My choices:
State Reps:
18 John Rubin
39 Charles Macheers
23 Kelly Meigs
17 Brett Hildabrand
State Senator:
10 Mary Pilcher-Cook
21 Greg Smith
State Board of Education:
2 Steve Roberts
Pres & VP:
Romney & Ryan
Monday, October 29, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
More Media Updates on KOMA Investigation
As many may already be aware, the JoCo District Attorney, Steve Howe has been conducting an investigation into a possible KOMA (Kansas Open Meetings Act) violation by the City of Shawnee.
Additionally, his office recently conducted a class regarding KOMA.
Two recent articles, one from the Shawnee Dispatch and one from the Kansas City Star have much useful information.
Dispatch: http://www.shawneedispatch.com/news/2012/oct/24/da-says-decision-shawnee-open-meetings-case-due-so/
Star: http://joco913.com/news/getting-the-word-out-on-open-meetings/
Additionally, his office recently conducted a class regarding KOMA.
Two recent articles, one from the Shawnee Dispatch and one from the Kansas City Star have much useful information.
Dispatch: http://www.shawneedispatch.com/news/2012/oct/24/da-says-decision-shawnee-open-meetings-case-due-so/
Star: http://joco913.com/news/getting-the-word-out-on-open-meetings/
Friday, October 26, 2012
Shawnee is Number 1
Contrary to popular belief, and the mindless comments of certain council members, I am thrilled when Shawnee does something that leads other local cities.
I know our city manger loves to compare Shawnee to other cities. Well here is a comparison, that shows we are number 1..................in the number of folks going to Boston for the National League of Cities event 11/28-12/1/12 (see my post immediately below this one).
Shawnee 8
Lenexa 6
Olathe 5
Overland Park 2
Merriam 2
Mission 1
Congratulations, for being willing to waste taxpayer's money. Some of those going had voiced objections (money) to going back to detailed meeting minutes. And yet, they can be willing to spend money on something like this. And some, who finally voted to give us back our detailed minutes still made snotty comments about the city spending the money.
Based on previous expense reports that I obtained, I'm going to guesstimate that this little soirée will run between $16K-$18K. I'm also going to guesstimate that Mickey "Traveling Man" Sandifer spends the most.
The two good things are that Councilmembers Pflumm and Distler are more concerned about saving the taxpayers' money and are not going. But the others....................wellllllll..........party hearty.
Sidebar: I wonder how many are going to hang around Boston after the convention for an extended vacation. Kind of like how Kuhn stayed extra days in Vegas.................
I know our city manger loves to compare Shawnee to other cities. Well here is a comparison, that shows we are number 1..................in the number of folks going to Boston for the National League of Cities event 11/28-12/1/12 (see my post immediately below this one).
Shawnee 8
Lenexa 6
Olathe 5
Overland Park 2
Merriam 2
Mission 1
Congratulations, for being willing to waste taxpayer's money. Some of those going had voiced objections (money) to going back to detailed meeting minutes. And yet, they can be willing to spend money on something like this. And some, who finally voted to give us back our detailed minutes still made snotty comments about the city spending the money.
Based on previous expense reports that I obtained, I'm going to guesstimate that this little soirée will run between $16K-$18K. I'm also going to guesstimate that Mickey "Traveling Man" Sandifer spends the most.
The two good things are that Councilmembers Pflumm and Distler are more concerned about saving the taxpayers' money and are not going. But the others....................wellllllll..........party hearty.
Sidebar: I wonder how many are going to hang around Boston after the convention for an extended vacation. Kind of like how Kuhn stayed extra days in Vegas.................
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
From Shawnee to Boston
The National League of Cities is holding their Congress of Cities and Exposition Nov 28-Dec 1, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Long time readers of this blog know that I have in the past been critical when we sent large delegations to these meetings. It has been my opinion that the most number of people we need to send to NLC conferences is four (Mayor, City Manager and 2 Council Members).
For awhile, that is what was happening. The city reduced the number of participants to these NLC conferences to four.
Now, that is changing. Even though Council is supposed to announce who is taking these trips in advance they very seldom do. At least not without some prodding.
Last week I obtained the list of those who are planning on attending:
Mayor Jeff Meyers
Jim Neighbor Ward I
Alan Willoughby Ward II
Neal Sawyer Ward II
Dawn Kuhn Ward III
Jeff Vaught Ward III
Mickey Sandifer Ward IV
Carol Gonzales City Manager
The city manager did confirm that tentative travel and hotel arrangements have been made for those listed above.
Eight folks going!!!!! Unbelievable. The only two not going are Dan Pflumm, Ward I and Michelle Distler, Ward IV. Happy to see that they care enough not to add to this waste.
Four people would be sufficient. They could come back and educate the others, and the city. As a matter of fact, there was an effort to have the attendees write a synopsis of these meetings, and publish them on the city's web site. To the best of my memory, that was only done once.
Sidebar: A cup of coffee says that Mickey Sandifer spends the most for this trip. In the past, his schedule has usually shown him to arrive before the others and leave after them, resulting in more hotel nights and per diem expenses.
Long time readers of this blog know that I have in the past been critical when we sent large delegations to these meetings. It has been my opinion that the most number of people we need to send to NLC conferences is four (Mayor, City Manager and 2 Council Members).
For awhile, that is what was happening. The city reduced the number of participants to these NLC conferences to four.
Now, that is changing. Even though Council is supposed to announce who is taking these trips in advance they very seldom do. At least not without some prodding.
Last week I obtained the list of those who are planning on attending:
Mayor Jeff Meyers
Jim Neighbor Ward I
Alan Willoughby Ward II
Neal Sawyer Ward II
Dawn Kuhn Ward III
Jeff Vaught Ward III
Mickey Sandifer Ward IV
Carol Gonzales City Manager
The city manager did confirm that tentative travel and hotel arrangements have been made for those listed above.
Eight folks going!!!!! Unbelievable. The only two not going are Dan Pflumm, Ward I and Michelle Distler, Ward IV. Happy to see that they care enough not to add to this waste.
Four people would be sufficient. They could come back and educate the others, and the city. As a matter of fact, there was an effort to have the attendees write a synopsis of these meetings, and publish them on the city's web site. To the best of my memory, that was only done once.
Sidebar: A cup of coffee says that Mickey Sandifer spends the most for this trip. In the past, his schedule has usually shown him to arrive before the others and leave after them, resulting in more hotel nights and per diem expenses.
Monday, October 22, 2012
State Senate & Board of Education
Remember, election day is Tuesday, November 6, 2012
My preferences:
State Senate, Dist 10 Mary Pilcher-Cook
For State Board of Education, Dist 2: Steve Roberts
My preferences:
State Senate, Dist 10 Mary Pilcher-Cook
For State Board of Education, Dist 2: Steve Roberts
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Can Coincidences Be Created?
To fully understand this, one must read the blog post "Sheddidng Light on Sunshine Review" from 9/14/12 http://www.shawneeray.blogspot.com/2012/09/shedding-light-on-sunshine-review.html#links
Basically we know that on 9/10/12 the city council was to vote on returning the method of recording meeting minutes back to full minutes. One of the arguments for this was that the "action minutes" which were being used were less than transparent. Fortunately the council voted to go back to the older detailed format.
Earlier that day the Sunshine Review gave the city an A+ rating for transparency. As mentioned in the blog post, the info from their web site indicates that their ratings are based on info on the city's web site. Such as, are there links on the city's site to various sites? If yes, they consider that tranparency. In the case of the meeting minutes, they don't rate the transparency of the minutes style, rather just that they are there.
Something was strange, since the last review by that organization was on Friday, 9/7/12.
So I contacted Sunshine Review and apparently the city had requested the review.
A KORA request indicates that starting Tue, 9/4/12 there was a group of emails back and forth between the city and Sunshine Review. Information was exchanged as to what it would take to raise the city's previous rating from a B. On 9/6/12 the rating was changed to an A- and the Sunshine Review was prepared to issue a press release to that effect. They were asked to hold off while the city made some more adjustments to its website, and finally the city came up with the A+ rating.
After having a B rating for quite some time, it's just wonderful that the city put on a massive drive to raise the rating of the web site. And yes, it's just coincidence that all of this occurred within 6 days (4 if you eliminate Sat & Sun) before the action on the meeting minutes change.
Basically we know that on 9/10/12 the city council was to vote on returning the method of recording meeting minutes back to full minutes. One of the arguments for this was that the "action minutes" which were being used were less than transparent. Fortunately the council voted to go back to the older detailed format.
Earlier that day the Sunshine Review gave the city an A+ rating for transparency. As mentioned in the blog post, the info from their web site indicates that their ratings are based on info on the city's web site. Such as, are there links on the city's site to various sites? If yes, they consider that tranparency. In the case of the meeting minutes, they don't rate the transparency of the minutes style, rather just that they are there.
Something was strange, since the last review by that organization was on Friday, 9/7/12.
So I contacted Sunshine Review and apparently the city had requested the review.
A KORA request indicates that starting Tue, 9/4/12 there was a group of emails back and forth between the city and Sunshine Review. Information was exchanged as to what it would take to raise the city's previous rating from a B. On 9/6/12 the rating was changed to an A- and the Sunshine Review was prepared to issue a press release to that effect. They were asked to hold off while the city made some more adjustments to its website, and finally the city came up with the A+ rating.
After having a B rating for quite some time, it's just wonderful that the city put on a massive drive to raise the rating of the web site. And yes, it's just coincidence that all of this occurred within 6 days (4 if you eliminate Sat & Sun) before the action on the meeting minutes change.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Local Candidates for Nov 6 Election
As to be expected, most folks are focusing on the "top of the ticket", the Presidential election.
Remember though, that what happens in Topeka can have more of an effect on your life than what happens in DC.
With that in mind, I'd like to take the time to mention the following individuals as folks that I hope you will support by voting for them on Nov 6.
State Representative:
Dist 18 John Rubin
Dist 39 Charles Macheers
Dist 23 Kelly Meigs
Dist 17 Brett Hildabrand
State Senator:
Dist 10 Mary Pilcher-Cook
Remember though, that what happens in Topeka can have more of an effect on your life than what happens in DC.
With that in mind, I'd like to take the time to mention the following individuals as folks that I hope you will support by voting for them on Nov 6.
State Representative:
Dist 18 John Rubin
Dist 39 Charles Macheers
Dist 23 Kelly Meigs
Dist 17 Brett Hildabrand
State Senator:
Dist 10 Mary Pilcher-Cook
Friday, October 05, 2012
Shawnee Dispatch Poll
We all know that on line polls are not accurate. But they can be interesting.
Anyway, the Shawnee Dispatch is running a poll on their website at http://www.shawneedispatch.com/ (click on the link to the left and then scroll down to the lower right side of their website)
Here is the question, with the three possible answers:
Note: You must go to the Dispatch at http://www.shawneedispatch.com to take the poll. You cannot take it here.
The people have a right to know what is happening. Things aren't always rosey. When someone sees some warts, instead of criticizing them for it, take the necessary action to treat the problem.
When certain individuals say that there are items that need not come to the public's attention because it makes the city look bad, I say balderdash (actaully I say something else but trying to keep this post family oriented). They are not worried about how the city looks, they are worried about how they look.
When a city grows from small farming town to a component of a major metro area it needs to realize that local media has a responsibility to keep the citizens informed about all aspects of what is happening. Then the citizens can praise the positives and work to reduce the negatives.
Go to the Dispatch and take the poll................what the heck...................
Anyway, the Shawnee Dispatch is running a poll on their website at http://www.shawneedispatch.com/ (click on the link to the left and then scroll down to the lower right side of their website)
Here is the question, with the three possible answers:
Note: You must go to the Dispatch at http://www.shawneedispatch.com to take the poll. You cannot take it here.
A few people have criticized The Dispatch recently for covering “negative” news regarding local government. What do you believe is the role of a community newspaper?
My opinion is that a local newspaper is supposed to write about "the good, the bad and the ugly". Unfortunately the two previous local reporters seemed to be extensions of city hall's PR department, and shied away from anything bordering on the controversial. It seemed like the paper may have at one time been a tool of certain senior officials of the city.
The people have a right to know what is happening. Things aren't always rosey. When someone sees some warts, instead of criticizing them for it, take the necessary action to treat the problem.
When certain individuals say that there are items that need not come to the public's attention because it makes the city look bad, I say balderdash (actaully I say something else but trying to keep this post family oriented). They are not worried about how the city looks, they are worried about how they look.
When a city grows from small farming town to a component of a major metro area it needs to realize that local media has a responsibility to keep the citizens informed about all aspects of what is happening. Then the citizens can praise the positives and work to reduce the negatives.
Go to the Dispatch and take the poll................what the heck...................
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Training for Kansas Open Meetings Act
Interesting article in the KC Star
http://joco913.com/news/officials-to-be-schooled-in-open-meetings-law/
Apparently, according to the article, the JoCo DA is going to hold a training class regarding the Kansas Open Meetings Act.
This has been prompted by an increase in complaints regarding possible violations of the act. So far both Gardner and Mission have been found to have violated the act, and there is still an open investigation into whether or not Shawnee violated it.
This training session (Oct 18, 9- 11 AM) is also open to the public.
This is probably a step in the right direction. The question on my mind is with the number of folks that have been invited to attend, and the training session open, how much can be accomplished in two hours?
http://joco913.com/news/officials-to-be-schooled-in-open-meetings-law/
Apparently, according to the article, the JoCo DA is going to hold a training class regarding the Kansas Open Meetings Act.
This has been prompted by an increase in complaints regarding possible violations of the act. So far both Gardner and Mission have been found to have violated the act, and there is still an open investigation into whether or not Shawnee violated it.
This training session (Oct 18, 9- 11 AM) is also open to the public.
This is probably a step in the right direction. The question on my mind is with the number of folks that have been invited to attend, and the training session open, how much can be accomplished in two hours?
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