Looks like Cindy Circo's going to have find another way to spend half a million dollars.
Last month, the 5th District Kansas City, Missouri, councilwoman put in a request to draw down $500,000 from the city's Capital Improvement Fund. The money was to be used to create a park off 75th Street. But Circo apparently misunderstood the mood of the neighborhood, because a group of home owners flatly told her they did not want a city park on the spot that had been identified.
Most neighborhoods would be happy to learn they were getting a new park. But the Little Blue Valley, a sparsely populated area between Raytown and Lee's Summit, is not like most neighborhoods. It's ranch land, a place where the term "spread" is not used ironically.
Last week, Circo, City Manager Troy Schulte and parks officials met with home owners in the Little Blue Valley to talk about the 100-acre site off 75th Street. The city, as The Pitch reported on November 30, offered $1.1 million for the land, which is co-owned by Jim Kissick, the president of Kissick Construction.
The home owners let Circo know where they stood. None said they supported the idea of a park off 75th Street, according to Dan Porrevecchio, one of the leaders of the Little Blue Valley Homes Association. Instead, the residents said they wanted the city to continue to try to buy the Kansas City International Raceway, a drag strip off Noland Road that detracts from the bucolic setting. "No one wants a park on 75th Street," Porrevecchio says.
Circo's pursuit of the project in the face of neighborhood indifference/opposition raises questions about her motives. Kissick, a donor to her campaign, and his partners have not been able to develop the property after purchasing it in 2006. Circo says the land -- which is, by all accounts, really pretty -- would tie into a regional park system connecting Sugar Creek with Longview Lake.
Porrevecchio says that after Wednesday's meeting (which he didn't attend) there should be no misunderstanding about the community's priorities: Drag strip first, everything else second. "We hope the city got the message," he says.
Porrevecchio and another Little Blue Valley resident went to City Hall on the day after the community meeting to speak against the ordinance that would have allocated $500,000 for the 75th Street Park. By then, the request had been withdrawn.
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If you're looking for a way to keep KCIR?? Be there tomorrow morning, 11/5/2011 @ 8am for your protest against the city government. They want it shut down and it's somehow costing the taxpayers!!! BE THERE!!
And the truth comes out! Threaten condemnation of KCIR with the excuse of putting in a park when the reality is no one cares about a park, they just want the raceway gone for their own selfish motives. The track has been around in 1967, and you all just want to push through its fate as an emergency measure?! You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Mr. Davis, I applaud your effort and as an active resident of the 3rd District, plan to meet you during your campaign. With all due respect, Sir, you are strongly encouraged, as you strive for this august position, to ensure you are always correct... in your position on local policies and in your use and spelling of the English language. Look at your post: "...about the city our the residents". It is grammatically incorrect. No matter how sincere you are, if you cannot spell, people wonder if you can think. If they wonder if you can think, they wonder if you can govern. Have someone, like your English teacher, look over every thing you write or say in print. This will assist you in looking more 'viable'. Best of luck!
That's what usually hapens when someone's hand is found to be in the cookie jar when the lights are turned on unexpectedly.
Good work by David Martin and the Pitch.
6th District At Large, 5th District At Large, 3rd District At Large, and 3 District in District is going to be race's to watch. Good luck newbies.
Thanks Cindy why don't you buy, all the current city council morons gold toilets!!!
Will Cindy Circo, Malba curls, Mayor Funktown. you don't have to go home but you have to get the hell out of here.
This is why I am running for city council, I believe the current city council does not care about the city our the residents. It is time for some real change in city hall. Enough is Enough.
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