Mixed reviews of 2006 session at City Hall

The Legislature’s investment in affordable airfares at Mid-Continent Airport was a big win for Wichita. But beyond that, City Manager George Kolb (in photo) sounded decidedly unhappy last week about legislative action on two other key issues. And no wonder. Legislators were in such a rush to curb eminent domain abuse — hardly an epidemic in Kansas — that they passed a faulty bill that could, among other problems, hamper Wichita’s efforts to clean up blighted areas; even legislators expect to have to do a repair job on the bill next year. Lawmakers also repealed the property tax on business machinery and equipment — great for businesses, not so great for the cities and counties that get a total $632 million in revenue from the tax. Of the $269 million in state aid that locals statewide will get to offset the cuts in the first few years, Kolb said, “A spit in the ocean. Please.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman

10 Comments

  1. You'll be sooory!
    Posted May 14, 2006 at 12:39 am | Permalink

    Eminent Domain was hardly an epidemic in Kansas?

    Kansas was the second most abusive state in the entire United States, and one of only two states in the ENTIRE UNITED STATES that offers their citizens absolutely no constitutional protection what so ever from having their property stolen for the fun and profit of another. Guess what. Not a damn thing has changed other than the fact that now, the breaucrats in Topeka are going to get thier cut of the bribe money for approving this sort of shit.

    You’re right, maybe it isn’t an epidemic. It’s a freakin way of life for these parasites. These sorry bastards tagged my property 4 times in 30 years, and the coporate editorialist wants to tell everyone that it’s “hardly an epidemic”.Next maybe you can explain away and tell us how wonderful it is they are taking people’s property and giving it to these corporations, then allowing them to pay for it with the very taxes that they collect. (StarBonds Anyone?) You should see some of the parties they have thrown for themselves on that dime. Shit like this just makes me ill.

  2. sotheysaid
    Posted May 14, 2006 at 1:46 am | Permalink

    Kolb might want to get to know legislators and how the process works. The city of Wichita has no representation in Topeka. If he was so concerned with the machinery tax and eminent domain perhaps he should have been in contact with the area legislators. If it had not been for REAP and Sedgwick County there would not have been an airfares bill. So he has no room to complain about what he fells he did not get.

  3. KansasClassicLiberal
    Posted May 14, 2006 at 8:11 am | Permalink

    From a CoW news release:

    The City of Wichita has hired a new Government Relations Director. Scott Schneider will assume his duties January 3, 2005, serving as the City’s lobbyist and working with various governmental agencies on issues that affect the Wichita community.

  4. sotheysaid
    Posted May 14, 2006 at 9:51 am | Permalink

    KCL – he was only there for one year. The city hired some insider in January 2006 that was a social director for events but had no expierence for lobbying. She had no relationships with anyone in Topeka so she sat on the sidelines.

  5. KansasClassicLiberal
    Posted May 14, 2006 at 6:24 pm | Permalink

    Thank you. I didn’t know that. Who is this new person?

  6. mrcontroversy
    Posted May 14, 2006 at 9:57 pm | Permalink

    Well, folks, this is what happens when you let Joe Wright and Terry Fox pick a City Manager.

  7. raptor
    Posted May 15, 2006 at 8:14 am | Permalink

    I could be mistaken, but I believe the new person is Jeanne Goodvin?

  8. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted May 15, 2006 at 11:12 am | Permalink

    Heheh Mr. Controversy. Good to have seen you again!

  9. raptor
    Posted May 15, 2006 at 11:43 am | Permalink

    Opportunity knocks! For those people who have an answer for everything and praise for nothing, here is YOUR chance. The City is hiring..check it out:

    http://www.wichita.gov/mywichita/employment/jobdescr.aspx?ndx=548

    Government relations director. Sounds perfect for lots of people on this blog who are upset with the lack of City representation in Topeka.

  10. sotheysaid
    Posted May 15, 2006 at 1:43 pm | Permalink

    Raptor, you are correct. She got a raise to do the job even though she was not quailified to do it. Now that she has her raise she does not want to do it any more. Kobe just has no idea what he is doing.