In a potentially historic move, the Unified Government’s Neighborhood and Community Development Committee unanimously approved transferring three parcels of land to the Wyandot Nation of Kansas at its meeting Monday evening, a decision commissioners described as an opportunity to “help make history.”
The land transfer, which passed 4-0, will provide the Wyandot Nation with properties at 32nd Terrace and Sewell Avenue, directly southwest of the Quindaro Ruins area.
“With a land base, we can go for federal recognition,” Principal Chief Judith Manthe told commissioners after waiting nearly four hours for her item to be heard. “This has been a very important achievement.”
A question of recognition and rights
The significance of federal recognition extends far beyond symbolic acknowledgment, according to testimony from supporters. Amanda Martin, a Wyandot County resident, explained that non-federally recognized tribes face systematic exclusion from cultural preservation efforts and legal protections.
“I have been told repeatedly, I am to only speak to federally recognized tribes,” Martin said, describing her experiences at conferences on Native American education and cultural sovereignty. “Under [the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act], if you do not have federal recognition, you have no say over your cultural patrimony. Somebody else can come in and take that from you.”
The historical context was provided by Linda Graff, former Chief of the Delaware Tribe of Kansas. Graff, who served as chief from 2016 until 2025 and now lives in Johnson County, testified in solidarity with the Wyandot Nation’s pursuit of recognition.
“The Wyandot were removed here into Kansas in 1843. However, the United States government had already doled out their land,” Graff told commissioners. “The Delaware tribe had been removed here in 1830. They found out about the Wyandot tribe’s plight, negotiated with them, and sold them 44 thousand acres off the eastern end of the Delaware Reservation, which is now Kansas City, Kansas.”
Commissioner Andrew Davis acknowledged the moment’s weight. “Very seldom do we get the opportunity to help make history,” said Davis, “and so it is truly an honor for us to be a part of that.”
Commissioner Christian Ramirez promised to work with Principal Chief Manthe on adding a land acknowledgment statement to commission meetings, asserting that “we are on borrowed land.”
County fund in “precarious” situation
Earlier in the evening, the Economic Development & Finance Committee received sobering but expected news about the county’s financial health in Chief Financial Officer Shelley Kneuvean’s third-quarter financial report.
The County General Fund’s balance stands at just 8 percent of expenditures, well below the 17 percent policy requirement. It’s projected to drop to 3 percent in fiscal year 2026.
“We are in a pretty precarious situation on the county general fund,” Kneuvean told commissioners, though she noted the report contained “nothing surprising, nothing terribly confusing.”
The City General Fund is in better shape at 21 percent fund balance, above the minimum requirement but below the 25 percent goal.
Personnel costs continue to exceed budget
Both city and county general funds are experiencing recurring personnel cost overruns. At the end of the third quarter, the fiscal year is three-fourths complete, so cumulative expenses are planned to be around 75 percent of the annual budget.
However, city and county payroll expenses have already spent 82 and 79 percent of the budgeted amounts. The situation of over-spending on personnel costs early in the year has persisted for several years.
To address the issue, the UG implemented a hiring freeze and will change its budgeting methodology for fiscal year 2026.
“We would love to see our salaries and benefits be in line with the budget, but we know that we have put a safety provision in for FY26 that will prevent that from overspending,” Kneuvean said.
The county is also facing a revenue challenge from the GM Fairfax plant closure, with the plant’s BPU PILOT payments estimated to be $200 thousand below projections. Sales tax collections are on track but showing signs of slowing, a potential early economic warning indicator.
$39.5 million bond issue for sewer projects
The committee advanced a resolution authorizing $39.5 million in 30-year general obligation bonds to fund critical sanitary sewer and stormwater projects. These projects are the latest phase of the KCK’s effort to comply with a federal consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency.
The bonds, to be repaid through sewer rates and stormwater fees rather than property taxes, support the 25-year, $900 million sewer investment program mandated by an agreement with the EPA and Department of Justice.
The consent decree requires KCK to dramatically reduce sewer overflows from its aging combined sewer and stormwater system. During heavy rainfall, the combined system can overflow, releasing untreated wastewater into local waterways.
“It’s important that we meet our responsibilities and commitment in the contractual agreement with the EPA, so that we don’t find ourselves in default and find ourselves being penalized,” Commissioner Tom Burroughs emphasized. “Those fines are quite substantial.”
Without the consent decree, the UG could have faced significant federal penalties while still being required to upgrade the system.
The current bond issue includes ten separate sanitary sewer improvements totaling $34.6 million and the Upper Splitlog stormwater project at $4.9 million. Kneuvean assured commissioners the debt service is “affordable” within the previously approved 4% rate increase for 2026, which continues the program’s goal of annual rate increases averaging 3.5%.
Commissioner Bill Burns, noting that many projects are in his District 2, asked about completion timelines for work that has started and stopped. Jeff Miles, director of Environmental Services, explained that some projects were paused to accommodate the new financing strategy, but several have already restarted.
12 TIF Districts, 1 CID to Close
The committee advanced an ordinance closing 12 Tax Increment Financing districts and one Community Improvement District.
Three TIF districts are closing ahead of schedule because they generated sufficient revenue to pay off their bonds early:
- Strawberry Hill TIF (2006) – A residential project with $254,156 in bonds that continues through 2031 but has collected enough to cover remaining debt service
- Prescott Plaza TIF (2005) – The Sunfresh grocery and retail development that issued $9.1 million in bonds, continuing through 2029 but fully funded
- Metropolitan Avenue TIF (2011) – The Walmart, Mercado Fresco, and Dollar General development that issued $5.2 million in bonds
Three residential TIF districts are closing after reaching their statutory 20-year terms without paying off the bonds that were issued:
- Peregrine Falcon TIF (2005, $731 thousand)
- St. Peter’s Waterway TIF (2004, $3.0 million)
- Mission Cliffs II TIF (2005, $2.7 million)
Five TIF districts created between 2007 and 2021 are closing because their projects never came to fruition:
- East Parallel TIF (2007) – Mixed-use development
- 57th & State TIF (2015) – Commercial project
- Bethany TIF (2007) – Residential development
- Turner Vista TIF (2018) – Residential development
- 6700 Kaw Drive TIF (2021) – Former grocery site
The Escalade Heights TIF is partially closing. However, no bonds have been issued for the project, and only the tax-exempt USD 500 athletic field remains in the area.
The Metropolitan Avenue CID, established in 2012 for a Dollar General development, is closing after reimbursing its costs through the 1 percent incremental sales tax.
The closures represent successful economic development, projects that failed to live up to projections, and unrealized projects where developers never broke ground despite getting the requested financing.
Other land bank actions
The Neighborhood Committee also heard a presentation on improved land bank mowing processes, with staff implementing a new tracking app and preparing to increase mowing frequency from monthly to bi-weekly.
“Christmas is coming early then,” Commissioner Gayle Townsend joyfully remarked upon hearing the news, which will cost an estimated $924 thousand annually compared to the current $462 thousand budget.
The mowing program has been streamlined after removing approximately 1,200 lots through sales, option agreements, and transfers. Staff demonstrated a new digital tracking system that provides real-time updates on which properties have been mowed and when.
The committee approved multiple land bank applications without opposition, including nine single-family home acquisitions and one multi-family property, along with numerous garden plots and yard extensions.
However, the committee grappled with some applications that received pushback, particularly those opposed by the Oak Grove Neighborhood Association (OGNA), which requested a pause on all applications within its boundaries while developing a Quality of Life Master Plan.
“While we understand the inconvenience and potential delay in progress for current and new residents, this pause will allow us to strategically plan and intentionally build an area that we can all be proud of moving forward,” according to OGNA’s opposition statement.
In one case involving a potential “double dipping” situation where an applicant may have received multiple yard extensions, commissioners held over the decision to clarify the property ownership history and compliance with policies.
Small business grants expanding
Tifani Portley, project coordinator with the economic development department, announced the Small Business Grant Program will double from $50 thousand to $100 thousand annually under new director Chelsee Chism.
The program, which began in 2015, has awarded over $112 thousand to 14 businesses since 2023, with grants of up to $10 thousand available for repairs, equipment, inventory, and marketing expenses. Businesses must have been in operation for at least one year, have fewer than 25 employees, and demonstrate at least a two-to-one match of their own investment.
However, Portley acknowledged awareness of the program needs improvement.
“I just don’t believe that a lot of people are aware that this program exists,” she said, adding that she plans to update the department’s website and educate businesses about other available resources even if they don’t qualify for UG grants.
Greg Kindle with the Wyandotte Economic Development Council praised the program but noted past challenges with knowing its budget status, meeting schedules, and decision-making processes. Portley said she looks forward to working with Kindle to streamline the process.
Tax Bills and Deadlines
Tax bills will be mailed Nov. 26 with first-half payments due Dec. 22 and second-half payments due May 11, 2026. Deputy Treasurer Michelle Wooten clarified the dates after commissioners received constituent questions, noting the deadlines fall on Mondays this year because the standard dates fall on weekends.