Alex Welch Blattner
@alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
I'm a YIMBY sharing my thoughts on local Shawnee, KS politics and live skeeting city council meetings. she/hers #BlackLivesMatter Reskeet =/= endorsement.
The meeting adjourns. Next time it will be with a new council!
November 25, 2025 at 12:37 AM
The meeting adjourns. Next time it will be with a new council!
Councilmembers Walters, Kemmling, and Gillette say their thanks and farewells. Gillette is listing his accomplishments including pipe replacement projects, two mill levy reductions, and rejecting "socialist tenement-style apartment projects to replace them with single-family housing."
November 25, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Councilmembers Walters, Kemmling, and Gillette say their thanks and farewells. Gillette is listing his accomplishments including pipe replacement projects, two mill levy reductions, and rejecting "socialist tenement-style apartment projects to replace them with single-family housing."
Councilmember Walters: re: Midland Dr, did we know ahead of time that it would be fully closed?
City Manager Kramer: for our project, one lane will be open at all times. But there is utility work going on that will have to close the full road (though it will not affect the on/off ramps from 435.)
City Manager Kramer: for our project, one lane will be open at all times. But there is utility work going on that will have to close the full road (though it will not affect the on/off ramps from 435.)
November 25, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Councilmember Walters: re: Midland Dr, did we know ahead of time that it would be fully closed?
City Manager Kramer: for our project, one lane will be open at all times. But there is utility work going on that will have to close the full road (though it will not affect the on/off ramps from 435.)
City Manager Kramer: for our project, one lane will be open at all times. But there is utility work going on that will have to close the full road (though it will not affect the on/off ramps from 435.)
Councilmember Stiens says her farewells and thanks the members of her ward.
November 25, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Councilmember Stiens says her farewells and thanks the members of her ward.
Semimonthly claims pass unanimously.
Councilmember Murphy recently graduated from the Citizen Police Academy and encourages other councilmembers to do the program.
Councilmember Murphy recently graduated from the Citizen Police Academy and encourages other councilmembers to do the program.
November 25, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Semimonthly claims pass unanimously.
Councilmember Murphy recently graduated from the Citizen Police Academy and encourages other councilmembers to do the program.
Councilmember Murphy recently graduated from the Citizen Police Academy and encourages other councilmembers to do the program.
George Schluter from the builders' association shares that they are in support of these changes.
All 7 ordinances with code updates pass unanimously.
All 7 ordinances with code updates pass unanimously.
November 25, 2025 at 12:25 AM
George Schluter from the builders' association shares that they are in support of these changes.
All 7 ordinances with code updates pass unanimously.
All 7 ordinances with code updates pass unanimously.
They are NOT recommending updates to the energy code at this time because it contains a lot of high-cost changes which are still being discussed along with other municipalities in the KC area.
November 25, 2025 at 12:16 AM
They are NOT recommending updates to the energy code at this time because it contains a lot of high-cost changes which are still being discussed along with other municipalities in the KC area.
Next up is routine updates to the fire code and building ordinances. These are revised on a national level each year so we are updating ours to reflect new technology and information.
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Next up is routine updates to the fire code and building ordinances. These are revised on a national level each year so we are updating ours to reflect new technology and information.
Next item is the 2026 Federal & State Legislative Priorities which they worked in committee last meeting. This is identical to last year's priorities and focuses on non-controversial topics such as local control. This item passed unanimously.
November 25, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Next item is the 2026 Federal & State Legislative Priorities which they worked in committee last meeting. This is identical to last year's priorities and focuses on non-controversial topics such as local control. This item passed unanimously.
Mayor now recognizing staff members who have reached milestone years of service.
November 25, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Mayor now recognizing staff members who have reached milestone years of service.
Matt McQueeny during Business from the Floor: very upset 435 and Midland is closing again as he owns a small business in that area. Says his business lost $480,000 during the last closure and that the city did not let the businesses know until this morning.
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Matt McQueeny during Business from the Floor: very upset 435 and Midland is closing again as he owns a small business in that area. Says his business lost $480,000 during the last closure and that the city did not let the businesses know until this morning.
Consent agenda passes unanimously.
November 25, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Consent agenda passes unanimously.
All members of the governing body are present. This is the last meeting for four of these councilmembers as the new city council is being sworn in at the next meeting.
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 AM
All members of the governing body are present. This is the last meeting for four of these councilmembers as the new city council is being sworn in at the next meeting.
Several members of the public are speaking about their support for the bike aspects of the park. The meeting adjourns.
November 11, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Several members of the public are speaking about their support for the bike aspects of the park. The meeting adjourns.
Daniel Estes is speaking from the public but I don't think his mic is on so I couldn't hear what he said :( the next person speaking from the public is Jonas, the executive director of Donderdag who gives some details about the young people they work with.
November 11, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Daniel Estes is speaking from the public but I don't think his mic is on so I couldn't hear what he said :( the next person speaking from the public is Jonas, the executive director of Donderdag who gives some details about the young people they work with.
Lecuru: we don't know, we have to select a master plan first. We do have money budgeted in 2026 for design.
Knappen: I can't really tell anything from this. Can we get a plan in more detail next time this comes before us?
Knappen: I can't really tell anything from this. Can we get a plan in more detail next time this comes before us?
November 11, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Lecuru: we don't know, we have to select a master plan first. We do have money budgeted in 2026 for design.
Knappen: I can't really tell anything from this. Can we get a plan in more detail next time this comes before us?
Knappen: I can't really tell anything from this. Can we get a plan in more detail next time this comes before us?
The firm is presenting two possible options for the park. Next steps include an archaeological survey, costing/finance conversations, and choosing/refining a master plan.
Councilmember Knappen: what is the timeline for starting on phase 1?
Councilmember Knappen: what is the timeline for starting on phase 1?
November 11, 2025 at 2:04 AM
The firm is presenting two possible options for the park. Next steps include an archaeological survey, costing/finance conversations, and choosing/refining a master plan.
Councilmember Knappen: what is the timeline for starting on phase 1?
Councilmember Knappen: what is the timeline for starting on phase 1?
Parks & Rec Director Tonya Lecuru with an update on Rail Creek Park. They have been contracting with a firm who has been engaging with the public to obtain feedback and create a master plan for the park.
1200 people responded to their online survey and 65% of them are active bike riders.
1200 people responded to their online survey and 65% of them are active bike riders.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Parks & Rec Director Tonya Lecuru with an update on Rail Creek Park. They have been contracting with a firm who has been engaging with the public to obtain feedback and create a master plan for the park.
1200 people responded to their online survey and 65% of them are active bike riders.
1200 people responded to their online survey and 65% of them are active bike riders.
Knappen: I know we were working on being able to be self-insured, what's the status on that?
Rocco: before this comes back before you on December 8 we are going to review our options and CBIZ will hopefully be able to get quotes from other carriers because this is not what we planned for.
Rocco: before this comes back before you on December 8 we are going to review our options and CBIZ will hopefully be able to get quotes from other carriers because this is not what we planned for.
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Knappen: I know we were working on being able to be self-insured, what's the status on that?
Rocco: before this comes back before you on December 8 we are going to review our options and CBIZ will hopefully be able to get quotes from other carriers because this is not what we planned for.
Rocco: before this comes back before you on December 8 we are going to review our options and CBIZ will hopefully be able to get quotes from other carriers because this is not what we planned for.
In short, premiums are estimated to go up about 21%.
Councilmember Knappen expresses astonishment at the increase.
CBIZ: it could actually be a lot worse.
Councilmember Knappen expresses astonishment at the increase.
CBIZ: it could actually be a lot worse.
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 AM
In short, premiums are estimated to go up about 21%.
Councilmember Knappen expresses astonishment at the increase.
CBIZ: it could actually be a lot worse.
Councilmember Knappen expresses astonishment at the increase.
CBIZ: it could actually be a lot worse.
Finance Director Sean Rocco now giving an update on the city's Property & Casualty Insurance renewal.
CBIZ went over some of the challenges faced including general market headwinds and the city's loss ratio which is suffering due to a catastrophic incident where a fire truck was totaled.
CBIZ went over some of the challenges faced including general market headwinds and the city's loss ratio which is suffering due to a catastrophic incident where a fire truck was totaled.
November 11, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Finance Director Sean Rocco now giving an update on the city's Property & Casualty Insurance renewal.
CBIZ went over some of the challenges faced including general market headwinds and the city's loss ratio which is suffering due to a catastrophic incident where a fire truck was totaled.
CBIZ went over some of the challenges faced including general market headwinds and the city's loss ratio which is suffering due to a catastrophic incident where a fire truck was totaled.