The proposed Shawnee Community
Center (a $38 million Taj Mahal rival to eternal rival Lenexa's rec center) is in serious trouble.
 | |||
| Shawnee, always trying to be Lenexa, wants to build a Taj Mahal $38 million rec center in far western Shawnee. Which will end up being the new urban teen hangout for unmentioned northern neighbor, Wyandotte County). Funded by a $15 a month property tax that never sunsets. (also not mentioned in ballot.) |
This
morning the entire Shawnee Council received this letter from David Williams, a
respected business exec and humanitarian from Ward 4. (The same ward
where Mickey Sandifer, who supports SCC to the point of breaking the law in saying "Vote Yes", is running for re-election.)
If
the public cannot attend Mon. Feb 11 at Shawnee City Hall, when this
will be put on a proposed May 21 mail-in ballot, after a short public hearing,they are encouraged to email their opinions to: governingbody@cityofshawnee.
From: David Williams <dndwilliams1@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Feb 10, 2019 at 8:14 AM
Subject: Proposed Community Center
To: governingbody@cityofshawnee.
Date: Sun, Feb 10, 2019 at 8:14 AM
Subject: Proposed Community Center
To: governingbody@cityofshawnee.
Shameful - Shameful - Just Per Shameful!
The
City of Shawnee has over $144 Million dollars of Capital Improvement
projects on the books currently. Many of these projects have been
delayed multiply times due to complications with funding. The council is
taking on a folly that is the worst use of taxpayers funds ever heard
of.
If I was planning on continuing my career as a council member or
seek higher office I would think long and hard about taking an average
of $200 a year forever out of every taxpayer’s pocket on a folly like
this. You could be the next Kevin Yoder! Just to be like the JONES. One
of the main Capital Improvement Project that I have seen delayed and
delayed because of financial reasons has been the Monticello Road
Project. A project that I have given up on of even being completed. A
project that would not only improve traffic flow, improve safety, and
gain access for the residents to access the trails system. It would
also bring development of homes and in turn bring more tax dollars to
Shawnee. I would have thought our council would be interested in the big
picture on how to improve revenue by increasing residents not just
fleecing the ones they have.
History:
One of the reasons given by the council was
the recession on 2008, which I agree was bad for the community. Well I
think you might want to consider the following information before
promoting a new $38 Million dollar loser. Yes, I have heard that the
council can not promote but there are some of you that are promoting
this folly.
National Economy Outlook:
Chief executives are concerned for another recession in
2019!
On
Monday, January 21, 2019 the International Monetary Fund cut its global
growth predictions for this year and next, saying “the balance of risks
remains skewed to the downside” and momentum is “past its peak.”
Chief
executives ranked a global recession as their number one concern for
2019, according to a survey of nearly 800 top business leaders around
the world released Thursday by The Conference Board. Global trade
threats came in second. Even consumers, who power the U.S. economy, are
on edge. Consumer confidence has fallen to the lowest level of Trump’s
presidency, according to the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment
survey out Friday.
As
for the Community Center Project. Shame on anyone on the council that
votes to move this forward to the voters with a mail in ballot process.
I was able to attend both “Open Houses” in January and shame on the
council members that were there if you vote to bring this to the voters.
With less than 50 individuals at each presentation it should give you
the message. Please don’t say it was because of the weather, it was not
that bad either day. It tells me that the majority of Shawnee taxpayers
are NOT interested in this tax drain. OR - OR - The Project has not
been communicated well enough and taxpayers are unaware of what the
council is proposing.
Shame:
It was shameful that a taxpayer had to search out
individuals to ask what was the estimated cost to the taxpayer. No one
had name and position tags to identify them. Maybe this was the plan.
Shame on the presentation with all the FLUFF & SIZZLE and NO facts
or figures posted anywhere. Being in sales for over 40 years I can see
FLUFF & SIZZLE when I see it. Shame on the council as the message of
this proposal really hasn’t gotten out to the majority of taxpayers.
Depending on digital media isn’t cutting it. The taxpayers don’t really
know what is going to hit them with a tax increase and for how long
(forever).
A property tax of this magnitude will make Shawnee one of the
heaviest taxed cities in Johnson County and maybe the state.
It is
shameful that you our trusted officials would invest in a project that
will run in the RED forever ($200,000) never paying for it’s own
operation.
More staff, not police or fire?
By adding 17 more full time employees with benefits this
negative spending will grow year over year. And the real shame of it all
they don’t have to be residents of Shawnee. They can go spend their
salaries in other cities. I have never seen a legal business operate in
the red and survive long.
* Shame on the council member voting on doing a
project that will compete with tax paying
private industry.
* Cut the
losses and sell the property.
* Sell the property and speed up completion
of some of the other Capital Improvement Projects.
David Williams
Resident Ward 4
He may be reached via email, dndwilliams1@gmail.com
The council email to Mayor Michelle Distler and all 8 Councilmen and women, is governingbody@cityofshawnee.
If
the public cannot attend Mon. Feb 11 at Shawnee City Hall, 7pm, Johnson Drive and Nieman, when this
will be put on a proposed May 21 mail-in ballot, they may mail their opinions to: governingbody@cityofshawnee.
Here are other concerns:
(not expressed by David Williams. By others on No More Taxes Shawnee.)
(not expressed by David Williams. By others on No More Taxes Shawnee.)
* a want rather than a need
* too far west location
* the next youth hangout for idle Wyandotte County teens, @ 72 cents/day. cheaper
than a babysitter
* funding shenanigans
* a non-disclosed property tax hike THAT NEVER SUNSETS
* violation and thumbing their nose at the 2017 Ks. Tax Lid Law
* secret plans by council to raise the tax even higher in July to $15 a month from $7.36
stated on vague ballot
* illegal electioneering by Council and staff, including Park Board director Neil Holman,
and Ward 4 Councilman Mickey Sandifer. Staff and council are only allowed to
"educate and inform", not advocate, eg say "Vote Yes".
* And now even an election controversy involving
a non-binding legalese "faux
endorsement" by Joco's beleaguered election
commissioner, Ronnie Metsker,
are being exposed.
You may also read and leave comments on a new FB page:
No More Taxes Shawnee
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