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.

 

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The Pete Rose of Shawnee: Councilman Mickey Sandifer: Dumb or Devious? Secretly a tool of the Polsinelli law firm? At taxpayer expense?? The $75,000 question...

Mickey Sandifer is the Pete Rose of Shawnee zoning.  He cheated the taxpayers by throwing the game.  Now at first blush, you might think Mickey Sandifer, Shawnee Ward 4, is the dumbest City Councilman in Johnson County.

Shawnee Councilman Sandifer, who allegedly threw the fight to benefit Polsinelli's client, Vantage Apartments

  After all, he just dragged Shawnee into a lawsuit over the Vantage Apartments, by willfully and blatantly and voluntarily violating the 8 Golden Factors in their rezoning effort-- to build on land the developers own.

But is Sandifer dumb?  Or worse yet, devious?  Paid on the side to throw the fight?  Did he blatantly give his reason for voting no--in order to trigger the lawsuit by the metro's biggest development whore attorneys, Polsinelli?  Knowing that, immediately following the vote, when he did not have to say ANYTHING, instead he deliberately revealed the only illegal answer for his vote?  Knowing, and coached by the development attorneys that this would not only cause the city to be sued, but also allow the zoning to go through?

The neighbors are just realizing Mickey Sandifer screwed them.

Thus allowing Sandifer to POSE as a man who supported the neighbors, but really to get the entire divided council off the hook by forcing the COURT to reverse the zoning disapproval.

That's my bet.

There are only 8 legitimate reasons to say no to zoning.  They are called the Golden Factors. Established following the Kansas Supreme Court case Golden v. Overland Park in 1978.  And by law, there is one glaring reason that city councils can NOT use in making zoning and rezoning decisions.  Namely, that the neighbors don't want it.    

Because: neighbors never want the land next to them to be anything but exactly the way it is, vacant ground.  Or, more of what the neighbors have.  In this case, more single family homes.  But property owners have rights to use their land.  And there are 8 ways to justify it, via planning and staff reports.

Without the Golden Factors, there would be no development.  There would be no schools or nursing homes or fire stations or apartments or retail.

The brilliance of the Kansas Supreme Court's ruling was: it specifies eight legitimate reasons.  And it contains the Secret Bullet: if any council member is dumb enough to step on the buzzer, and utter the words, "I just did it because the neighbors told me to say no", then the zoning goes through.

AND if, like Mickey Sandifer, they happen to be so stupid or naive or arrogant or narcissistic {or option five: all of the above} as to say it, during the meeting, to the smiling Cheshire cat face of a Polsinelli attorney, then the project gets their zoning approved anyway, but there's also a fine.  In this case, $75,000 is cited in the lawsuit against the taxpayers of Shawnee.  (Note, Councilman Sandifer is paid a salary of around $8000 a year.  In my opinion, he should voluntarily cover the fine.)

Now, I am not a fan of Polsinelli's development law firm, especially John Peterson (he of Meadowbrook and the Tutera properties in Prairie Village).  And now he has his legacy, his son the puppet, young Curt Peterson, handling the EASY cases.  

How easy was it for Curt to get the zoning?  Well, pretty easy!!!  Maybe that explains why Curt Peterson REPORTEDLY WINKED AT SANDIFER!

Before the meeting, possibly in a private phone call, untraceable like an email would be:
All the lawyer had to do was potentially speak to Mr. Low Self Esteem, shoot-from-the- lip Mickey Sandifer, and whisper:  "You be the hero, Mickey.  Just vote no, but right afterward, talk into the mike and say these words:  "I voted no because the neighbors didn't want this zoning."

And of course, Mickey Sandifer played right into Polsinelli/Peterson strategy.  That's how they earn $500 an hour.  Playing weaklings like violins.    I haven't reviewed Sandifer's campaign contribution reports.  I can only imagine he will have as much money as he ever needs to run for re-election.

Here is Sandifer's poison pill money quote:
"I'm put on the council to vote in favor of the residents that I represent.  The residents in the area didn't want it, so I voted the way I voted because I felt that's how I could best represent the people."

And with that, the neighbors were screwed, but left with the false impression that Sandifer was "on their side".  No.  He wasn't.  He threw the fight and screwed you forever.

Elected office is not a plebiscite.  (Mickey would never know that big word.  He quit high school 38 or so  years ago, SM North, quit macrame class and jewelry making class six weeks before graduation.  Jesus.  Couldn't tie a few knots in order to graduate, and go to work for Daddy, driving Daddy's Explorer around the family trash business site,  the rest of his life.  He just got his GED only after I suggested he do it so he could "make a difference in this town".  After which he ran against me, by lying that I wanted to widen 75th St, which of course I did not. )

A Lesson in What it Means to be an Elected Official, 
You Take an Oath to Follow the Laws of Ks:
So elected office means you go to the meetings and read the reports and know the damn LAW.  That is your oath.  And along the way, you are coached, in executive sessions, by your city attorney, on exactly how to NOT break the law.  You are not a kneejerk do-what-a-dozen-neighbors-tell you, because they do not always know the law.  They just want what they want.

If America's cities were plebiscites, we could just install little voting apps on everyone's home computer or cellphone...and every Monday, homeowner could vote on every issue, even if they were uninformed.  Even if that vote would cost your fellow taxpayers $75,000 in fines.

Now Mickey Sandifer tried, once again, to be the Big Man.  (He tried it earlier, during the Deffenbaugh zoning when as a Planning Commissioner he went around in Daddy's truck and meddled as an unrequested 'negotiator' with those neighbors.)

This time, Sandifer just screwed all the taxpayers, including the neighbors he claimed to support, out of $75,000 AND the zoning.

And of all places.  Because that Golden case, in Overland Park, was triggered by a case before Shawnee's former City Attorney, the great and very wise Marvin Rainey.  (Father of Shawnee's current city attorney, Marvin's son, Ellis Rainey.)  Marvin used to be the mayor of OP.  AND JoCo's first Election Commissioner.  So when I was on the Council, trust me, we were coached all about the Golden Factors.

Shame on Mickey Sandifer.  Always a  know it all, always a wanna be.

I hope our local paper, the Shawnee Dispatch figures this out and reports on it.  Soon.  They should have spotted it when I did: the moment Sandifer VOLUNTEERED his illegal reason.  Instead, they waited until Curt Peterson filed the inevitable lawsuit last week.