TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! INSIDERS FEAR CONSEQUENCES AS EPIC $18 MILLION NEW KANSAS CITY NO BID ANIMAL SHELTER MOVES FORWARD!!!
Today there will be a lot of congratulatory speeches and maybe even a few doggies at City Hall as the new animal shelter moves forward after a year-long delay following a vote last year. However, behind the scenes there's concern over $18 million worth of professional services, design, and construction contracts that will be awarded without City Hall conducting open bidding.
Check the ordinance language and notice that the Kansas City Campus for Animal Care is running the show . . . It's a newly formed group that's basically comprised of the KC Pet Project and leaders from last year's big money campaign.
While the bidding for construction work has been completely left out of the ordinance deets despite the use of taxpayer funds . . . Here is throwaway line that City Hall is backing up with MILLIONS of bucks:
"The construction project will adhere to the City’s minority hiring, workforce development and One Percent for Art programs. Funding to relocate the Swope Park Disc Golf site to its new home in the park is also included."
That's a nice statement BUT because the KCCAC is in charge . . . THERE IS VERY LITTLE IN THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE THAT WILL HOLD THE NEW ANIMAL SHELTER TO THIS AGREEMENT!!!
More to the point . . .
MANAGEMENT FOR THE FACILITY WASN'T INVOLVED IN AN OPEN BID!!!
A dangerous precedent for future elections . . .
THE CUTE DOGGIE CAMPAIGN BASICALLY EARNED THE KCCAC $18-MILLION WITH ALMOST NO CHECKS OR BALANCES FROM CITY HALL!!!
And so . . .
EXPECTING THE NEW PET SHELTER TO CONDUCT FAIR AND OPEN BIDDING FOR CONSTRUCTION IS A STRETCH GIVEN VERY LITTLE ACCOUNTABILITY WRITTEN IN THE HANDSHAKE DEAL!!!
Here's the word . . .
"Nobody wants to talk about it but the City is basically entering into a huge risk today. Anybody who gets shot down for a contract on the animal shelter can make a really good case about best practices. The warning has been mentioned but nobody wants to hear it. Frankly, the people running this project might be great at building & running animal shelters but they don't know much about how construction and contracting work in Kansas City. Fact is, most people are just crossing their fingers and hoping for the best. So far it has worked. Very few people are upset that this is a no bid project. With $18-million going out the door, that's really kind of impressive they've made it this far without answering some very basic concerns."
More to the point . . . Cute doggies might be the perfect distraction for Kansas City as an $18-million no bid deal won't merit much opposition from City Council who can only offer token resistance regarding MBE/WBE questions but know that they're no match for far more lovable pets.
Developing . . .
A year to put this deal together and they've still managed to screw it up? Sounds like KC all over again.
ReplyDeleteThere's actually a good precedent here. I'd really like to see more family pets in the upcoming campaigns rather than wives, husbands and students who don't really want to participate and get held up to ridicule.
DeleteI think the kind of pet a politician has says more about them than some forced smile from their relatives.
So what did exactly did we get for all of that G.O. bond money? If you live in Waldo there hasn't been any noticeable change. Just more home burglaries.
DeleteGreat idea Brookside Bob!
Delete^^ That is just absolutely incorrect. KC has spent hundreds of thousands so far on sidewalk repair and street repair across the city.
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to learn more, visit the City's website and look for GOKC.
As for the animal shelter, I think it deserves to be said that this is a public-private partnership. There are some checks an balances but there is simply no one better qualified to run the shelter than the Pet Project, their leadership has been the very best and we're soon to build one of the greatest animal shelters KC has ever seen.
Go4KC,
DeleteI agree with you about KCPP. I have done some volunteer work with them and they are a great group. And when we hear sickening stories of animal abuse or neglect, they’re always at the ready to step in and help the pet. I applaud the voters of KCMO for building this shelter; in this insane world we live in, we can benefit a lot from the unconditional love of animals.
The council is so corrupt. Isn’t this in Lee Barnes and Alyiisia Canadys district? They’ve apparently learned well from their colleagues Quinton Lucas and Jermaine Reed two of the slickest best to pander politicians out there. Wait, does this $18 million include MBE Workforce Goals? -NO!!! Why not?!!!!
ReplyDeleteCORRUPTION !!!
What!! No MBE & WBE WORK FORCE???
Delete30% of $18,000,000 is $5,400,00. That is allot of money not being handed to anyone with a MBE WBE certificate.
Why are the oh so disadvantaged blacks not screaming about this? Where is the Jason Parson mafia when you need him?
Adopted (bought) a cat from KC Pet Project several years ago. Indoor, declawed kitty. Recently died of cancer. I did not know KCPP is part of city govt, and would ding me for annual tags for indoor cat. Did not pay and continue to recieve notices. I'm again rescuing another cat, but from Gladstone or some shelter other than KCPP. One would think the city would appreciate not having to feed and care for adopted animals, and that initial adoption costs should be sufficient instead of another tax from this never get enough of your money city.
ReplyDeleteThis city has more gov-assisted projects, construction projects, repair projects, than you can shake a stick at. How is it possible to keep close watch on all of them when it takes 2 years just to produce a report on the worth of the ones that already happened? I am really worried about the city's financial future.
ReplyDeleteAnd when the city’s finances go belly up. The master of bull shit City Manager will be long gone. Off to another 6- figure job where he will be putting his spend to decline idealogy into play while blind self-congratulating politicians sit back and watch.
DeleteJermaine Reed? -LMAO
ReplyDeleteTypical KCMO business as usual. Expect nothing better from your government.
ReplyDeleteI want what Go4KC is drinking and to get rose colored glasses from where Go4KC gets their glasses.
As long as people had good intentions for voting in the Pet project is all that matters, throw accountability out the window for where all that money goes. People feel good about themselves is all that matters.
ReplyDeletePedro say...
ReplyDeleteWOOF! Woof, woof, woof, woof!
WOOF! Woof Meowww
(Pedro be bi-lingual)
I guess we should be happy they’re going to actually spend money on something they promised.
ReplyDeleteGo4kc you’re a liar, they haven’t done squat
So far the projects listed are fufu projects, when does the rest of the city get their fair share? Paseo bridge was some decorative concrete that fell off, nothing wrong with the bridge itself. Ollie probably demanded something be done and got his way. How bout fixing the damn streets in the rest of the city?
ReplyDeleteThe city forks over $18mm while 29,000 homes have had their water shut off because they can't pay their bills. This is what no bid contracts get you. Burns & McDonnell got a no bid contract to run the water department and it's become a slush fund for the mayor and city manager.
ReplyDeleteSeveral Vets have said the KC Pet Project t is the worst run shelter you can imagine.
If we can build a $18 million shelter for homeless animals, why can't we do the same for people?
ReplyDeletePerfectly good building lots are available right next to the existing Frisbee golf course.
ReplyDeleteSo sad. This is a very well used and beautiful course. I personally don't play but the fact that they will level all of those 80 year old trees makes me cry.
I'd like to know the rational for the location. Its seems they cant manage a project before it even gets started.
Bitch all you want . You voted for the go bonds and the e tax
ReplyDeleteI don't like pets. I don't like people. I don't like KC. I don't like Sly. I don't like anything. I think I know better than everyone else. I like to partake in mob mentality. Even though I don't have anything to say or add anything of consequence, I'm going to say it anyway. I don't really care about this in the least. I only act like I do because I'm lonely and I need to interact with other people. If I only had a family, friends, an education, some hobbies, hell-anything at all, I wouldn't be here!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI agree with 12:10. You voted for it K.C. so suck it up!
And Waldo is getting partial sidewalks, but it's in a ghetto area where no one pays much in taxes and the sidewalks are rarely if ever used, while the people who pay most in taxes are getting the shaft! Just take a drive behind Sutherlands.
Hey, quick question. Has anything you people ever complained about changed? Anything? Ever? No? Well one might wonder then why you continue to do so?
ReplyDeleteDid you forget this is fun!
ReplyDelete1:35 unlike you who doesn’t know how! Lmao!
ReplyDeleteWhen did the 7 million dollar dog pound get to 18 million?
ReplyDeleteGo4kc, By the way, your ada sidewalk ramps look real good under the 435 bridge on Eastwood trafficway, especially considering there’s no sidewalks any where on Eastwood trafficway! How stupid is that! Lmao!!!
9:13AM -- Uhhh, you still have to pay the annual license fee no matter where you get your cat. Pretty much every city and suburb requires this. If you can't afford the tag fee then you really can't afford a cat.
ReplyDeleteNO MBWE work force goals on a city financed project? WTF is going on???
ReplyDelete9:13 Indoor cat. City doesn't know about. Are you nuts?
ReplyDelete