Vaught Campaigns From Council Seat

Jeff Vaught, Ward III's bombastic self absorbed council rep did a little campaigning/electioneering for Jeff Meyers, from his council seat.

Vaught apparently took exception to emails sent out by a member of the community and a state representative.  The email from the member of the community stated that mayoral candidate Eric Jenkins was the only real right to life candidate.  Vaught then proceeded to "question" Mayor Meyers on his stands and affiliations.  Wow, if that's not campaigning from the council chambers then what is?  Needless to say the mayor responded with comments that were designed to show him in a better light.

Question:  How come KFL (Kansans for Life) has endorsed Jenkins over Meyers?

Gee, can I address the council and campaign for a candidate?

More on this tomorrow.

Additional Thoughts, 10 Quivira CID

OK, these are additional thoughts based on my post from yesterday.

First, let me say that some folks will probably think I'm being paranoid, and others will probably think I'm being very logical.

1.  Both last August's CID presentation and the one the previous year went directly to the council without going to a committee first.

2.  Why???

3.  With regards to last August, would it be possible that certain individuals in the city knew about the pending sale?  Then if it went to a committee, by the time it got to the full council the sale would have been finalized and the process would have had to start over?

4.  That's another reason to terminate the current CID and let the new ownership reapply.

5.  If they have the ability to arrange financing for $2.8 million why not arrange the entire $4.2 million and not put it on the residents of the city?  Especially when the primary merchant is a grocery store and the area is not exactly the highest per capita income area of the city.

6.  Urge your council member not to approve an extension of the CID time frame but to terminate it as not complying with the original provisions.

7.  Was there complete transparency on this issue?  I don't think so.

10 Quivira Palza CID Update

Looks like the 110 Quivira Plaza CID is about to rear its ugly head again.

This is what is scheduled for the City Council meeting, this Monday, Feb 27, 2012 (starts at 7:30PM):

F. PUBLIC ITEMS


1. CONSIDER REQUEST TO DELAY COLLECTION OF COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT SALES TAX FOR TEN QUIVIRA PLAZA.
DISCUSSION: On August 8, 2011, the Governing Body passed an Ordinance and
approved a Development Agreement authorizing the creation of Ten Quivira
Plaza Community Improvement District (CID). Ten Quivira representatives
have requested that the collection of sales tax be delayed until January 1,
2013. A memo and supporting documents are included for review.
PAGES 33 - 44
ACTION: Pass an ordinance delaying the collection of the CID sales tax to be
collected within the Ten Quivira Plaza Community Improvement District. If
approved, an Ordinance Number will be assigned.


But why is there consideration to delay the collection of this tax?


Aha, now we must look at this, from the packet:

BACKGROUND
On August 8, 2011 the Governing Body passed an Ordinance authorizing the creation of the Ten
Quivira Plaza Community Improvement District and authorizing the imposition of a sales tax to
be collected within such district; and, approved and authorized the Mayor to sign a Development
Agreement with the Developer/Owner.


The ordinance established the District and levied the tax with an effective date of July 1, 2012. In
order to initiate the collection of that tax, the City must notify the State 90 days prior to the beginning
of a quarter. The Development Agreement included language that if the City does not receive
confirmation of approval and commencement of the private financing by March 1, 2012, the City
would take steps to delay the implementation of the sales tax and the agreement would be terminated.


DISCUSSION
Since August, Ten Quivira representatives have kept staff informed of their change in ownership,
ZCOF TL Ten Quivira LLC (ZCOF), and their progress in working with Bank of America regarding
the restructuring of their portfolio. ZCOF cannot begin any work on the Center without Bank of
America’s final approval. Bank of America has required additional due diligence prior to construction
of the improvements including completed plans and final bids for the work. ZCOF has requested that
the collection of the sales tax be delayed until January 1, 2013. A letter from Hugh Robinson
explaining the request in more detail is attached. Delaying the collection of the sales tax can be
accomplished by passing a new ordinance.


Because of the ownership changes and the work with Bank of America, Tri-Land has not yet signed
the Development Agreement. If the ordinance passes delaying the collection of the sales tax, a revised
Development Agreement will be brought to the Governing Body at a future meeting with updated
language on the deadlines and the ownership. Once the Development Agreement is complete, ZCOF
will be ready immediately to begin construction. Construction of improvements that are not funded
by the CID may begin sooner.


Now, let's look at Tri-Land's letter:

"As we have explained, a portfolio of 6 shopping centers that includes Ten Quivira Plaza was sold to a new group, ZCOF TL Ten Quivira LLC ("ZCOF TL"), on September 29, 2011.  Tri_land has an ownership interest in the new entity that owns the shopping centers and we continue to be responsible to lease and manage the 6-center portfolio."


In his letter Mr. Robinson also states that he has kept the city informed about the progress of the ownership transfer/sale since August.  Why wasn't the public informed about the pending sale at the public hearings?


This entire project needs to be terminated and if the new ownership wants the CID let them start the process over.  Or is this going to be another case of "we already started, so let's continue"?


Transparency on this issue was and is greatly lacking.

It's Almost Here

What is almost here?  The mayoral primary election, will be held Tuesday, Feb 28, 2012.

There are three individuals running:

Eric Jenkins - Challenger
Jeff Meyers - Incumbent Mayor
John Segale - Challenger

For those who have read my previous blog posts on this subject then you know I feel that Mr Jenkins should be Shawnee's next mayor.  My reasons have been stated.

Let's get a decent turn out for this election, and then another good turnout for the general election on Apr 3, 2012.

This Looks Interesting :-) :-) :-)

Yepper, this does look interesting:

http://www.shawneedispatch.com/weblogs/between-shawnee-lines/2012/feb/10/election-season-takes-shawnee/

Will Shawnee Gain Any New Residents From This?

What is "this"?  This is a company called Zumiez opening an order filling center in Edwardsville.  Zumiez is a national company with hundreds of stores across the country and a heavy on line presence.

The company is planning on having 100 employees at this location, but the question I pose is based on the fact that they have offered to transfer 35 employees from Everett, Washington.  Now, when a company offers to transfer employees, with all the concurrent expenses, you know that these are not minimumm wage jobs. 

So, it would be nice to know if any effort is being made to reach out to them to get some of those folks to relocate to Shawnee.  I realize that we are so far away from Edwardsville (says this blogger sarcastically).

For more information on this item please go to the KC Star article at http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/15/3430858/edwardsville-to-get-100-jobs-with.html

Shawnee Dispatch Mayoral Questionnaires Are On Line

The Shawnee Dispatch has placed the questionnaires that the three candidates for mayor have answered.  Remember, since three individuals are running there will be a primary 2/28/12 with the top 2 going on to the general election 4/3/12

You can go to http://www.shawneedispatch.com/ and scroll down to the story or you can click on the links below for each one:

Eric Jenkins  http://www.shawneedispatch.com/news/2012/feb/13/candidate-questionnaire-eric-jenkins-mayoral-prima/

Jeff Meyers http://www.shawneedispatch.com/news/2012/feb/13/candidate-questionnaire-jeff-meyers-mayor/

John Segale http://www.shawneedispatch.com/news/2012/feb/13/candidate-questionnaire-john-segale-mayoral-primar/

Can't figure out (and not sure I even want to know) what Segale's strategy was in waiting to the last minute to file, thereby creating a primary election.  He did have the right to do that.  Oh well.

As mentioned in other posts, I'll be pulling for Eric Jenkins.  Firmly believe that because he is retired he can devote more time to helping Shawnee move forward.  His military and FEMA background would indicate an individual who can get the job done.  His service on Shawnee's Planning Commission gives him strong insights into what the city needs.

The "Cheryl Scott Debacle" was a slap in the face to the people of Shawnee (and Ward 1 specifically).  The franchise fee, the CID for 10 Quivira Plaza are two more reasons why I feel that Jeff Meyers needs to be replaced.  And in my opinion, Jenkins is the one for that.

One Pretty Sharp HS Editor

Sarah Darby, editor-in-chief  of Mill Valley's "Jagwire" really hit some nails on the head.

Go here  http://www.mvnews.org/blogs/citytalk/2012/02/09/city-council-candidates-for-ward-three-talk-about-upcoming-elections/  and then scroll down and read two stories

All you ever wanted to know about local elections and more    and  My first city council meeting (sort of)

Kemmling v. Sawyer

Mike Kemmling is challenging Neal Sawyer in the Ward 2 council race.

In an earlier post I indicated that I preferred Mike Kemmling over Neal Sawyer. 

This was the toughest of the five positions for me to take sides.  I like Neal.  He always has acted like a gentleman on the council.  So why would I choose Mike Kemmling for the council seat.

There have been many issues where Neal has said, what I feel to be the right things, but then has voted the opposite.  On verious occasions before his vote he explains this.

Two items that he voted for stand out to me.  He voted for the appointment of Jim Neighbor to the vacant Ward 1 seat caused by the Cheryl Scott debacle.  He voted to eliminate full minutes of council poceedings.

These two items bother me as they, IMHO, take away certain rights of the citizens of the community.  One right is to select their representative, the other being full transparency of what the governing body does.

I think it's time for a change in Ward 2 and feel that Mike Kemmling will bring a new perspective to the council.

Washington DC, Be Prepared

And what does Washington DC need to be preapred for?  Well, the annual National League of Cities convention.

It looks like only 4 individuals are scheduled to represent Shawnee............(that's down from the 5 scheduled last year).  Maybe my rants and raves here have had an effect?

OK, so who is going?

Mayor Jeff Meyers
Councilmember Mickey Sandifer (that's no surprise......he never saw a trip that he didn't want to go on)
Councilmember Jeff Vaught
City Manager Carol Gonzales

Could this list have been pared down?  Possibly.  How about if it was just the mayor, one councilmember and the city manager?

With his seat up for reelection on April 3rd Mickey Sandifer must feel that the citizens of Ward 4 are blind to all of the money he spends on travel, and feels like he will be returned to office.  Add to that his voting for the CID, the franchise fee, and the insult to the voters in Ward 1 by voting for the appointment of Neighbor instead of pushing for an election.

If nothing else, it would be nice if this was the last trip Sandifer took that was  paid for by the citizens of Shawnee.  Let's not give him the opportunity to take any more.

Not Very Neighborly

What are we referring to?  The action that placed Jim Neighbor on the city council representing Ward 1.

For the "long" story scroll down to my post "The 'Cheryl Scott' Debacle And Its Relevance Today" posted below on 1/28/12.

The short version is that Cheryl Scott could have resigned early enough for her seat to be placed on the ballot for the spring 2010 election.  Instead, she did not resign until after the election.  That left two options for the council.  To select her replacement or call for a special election, since the fall election was outside the parameters of the time element for filling the position.  Naturally, enough individuals on the council chose to "save" the city money by not having the special election.  But what happened to the fact that anybody with common sense could read between the lines to see what was happening?

Then when one looks at the resumés of those who applied, Mr. Neighbor included, it raises even more questions.  One of the individuals who applied had been a retired USAF colonel (running military hospitals)and also retired as CEO/President of two major hospitals in the KC area.  His background in budgets, personnel staffing etc put him, IMHO and the opinion of others head and shoulders over Mr. Neighbor.  Of the five resumés submitted I'd have to rank Mr. Neighbor's as 3 or 4.  But certain individuals on the council apparently had a plan and nobody was going to stop it.

Sandifer made the motion to appoint Neighbor and that was seconded by Kuhn.  Then Morris, Vaught and Sawyer voted with them.

This travesty fostered on the voters of  Ward 1 needs to be corrected. 

Charles Macheers needs to be elected over Neighbor in Ward 1.

Kuhn (Ward 3), Sandifer (Ward 4)  and Sawyer (Ward 2) need to be replaced by Ferris, McAfee and Kemmling accordingly for their complicity in this action.

I also find it hard to believe that Mayor Meyers couldn't see what was going on.  Time to replace him with Eric Jenkins.

Two Items To Make You Think

Ahhhh, things do happen in Shawnee.  OK, let's start with 4/26/10 when Dawn Kuhn made a motion to have a temporary street of 115 feet built in Ward 3 because of the K-7 construction project.  A temporary street (like for about 90 days), that was going to cost $67,500.  Folks all over town have to live with construction inconveniences, unless you live in her neighborhood.  The motion was seconded by Mickey "Loves to Travel" Sandifer, and approved when Mayor Jeff Meyers broke a 3-3 tie (Kuhn, Sandifer and Vaught voting for the project).  Actually, with her narcissistic attitude I'm surprised she didn't make a motion to name it Kuhn Terrace or something like that.

Now, let's fast forward to 2/14/11.  The illustrious Ms. Kuhn makes a motion (seconded by Mr. Frequent Miles Sandifer) to eliminate complete written minutes of council meetings.  Audio minutes with summaries are not the same as being able to review minutes for specific actions.  But then some members of the council did not want verbatim minutes because "they'll only use them against us".  OK, who voted for this veil of secrecy?  We already know about Kuhn and Sandifer, now you can also add Vaught, Neighbor, Morris and Sawyer.  And what was one of the primary reasons given for doing away with full minutes?  Money.

So you see, there is money to make Kuhn's life easier in her neighborhood but not enough to keep the citizens fully informed of what happens at city council meetings.

Keeping this in mind, I must now say that all incumbents running for reelection need to be voted out of office and  new council members put in place.

That means.............

For mayor............no to Meyers...............yes to Jenkins
Ward 1.................no to Neighbor.............yes to Macheers
Ward 2.................no to Sawyer................yes to Kemmling
Ward 3.................no to Kuhn...................yes to Ferris
Ward 4.................no to Sandifer..............yes to McAfee

Remember, if you want to support a challenger, vote for them.  It they are in another ward, but you disagree with the actions of the incumbent, you can contribute to that challenger.  The mayor's race is city wide and there is a primary for that office on 2/28/12.  Then the general election will be 4/3/12.

Sidebar:  Wonder how many other motions with negative impacts for the citizens were made by Kuhn and seconded by Sandifer?  Good little lapdog, Mickey, good doggie.