate of this cash has to be decided by Dec. 31st or 70 MILLION BUCKS goes back to the feds. 

Moreover . . . 

INSIDERS REVEAL THE STANDOFF IS GROWING WORSE AS THE EXEC DIGS IN WHILST OPPOSITION IN THE LEGISLATURE VOW NOT TO SUBMIT TO HIS PLAN!!!

For now he doesn't have enough votes to overcome an override and so the fate of the cash remains in flux. 

Here's a quick summary and more deets . . .

"In a letter sent to Chairwoman Jeanie Lauer, five legislators say they won’t attend a scheduled meeting Wednesday morning to revisit the issue, which would deny the Legislature a quorum. "

Here's the letter for readers who want a loo . . . Is it just TKC or does it kinda read like the letter that "The Breakfast Club" gave to that mean detention monitor?!?

A quote we want to highlight . . . 

"As Chair, you have not built a consensus, and in fact worked directly with the County Executive to steamroll his priorities, without true engagement with your colleagues. The meeting today is intended to force us to capitulate to the County Executive and pass ARPA Resolution No. 21811. Because, according to the County Administraiton, we must pass this resolution today or we will not have time to solicit Request For Proposals and obligate these funds prior to December 31, 2024, and we will be left with no other option but to return the $70.4 million dollars to the U.S. Treasury Department. But, by ignoring the previously passed ARPA ordinance and resolution, you are losing sight of how these funds are needed to assist municipalities, agencies and many of our long-term service providers, that provide critical help to our citizens. These entities went through a rigorous vetting process by third party evaluators and are counting on these funds. This is an orchestrated crisis created by you and the County Executive's failure to act in a timely fashion. Although we have attempted to negotiate in good faith with the County Executive, an equitable solution to allocate these funds since early 2023 has been unsuccessful. Therefore, we, the undersigned refuse to participate in today's charade.

"We welcome REAL compromise, REAL solutions, and REAL legislative solutions, not the perpetuation of the voices of the executive, trumpeted through the voice of the minority. "

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Fox4: Decision on COVID relief funds in Jackson County likely to be delayed again .

KMBC: Jackson County’s COVID relief debate intensifies as lawmakers weigh different options

Developing . . .