Don't let Shawnee try Olathe's DOUBLE PICKPOCKET PLAN--free two week vacations and $1200 Pelosi Bonus Bucks for FAKE FURLOUGHS at taxpayer expense

Cities are using dishonest strategery to subsidize their budgets
without applying for a grant they'd never get.  Pretending their
employees are unemployed.  Just long enough to give them
$1200 in Pelosi Bonus Bucks--and free two week extra vacations. 
Draining federal funds intended for truly unemployed.  

As reported by Fox4 and others,

https://fox4kc.com/news/olathe-plans-2-week-furloughs-for-nearly-all-city-employees-to-supplement-budget-deficit/?fbclid=IwAR3gz-u5wbYZ4yjH89gO2hcLvuXB-KM6LLd7j9GdkEQtpogn5yBt4-CYx2I  

Olathe is furloughing all employees for two weeks on a staggered basis.

And grinning like the Cheshire Cat, that they cut their annual budget AND gave a $1200 bonus to all their employees--at federal expense.

But who pays for that "opportunity" to move cash out of our pockets? The same taxpayers!

This is a double pickpocket move.

Robs the taxpayers twice. Gives the employee a free two week vacation in addition to their regular one and their ongoing 35% insurance and pensions and benefits package. Each employee now would also pocket $1200 IN PELOSI BONUS BUCKS. $600 A WEEK X TWO WEEKS---OVER AND ABOVE THEIR TWO WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

Paid from the second COVID rescue fund, the CARES Act. Which was supposed to support the truly unemployed. Not these strategic FAKE unemployed. It's a budget strategy and a free vacation, mooching off a loophole.

The CARES Act fund might be empty for regular folk. Or too challenging to qualify for, especially for the SELF EMPLOYED who have never qualified for unemployment.

But cities or counties can handhold their furloughed workers. City staff can fill out and submit the paperwork FOR them!! Make sure they get their $1200 Pelosi Bonus Bucks. Because one level of government looks out for the other.

Even tho the Ks. state govt. unemployment division doesn't answer phones. Cities and counties have back channels to make this happen. Meanwhile, the cities and counties are getting the equivalent of a grant or a transfer of federal tax dollars--into their budgets. A two week easing of their payroll. Two weeks out of 52 = 1/26th. About 4% federal subsidy of any city or county's annual payroll. Go to the head of the line. Wink wink.

It's disgusting. Immoral. Sneaky.

Reminds me of Scout troops or church teens that spend ONE NIGHT camping outside, in a fox fur parka, to "feel the pain" of actual homeless people.

When city or county employees accept $1200 in Pelosi Bonus Bucks
for pretending to be unemployed, just to trim the city's payroll,
that is despicable and deceitful.  They are being bought off by their bosses. 
That CARE Act money was intended for truly unemployed. 
Many who don't have the paperwork or handlers to manage their applications.

I did note that some Joco cities earlier furloughed their community center workers.

Thank GOD for the hard work last year of There's A Better Way Shawnee Committee. Last May 21 the voters of Shawnee REJECTED WASTING $54 MILLION on an unnecessary Shawnee Community Center. By a vote of 72% NO. With 46% turnout.

I am proud to have been the largest contributor to paying for the postcards to alert voters about that vote, with 100% factual information.

I'd also note that Mayor Michelle Distler forbids public comment now at council meetings except for public hearings. So if Shawnee discusses this Double Pickpocket Furlough Plan, I will not be allowed to speak Monday night for five minutes. Nor will any other citizen.

Shame on "Nervous Nelle" Michelle Distler. Campaigned on transparency, but can't take the heat in her version of undeclared Martial Law. (and thanks for a reader on TKC catching my dictation error--eg 'Marshall")!

Tracy Thomas

publisher, JocoPost.com and KCMOPost.com

FB: No More Taxes Shawnee

Former Shawnee Council president and Ward 4 councilwoman, 1999-2004

Shawnee's Mayor, "Nervous Nell" Michelle Distler so paranoid, she fears councilman calling in remotely could be an imposter

Ever since she quit the Republican party last spring, (after a lifetime), Shawnee's recently re-elected mayor, Michelle "Nervous Nell" Distler has been consumed with more conspiracy theories and paranoid suspicions than Adam Schiff.

Most recently, at the Jan. 27, 2019 City Council meeting, Nervous Nell Michelle tossed out an unseconded idea, that the city should cancel remote participation by absent council members--(utilized very infrequently in case of illness or being out of town) --because "some citizen phoned her" and questioned, "How do we know that is the real elected official?   Maybe someone else is calling in and voting!"


Ya know, the council member logs in via the city clerk before the meeting.  One imagines the clerk could ask them their DOB and social security number, same as every credit card, bank, or transactional app in America.  Alternatively, maybe we could have a Secret Song to go with a Secret Grip, like my ex-husband did when he was president of SAE fraternity at Wichita State.

"OK, Councilman Knappen, sing Shawnee's Secret Song before I allow you to comment or vote!"
--Mayor Michelle 'Nervous Nell' Distler

Nervous Nell also floated the idea that unlike all the other major cities in Joco, remote participation should no longer be allowed--because just "ONE of her supporters stated the audio quality was not satisfactory."

Picky, nit picky.  God forbid, the staff of 313 well paid city employees, with their 35% bundle of  added pensions, cars, phones, and insurance benefits,  could not address that.

Next, Mayor Distler yelled at a citizen, speaking during the allowed Business from the Floor, and quoting an excerpt from Policy Statement 7, II 1a, that "it is the City Manager, (not the mayor) who sets the agenda."

Nervous Nell is a bundle of anxieties, for fear that she would have to do her job.  Break a tie.  Rather than table mandated elections of council president. at the first meeting of the year.  Like she did, in the middle of proceedings. Absent any nominating speeches.  Or a request to try again.  Rather than break the tie, she just up and tabled it.  Which is not her legal authority.

During  Distler's first term, the liberal socialists had 6 votes.  The fiscal conservatives had 2 votes.  So the mayor never once had to break a tie,.  In four years.  Now, following the disastrous failure of the city's unwanted $54 million community center, by a turnout of 46% of all registered voters, by a resounding 72% no, the fiscal conservatives ran for office and now hold 4 of 8 council seats.

There will likely be several 4/4 ties.  Rather than upend and rewrite all the longstanding rules, including Council Ordinance 45 and Policy Statement 7, to rescue her from the pressure of making a decision and not being Miss Popular with the in crowd in their McMansions, Distler just needs to Do.Her.Job.

Caroline Myss (author of Archetypes, and Sacred Circles) would say that "Nervous Nell" Michelle Distler's  predominant archetype is Damsel in Distress.  And Victim.  Volunteers who quit grew tired of her crying uncontrollably as they drove her to campaign door to door.  Her major financial donors  quit writing checks.  Long time supporters for up to three decades describe her as whining to anyone who will listen---to her litany of unlikely-to-occur concerns.

Residents are already tired of Distler's mayoral overreach and machinations.  True, she won by a large margin.  Perhaps because her opponent, Stephanie Meyer, (the champion of 'Meyer-Lago',  the hugely failed community center) was an overbearing socialist.

Last Monday, council members debated the legal rescue of Mayor Damsel, tweaking the rules for electing their chairman.  They agreed this might take a few weeks,.  But what did Distler ask?  "What if it takes until June? "  She generally paints a negative objection.  The worst case scenario.

One imagines that if you have close secret relationships with members of your city's Public Safety staff, (whose budget you control), one could get in the habit of expecting the worst possible outcomes or situations.  Hey, that is the mindset, the default mental setting, of men whose job is public safety.

Famed politico who elected Mayor Charles Wheeler, Jerry Jette, used to illustrate paranoic concerns by saying, "What if the President married a gorilla?  That COULD happen...."


See also:  Tracy's other blog, www.KcmoPost.com

They don't call it UNIFIED for nothing. UG judge kicks Schlitterbahn case.Protects his own tribe from culpability. I predict Loser AG Derek Schmidt does not refile, just "lets it SLIDE"

I am pissed.

And since I am the one who gave Tony Botello at TonysKansasCity.com the breaking news tip about the DECAPITATION of young Caleb Schwab, I must follow up on today's news, that Judge Burns dismissed the three big cases against the management and designers of the Verruckt water slide at Schlitterbahn in Wyandotte County.


What did you expect? Too awkward to allow testimony by other county employees if their malfeasance and design shenanigans were partly at fault.

The AG's prosecutorial team gave the judge the perfect cover for dismissal.  They made classic novice errors with the evidence they showed to the grand jury.  Any fool who ever watched Perry Mason or Ally McBeal or LA Law knows that.  Oh I miss those shows.  And yes,
And yes, cue the music now! Law & Order... 

Ks AG Derek Schmidt is incompetent.  (Or was this a "wink and a nod" deal, one government giving cover to another??

This was not a frivolous case. It was an awkward one.  Wrapped up nice and tidy with a dismissal, from early wildly incompetent prosecution, by our AG. (Who other than being cross eyed, looks exactly like the smug actor in the National car rental ads.)

"Choose any attorney whose never prosecuted a Murder 2 case...and go!

 Derek had never tried a Murder 2 case. He wanted to keep the case in house, (ego) so was assisted by an equally inexperienced asst. AG. He clearly should have referred it out.

One must remember, the reason it was not handled, as it should have been, by the Wyandotte County's DA was--
a. The experienced guy retired or lost his election.  30 years experience, gone.

b. The new DA had zero experience and booted it up to the state.
    (In volleyball, that's called an "assist".)  At least he was smart enough to know to do that!

c. After all, Wyandotte County, the UG,was at least half responsible for the DECAPITATION
 of Caleb Schwab, because their Gang of Five--a committee of men appointed with zero credentials to the trumped up Wyandotte County Design Review Committee.
Men without training in design sat around a table over sammiches--and said, roughly, "We gotta show some control over these cocky Texas assholes. Not just rubber stamp their plan. So howsabout we make em put a net over the slide, and hold that in place with some metal HOOPS!  Pass the BBQ sauce and I need another brewsky.

d. (One of the five was some sort of planner, but not credentialed in slide engineering. )
But the other four were just the usual Dotheads, including the obligatory guy from the most corrupt utility in America, the BPU.)    As my futurist friend, Fritz Maffrey calls such dolts, the "prancing Dilberts of Downtown."

d1.  Sadly, even the great Steve Vockrodt at the KCStar, never reported the names of the five.   The STAR should have sued for that info.  But the only time recently they've hired an attorney was last month --to defend THEMSELVES!  re Sen. Jim Denning's defamation case regarding the hatchet job column by defrocked liar/columnist Steve Rose...the Jesse Smollett of Johnson County.  When his first story didn't bring down Denning, he concocted another, claiming to be The Victim.  (to be continued.)

and now back to Schlitterbahn:
e. It is an obvious logical explanation and fact that it was the UG designed and mandated hoops that decapitated Caleb.
f. And then it was the UG mandated netting that held the head up there for hours
and had to be cut down. Caleb's mom did not even notice, she was so traumatized, seeing her son's (headless) BODY lying on the tarmac. I know this from a police officer there, sworn
to secrecy.

g. So how could the county prosecute itself?  Duh, they couldn't...and wouldn't.  The county administrator would not allow it.   But again, Vockrodt couldn't get him on the record, or get in the damn building to interview him.

h. And how could the UG police department report or testify their own bosses, as witnesses?????--county administration in charge of their budget?

h1:  And why should the judge expose fellow UG staffers to being cross-examined?  Why have a jury be forced to decide which percentage of fault was the UG Design Review Team, vs the mistakes made by Jeff Henry, the co-designer and tyler the manager who could not seem to train high school kids to put the fat ladies in front.

h2.   Better to dismiss charges early.  A wink and a nod among governments that must work together on so much more.  Blame it on hapless Derek Schmidt, slap him on the back and say, "Sorry, buddy.  You lost a tough case, and the UG dodged a bullet."

i. THIS WAS A COMPLETE CLUSTERFUCK.

j. And the news media still refuses to report the truth, it was a DECAPITATION!  Not an "accident", it was totally preventable.  Designed and mismanaged to fail.

 Fear of losing future ad revenues from a huge summertime client.  Had this crime happened in the inner city, the cold brutal facts would have been immediately reported.  Just last week, a former TV5 producer now the social manager for Shawnee, told me management still maintains it was "out of respect" for the family.  Fake news.

And it was not --as the UG police officer told Ch. 9--"a serious neck injury." Jesus.  Who knew that Pinocchio was a cop for the UG??

k. No, Schlitterbahn and your attorneys, with your sanctimonious spin today--
While it WAS a tragedy, it was ALSO a crime.  Which your clients escaped being convicted of.  Because the final crime was the incompetent legal prosecution team by our state.

If this were sports, bettors might say you THREW THE GAME.  Is Derek Schmidt that fucking stupid?  After all, he misfiled the case initially, under a corporate name that did not exist.  Or did he do this on purpose?

Caleb Schwab's family will never know. 

Takeaways:
I am grateful that Scott Schwab's family got some closure with their private settlement.

I am embarrassed for the citizens of Kansas. The AG, Derek Schmidt, has clearly been outed as inexperienced--and lacking the basic judgment to REALIZE his limitations, and thus cheat the family and the citizens of Kansas from real justice.

He doesn't cut his own hair, change the oil in his car, or manage his own website.
AG Derek Schmidt, a simpleton Topeka attorney used to fixing tickets, should have known he needed an experienced attorney to prosecute these cases.

Shame. Shame. Shame.

I'd also add:
Carl Cornwell is a fine, fine defense attorney if you are ever charged with a major crime.

I don't know the other defense attorneys--forget their names. They too did a great job for their despicable clients, but it was Carl Cornwell who gets the win for Jeff Henry.

Who I hope gets a big sentence in Joco for his other pending charge.

Jeff Henry is the OJ Simpson of Schlitterbahn.  He got away with murder 2.
BTW, despicable is not a defamatory thing to say about Jeff Henry. The truth is its own defense.

I did have to laugh when Jeff Henry was caught drugging and whoring around as he was in Joco. Defense attorneys have a challenge trying to control their sociopathic and reckless clients.  He's self-destructive.  Again, just like OJ.

Do I think the state of Kansas will refile these cases? No. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.--who said that? TKC intellectuals, please weigh in.

AG Derek Schmidt could not possibly take enough remedial law seminars or crash courses in How to Prosecute a Murder 2 Case to refile. 
He might as well just let is SLIDE.
(Gallows humor intended.)
The next time there is a major murder case in Kansas, I hope a future AG will have the balls and the wisdom-- it takes both, (male or female) to refer the case out, to an experienced professional.

No More Taxes Shawnee on FB leads growing opposition to Shawnee Community Center. Alerts SOS Scott Schwab to Three Monkeys ballot wording deceptions that violate Consumer Protection Act.

The City of Shawnee is obsessed with keeping up with Lenexa. 

Have you seen that new ladidah Rec Center at 87th & Renner in Lenexa?  Let's raise our property taxes in Shawnee 52%, and build something two thirds as large, with half as many party rooms, as close as possible to Legends Outlet Mall!!!  Just don't tell the deets on the May 21 ballot!

 To the point of jamming in deceptive, incorrect, evasive and misleading ballot wording to approve a $54 million Shawnee Community Center on May 21.  But just saying it costs $38 million.

DO THE MATH 1:
$2.7 million a year
x 20                         for the FIRST 20 years, (remember, in never sunsets, but let's start there) is
=============
$54 million.

But the ballot says $38 million.

Did you ever buy a car, a house, a piece of particle board white trash furniture from Nebraska Furniture Mart? 

Big Louie works you over in round 1--for your monthly payment.  And then round 2, Horace says, "Don't forget the rust proofing!

There's INTEREST.  Which must be disclosed, or the seller has violated the 2018 AG Consumer Protection Act.  Now why in hell doesn't Tyler Ellsworth, the toddler lawyer and the Shawnee Council KNOW that and disclose it in the ballot??

Here are some of the violations that No More Taxes Shawnee on FB, led by tax cutting cougar, Tracy Thomas, spotted as she prowled through that Consumer Protection Act and the ridiculously vague seven line mail-in ballot as worded by Tyler Ellsworth, the "toddler lawyer" (3 1/2 years since he passed the bar), Shawnee's D list bond counsel, Kutak Rock.

Tracy shared them Friday with Scott Schwab's office, he's our new Secretary of State, since Kris Kobach left that office, lost for governor, and is now somewhere Building That Wall.

There is still plenty of time to amend the BALLOT WORDING, so it is not what I have just realized is a violation of the KS AG's Consumer Protection Act of 2018:

50-626, G2: oral and written representation of: 

1. Exaggeration 

2. Falsehood 

3. innuendo and 

4: Ambiguity as to a material fact.

G3: suppression or omission of a material fact. For example: Violations re 50-626: It's $54 million, not $38 million. Interest over 20 years must be stated.

 

It's unprecedented for a city to be so broke they must also FINANCE DAILY OPERATIONS, WAY BEYOND CONSTRUCTION COSTS! 17 FT Park employees, when only 12 were added to the police department this year.

50-626G8: a transaction that involves unrevealed obligations. 1. Will never be self-sustaining, even new, before it requires repairs and maintenance.  

2.No Sunset of the mill levy property tax (they could, but refuse to) 

3.No EARMARK of the mill levy property tax (they could but refuse to)-- which tells you that just like Merriam, they will repurpose, redesign or do something completely different, after we vote. It's a BLANK CHECK. Expected to also set the mill levy higher in July than their propaganda-- which is illegal electioneering. More violations of Ks. Consumer Protection Act of 2018, due to this deliberately vague ballot wording:

50-627b1: took advantage of inability of the consumer to understand the language of an agreement. (eg calling it $38 million when it's $54 million.) 

Where's the damn calculator when I need it, Mickey?

50-627b2: The price grossly exceeded the price at which similar property or services were readily obtainable. (eg Lenexa Rec. Center and new Joco pool, more conveniently located. Without paying $54 million, plus fees.)

I can't walk to the mailbox, on Nieman and 69th.  I have no use for this, can't use it or afford to build it for others.

50-627b3: Consumer unable to receive a material benefit. eg too far away, cannot use due to age, health, transportation. 

 

50-627b4: No reasonable probability of payment of the obligation IN FULL by the consumer. eg admittedly never self sustaining, even before it's not new.

50-627b5: The supplier (City) induced the consumer to enter into something excessively one-sided...in favor of supplier. (staff is so jealous of Lenexa, want their "own", even tho location is bad, too close to Wyco which has no rec centers, only 2 party rooms when Lenexa has 4, too much space allocated to sports, not enough community use.)

50627b6: The supplier (City) made a misleading statement of opinion--on which the consumer was likely to rely to the consumer's detriment. eg: won't commit to actual property tax mill levy increase. Because city is ignoring 2017 Ks. Tax Lid Bill, giving voters the sole power to raise mill levy. 

 

City intends to set mill levy at WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE, in July budget meeting. Guesstimates of $7.36 are not fact. They are teaser rates.

This is illegal, it's electioneering. Unprecedented. 

 

The city is desperate to compete with Lenexa. City trying to put speculative memo in the same envelope--or print on same page as evasive 7 line ballot wording.

Even trying to con the county Election Commissioner into signing it!! Non-binding, Metsker is a TV evangelist from the last century, not a lawyer, propaganda to hoodwink the voters.

All before the March county appraiser letters increase our property valuations dramatically. eg a house for $160k going to $200k, because small homes are in great demand. Keep reading: No More Taxes Shawnee on FB And when you read, anywhere, that the "cost is $38 million", challenge that online paper (ShawneeMissionPost.com, or TV 9 reporter or TV4 reporter, or council member or Julie Breithaupt, city social director, here on Nextdoor.

That is FALSE and MISLEADING. Might be the cost to a millionnaire buying a bond, but just like a car or a house that you finance, the actual total cost to the homeowner MUST legally state the interest. And the term of the loan. But this never sunsets. Total of $54 million plus future operating losses. Make your council members correct the ballot wording.  

 

For more information, see No More Taxes Shawnee on FB
as well as our sister blog, www.KcmoPost.com
 

The 9 wording amendments to Shawnee's community center May 21 tax hike ballot--to avoid what TKC dubbed the Shawnee Swindle

All We are Saying is Give FACTS a Chance!!!!

There's still time.  Call your council reps and the Mayor.  (numbers on city web site.)  AND forward this to all, as an email: governingbody@cityofshawnee.org.

Amend the May 21 mail-in ballot wording. Give the facts!

Say what it is, and what it is not.  That's the only way to be honest.  And let voters make a truly INFORMED decision.

This will eliminate the need for any "inserts" or never before allowed memo/speculations or illustrations/and non-binding verbiage-- by Election Commissioner Ronnie Metsker, or Mayor Michelle Distler, or anyone else.

1. That the property tax increase has no sunset. 

2. And cannot be repurposed in the future, once the GO bonds are paid off, for any new or different project. For Parks and Rec or any other department.

3. That $38 million does not contain the interest that will be paid to bond holders/investors since that will not be known until the bonds are sold.

4. That IF the mill levy is set, in July at 2.919 mills, to purchase a proposed 20 year bond, that current projections do not forecast this center ever being self sustaining.

5. The council maintains that it alone has the right to approve mill levy increases, not the public. As a currently allowable exception to the 2017 Ks. Tax Lid Bill.

6. If the council determines each year that it will require a higher mill levy than the guesstimate of 2.919 mills per year for building and maintaining operation of this one community center, at 61st and Woodland and nowhere else, Council reserves the right to raise that subsection of the mill levy, without another public vote...earmarked only to this specific project.

7. The Council maintains the option, however, of dipping into the General Fund as needed, possibly affecting funds for police and fire and other necessities.

8. This proposal calls for the City to hire and provide ongoing employee benefits to 17 new FT employees of Parks and Recreation.

9. There are no provisions herein for off duty security police officers or the payment thereof from this or any other known source.

=========================================================

It took two weeks of browbeating the staff and council to get them to at least say on the ballot: This will be funded by a property tax increase. 

Was that so hard???  But how much, and for how long?   

And truly, if it operates in the red, as predicted by their own "Owner's Rep Team", if they set the mill levy too low,  remember--$38 million DOES NOT COVER INTEREST!!!--it will also dip into the General Fund.  Can't you JUST tell the truth?  About this "want" that is not a "need"?

That wording concession was snuck in AFTER the meeting packet was put online. at Friday's deadline.  

Perhaps at their offsite weekend "planning" meeting of the council--off the record, with no minutes??  And no reporters??    

Once a tax is increased, unless you sunset it, it goes on forever.

LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE--AFTER YOU TELL THEM WHAT THIS REALLY ENTAILS.

Stay in touch:

Follow FB page:  No More Taxes Shawnee

And read www.KcmoPost, and www.TonysKansasCity.com

Shawnee Council accused of FISCAL FOLLY for Taj Mahal community center, by bus. exec/humanitarian David Williams

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.)

 

Public opposition is suddenly speaking up, angry and motivated to stop a hearing and ballot order, 7pm  Mon. Feb. 11 at Shawnee City Hall, Johnson Drive and Nieman.  The Shawnee Community Center (a proposed $38 million to $52 million Taj Mahal rival to eternal rival Lenexa's more convenient new rec center) is in serious trouble.

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.org

From: David Williams <dndwilliams1@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Feb 10, 2019 at 8:14 AM
Subject: Proposed Community Center
To: governingbody@cityofshawnee.org <governingbody@cityofshawnee.org>

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

David Williams is currently in Puerto Rico rebuilding homes for hurricane victims.

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.org

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.org

Here are other concerns:
(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

See related stories on www.KcmoPost.com

Jeff Henry. Druggie. In bankruptcy court. Now out on bail for Murder2 charges in death of Caleb Schwab. Read his brag to governor about the wobbly slide.

Jeff Henry the designer of Verruckt, had drug problems...as reported by Dail Mail in the UK!

Jeff Henry, in front, with his brother Gary and his Dad.
Photo supplied by Jeff Henry to Grantland.com.

and wait till the jury gets to read this from Grantland.com, the Wet Stuff interview:
Read the entire Wet Stuff interview here.

Thanks to Grantland.com, and author Bryan Curtis and photographer Kevin Cooley.  Great reporting!

Here's an excerpt where Henry displays his ability to make the former governor uncomfortable AND brag about how the slide feels unstable...

“Feel the shaking tower?” Jeff Henry, the designer, asked.

Sam Brownback, the governor, said, “I thought it felt like it was a little …”

“It wobbles,” Henry said.

The designer had a slightly wild look in his eyes. Without the slide, you might have thought Brownback was introducing an aggrieved rancher fighting the feds over grazing rights.

Travel Channel cameras were shadowing Henry for a documentary. “I’m not really a designer anymore,” he told Brownback. “I’m an actor.

Jeff Henry and Kansas governor Sam Brownback, 17 stories above the plains.

Great reporting by KSHB41: Schlitterbahn now $30 million in debt. Question: did Caleb Schwab's family get their $20 million Cash In Advance??

Great reporting! KSHBTV41 re Schlitterbahn bankruptcy

Check out that brown water at 1:00 into the video.  The audio then mentions a golf course, but the video is brown water, a bathing area clearly surrounded by white recliners.

Talk about a Shitty Bathing Experience.

Kudos to Channel 41--very seldom do TV stations report on bankruptcies.

Warning to families this Easter weekend:
I'd think twice about telling the kiddoes you're taking them to Schlitterbahn on opening day, May 25.

If your kid, grandkid  or you have an accident at the KCK Schlitterbahn this summer, just how much confidence should a prudent adult have that the park has any paid-up insurance to treat broken bones, twisted backs or bacterial infections???

Is there a release that you sign upon entering???   Responsible adults need to think ahead and do some homework before waltzing into a potentially life-altering situation.  Kids just wanna have fun.  And their brains are not fully developed to assess possible consequences.

warning to families!
Before you buy season passes to Schlitterbahn, (without Verruckt, the Tower of Death and Decapitation--as co-designed and mandated by the unindicted Wyandotte County UG Design Review Committee goons), stroll thru these pics and stories from unrelated Action Park NJ

There are a whole lot of white trash kids who are thrill seekers.  They actually glorify danger and getting injured at water parks.  Of course then our hospitals treat them, on the taxpayer's dime.  The bragging by these not-very-bright amped up kids in these Buzzfeed videos is disgusting and alarming.

And here's my question for the local news or STAR to investigate:
Was Caleb Schwab's family paid the $19.7 million out of court settlement by a reputable bonded insurance company?

Cash in advance?  How did it go down???  Respectfully and legit??  Or did manic scruffy nose-wiping-in-court Jeff Henry take the toothpick out of his filthy mouth and scratch his lice before setting down his beer before shaking Scott Schwab's hand and handing him a crumpled check?  Saying, "Sorry, dude.  I got this."

Nothing can make up for the loss of a child.  But if the Schwab family, including House Speaker pro tem Scott Schwab, candidate for Secretary of State,  is hoping to start a foundation to honor Caleb's life, will that funding actually be there?  Or just wash out like the fetid pond down in Corpus Christi, Texas?

Inquiring AG's want to know.

And note to Winter Prosapio, gum-snapping Communications Director/PR cowgirl--
considering all you know, feel free to turn whistleblower, for the sake of that dead child.  You know in your heart, this was an incident, not an accident.  Connect the dots.  Do you actually think you will retire from the Henry family organization with a FUNDED PENSION???  Get out while ya can, girl.  Try to salvage your reputation.  Don't be the Texas version of Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

There is a God. Jeff Henry, the loser inventor of Verruckt at Schlitterbahn, also arrested re Caleb Schwab's decapitation!

Schlitterbahn co-owner arrested in Texas in connection with 10-year-old's water slide death
http://via.fox4kc.com/S6lRy

Jeff Henry. I hope you rot in hell.
You dreamed up the water slide.
You named it "insane" in German.
But you were the insane one, to endanger the public.
You built it too fast.
You and your buddy didn't even know what you were doing.
You had no training, ignored advice from a local Structural Engineer.
You covered up all the problems.
You endangered many lives.
You are responsible for Caleb Schwab being decapitated.
I THINK AFTER THIS, the trial,
the state of Kansas should order Schlitterbahn to leave the state. 
Not just tear down the slide.
But bulldoze the entire water park you and your greedy family built.

Shawnee City Council hurls addl. $6 million (total of $31 million incentives) to John Petersen of Polsinelli--for the non-luxury apartments at 75 and Quivira. Woohoo--530 more customers for Walgreen's, Starbucks and 2 drive-ins!

With two lone holdouts, (Eric Jenkins and Mike Kemmling), the Shawnee City Council heard the angel voices and fell on their knees the week of Christmas, at the feet of John D. Petersen, the king of kings of real estate giveaways and incentives.

In fact, the council added $6 million in giveaways since the public hearing a month ago!!!--up from $25 million to $31 million!!!

Smug, handsome and very very rich: 
the head pimp of Polsinelli's
Real Estate Division...
John D. Petersen, with an E. 
for EXTRA Helpings of taxpayer subsidy.
Including the addl. $6 million bump since LAST month's
Shawnee Council's public hearing,
from $25 million to $31 million.When he cashes in, (flips Westbrooke Green to someone else,
even another subsidized apartment complex owner, think Section 8 with a fountain out front next to two drive-in restaurants)
since he customarily takes 10% of each real estate deal,
that's $3.1 million.  Not bad for a night's work
charming Mayor Michelle Distler and six of her elves.

Name that gummint giveway, and Polsinelli's Petersen delivered the bag of goodies
(This list is 3 years old, there have been dozens more since then.)

I told the Council last night, I am embarassed for them.
They've given away 22 years of free police and free fire and free street maintenance--to a man who will do whatever he likes, and if he changes his plans, they don't have the courage to do anything about it.

I cited a previous client, the Oz Project.  According to the late great Finn Bullers at the Star, it was Petersen who instructed his client to STOP PAYMENT ON A $400,000 EARNEST MONEY CHECK.  And the county did nothing about it.

The vote was deliberately scheduled to avoid neighbor attendance, for Dec. 18--the LAST MEETING as 3 of 8 councilmen are leaving the council, presumably fat with their campaign contributions. Westbrooke Green (530 ho-hum apartments at 75th and Quivira, $1100 a month compared to $800 Section 8 all around it) with a fountain, some Stairmasters and two drive-in restaurants)  to "drive more folks to shop at the existing Walgreens" (to quote defeated/departing/but too beholden and chicken to let the next council decide this, Councilman Brandon Koenig).

Mayor Michelle Distler--the Sly James of Shawnee
Not the sharpest tool in the drawer.
Married to a man who sharpens scissors for a living.

At the very last minute, Mayor Michelle Distler got all curious and giddy!  She asked her crack staff, "Does anyone even KNOW what it costs to have the city [and its taxpayers, presumably], respond to a police report, a break-in, a robbery, a fire?"

Crickets.

Then she reprimanded the audience for not bringing these objections or concerns up earlier!

I was gobsmacked, as was Ray Ehrlichman, the perpetual citizen who attends every meeting, and blogs as Shawnee Ray.

How can the mayor not be concerned about what she gavelled into existence--a 22 year giveaway of free services--for some apartments that are absolutely 100% NOT 'luxury' apartments???  (The real luxury ones are downtown OP for $1800.  Even the 80th & Metcalf new ones at $1500 a month describe themselves as vanilla, bare bones.)

This Shawnee Council sold out for cheap.
Of the six voting yes, most accepted campaign contributions from Petersen, his son, Curt and co-horts, of around $500 this year.  One or more took $1000.  However, the public will not know till after Jan. 10 when the reports are due at Jocoelection.org.  The election board then reports to Ks. Ethics Commission.

Used car dealer, departing but voting Councilman defeated in August,
"The Arrogant One", Jeff Vaught.
Not too smart.  $250 contribution offset by $240 fine for delayed report.

We do know that Jeff Vaught (aka The Arrogant One, per Shawnee Ray's blog) held up HIS required report from Aug. 2017 to Dec. 12, just to keep prying eyes from seeing that Curt Petersen, John's son, donated $250.  The delay resulted in a penalty of $240!!!

And if there were ANY last minute contributions, after the August primary which Vaught lost, then he will be subject to up to a $5000 fine.
Because--when you're late reporting, you can't take any last minute payoffs!

It's a pain in the ass to read campaign contribution reports here
Hint:  click on Media tab (don't ask why) then two more clicks, then takes forever to lookey loo at some eyeball graphic.

What does it cost to buy a City Councilman's vote?
And what can a real estate developer expect in return?
John D. Petersen might easily net $3.1 million, (his 10% of a deal where he didn't even invest one dollar.)
Plus of course his hourly rate, of at least $500 an hour.  That is, if he actually builds what he proposed last night, which I seriously doubt.  More on that in a future post, here or on my sister blog, www.kcmopost.com.

By comparison, when John Petersen raised the money to elect Annabeth Surbaugh as the first chairman of the BOCC (Johnson County Commission) he raised $40,000 for her war chest.

The KCMO Council charges a bit more for their votes.  Just ask Burns&Mac, AECOM, and Edgemoor.