Kicking off a meeting with Sedgwick County commissioners and other officials, jail consultant Nancy Insco said she was glad they would have a chance to hear directly from her and her business partner, Allen Beck.
She noted that a lot had been written about Justice Concepts Inc. the past few months.
She said Justice Concepts has remained “relatively silent” in the meantime because of the “serious nature” of its work.
The Eagle has reported that Justice Concepts’ contract expired June 4. It has not delivered any written recommendations to the county during its 10-month contract. Part of its agreement with the county was to reduce the jail’s population by 25 percent.
The county has not paid Justice Concepts all of its original consulting fee yet.
Some officials, including Sheriff Robert Hinshaw, have been critical of Justice Concepts’ work. Commissioner Gwen Welshimer has been Insco’s biggest supporter, saying that she has succeeded in bringing stakeholders in the criminal justice system together.
This morning, Justice Concepts is asking for an 18-month extension of its contract and for an additional $228,000.
Parks
During a heated meeting about the future of the Kansas Coliseum, Kelly Parks mentioned that someone who had signed a petition in favor of Heritage Development Group’s plan had a warrant out for his arrest.
Commissioners received a petition signed by 400 people in support of Heritage’s plan to turn the Coliseum into the Saddle Rock Rodeo Resort.
Parks, who supported North American Management-Kansas’ plan to build a mix of retail and entertainment at the site, noted that some names on the petition were from out-of-town people.
He also said that as a former police chief, he noticed that one person who signed the petition had a warrant out for his arrest. He didn’t name names.
But he suggested that Sedgwick County Sheriff Robert Hinshaw look at the petition.
Sedgwick County commissioners have voted 3-2 not to enter into negotiations with North American Management-Kansas to develop the Kansas Coliseum, which was the recommendation of a committee that reviewed all proposals.
Stay on Kansas.com for more information.
Commissioner Kelly Parks showed his frustration that other commissioners don’t want to enter into negotiations with North American Management-Kansas to develop the Kansas Coliseum.
“Be prepared to take your dog show downtown” Parks told those in the crowd who use the pavilions for dog and equestrian events.
“I’m going to tell you north end people, I tried,” he said, frustrated.
Parks said his district supports the North American proposal because it preserves Britt Brown Arena.
He and commissioner Gwen Welshimer are the only board members who appear to be supporting entering negotiations at this time. It appears likely the board will defer a decision.
Based on commissioner comments so far, it appears there is not enough support to go forward with a recommendation for Sedgwick County to enter into negotiations with North American Management-Kansas to develop the Kansas Coliseum.
Commissioners Tim Norton, Karl Peterjohn and Dave Unruh all have said they have too many questions at this time to feel comfortable moving forward.
Board members Kelly Parks and Gwen Welshimer have noted that at this point, the county only is recommending entering into negotiations with North American, which wants to build a mix of retail and entertainment at the complex.
Stay on Kansas.com for more updates.
A committee that reviewed proposals from developers for the Kansas Coliseum has recommended that Sedgwick County enter negotiations with North American Management-Kansas.
North American wants to build a mix of retail and entertainment at the complex.
The county has received three proposals: North American’s, one from Heritage Development Group and one from Hartman Arena.
Heritage wanted to build the “Saddle Rock Rodeo Resort” at the Coliseum. Hartman later withdrew its plans.
Sedgwick County commissioner Gwen Welshimer is questioning a caveat in the county’s agreement with the city for downtown parking near Intrust Bank Arena.
Under the plan, the county would pay the city up to $225,000 to cover any shortfall between gross revenue proceeds from the sale of and the city’s actual expenses associated with operating four parking lots for exclusive use during arena events.
Welshimer said the county has done enough to support downtown Wichita, including building the arena itself, which she said would bring more business downtown.
She was the only commissioner to vote against the agreement.
A move to suspend performance requirements for Sedgwick County employees to receive 2 percent raises next year has failed.
Commissioners Tim Norton, Karl Peterjohn and Dave Unruh voted against the suspension of performance qualifications. Board members Kelly Parks and Gwen Welshimer voted for the measure.
Earlier this year, the county froze salaries for employees making more than $75,000 and suspended the pool of money for performance-based pay raises, instead setting raises at 2 percent.
But a majority of commissioners thought employees still would have to meet performance standards to receive the 2 percent raises. At the end of 2008, 77 employees didn’t meet performance criteria. To pay those employees a 2 percent raise would have cost the county about $54,000, county manager William Buchanan estimated.
Read more about the raises in Thursday’s Eagle.
In July, while considering next year’s budget, Sedgwick County commissioners froze salaries for those making $75,000 — including themselves — and suspended performance-based merit raises to give employees a 2 percent raise.
The county’s current policy states that employees have to at least meet the minimum performance criteria to be eligible for performance-based pay increases. A rating of “does not meet expectations” would make an employee ineligible for a pay increase.
The county is considering suspending the performance criteria for the 2 percent raises for employees who make less than $75,000.
Commissioner Gwen Welshimer said she initially thought that employees still would have to meet criteria to qualify for 2 percent across-the-board raises. But she said commissioners Kelly Parks and Karl Peterjohn were not under that impression. All three commissioners asked for a resolution to remove the performance qualification, which the board will consider Wednesday.
County manager William Buchanan estimated that the move would cost the county $54,000. He said 77 employees out of 1,746 failed their performance evaluation at the end of 2008.
Former Wichita City Council member Sharon Fearey has filed for Kelly Parks’ seat on the Sedgwick County commission.
The Eagle earlier had reported that Fearey, a Democrat, was weighing a run for the District 4 seat.
“The time that I have spent meeting and visiting with people during this period has been very helpful,” Fearey said in a news release. “As I continued to hear from people in the district, my commitment to them and my desire to tackle the issues they are concerned about became even stronger.”
Fearey was twice elected to the city council.
Lucy Burtnett, a Republican whom Parks defeated in 2006, also has filed for Parks’ seat.
Parks, a Republican, has not yet announced if he is running again.
In other commission races, Democrat Betty Arnold has filed for Dave Unruh’s District 1 seat. Unruh, a Republican, has filed to retain his seat.
Derby Mayor Dion Avello, a Republican, has filed for Gwen Welshimer’s District 5 seat. Welshimer, a Democrat, has filed to retain her spot on the board.
City Council member Jim Skelton also has told The Eagle he is considering running for Welshimer’s seat.
Derby City Council member Chuck Warren also has said he plans to run for that district.