Important for Public to Consider Citizen Interest Groups for Westbrooke Green

Westbrooke Green is a contentious project.  There are a bunch of competing viewpoints concerning this project, be it the actual type of project, the tax incentives, and a variety of other items.

In the past, when citizens spoke about projects like this at council meetings there would be many disjointed individual comments.  To make the process more easier, and to give the average citizen a chance to have their comments presented in a more fluid manner. Council Member Eric Jenkins (Ward II) championed a change to Policy Statement-7.  To read his comments about this click here for a link to his FB page

The change allows for 12 citizens to form a Citizens Interest Group and then have one person give a 30 minute presentation (with the possibility of a 30 minute extension).  This allows for a better, stronger, presentation of ideas as opposed to multiple 5 minute individual commentaries.  Also, the presenter does not have to be a member of the 12 person group.  They can be an outside individual or even a professional (lawyer, accountant, architect, engineer, etc)

Additionally, there is no limit as to how many of these groups can be formed or what side of the issue they have to be on.  They can be pro or con.  If 36 different folks want they can form 3 different groups.

For more information on this please visit the city's web site by clicking here.

The public hearing for this matter is scheduled for Monday 12/18/17.

Is Prairie Village Mayor Turning Into Jack Booted Thug?

Whoa, this article in the Shawnee Mission Post really got my dander up.  It can be viewed at this link
Apparently the mayor of Prairie Village, Laura Wassmer, wants to put restrictions on council members posting on line or speaking to the press.

Here is part of the article:

Wassmer sent the following message to members of the city council Monday after councilwoman Jori Nelson posted a message about the Village Square community input sessions on the website NextDoor, and councilwoman Sheila Myers asked the Shawnee Mission Post to publish a similar statement:

Council, please remember that you collectively represent a governing body of twelve members. While you are entitled to your own opinion, it is important that communication involving City related events, projects, etc. come from the CITY, and not from individual council members. While you are welcome to post information on your own FB pages that are obviously your own opinions, please refrain from discussing your views individually with the media or posting on neighborhood chat forums/online neighborhood websites. All media requests for information should be forwarded to either myself or [City Administrator] Wes [Jordan] in the future. Thank you for your cooperation. Laura

That message struck at least four members of the council as crossing an important line. As elected officials, one said, they should have the ability to express their opinions on any issue without fear of reprisal, and it was not appropriate for Wassmer to ask them to yield their ability to communicate with constituents.

If I lived in PV I'd be starting a recall petition for the mayor.  She took an oath of office to support and defend both the state constitution and the federal constitution.  Council members do NOT give up their right to free speech by virtue of their position.  Also, a council member's opinion of city projects is important to the citizens. They want to know what the council member thinks.

Mayor Wassmer, it is my opinion you owe your council a big apology.

New Faces to the Shawnee City Council

This past Tuesday Shawnee voters went to the polls and in January there will be three new faces on the city council.

Ward 1:  Matt Zimmerman defeated incumbent Dan Pflumm.  Not completely sure where Zimmerman stands on some items so will be waiting and watching to see what happens here.

Ward 2:  Mike Kemmling ran unopposed and as such will serve another term on the council.

Ward 3:  Candidate Justin Adrian defeated Candidate Dave Myres (the incumbent Jeff Vaught was tossed out by the voters in the primary).  This one really concerns me as I find it abhorrent to have an individual who went to the Democratic convention as a Hillary Clinton delegate sitting on our city council.  He may not represent the ward I live in, but when he takes actions he is taking them for the whole city.  I seriously question the sincerity of his comments in support of veterans after he supported the Witch (sp) of Benghazi.  My microscope is ready to look at every action/move he makes on the council.  At least I'm up front about it.

Ward 4:  Candidate Lindsey Constance defeated Candidate Tony Noble (the incumbent Brandon Kenig, like Jeff Vaught, got tossed by the voters in the primary).  Her kumbayah approach makes me really wonder about where she stands on various issues.  Since this is the ward that I live in, that microscope will be at high power to monitor her actions and moves on the council.

Since two of these folks received strong Democratic Party support maybe taking a page out of the Democrat's play book might not be a bad idea.  You know the page, the one where the day after Trump won the Presidency the Dems were already talking impeachment.  Maybe I should start talking recall election.  Why not?  According to Kansas statutes the process can begin anytime after six months of their taking office.  Something to think about.

Justin Adrian Lies to the Voters

When discussing what his opponent said, Justin Adrian told a heck of a whopper concerning the Deffenbaugh impact fee.

Here is a question that was posed to Dave Myres:

How should Shawnee be using the proceeds from the impact fee paid to the city by Deffenbaugh for use of the landfill space?

Here was Dave Myres answer:  The impact fee is intended to repair the damage to our roads caused by the Deffenbaugh trucks.  However, about half of that fee has been diverted to "economic development"  This is wrong and I will vote to stop it.

Justin Adrian then makes this statement:  The money is not being diverted.  The agreement was setup with Deffenbaugh specifically to allow 50% to go to street maintenance and 50% for economic development to compensate for the loss of development ready land due to the landfill.

Justin Adrian is flat out lying.  I was at the council meetings when that came up.    There was absolutely NO agreement with Deffenbaugh as to how the fee was to be allocated.  That decision is/was not theirs to make. The only agreement with Deffenbaugh was the amount of the fee and for how many years it would be in effect. It was at a budget meeting and some council members wanted the entire fee to go to economic development.  Others wanted the entire fee to go to street maintenance.  A compromise was reached and the fee was split 50/50.  Now here is the kicker.  The allocation was never placed in an ordinance, a policy statement or any other document.  As such it is considered an action as the "will of the council".  As such it can be changed at any time with a simple majority vote of the council.

Basically, Adrian's statement is full of horse manure and it is a total lie.  Ergo he is a liar.

If Mr. Adrian is a history teacher I really hope he gets his facts straight on what he teaches the children in his classes.  Or does he twist the facts to suit his view of history.