Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) Request

Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) Request
Date: April 7, 2025
To: City of Topeka, Office of the City Clerk
215 SE 7th Street, Room 166
Topeka, KS 66603
Email: cityclerk@topeka.org

Re: Request for Records Regarding Amanda Stanley's Support for SB 104

To Whom It May Concern,

Under the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-215 et seq.), I demand immediate access to public records that reveal who instructed Amanda Stanley, City Attorney, to support SB 104, a bill amending K.S.A. 19-2670 to make the citizens commission on local government optional instead of mandatory. On March 3, 2025, Stanley submitted written testimony to the House Committee on Local Government, advocating for this change on behalf of the City of Topeka. We've been pushing Shawnee County Commissioners—like Kevin Cook—for years (2013-2018, for instance) to implement this commission to address critical issues: mental health, infrastructure, taxes. They ignored us, and now Stanley's testimony backs a bill that lets them off the hook entirely. We want to know who's pulling the strings.

Specifically, I request:

1. All communications (emails, memos, letters, texts, or notes) between Amanda Stanley and any City of Topeka official, employee, or governing body member (including the Mayor and City Council) from January 1, 2025, to March 3, 2025, regarding SB 104 or amendments to K.S.A. 19-2670.
2. All communications between Amanda Stanley and any Shawnee County official, including Commissioners Kevin Cook, Aaron Mays, or Bill Riphahn, from January 1, 2025, to March 3, 2025, regarding SB 104 or K.S.A. 19-2670.
3. All communications between Amanda Stanley and Senator Brenda Dietrich, or her staff, from January 1, 2025, to March 3, 2025, regarding SB 104 or K.S.A. 19-2670.
4. Any internal City of Topeka documents, meeting minutes, or directives from January 1, 2025, to March 3, 2025, instructing or authorizing Stanley to submit testimony supporting SB 104.
5. Any records of meetings, calls, or discussions where Stanley's testimony or the City's position on SB 104 was discussed, including attendees and dates, from January 1, 2025, to March 3, 2025.

This isn't a fishing expedition—we're fed up. The City's support for SB 104 undermines years of citizen demands, and we deserve to know who's behind it. Was it the Mayor? The Council? The County Commissioners whispering in your ear? Or did Dietrich push you into this? KORA guarantees our right to these records, and we expect full compliance. Provide the records in electronic format (PDF) via email within the statutory three business days (K.S.A. 45-218(d)). If any records are withheld, cite the specific exemption and explain why. If there are fees, notify me in advance—I won't be nickel-and-dimed for what's rightfully public.

We're watching, and we're not backing down. Get us the truth—now.

Sincerely,

Henry McClure 

Time kills deals

785-383-9994

www.henrymcclure.live