City Primary Erection

[Jolly Rancher]

Originally Posted by Quietly

Sorry, I posted twice by mistake. Please ignore second posting.

Maybe it was worth repeating.

[lurker]

One idea that's been discussed is to build an addition onto the current Civic Center to house meeting rooms and an adequate kitchen. Probably the best idea and the most cost effective.

[TexKan]

And the parking that is always tight will be where????? I think if they are gonna add anything to the CC........ it ought to be seating for adult bodies instead of kitchens and such..... it's just gonna make that seating worse than it is already!!..... no room for wide loads and your legs go to sleep as it is in those "grade school" seats

[Made in the USA]

The City has all of that land West of the Civic Center, and where the pool is located. Civic Center remodel/addition would be my choice. As far as the seats, I liked the old-but comfortable gold seats. These new seats suck, as far as comfort, and they are tight for taller folks.

[Detector]

I'm not opposed to remodeling the Civic Center IF we can hope to accomplish the same results as a new SEC. What I am opposed to is not honoring the peoples vote in the first place. It was voted in and our money was collected so build the dam thing already. Why bother to even vote on such things knowing it means nothing.

I know many have changed their minds now because taxes have become a factor but does that give your choice more weight? NO! The original plan was stopped because of squabbles about location and now the votes have been overturned by people concerned about their own financial impact. It was this mindset that stop the project in the first place. No one has the right to sidestep the voters except in Dodge City.

In my opinion any attempt, at this point, to boost tourism in dodge is a waste of money, but that is only my opinion and should have no bearing on what HAS ALREADY been voted in. The fact that the SEC is still up for grabs years after being voted in only makes apparent the real problems of dodge. People only care about their own little stake in the city and not it's future.

Again this is simply my opinion but what we need are leaders with the kahunas to enforce the will of the people. Sure they all go into the job with that in mind, but it seems it all stops within the first year. They either conform and maintain status quo or they're gone. We need leaders willing to go above the local heads if necessary to accomplish our needs. We need leaders not afraid of the politically correct or local big money bullies.

We're all crying about our taxes but instead of addressing the real problem we choose to look for quick band-aid fixes that will only make matters worse in the long run.

I say its a privilege to live and operate in our city and that fact needs to be PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. We want tourism back, lets take it back. My god with the history we have at our disposal we should be beating back tourists but we've allowed the big businesses to wrap us around their little finger. Anyone ever take the time to figure how our personal taxes would be affected if certain businesses had no abatements? Taking money from our tourist fund for tax relief only strengthens the hold packinghouses have over us.

We need leaders with the guts to say you wanna do business here we're happy to have you but YOU WILL pay your dues like everyone else. You don't like it then GET THE HELL OUT'a DODGE. We have enough freeloaders.

Speaking of freeloaders. We need leaders, and local business, with enough kahunas to say sorry but this is America you're welcome here but we do have a few simple requirements. LEARN TO SPEAK FREAKIN ENGLISH ALREADY!!! I believe one of our worst problems for tourism is communication problems everywhere you go. You can't expect tourists to return to Dodge City Kansas, the cowboy capital of the world and home of world famous Boot Hill, when they can't even get a burger correct on Wyatt Earp without speaking Spanish.

Take down them stupid Spanish sign everywhere you go, put some English speaking employees at the counter to greet the tourists and either shit or get off the pot. You either want tourism or you want a boarder town you can't have both. Just like the big money businesses calling the shots now tell our newcomers we are dam proud of who we are and we don't need to change it. Either get with the program or GET THE HELL OUT'a DODGE.

I can't believe the gambling in dodge issue is even being debated. Gambling so fits our tourism need and our history. People complain about it causing gambling addicts that will need treatment when we promote a town full of newcomers sucking us dry in resources. We need a new jail just to keep up with crime thanks mostly to our newcomers running unchecked. I say build the new jail at Boot Hill and put these criminals on display. It would help tourism I'd bet.

The problem is we're all for boosting tourism until it affects us personally then its Oh thats not going to work for me. Dodge City is a tourist gold mine if only the commitment was there.

We need to either shit or get off the pot when it comes to tourism. Personally I think its too late but I never underestimate the power of the right leaders. It would take a hell of a lot of commitment from both leaders and citizens to turn this town around. Mr Lee has shown he's not afraid to stand up to the big money so for that I say kudos its a start. Mike B has also stood up against the odds to voice his opinion so I say kudos. The problems going to be getting past big business that always manages to keep enough controlling interests in city/county government to get what they want, and public gullibility that keeps them looking after their own interests and not the city as a whole.

[Lone Gunman]

Well put Detector. It's about time our elected officials started doing what they were elected to do.

[Made in the USA]

I say its a privilege to live and operate in our city and that fact needs to be PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. We want tourism back, lets take it back. My god with the history we have at our disposal we should be beating back tourists but we've allowed the big businesses to wrap us around their little finger. Anyone ever take the time to figure how our personal taxes would be affected if certain businesses had no abatements? Taking money from our tourist fund for tax relief only strengthens the hold packinghouses have over us.


Well said Detector!!

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by Detector

I can't believe the gambling in dodge issue is even being debated. Gambling so fits our tourism need and our history. People complain about it causing gambling addicts that will need treatment when we promote a town full of newcomers sucking us dry in resources. We need a new jail just to keep up with crime thanks mostly to our newcomers running unchecked. I say build the new jail at Boot Hill and put these criminals on display. It would help tourism I'd bet.

I agree wholeheartedly, I always thought that with our history and some gaming, we could make Dodge as big a draw as Branson, MO. Just need a few hotel/casinos with some shows.

Another thing I can't believe this community isn't going after is more diversified business. How about an Ethanol manufacturing plant? Talk about a perfect fit for this area! We have plenty of corn in this area, and with the push to not be so dependent on foreign oil, it just makes sense to go after something like this.

Or, how about a dairy processing plant, there are plenty of dairies in SW Kansas that are currently shipping the milk to who knows where for processing, how about building something local and keeping the dollars local while building the tax base at the same time.

[lurker]

Disclaimer: lurker is not a Lawyer and only offers the following as one doG's opinion.

I'm Pro Gaming in DC; but anti State-Owned-single-facility. Gambling against the State is a loser everytime. We would succeed with open gaming provided by several operators. Kinda like how those smart ones do it in Las Vegas, Cripple Creek, Black Hawk etc. Our weather's even better here than there. Land's cheaper, too.

What I don't understand is why our "Leaders" go to Topeka and wring their hands in front of worthless Legislators begging for permission to do something that WE can do without their permission AND without their interference.

The first thing to understand is that "Gaming" is legal in Kansas. The Legislature legalized gaming in Kansas; but their legislation stipulated that gaming was legal in specified locations.

"Home Rule" can be explained rather simplistically; If some law excludes cities, then those cities can exercise "home rule" and make 'it' legal there, too.

Read this carefully and insert "gaming" where liquor is printed.

Sales of Liquor on Sunday

In August of 2002, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, and the City of Edwardsville passed charter ordinances under their home rule authority to exempt their cities from the State prohibition against Sunday liquor sales. The specific issue was K.S.A. 41-712(1), wherein State law prohibits retail sales of liquor on Sundays. The State’s position was that cities do not have the authority to “opt out” of this statute. The local ordinances took effect in mid November, 2002.

On November 21, 2002, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office filed a petition in Wyandotte County District Court seeking to have the local ordinances declared void. In a separate case filed on the same day by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, the Wyandotte County District Court imposed a temporary restraining order requiring the State to suspend all efforts to enforce the Sunday sales prohibition in Kansas City, Kansas. The Unified Government voluntarily dismissed its case the following week and the restraining order was vacated, based on the State’s agreement not to administratively prosecute retailers in Kansas City or Edwardsville for violating the Sunday sales prohibition prior to the district court’s ruling or May 5, 2003, whichever came first.

The Wyandotte County District Court ruled on March 18, 2003, that the Kansas Liquor Control Act, K.S.A. 41-101 et seq., was nonuniform – meaning that certain laws within the act treated some cities differently than others – and therefore Kansas City, Kansas, and Edwardsville validly exercised their home rule authority in passing charter ordinances to exempt themselves from the Sunday sales prohibition. The court ruled that the fact K.S.A. 41-712(1), the specific statute that prohibits retail sale of liquor on Sundays, was uniform, and that it applied only to licensees – rather than regulating cities – was irrelevant. Nonetheless, the court stated that “the legislature still has the last word” and could prohibit cities from exercising home rule authority to opt out of provisions of the Liquor Control Act by making the Act uniformly applicable to all cities.

Given the implications of the recent Wyandotte County District Court ruling, the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and Department of Revenue were hopeful that the legislature would amend the Liquor Control Act to eliminate the court’s basis for finding it nonuniform. However, since the act was not amended during this year's session, cities may attempt to exercise their home rule authority to opt out of the prohibition on Sunday sales, sales on holidays and potentially other provisions of the act pending the final outcome of an appeal or future legislative action.

The Attorney General has appealed the Wyandotte County District Court ruling and has requested the appeal be transferred to the Kansas Supreme Court. The AG also encouraged the Kansas Legislature to address the laws regarding liquor sales so legislative intent would be clear and more consistent application of the law will be possible.

If the district court decision is reversed, any local charter ordinances exempting cities from any provision of the Liquor Control Act will be nullified. If the district court decision is upheld, the Division is hopeful the legislature will take appropriate action in future sessions to remedy this issue.

The final legislation considered this session, that failed to pass, included a county option for Sunday sales. Under this provision, the voters of each county would have the opportunity to determine whether retail liquor stores or cereal malt beverage retailers could be open on Sunday.

It is important to note, the Liquor Control Act is only one of several liquor enactments. Another one, the Club and Drinking Establishment Act, was ruled by the Kansas Supreme Court as being uniform, thereby prohibiting cities from exercising home rule authority and chartering out of this act. This act regulates the state licensed on-premise liquor licensees which include: clubs, drinking establishments and caterers. Another liquor law, the Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) Act, which establishes statewide controls over CMB, has been determined to be a uniform act and therefore is not subject to being opted out of by cities.

The ABC will be following local actions closely to see to what extent they may exercise their home rule authority. Pending any decision on the appeal of the Wyandotte County ruling, the topic will most likely be considered again during next year's session.

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Copyright © 2006, Kansas Department of Revenue

So, IF we elect Commissioners willing to put their huevos on the table and declare "Home Rule" to allow legal* Gaming in Dodge City (subject to rules to be defined by Dodge City ordinances), it will be so until the Supreme Court says it ain't.

*Don't try to believe folks aren't gambling here in DC.

[Detector]

Exactly Bubba. I have no doubts Dodge City could rival Branson with the right commitments and the leaders to lead them.

The idea about an Ethanol plant and a Dairy Plant are just a few possibilities we should be pursuing. Being shackled to the packing plants for so long has brought us to the point of no return. Where we go from here should be and is our choice, lets make the right one.

I have no problem with beef processing plants, although 1 is plenty, as long as they realize the privilege is theirs, not ours.

Home Rule sounds good too me lurker.