THE I h?lu? .Hl?d I nu I :gll'lnir'?'lh'l" 5hr. raw-i ;h this issue the Possibilities" at Maple munity College in the Fall 1e of continuing education :minars. aboard underway to raise funds for a car If the efforts are to; tildren will be able to Story on page 2. . {hi assignment-t Iok ahead sibilities and problems for ored in a recently completed udy gives the city 'a baseto the airport in the coming page 10. - ANTIO CH Summer Crafts Show Presented by :3 Arts Crafts Association ay, August 5 through Sunday, August 7 A KOUT 's question: Will limiting spray paint cut down 69 NO inn for this week is: Do vou Showdown at Shoal Creek by Allan Mills Who will win ?The Battle of Shoal Creek?? It?s not a Civil War reenactment, but a ?civil war? being waged by the Liberty School District against the Kansas City Conunission regarding tax incentives for the development of the Shoal Creek Valley. A decision is expected at an Aug. 10 THE Commission meeting that could move the development forward or into a court battle. The heart of the development centers around Shoal Creek Parkway, a proposed $10 million four-lane boulevard, which Kansas City Councilman Chuck Weber says would rival Ward Parkway. A formula derived from a 30-page sum? mary of ?The Shoal Creek Parkway Tax Increment Financing Plan,? proposes the parkway be constructed with $3.2 million from sales tax revenue and $7 million in TIF funds. Those monies would be tax dollars divert- ed frtim schools. and what municipalities into infrastructure construction, In he repaid throughfincremental payments until the pro- ject reached ?build-out,? or completion. .As designed, Kansas City owns the Shoal Creek project, but the single family homes planned for three subdivisions fall within the boundaries of the Liberty Sch00] District. Through public hearings, the district has .._expressed concerns about diverted tax reve: nue creating financial shortfalls for educat- ing 1,700 students that Shoal Creek is expected to generate. See Showdown, 1B City okays Sign variai by Allan Mills A new sign for Liberty Auto-Sales, 56.6 N. Oak Trafficway, could provide greater visibility for the company?s service depart- ment, Richard Lavin, operations manager, told the City of' Gladstone at a council meet- ing last Monday. The dealership, whose primary focus is late-model used car sales, moved to North Oak in November, 1 The city granted Liberty?s compliant Those included the 2 repair of torn ?ags restricted to the buil. think I can live Newsom, mayor Do the voters want a change in govei by Dale Garrison If the decisions involved in formulating a new county government are political, they?re not half as political as deciding whether to pursue the task in the first place. Charter government But it?s not politics born of smoke-filled back rooms. As home-rule advocates have found in the past, it?s the public itself that ?I?m just not sure most people really think it?s a question,? noted Jay Lawson, Clay County Eastern Commissioner. ?They wer- en?t able to get enough signatures to place it on the ballot before. That tells me people may not be that concerned.? This is where the issue focuses today, and where most disagreement actually centers: Does Clay County even need a change of government? Those who favor the change point to Clay ty commission. The siderably over the with the variatior apparent control. has itself led to con: Critics of the pn way: the current 31 much on personalitj the different office When they stant- ?ghting and at . -. ?In-ta" 1 .. -. mu . .l?i On the river ie Northland riverfront is continuing hange with the new Harrah's riverboat ting complex in North Kansas City ring completion. Story in section. he candidates orthlanders will get a chance to meet didates and their representatives this urday at Antioch Center. The didates are running for local, state and ional office. Story on page 2. It's coming The drawings may only be in the :liminary stages and study remains to done, but progress is being made on 3 new_ Kansas City Northland immunity Center. Story on page 9. AT ANTIO CH Candidates Day Saturday, July 23, 10 am. to 4 pm. Center Mall Meet the candidates running for ISederal, state and local of?ce in Clay and Platte counties. SPEAKOUT Last week's question: Should the inited States invade Haiti? . antioch. ublication TIF, districts deadlocked on Shoal Creek by Allan Mills Like gunslingers glaring at each other in the middle of Main Street at high noon, the Kansas City TIF Commission and two Northland school districts are facing a show- down over the city?s plan to develop Shoal Creek Parkway. In general, the commission and Liberty and North Kansas City school districts have reached a stalemate regarding tax abate- ments for the Shoal Creek Redevelopment I Area. whose combined commercial and resi- dential value could generate $81 million fj- when completed. A letter entered into the public record at a TIF Commission meeting last Wednesday by David W. Frantae. attorney for the school districts, rejected the TIF Commission?s financial plan and raised doubts about its constitutionally. A precedent has been established, Frahtae's letter said. in Pettis County. Mo. where a circuit court declared a tax incre- ment ?nancing .plan comparable to the ?Shoal Creek Plan,? unconstitutional. J. Richard Smith, TIF Commission attor- ney. asked the commission to continue the hearing until Aug. 10, for him to assess the letter?s contents. In addition. 5min: questioned the propriety of the districts to participate in the hearings. yet threaten a legal challenge to its plan. See TIF, by Dale Garrison voters for the drawing of a Clay County in left A hurdle to bringing Charter government charter. In essence a new county constitu- That {0 Clay County was removed 13? week tion. such a document is usually called a issue. when Missouri Governor M31 Camahan home rule charter because it would place in for ch; signed Senate Bill 700. The bill eliminates the hands of local of?cials power now resid- govcrt what until now has been the biggest visible ing with state authorities. stand barrier in Clay County: the need to collect ?It?s commonly referred to as home rule the l8 TIF From the cover don't know the answer to that, but I n\inlt we need to explore it," Smith said. Finding the middle ground to effect a com- promise appears bleak, Tim Kristl, TIF Commission member, said after the meeting. ?At this point, I think it will be dif?cult to get an agreement," he said. Kristl referred to a July 7, memo produced Eygsaura Whitener, Economic Development '94 '94 01p, which summarized the negotiations. I 1 The districts want the plan to include con- tractual language that require the TIP #6134 Commission, should it ever amend the plan, to exclude projects as a source for reim- bursement against future expenses, she said. The TIP Commission, however, doesn?t intend to yield its legislative power. ?They?re. (school districts) making some conditions that are hard to accept,? Bob .: $18,979 WITH WAS $18,995 Now sions beyond the (tenure of the present comrnission)." Mayer hopes for a compromise but is braced for a power struggle. .?It could come to a vote showdown,? he said, ?and ve got the votes.? I - coalrtron meetrng The Northland Coalition will hold its quarterly meeting on Thursday, July 28 at Cascone?s Restaurant. The meeting will begin at 6 pm. with a social hour following. County commission candidates from Clay and Platte County have been invited to attend. The Northland Coalition is a non-partisan, . non-pro?t organization made up of local cit- izenry to examine, research and screen can? didates and issues that impact the Northland. The public is invited and membership will ?i be available at the meeting. Yearly dues are $25 per person, $35 per couple. There are four general meetings per year with special sessions called when needed. For more information call Tony I .--.. .. . . . . Togniscioli at 421-1280 or Jim Voss at 741- 7170. . g: RE-ESTABLISH voun CREDIT WITH. . Absentee A NEW CAR DEALERSHIPI it tutu MAIL on non av Voters who will be away from their p011~ 8 IF-Irrmlui ing place for the Aug. 2 primary election a [Ream-mu Daren-ram i may cast an absentee ballot at the Clay I County Election Board, 124, N. Main Street nuns-o Inc-u: 1 TAX LIE: in Liberty. The hours to cast an absentee bal- 33 ill-norma- ?i MEDICA lot are 8:30 am. to 5 pm, Monday through . I JUDGEN Frida . I in Baliots are also available throu A i? I I ll MORE THAN - I g_ Hg: 1 By I Hereby Authorize Mr. Heat i I CAN I To Check MV Credlt. antioch {e/yfauyuvuv IU flft?hb") mug ublication Districts, TIF near pact on Shoal Creek by Allan Mills Main Street is the venue where gun?ghters *esolve their differences. The Kansas City HF Commission and the North Kansas City ind Liberty school districts hope to settle theirs at Shoal Creek Parkway. The dimriets and the TIF Commission lave been at nn ?nancing the 310 mil- lion roadway, which might be the gateway to a million bonanza in Northland le pment. think there?s a spirit of cooperation," 30b Mayer, TIF Commission president, aid after a public hearing last Wednesday. The guns- weren't drawn at high noon.? That?s a step in the right direction for the :mbattled parties, who have squabbled about ieferred taxes on proposed residential devel- ipments and the size of the project. A series of informal discussions between he districts and commission,however, pro- luced the following amended plan: cap on *oad costs at $20 million or actual costs Inder'that amount. Cost of the parkway is stimated at $10.2 million, with $7 million irovided by deferred taxes and $3.2 million It bonds. If the parkway's cost exceeds $20 million, 'unding must be derived from other sources. During roadway construction, if there are my excess funds, commercial taxes would )8 used first and any excess residential taxes See TIF, 1B l?lking a clot -y Dale Garrison If many gun shop owners and other tire- rm enthusiasts in the Northland oppose gun )llU?Oi. statistics indicate that many others isatt-re?fq?a sucl of autt: som TIF From the cover would be released to school districts. It excludes amending the plan beyond the $20 million cap except to collect commercial taxes after reimbursing Liberty for deferred residential taxes. . Further, Liberty can request reimburse- ment for capital costs that arise for educating the 1,700-1,900 students the subdivisions are expected to generate. In addition, the parties expanded the pro- jCCt?s concept by extending the boundaries to include a commercial development owned by John Ferguson, a Liberty developer. Ferguson?s preperty combined with the four corners of Shoal Creek Parkway and 152 Highway, could funnel additional com- mercial tax dollars into the Liberty district, thus easing the impact of residential tax deferments. the amended plan said. The adopted plan calls for the TIF Commission to readvertjse the deveIOpment. ?It?s a legal requirement,? Tim Kristl, TIF Commission member, said Thursday. ?You have to readvertisc when there are affected boundary areas.? The addition of ,the Ferguson property is a concession to the school districts, .Kristl said. . ?To the extent Were using (commercial taxes), the less we have to rely on the (de- ferred taxes)," he said. Two other points, legal language suitable to the districts, developers and commission and limits and guidelines on further develop- ment await resolution, Randy Hylton, Liberty School Board, said Thursday. The district, he said, doesn?t want to dic- tate decisions of future TIF commissions, but he fears they might be indifferent to edu- cational issues. ?1 think this TIF Commission is sensitive to those issues," Hylton said. The amended plan and unresolved issues are earmarked for discussion at a TIF Commission meeting in October. In. indignant: - MID CLAY EDITION: Gladstone and Kansas City North . -. . . . .. . .TAX LIEHS II - MEDICAL - WHATEVER vnun PF MORE THAN LIKELY I CAN HELPI HOME 0! 0 1 FillSALE ENDS AUG. 20, 1994 'All prices 1ON . J. . -