Did Vaught Make Up the Numbers?

If you scroll down to my posts of 6/18/14 and 6/23/14 you will see where I was trying to get verification from Councilmember Vaught about a statement he made.  That statement was that 40% of the sales taxes collected in Shawnee were from non-Shawnee residents.  Believe his point was that with a sales tax increase for roads that a good portion would be coming from folks who live outside of Shawnee.  If true, that would be a nice shot in the arm.


So, I sent him an email, asking for verifiable documentation that would back up his statement.  He never replied. So, what was my next step?  To submit a KORA (Kansas Open Records Act) request to the city to see if they could help to verify the info.


What was the official response from the city?


The finance director receives sales tax documents from the state department of revenue, but they are not an open record. She is not permitted to distribute them. The city does not have a document that confirms or refutes Councilmember Vaught’s statement.


Unfortunately his original statement was picked up by the media, and published with no verification.  The Dispatch reporter that published that eventually emailed the city manager asking about it (info I got based on another KORA request), but there is no indication that the email was responded to within the time frame of the request.  Maybe it was responded to by phone?  Thereby eliminating a paper trail?  (See my posts about the cheerleading)


The sad part is that Jeff (the arrogant one) Vaught, in his big, booming, intimidating voice can apparently make up whatever he wants to and it gets accepted as gospel truth.



So, did Vaught make up the numbers?  Did he slip and disclose information that he was not supposed to reveal, or possibly even have access to?  Does the city even get figures broken down by residency, or do they just get sales tax info by business?  Thereby making residency an undetermined number?  What do you think?

WARNING!!!!!! The City Manager of Shawnee has determined that local bloggers post items that may contain bad or misinformation. Please read these posts with care and determine for yourself whether the information is valid. 

Hmmmm, who dispenses misinformation?

DTJVSD

Reporting or Cheerleading?

In my post below about the loss of the most recent Shawnee Dispatch reporter it was indicated that he may have been more of a cheerleader for the city than a reporter.


Now, wait until you read this information gathered from a KORA request.  There were various back and forth emails between the city manager, Carol Gonzales and the reporter, Michael Terry concerning the Westbrooke Village project and MDDS (the development company).  In an email dated 6/19/14 to the city manager, Terry is quoted as follows, and pay special attention to the last three sentences (underlining mine):


"Can you offer me a few updated quotes from my story for next week.  I'm basically saying MDDS was granted a 60 day extension.  They are continuing to work on meeting the new deadline.  No money has been paid out and will not be paid out until deadline is met.
I assume issues like this pop up in complicated development deals.  Maybe you could say something like that.  Reassuring residents that MDDS is still committed to the project, if that remains the case."


Wow, a reporter/editor feeding a city manager ideas for possible quotes concerning a city redevelopment deal.  Is that the function of a newspaper?  With a news reporter like that, did we really need to spend money on a PIO?

WARNING!!!!!! The City Manager of Shawnee has determined that local bloggers post items that may contain bad or misinformation. Please read these posts with care and determine for yourself whether the information is valid. 

Shawnee Dispatch Needs a New Reporter

Ever since Rob Roberts left the Shawnee Dispatch we have had a revolving door of folks covering the city.  The Dispatch will have to look very hard to find a replacement for Rob, as he told it the way it was.  The good, the bad and the ugly, and made a few enemies at city hall because of that. Various members of the city government have at times indicated that the Dispatch should basically be a cheer leader for the city, rather than actually report what was happening.

The most recent reporter for the Dispatch made it a point to email various city officials that he was relocating out of state, but I don't remember him writing a farewell note to the people of Shawnee. (KORA  requests can produce interesting documents)

Upon receiving his email the city manager responded: (underlining mine)

Michael, I am really, really sad to hear this news.  I want to thank you

for all you've done for Shawnee in a very short time - you brought a level

of professionalism to the Dispatch that had been sorely missing for several

years and had truly caused significant harm to this community.  Through

your diligence and energy, along with fact based and very well written

stories, you brought credibility back and made the Dispatch a community

newspaper again.   People have come to rely on it, and quote from it, and

it has helped our citizens and our businesses become more educated and more

engaged in a very positive way.

I know before you came here you knew nothing of Shawnee, Kansas, but you

jumped in with an open mind and you made it your mission to learn about us.

I can't begin to tell you how much we appreciate that, and I want you to

know that as you head down to Florida, you should be very proud that in the

brief time you were here, you made a significant impact.

On behalf of all of us here at the City, I wish you good health and much

happiness, and know that you will always be welcome here!

Any time a city manager praises a "journalist" so effusively, you know they're not doing their job. If they were doing their job they would be rattling some chains.  But, if a city manager is totally happy with a reporter, then by golly, is that person reporting, or are they a cheerleader for the city? Cheer leading can be harmful, as it does not allow for the citizens of the community to be told the full story.

WARNING!!!!!! The City Manager of Shawnee has determined that local bloggers post items that may contain bad or misinformation. Please read these posts with care and determine for yourself whether the information is valid. 

One More Week

Yepper, one week to go.  Then the council will discuss putting a sales tax increase on the ballot, with the funds going for road maintenance.


Do our roads need work?  Yepper  Do we need a 3/8th sales tax?  I don't think so, and I think we can get by with a smaller one.  As I said in my post last week I will explain how at the meeting. 


This could be a very important meeting.  Try and be there.


Rumor time:  Now this is a rumor, not a fact, but word on the street is that the city manager might try and get the council to put the sales tax question on a mail ballot, instead of the general election ballot.  Figuring  lower turn out would make it easier to get the voters to approve it.  Here's the kicker, putting it on the general election ballot won't cost the city a penny.  Creating a mail ballot would run about $70K.  And we need a tax increase for road maintenance?  Something does not make sense here.
WARNING!!!!!! The City Manager of Shawnee has determined that local bloggers post items that may contain bad or misinformation. Please read these posts with care and determine for yourself whether the information is valid. 

Sales Tax Question - City Council Meeting 7/28/14

Based on what happened at the council committee meeting on 6/17/14 it appears that the city council will determine on 7/28/14 whether or not to put a sales tax increase on the November general election ballot. The increase would be for street maintenance.  Right now, the number being tossed around is 3/8ths of a cent.

Some additional information can be found at this KC Star Article

My opinion is that an amount of 1/8th or 2/8th of a cent can be used.  At the meeting I will voice my opinion as to how the city can get other funds for street maintenance.

If the item goes on the ballot the city is prohibited from advocating for or against the measure.  But, the city is permitted to "educate".  I am curious if during the education process the city will inform its citizens that if the 3/8th amount is approved, by the voters, that the sales tax will go to 9% at most locations.  But, at some locations it can go as high as 9-1/2% and even 10%.

There are some questions also, about why something wasn't done earlier, at a lower amount.  But, more on that in a future post, or at least at the council meeting.

Here is your opportunity as a citizen to get involved by showing up at the meeting on Monday 7/28 at 7:30PM.

WARNING!!!!!! The City Manager of Shawnee has determined that local bloggers post items that may contain bad or misinformation. Please read these posts with care and determine for yourself whether the information is valid. 

Two Great Programs in Shawnee

The City of Shawnee currently sponsors two really great programs for its citizens or for folks who work in Shawnee.

CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY

From the city's web site:  The Citizen Police Academy is an opportunity for members of our community to see and experience the role of the law enforcement officer at a deeper level. Participants in the academy will meet and interact with officers and see how the members of the Shawnee Police Department work to maintain a safe community for all who live in, work in, or visit Shawnee.

For more info, including how to participate, please go here: 
http://gsh.cityofshawnee.org/WEB/PoliceCMS.nsf/vwContent/CitizenAcademy?OpenDocument

C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team:

The first class has recently graduated and planning is being done for the next class.

From the city's web site:  The CERT course is taught in the community by a trained first responders who has completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by their state training office for emergency management, or FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI). CERT training includes disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations and light search and rescue operations., 

For more info, please go to   http://www.cityofshawnee.org/WEB/ShawneeCMS.nsf/vwContent/EmergencyManagement?OpenDocument 

Happy Birthday America

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

One of the best renditions of the Star Spangled Banner.
The choirs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard Academies accompanied by the US Army's Herald Trumpets.  Yes, it was at a Super Bowl, but no big time rock/pop stars or vocal show offs.

And to many of you out there, "Welcome home brother"

Good Blocking - Bad Blocking

Good Blocking


When the KC Chiefs block a field goal.
When the KC Royals' catcher blocks the plate and tags the runner out.
When a KU (or K-State or MU) defender blocks a 3 pointer on the basketball court.
When law enforcement blocks the scene of an accident so injured can be moved safely.
When traffic cones get placed blocking pot holes so they can be repaired.
When the Chiefs offensive line sets up blocks so a running back can score.


Bad Blocking


When a government entity blocks certain websites/blogs just because they disagree with the philosophy of the author.  Or they don't like the truth to come out.  That's OK, folks can usually access those things from other sources. 


WARNING!!!!!! The City Manager of Shawnee has determined that local bloggers post items that may contain bad or misinformation. Please read these posts with care and determine for yourself whether the information is valid.