Wichitopekington

A few folks at the courthouse have been poking fun at Sedgwick County commissioner Kelly Parks’ recent remarks that he had turned some “stuff” over to the FBI.

Sources at the courthouse say at least three elected officials have made homemade FBI “identification cards” and have been flashing them in hallways as a joke. Some also have made calls, disguising their voices, identifying themselves as FBI agents.

Parks, a former Valley Center police chief, was not amused when told by The Eagle about the antics.

“I think they’re messing around and doing that as a joke and don’t realize there are penalties for impersonating an officer,” he said. “It would behoove them to know that that part is not a joke.”

Commissioners last week were discussing a new ethics policy when Parks snapped: “I just turned some stuff over to the FBI.”

“You what?” commissioner Dave Unruh asked.

“I probably ruined the investigation,” Parks answered. “That’s fine. Thank you.”

“What are you talking about, Kelly?” Unruh responded.

“I don’t want to say any more,” Parks said.

Interviewed immediately after the meeting, Parks declined to discuss his comments. He said he was on his way to the FBI. He said the “stuff” wasn’t about something that had happened recently but pertained to “something I felt terribly uncomfortable with.”

Parks has remained mum about his comments. He said he met with an FBI agent after the meeting and was told not to say anything more.

Sedgwick County commissioners agreed today to relieve SMG, which manages Intrust Bank Arena, of its duties to also manage the Kansas Coliseum.

Officials say the arrangement hasn’t worked out well. SMG has focused primarily on the downtown arena.

The move comes as commissioners struggle with the Coliseum’s future. They listened to two proposals Tuesday from groups that want a chance to develop the complex off of I-135 near 85th Street North.

Commissioner Gwen Welshimer said she believes the county will lose millions of dollars if it doesn’t take advantage of opportunities to develop the aging complex.

Other commissioners have expressed concerns about proposals for the Coliseum that rely on private-public financing.

Heritage Development Group has pitched its plan to Sedgwick County to develop the Kansas Coliseum into the Saddle Rock Rodeo Resort.

Heritage wants to focus on western-themed and agricultural events at the complex.

There currently is no permanent facility for non-professional rodeos, Heritage president and CEO Greg Lippincott told commissioners.

“Sedgwick County will become recognized as becoming the ultimate facility,” Lippincott said. “Saddle Rock will become the permanent home for non-professional western and rodeo events.”

Heritage recently received an oral agreement from the National High School Rodeo Association to host the Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Finals in 2012 and 2013. No contract has been signed, but Lippincott said he believes other national events will follow. Read More »

Commissioner Dave Unruh just asked Doug Spangler of North American Management-Kansas if its plan to develop the Kansas Coliseum is tied to a possible casino off of I-135 south of 77th Street North.

Doug Spangler of North American acknowledged hopes to build a Wyandotte Nation Indian casino south of 77th Street North but said North American’s Coliseum proposal is a separate project.

“I’m going to go ahead and say the ‘C’ word: Casino,” Spangler told Unruh, emphatic that the Coliseum is a stand-alone development.

Construction crews are expected to turn over the keys to Intrust Bank Arena just after midnight Friday night, assistant Sedgwick County manager Ron Holt told commissioners this morning.

SMG, which has the contract to manage the arena, will then take over.

The arena is “substantially complete,” meaning that most construction is finished and that only minor details, called “punch list” items, need attention.