Thursday night will be a packed one for the Unified Government Board of Commissioners.
Update: The special commission meeting is now scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m.
The action starts with a special meeting at 6 p.m. The special meeting will begin with a closed session to discuss personnel matters, then the meeting will re-open to hear a presentation on the UG’s budget for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hollywood Casino Grants
In the regular session, starting at 7 p.m., there will be a handful of commemorations and honors, and the recipients of the Hollywood Casino grants will be recognized.
Proceeds from the Hollywood Casino fund grants given each year to community organizations based on requests and at the recommendation of each commissioner.
This year, $474 thousand dollars will be distributed, $43 thousand from each commissioner. The awards are going to 71 groups, ranging from $28 thousand for Hillcrest Transitional Housing to $500 for Girls on the Run of Greater Kansas City. 51 of this year’s recipients also received awards in 2024.
Zoning and Planning
The commission will also consider zoning and master plan changes for the Sauer Castle and Red Wolf data center projects.
The planning commission previously considered renovation of the Sauer Castle and its use as an event venue and overnight rental at its June 9 meeting and unanimously recommended approval. The UG commission will now vote whether to confirm the changes.
The commissioners will also vote on issuing up to $11.5 million in industrial revenue bonds in connection with the Sauer Castle project, with the effect of providing a sales tax exemption for the project.
The commission will also vote on approving Sauer Castle as a Neighborhood Revitalization Act project, which would make it eligible for a tax rebate of 75% of the incremental tax revenue it generates.
The planning commission heard the proposal for a data center — to be located west of Kansas Speedway — in a May 28 special meeting, and it now comes before the UG board for approval.
The proposal generated some opposition at the previous meeting, where eight residents spoke against it, and the planning commission vote was 4-2 in favor. Five members were not present at the meeting. UG staff recommended several measures to address concerns about the nature of the project and its fit with the surrounding area.
The commissioners will also consider two other development projects: the Homefield Atlas9 immersive art museum, and the Buc-ee’s travel center.
For the Homefield Atlas9 project, $30 million in industrial revenue bonds and a property tax abatement are on the table. For Buc-ee’s, the commission is setting a Aug. 7 public hearing for potential tax increment financing and a community improvement district.