November 14, 2013 Volume 4 • Issue 1 75 cents Send community news to gladstonenews@npgco.com
Cerner honored as leading example of economic goals
Supporters of the proposed Clay County constitution watch as results from the Nov. 5 election are updated on the Clay County Board of Election Commissioners’ website. The constitution proposal was defeated by a 62-to-37 split.
Clay County EDC honor awarded to corporation for first time By Dale Garrison
Ryne Dittmer/ Staff Photo
County voters reject constitution proposal Third attempt at creating home-rule government in Clay County meets similar fate By Ryne Dittmer
Carol Suter said. “But we get the government we deserve in America.” Suter and the 14-member Clay County Constitution Commission had worked to draft the proposed constitution since January of this year. Elements of the proposal included non-partisan elections, the creation of a seven-member county council, capping the county’s maximum cumulative property tax for with 24,259 votes made on the con- all funds at 14 cents and making several county positions appointed stitution question. “It’s disappointing,” Constitution Commission Democratic Co-chair Constitution/Page A8
Clay County will not be adopting a new county constitution, as voters rejected a proposal to create a homerule government for the third time since 2002 on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The proposal was turned down by county residents with 62 percent voting “no.” The constitution needed a simple majority to pass. According to unofficial results provided by the Clay County Board of Election Commissioners, the county recorded a 15 percent voter turnout
Clay County. Of Cerner’s 9,000 Kansas City metroCerner Corp.’s three politan associates, about founders and more than half work in the Northland. “What keeps me up 14,000 employees were honored Nov. 6 for their at night is continuing impact locally and globally. to attract high-qualiThe Clay County ty people,” Wilson said. Economic Development “Maintaining that pipeline Council’s Look North of talent is the big chalLeadership Banquet award- lenge for the future.” She said the challenge ed its first corporate honor to the locally headquar- will increase because of tered health care informa- pressures such as worldtion technology company, wide competition and hailed as the fastest-grow- changing technology. “We’ll need a greater ing firm in Missouri. Julie Wilson, senior vice diversity of talent,” she president and chief people said. “Think about the pace officer for Cerner, accept- of change that we’re seeing ed the honor before more now. Some of the technolothan 230 people at Harrah’s gies we rely on didn’t even North Kansas City. She said exist two years ago. We’re Cerner’s success is built on working now to fill jobs a combination of factors that don’t exist today.” Such demands are that include entrepreneurial drive and a passion for among the reasons that Cerner conducts and parits dynamic industry. “We wake up every ticipates in education and morning at the intersection internship programs such of health care and tech- as Cerner Scholars and the nology,” she said, quoting Northland CAPS. Attracting quality workco-founder Neal Patterson. “It’s fun. It’s a little busy, force was also a key feature in presentation of the Clay but it’s fun.” Wilson noted that of County Strategic Planning Cerner’s $1.5 billion pay- Initiative. Co-Chair Greg roll, approximately $400 million finds its way to Award/Page A8
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