UG Board of Commissioners approve changes to casino grant process

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com
Kansas City Kansan Publisher

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Starting this year, the Unified Government Board of Commissioners will have the final say on where funding from the Unified Government-Hollywood Casino Grant Fund will go.

All commissioners, along with Unified Government Mayor/CEO Mark Holland, will also be allowed to allocate a share of the fund. This year, it would total $44,990 worth of funds.

Pit bulls remain banned in KCK after 4-4 vote

By NICK SLOAN
nick@kansascitykansan.com

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- The pit bull ban remains in effect in Kansas City, Kan., after a motion to lift the ban failed by a 4-4 vote.

Six votes were required to lift the ban.

Commissioners Ann Murguia, Angela Markley, Mike Kane and Jane Philbrook voted to over-turn the ban.

Commissioners Hal Walker, Jim Walters, Gayle Townsend and Tarence Maddox voted to keep the ban in place.

Had a fifth commissioner voted “aye,” the vote would have turned to Unified Government Mayor/CEO Mark Holland.

By 6-2 vote, UG commissioners approve 2015 budget

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- The Unified Government Board of Commissioners officially put the 2015 budget to bed Thursday evening, approving the budget by a 6-2 margin.

The budget will increase property taxes for residents in Bonner Springs and Edwardsville, as the county mill levy was raised by two mills. Residents in Kansas City, Kan., will be a bit luckier this year, as the city mill levy was lowered by two mills.

Combined with the increase of the county levy, the total levy for KCK residents remains flat for 2015.

Unified Government Mayor/CEO Mark Holland said the mill levy increase was appropriate. In his final comment about this year's budget, Holland again called for Wyandotte County's public safety departments to find a way to save dollars.

"We have to find a way to curb these expenses," Holland said, adding that not adequately funding public safety is the biggest threat to Wyandotte County.

Commissioners Jim Walters and Ann Murguia were the two commissioners who voted no on the budget.

Walters, who represents Bonner Springs and Edwardsville on the board, voted against the budget that increases the tax rate of his constituents.

In a comment about his vote, Walters said he understands the loss of $400,000 in state revenue put the UG in a tough place.

However, he said he believed raising taxes to help pay for a new $20 million emergency radio system was not the right thing to do. A previous group of county commissioners voted to approve of it.

"That's an awkward position for us to be in," Walters said. "I don't think the previous commission - if they really thought a tax increase was mandatory - would have passed or approved the purchase without making any accommodation for a new revenue stream. I think the staff had had a year and a half to find (the new revenue stream) to fund it.  I don't think we should increase taxes to do so."

For Murguia, it's the third time she's voted against a budget that featured a tax increase for residents in Wyandotte County.

Commissioners express support for having state handle ethics

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- At a special meeting Thursday night, the Unified Government Board of Commissioners discussed the county's ethics commission and county charter.

During the discussion on ethics, multiple commissioners proposed having the State of Kansas handle ethics to help ensure a non-partisan outcome.

"It's not just about reacting to an incident," said Commissioner Ann Murguia. "It's about an environment and it should be across the board. Utilizing the state's policy saves us time and money. Our Ethics Administrator can't do anything but issue a censure."

Commissioner Jim Walters said he believes Wyandotte County is the only county in the state that has its own local ethics administrator. He said the "smallness" of Wyandotte County puts those in the ethics department in a tough position.

"We should have higher standards than we do now," Walters said. "We put out ethics people in a very tough position to make judgement on people they know."

Unified Government Mayor/CEO Mark Holland disagrees with the idea, as does Commissioner Jane Philbrook.

"There's a lot of emotions about this," she said. "It's brought me to a point of sadness. We as a government are having trouble respecting ourselves."

Philbrook said there are things that can be changed about the ethics code, but also said the county should retain its own power.

"(Going to the state) is not something I want to do," she said. "The commission has to make decisions based on facts."

Since the issue was discussed at a special meeting, no vote was held on the matter.

However, it could appear on an agenda later on .

A new era begins in Wyandotte County as inauguration day is held

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

With a new Unified Government Mayor/CEO and four new commissioners on the Unified Government Board of Commissioners, a new era in Wyandotte County began Thursday evening.

Leading the newly shaped government in Wyandotte County was the inauguration of new Unified Government Mayor/CEO Mark Holland.

Holland, who served on the Unified Government Board of Commissioners for six years, replaces former UG Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon.

"I have big shoes to fill," Holland said, referring to Reardon and another former Mayor/CEO - Carol Marinovich.

Holland is the 28th mayor in Wyandotte County's history. A fourth generation Wyandotte Countian, he previously served as an-large commissioner after being pushed to enter politics six years ago.

Now as mayor, he believes the county has made program to address the remaining challenges Wyandotte County faces.