When the city flew a crew of 13 (plus family members who mostly paid their own way) to Tampa, Fla. to compete as a finalist for the All-American City award, it spent about $37,000. That’s a high cost for an award when the city is facing a $13 million shortfall. Even City Manager Robert Layton said he can see why people would question it. He wasn’t surprised that The Eagle had gotten a package highlighting a city newsletter that was upbeat about the city’s trip and winning of the award along with a newspaper clip about the budget woes. But, it turns out, private donations reimbursed the city for most of its expenses. About $32,000 of it, anyway. Mayor Carl Brewer is fund-raising for the rest, and The Eagle will be looking for the follow through. (Here’s more on this Friday’s celebration.)
Meanwhile, here’s a look at who paid what for the 6-day trip.
AT&T $2,000
Camp Dresser & McKee $2,000
Carl Brewer $360
Cox Communications $1,000
Intrust Bank $1,000
Mayors Youth Council (Various Donors) $2,942
Mennonite Housing $1,002
MKEC Engineering Consultants $1,000
Professional Engineering Consultants $1,000
Schaefer Johnson Cox Frey & Associates $500
Slawson Companies $500
Spirit Aerosystems $1,000
The Coleman Company $500
Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce (Suzie Ahlstrand) $1,612
Wichita Top Children’s Fund $4,623
Total from 2009 $21,040
2008
7 Comments
Thanks for providing this information Brent. While truth may not stop the assertions that the City wasted money, this should help citizens to understand the value that many place on the award. The recognition directly helps us attract and keep companies and jobs.
“plus family members who mostly paid their own way”, what a crock…… I bet the Kellogg police speeding sting will funnel some money to help fund this ridiculous and lavish trip for some city wannabe’s and has beens…. what a joke, now the city has to spend thousands more on plaques and advertising trying to persuade people that this award is “real”. How many awards are out there like this? tree city, all-american city etc. Time for Brewer, and new city manager to take a hike, along with their butt- kissing staff.
Who paid for the trip to China?
What were the qualifications to be invited on that trip? I saw a picture of 24 people that traveled to Tampa. I have no way of knowing which 13 were City employees, but I did notice that 12 of the 24 were black, and 16 were female.
White males? There were two. Sounds like a very, very clear case of BOTH racial and gender discrimination.
GROWNUP….you failed to mention of spotting any hispanics. Appears you only have Black ‘n White vision, huh?
Sounds like a trickle down from our fearless leader, president obama. Someone “acted stupidly” when picking who was chosen to go on the trip. Oh, well, City manager can invite both sides to talk it over while sipping beers…. Our forefathers are rolling in their graves….
Define “most” of the expenses. We elected the Mayor to “be the head of the City Government” not as a fund raiser.
Maybe the Chamber says that award will “win friends and influence people”; however, companies will also look very closely as what a city handles their tax plan. A the present time Wichita doesn’t look that good.