The Unified Government of Wyandotte County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on Thursday, making decisions on some key recurrent issues. The commission approved issuing bonds for sewer improvements, rezoning for a potential data center location, and updating the American Royal development agreement to account for bond market conditions.
Sewer bonds approved
The commission approved nearly $40 million in general obligation bonds for critical sewer infrastructure projects required under a federal consent decree. The bond authorization passed 8-2, with Commissioners Phil Lopez and Chuck Stites voting no.
The financing package includes $34.6 million for sanitary sewer projects and $4.9 million for stormwater improvements, with bonds to be repaid through sewer rates and storm sewer fees over 30 years.
The bond issuance is part of the Unified Government’s ongoing compliance with a federal consent decree to address sewer overflow issues in the eastern part of the county. The mandate originated in 2013 when the EPA began requiring communities with combined sewer systems to separate sanitary and stormwater infrastructure. The formal agreement with the Department of Justice was adopted in 2016-17 and runs through 2042.
County Administrator David Johnston emphasized the mandatory nature of the work. “We don’t want to fall behind like some other communities have done. That would put us with fines and other penalties,” Johnston said, noting that communities ignoring federal court orders face prohibitive fines paid by ratepayers.
The original consent decree was valued at approximately $1 billion, requiring roughly $40 million in annual investments, though the specific amount varies by year depending on project needs. The Unified Government has remained in full compliance through 2024, with annual investments funded through previously approved sewer rate increases.
Commissioner Christian Ramirez reminded colleagues of the non-negotiable nature of the requirement. “This is a must, not a maybe or let’s think about it again. It is a federal court order provided by the DOJ from the EPA,” Ramirez said, recalling that then-Chief Counsel Misty Brown warned in 2020 that commissioners would “be facing a federal judge” if they failed to comply.
The commission also authorized $10 million in taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds for the Ecovyst Catalyst Technologies project near 18th St. and Kansas Ave.
Data center rezoning approved
In what has become one of the most contentious issues facing the commission, the rezoning request for a proposed $12 billion data center development was approved by a 9-2 vote, specifically for the land north of Parallel Ave.
Lopez and Stites cast the dissenting votes. Before the vote, Commissioner Andrew Davis emphasized that the approval was solely for the zone change and that substantial work remains, including preliminary planning, additional land entitlements, development agreements, and contracts with the Board of Public Utilities.
“There’s no development agreement as well, nor are there any agreements with the Board of Public Utilities,” Davis clarified. “This is not the final decision. This is just the change of zone.”
The rezoning had been continued multiple times since the initial planning commission hearing in May 2025, appearing on commission agendas for the past five months before its approval yesterday.
The proposal by developer Red Wolf DCD Properties would transform approximately 540 acres of agricultural land on both the north and south sides of Parallel Parkway near 131st Street, about four miles north of Kansas Speedway, into a large data center campus. The project calls for six buildings totaling 1.8 million square feet that would require 600 megawatts of electricity, more than doubling the BPU’s current capacity.
American Royal development agreement amended
The commission approved a change to the American Royal development agreement by an 8-1 vote, with Lopez voting no and Stites abstaining. The amendment modifies the financing structure and construction timeline for the $375 million project near the Kansas Speedway.
The changes will restructure the bonds, reducing the first phase of the request to $93 million from $135 million, and the issue will become a “limited public offering” rather than private bond placement. The total Star Bond authorization stays at $155 million.
Construction will focus on the event buildings known as “the barns,” and the American Royal agreed restart construction on that area (currently 80 percent complete) and finish it with 18 months of the bond closing. The group received an extension on the time to complete the other parts of the project, such as the arenas and education center, from two years to three after the bond closing.
Public comment speaker James Bain urged commissioners to vote no, expressing concerns about the project running out of money and questioning the economic projections given construction delays. The commission, however, approved the amendment to keep the project moving forward.
Other planning and development actions
Beyond the data center approval, commissioners approved an extensive planning and zoning agenda, including:
Zoning changes: Six rezoning requests received unanimous approval, including conversion of agricultural land to single-family residential for a luxury home development near 125th St. and Leavenworth Rd.. , and rezoning for a McDonald’s location at 2320 Metropolitan Avenue from industrial to business district. Two properties received approval to rezone to agriculture for urban farming, including one on North 55th Street for keeping hens and goats.
Special use permits: The commission considered fourteen special use permits, approving thirteen and denying one. The denied permit was for a proposed liquor store near 11th St. and Quindaro Blvd., which failed 8-1 after community opposition.
Applicant Tamara McConnell, who operates Q13 Sports Bar and Grill in the area, sought to open a wine and spirits store emphasizing minority-produced products and local distillers. However, representatives from the Organization for Community Preservation Northeast testified in opposition.
“What we would like to see for businesses coming along the Quindaro corridor is opportunities for businesses: coffee shops, doughnut shops, things that are family friendly,” said Candie Leonard-Caldwell, president of OCP.
Garner supported the denial, emphasizing community priorities. “I have yet to hear one person say, ‘I want a halfway house and a liquor store and a check cashing place anywhere in the Northeast,'” Garner said. “What has been priority is a grocery store. What has been priority is investment in roads, streets, and sidewalks.”
Commissioner Gayle Townsend moved to deny the permit, which passed 8-1, with Commissioner Bill Burns casting the lone dissenting vote. Commissioner Tom Burroughs had initially moved to approve but the motion died for lack of a second.
Other approved special use permits included renewals for multiple short-term rentals throughout the county, a new liquor store on West 47th Ave. in Rosedale, and a permit for live music at Beverly’s on Strawberry Hill.
Central Middle School: The commission approved a preliminary plan review for a new Central Middle School building on 12th St. and Riverview Ave.
Land bank options
Operating briefly as the Land Bank Board of Trustees, commissioners approved option applications for 19 single-family homes and 3 multi-family units. The unanimous approval came following a recommendation from the Neighborhood and Community Development Standing Committee.
Budget increase proposed for incoming mayoral staff
The commission unanimously approved setting a public hearing for Jan. 8, 2026, to consider budget amendments for an additional $277 thousand requested by Mayor-elect Christal Watson to staff her office.
Johnston explained that Watson’s personnel approach differs from the outgoing mayor. While Garner relied more on retirees and volunteers, Watson has requested full-time professional staff for her administration.
“Mayor Watson has articulated wanting full-time professional folks that will be considered full-time employees,” the county administrator said. “That means we did not budget for that during the [2026] budget process.”
The proposed amendments include:
- Approximately $140 thousand in salaries for new city staff positions
- Additional retirement, health insurance, and other benefits
- Approximately $137 thousand for county personnel costs
- $50 thousand for a new mayoral vehicle
Garner strongly defended the request, noting Watson’s different staffing needs are “her right to make” and emphasized the importance of providing adequate resources.
“When you’re talking about a half a billion dollar budget, what the mayor-elect is asking for is not even a drop in the bottom of the bucket,” Garner said. “The Unified Government is obligated to make sure that the mayor elect has a functional, safe, quality vehicle.”
Burroughs noted that transitions between administrations commonly require budget adjustments. “It’s my experience that transitions do occur. There’s different setups that are utilized by incoming mayors.”
Townsend clarified that the vote was only to set the public hearing, not to approve the expenditures. The actual funding decision will be made after the public hearing.
Johnston emphasized that existing budget allocations will cover operations through the end of December, but the amendments are needed to fully fund the new mayor’s staffing model for the entire 2026 fiscal year.
Civil engagement resolution
At the request of Ramirez, the commission unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming their commitment to respectful civil engagement, adherence to rules of procedure, and preservation of professionalism in commission proceedings.
Union agreement ratified
The commission approved an agreement with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 3475, covering through the end of 2027.
Emotional farewell for outgoing leaders
The meeting concluded with tributes and farewell speeches for Garner, Townsend (District 1), Commissioner Mike Kane (District 5), and Burroughs (At-large District 2), all of whom are leaving office.
Johnston opened the tribute, thanking the departing officials for their service. “Deciding to serve the public as an elected official is not for the faint of heart because tough decisions have to be made,” Johnston said. “Whether it was for 20 years as an elected official or for four, you decided to step up, run for office to serve our citizens, and that deserves a big thank you.”
Staff presented a special video tribute honoring the outgoing leaders before Garner delivered his final remarks.
“The seeds of opportunity are there for the next mayor and the next commissioners,” Garner said. “I know the best is yet to come for Wyandotte County.”
Townsend thanked neighborhood groups in her district as well as appointees who served during her tenure. She also gave special recognition to Kansas City, Kansas native Janelle Monáe, calling her “a great proud representative” who has “done great things on a global scale and still recognizes Wyandotte County KCK as home.”
The meeting adjourned at approximately 1:00 a.m. with a vote of 8-0, as Mayor Garner wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.