Setting aside Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Kelly Parks’ mysterious comment Tuesday about how he had “turned some stuff over to the FBI” — no one at the county seemed to know what he was talking about — Parks’ push for disclosing free meals and gifts received by commissioners has merit. Taxpayers deserve to know who is spending money hoping to influence policymakers. Commissioner Dave Unruh questioned the benefit of reporting every minor gift that commissioners receive, such as a coffee cup. But the commission could set a minimum dollar value of gifts and meals that should be disclosed.
Who knew seats on the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council were so coveted? In the end, Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Kelly Parks prevailed Wednesday in his wish to appoint Commissioners Karl Peterjohn and Gwen Welshimer to the council, replacing Commissioner Dave Unruh and Parks himself. But in opposing the passage of a resolution giving Parks the authority to do so with the commission’s consent, Unruh made a worthy point about how the change “politicizes the chair position more than we have ever experienced.” He noted how the county government had always treated the chairman as first among equal members of the commission, and he said that giving the chairman special powers to do things according to his pleasure “establishes the wrong policy.”
Experience teaches that many residents of Sedgwick County either don’t know or don’t care that the county bans fireworks in unincorporated areas and that a lawbreaker risks a $1,000 fine. (A similar situation exists in Wichita, where banned 6 feet-plus fireworks are everywhere every Fourth.) But is the proper official response to illegal behavior to make it legal? Lifting the ban and letting state law prevail — one option that county commissioners are considering — would ease the enforcement burden on county fire officials. But would it serve public safety? And given the risk of fire and injury, residents’ free exercise of an expanded right to shoot fireworks wouldn’t come free to taxpayers.
How frustrating to see Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Kelly Parks disparage this week’s Visioneering Wichita visit to Chattanooga, Tenn., as a “little junket” for Commissioners Tim Norton and Dave Unruh — as if the county had no role in the communitywide visioning effort and the commissioners and 60 other local businesspeople and community leaders were on a holiday instead of a fact-finding trip toward the betterment of Sedgwick County. Yes, Norton and Unruh went to Tennessee on the county’s dime, relying on $1,600 each from the commission’s travel fund, according to a county spokeswoman. But the County Commission endorsed Visioneering Wichita from the start, voting in early 2005 to be a Visioneering Partner with leadership to offer on technical training, the downtown arena, healthy lifestyles, solid waste, urban and regional development, emergency response, and elderly and aging. Parks repeatedly has questioned Visioneering-related county funding before and even worked against its goals (in the case of river access, for example). But Parks’ latest dig insults not only Norton and Unruh but all the thousands of people who’ve invested their time and ideas in the 5-year-old Visioneering process.
It’s good to have a Sedgwick County commissioner watchdogging the county jail. But Commissioner Gwen Welshimer’s refusal Wednesday to vote for any increase in funding to deal with jail overcrowding seemed petty and stubborn. As other commissioners pointed out, the county has a legal obligation to house and provide basic medical care to inmates. And as Sheriff Robert Hinshaw repeatedly has explained, the Sheriff’s Office has very limited ability to reduce the jail population. It must accept all inmates sent to the jail as a result of criminal cases.
The Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center, the Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Commission need to work together to make sure that police and the forensic center have the resources they need. At issue is a memo from the center last month outlining restrictions on DNA testing. Because of limited resources, the center wants to focus on violent crimes and not do testing on weapons or ammunition in cases alleging that felons possess guns. But police Deputy Chief Tom Stolz told The Eagle that DNA testing on weapons can help put gang members behind bars and prevent violence. Some prioritization on testing makes sense, given tight budgets, but the center and the commission need to make sure they aren’t taking away an important tool for keeping Wichita safe.
“Reagan used to tell me as the Republican leader, you know, ‘I want everything in this bill.’ Then he’d whisper to me, ‘Well, give me 70 or 80 percent and I’ll be happy.’” — Former Sen. Bob Dole (in photo), urging President Obama to take charge and present his own health reform bill
“He sticks his head out. I did a lot of that.” — Former U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett, endorsing Rep. Todd Tiahrt for U.S. Senate
“Lawyers don’t typically receive training on how to be nice to people.” — Kim Parker, Sedgwick County’s chief deputy district attorney, on prosecutors’ strong advocacy in child-welfare cases
“The Democrats have unfettered power in Washington. My opinion is not needed.” — Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, to a KU student who questioned Republicans’ willingness to compromise on health reform
“I’ll be the first to admit that this administration inherited a mess.” — Jenkins again, on Republicans’ spending when they were in charge
What to call that worrisome flu came up at last week’s Sedgwick County Commission meeting, with Chairman Kelly Parks noting the concern of hog producers about the negative impact of the use of the term “swine flu” on the pork industry. “There’s no correlation” between hogs and the virus, Parks stressed. “That’s why we’re calling it the H1N1 now.” According to the federal Web site www.flu.gov, H1N1 is not transmitted by food and “at this time, there is no evidence that swine in the United States are infected with this new virus.”
But a new poll sponsored by KWCH, Channel 12, suggests that message could use further reinforcement by elected officials and others. Of those Kansans surveyed last week, 67 percent said they refer to it as “swine flu” and 29 percent said they associate the virus with pigs.
Even if Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Kelly Parks and Commissioner Gwen Welshimer (in photo) said something to Wichita officials about the possibility of building a new work-release center or other jail facility in downtown Wichita — a big “if,” given that Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer and Vice Mayor Jim Skelton say it never happened — Parks and Welshimer clearly didn’t do a good job communicating. But what matters moving forward is that the county makes sure it involves city officials and downtown leaders in the planning, so that the location of the facility doesn’t undermine public and private efforts to redevelop downtown.
“If Gary Sherrer runs for governor, I’ll run for lieutenant governor.” — Kansas Board of Regents chairwoman Jill Docking, kidding (we think) during a visit with former Lt. Gov. Sherrer to The Eagle
“I think you better calm down this argument between the mayor and us.” — Sedgwick County Commissioner Gwen Welshimer, to The Eagle, on the city-county confusion over a July 29 meeting
“We need taxes to support their protests.” — Rep. Dale Swenson, D-Wichita, about how Friday’s anti-tax tea party was held at the county-owned and taxpayer-supported Sedgwick County Park
“I’m on socialized medicine. It’s called Medicare. I never have to wait, I choose my own doctors, and I get excellent care. Why should younger people be denied the same thing?” — Dodge City school board president Dan Reichenborn, to Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., at a town meeting last week
Maybe Sedgwick County’s faith in Justice Concepts Inc. will have been justified in the long run, by getting the jail population numbers under control. Maybe its work really will be “the most important thing to happen to Sedgwick County,” as County Commissioner Gwen Welshimer boldly predicted. And maybe commissioners’ additional assignments are to blame for extending the consultant’s work beyond the June 4 expiration of the contract. But the bottom line is that the consultant hasn’t reduced the jail population or even turned in recommendations and reports, yet the county is poised to give the firm $37,000 more on its $124,000 contract. Doing so may be necessary, but it will only further public doubts about local governments’ reliance on outside consultants.
The Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County’s pitch to the Sedgwick County Commission for $120,000 proved unsuccessful last week. But this long-sought, year-old collaborative center deserves help from elected officials at all levels, to ensure it has what it needs to help abused and endangered children and investigate their cases. Because the basement of the Finney State Office Building can no longer handle the center’s 34 employees and its work on behalf of 2,500 children a year, the community needs to be a partner in finding other space. As Diana Schunn, the center’s executive director, updates the commission monthly on the center’s progress toward finding another site, others in the community with ideas and resources should step up as they can and help this vital center do its work.
“Call me a liar, but people up north appreciate me.” — Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Kelly Parks (in photo, of the northern Wichita suburb of Valley Center), on the confusion over whether he and Vice Chairwoman Gwen Welshimer “requested” or just “talked about” an executive session to discuss the county manager’s firing
“I know there are a lot of patriotic Americans who are deeply concerned about this, but I am convinced that President Obama is a natural-born citizen of the United States; additionally, his mother and her parents were born in Kansas.” — Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.
“It’s the Republicans who are running the same old names, not us.” — Larry Gates, chairman of the Kansas Democratic Party, arguing that the party’s bench is young and strong, “with tremendous potential”
“I love going to Wichita because it’s where I grew up and I’m just always in a good mood when I’m there.” — Gov. Mark Parkinson, on his blog
“She looked like a million bucks and seems to being doing well.” — Parkinson again, on seeing his predecessor, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, at a recent meeting of governors in Mississippi
It’s a relief that, at least for now, the majority of Sedgwick County commissioners are smart enough not to fire County Manager William Buchanan. The commission was expected to go into executive session Wednesday but didn’t do so — apparently because there wasn’t enough support for the move by Commission Chairman Kelly Parks and Vice Chairwoman Gwen Welshimer to oust Buchanan. It would have been irresponsible to fire Buchanan, who has capably managed the county for nearly two decades and has strong support from business leaders, the public and county staff. Yet it’s troubling that Parks appears not to have completely abandoned his terrible idea, telling The Eagle that “I think it’s really not over but appears to be for now.”
Here’s hoping Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Kelly Parks and other commissioners learned a lesson about rushing to approve non-agenda items. The commission last week approved — without prior public notice and with little vetting — an agreement for Heritage Development Group to promote the Kansas Coliseum complex for livestock, rodeo and equine events. This week The Eagle reported that Heritage offered few details in its business plan and that president and CEO Greg Lippincott was recalled in 2007 as trustee of Ryan Township in Sumner County in a dispute about open meetings and records violations and alleged misuse of funds. When contacted by The Eagle, Lippincott said he was too busy to talk about his company’s plans and experience. We can hope the seven-month agreement will be successful for the county and Heritage. And if it isn’t, at least the county hasn’t agreed to pay Heritage anything. Still, it’s embarrassing that the county approved the agreement without knowing more about the company or its plans.
Sedgwick County Manager William Buchanan has proved his ability and professionalism over 18 years of outstanding service. He has earned the respect of the business community, labor leaders and his peers around the country. If Commission Chairman Kelly Parks and Vice Chairwoman Gwen Welshimer are unhappy with Buchanan’s proposed 2010 budget, including his recommendation to close the Kansas Coliseum and its pavilions as of February, they should work with him toward changes. They should not vote to fire him, which apparently is the subject of a County Commission executive session Wednesday.
A new SurveyUSA poll, sponsored by KWCH, Channel 12, comes down on Sedgwick County Manager William Buchanan’s side on how deeply to cut the property-tax mill levy in the next budget. He proposes a 0.5-mill cut; at least two county commissioners want a 1.5-mill rollback. But 69 percent of the 500 county residents polled last week said it would not be worth cutting taxes an average $18 a year if it meant cutting jobs and programs, which Buchanan says it would. But even a 0.5-mill cut would have consequences; Buchanan’s proposal to close the Kansas Coliseum and its pavilions is drawing public fire.
Maybe the Sedgwick County Commission’s hurried decision Wednesday — to work with Heritage Development Group toward booking equestrian events at the Kansas Coliseum — will turn out well. The touted economic benefits sounded exciting for the community. But this off-agenda action, like an earlier one pushed by Chairman Kelly Parks that excised part of the county from the Arkansas River Corridor Access Plan, should not have been made without prior notice to the public (and other commissioners) and a chance for full consideration and debate. “We usually do things with a lot of advance planning,” noted Commissioner Tim Norton, who also questioned the wisdom of dealing just with an organization that approached the county rather than seeking and considering other potential partners.
Considering that Sedgwick County voters approved a downtown arena nearly five years ago, nobody would say that the process has been speedy from start to finish. But it was surprising to learn last week that Dondlinger and Sons might have the Intrust Bank Arena finished by Nov. 1 rather than the contractual date of Jan. 22. How often do multimillion-dollar construction projects come in ahead of schedule? Anticipation was further stoked by recent announcements about the arena leasing club seats, booking the Class 6A and 5A wrestling tournaments for February, and bidding to host first- and second-round games in the 2011, 2012 or 2013 NCAA Tournament. Pretty soon, those who’ve long dreamed of a downtown arena will be able to take their seats in one.
As Wednesday’s meeting of the Sedgwick County Commission opened, Chairman Kelly Parks coached the assembled in how to say the Pledge of Allegiance. “A lot of times there’s kind of an echo at one part of it,” he said. “So if we can try to do that like I learned it this time — ‘one nation under God,’ without a pause in there — let’s just try that and see how that works this time. Thank you.” Parks seemed pleased by the result, but is there a right way to say the pledge? Internet searching reveals an effort by some VFW posts to discourage the pause before “under God,” and some sense that pausing reflects negatively on the 1954 act of Congress inserting those words into the pledge. What do bloggers think?
Suspect Scott Roeder sure has a lot to say for himself, as if allegedly shooting George Tiller to death weren’t enough of a statement. Roeder, once associated with an anti-government group that objected to obeying laws and paying taxes, has contacted Associated Press multiple times from the Sedgwick County Jail to warn of additional threats, fret about his family and complain about “deplorable conditions” in jail. As one Eagle reader said in an e-mail: “It’s a bit ironic that Roeder, who denied the state’s authority and its taxing power, has a sense of entitlement that demands services from government despite his unwillingness to contribute to the commonweal.” Still, Sedgwick County Sheriff Robert Hinshaw and other authorities obviously need to ensure that Roeder’s treatment is by the book.
Sedgwick County commissioners were wise to broaden their search for land for an industrial park. Commissioners had considered a proposal to purchase and improve land in Bel Aire but decided this week to request proposals for other property. The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition has argued persuasively that the Wichita area needs a large tract of land that is shovel-ready and has access to rail and highways. The Bel Aire land fits those requirements and would be a good choice, but it makes sense to consider other options.
Northern Sedgwick County isn’t the only place along the Arkansas River where some landowners oppose adding public access points on the river for canoeists and kayakers. The Reno County Commission heard Tuesday from citizens concerned about trespassing, littering and other trouble. According to the Hutchinson News, Mike Fahrbach of the Haven area e-mailed commissioners about his experience with trespassers, four-wheelers and litterers. “Beer cans, beer bottles, beer cartons, diapers, shotgun shells and boxes, general trash, an old refrigerator, car parts, buckets of things, fast-food sacks. We even had an abandoned recliner until someone decided it needed to be lit on fire,” wrote Fahrbach, who acknowledged that those who go fishing or canoeing “have never caused a single problem.”
The Sedgwick County commissioners still had too many questions Wednesday to feel comfortable going forward with a proposal to buy 808 acres in Bel Aire for an industrial park. There is a lot to consider, especially with the county budget so tight and other priorities so pressing. But the delay should not be the death of the plan, which was harshly criticized by several local developers and anti-tax activists at the meeting. If the commission does what the critics want, which is nothing, the county will remain uncompetitive in the high-stakes contest to land large businesses with large numbers of jobs. It was good to hear Commission Chairman Kelly Parks indicate that he sees the urgent need for such a shovel-ready industrial park.
An Eagle article last week showed again how misguided the Sedgwick County Commission was in backing off support for public access sites to the Arkansas River. At the urging of some landowners, the commission voted last month to halt all work on the project from 53rd Street North to the county line. But the commission didn’t properly consider the views of the public, which actually owns the river and wants to be able to utilize it. Nor did it apparently consider all the work that other local governments and groups have done on this 105-mile project, or the desire of the city of Maize to have an access site near it.
The decision was also based on the false fear that providing access points would increase trespassing on private land. As canoeist and WE blogger Ben Huie noted, “the more citizens we get on the river, the more eyes we will have watching the river.”
Commission Chairman Kelly Parks and Commissioner Karl Peterjohn seem ideologically opposed to the access project and unable to listen to reason. But the three other commission members should be willing to reconsider the issue and reverse course.
