Mayor Duncan:
All right. Now I think we’re… we do thank you for being here. It has been much appreciated.
I’m going to say two things as we wrap this portion up. First is just to the community. As we said, this will be the first of various conversations, not just with Compass, but with other stakeholders in the community. And I think everyone’s seen that we’ve taken steps to make sure we can continue to have those conversations.
I also want to remind folks that there are other things we’re looking at. As you saw, our planning commission is looking at certain zoning laws and just making sure those are cleaned up because moving forward, that’s a best practice. We are working just like the county is on putting together some sort of impact study. And that is moving forward and we’re working with our sustainability board to have input into that. So that has citizen input into that process. It’s not just us dictating how that’s going to go. They’ll also be part of the… several of our members will also be part of the process to select the company and be an integral part of that. So those are just steps we are taking as we continue to listen to the community.
I’m going to leave you with… I think you can take this as advice if you want.
You know, I was born just down the street. I’m probably… that direction. I’m probably going to be buried just down the street, that direction, in this community. I am a Topekan through and through. I tell folks this community is my friends and my family. And they don’t all love me, and that’s the nature of the beast. But not just as being one of them, but also as being their mayor, I will fight for them every single day, right? Whether I’m in this seat or not.
My mother also grew up in this community. So we are… we are here and we are not going anywhere. I know this community well. I know the people in this community well. I sit in rooms with them where they pat me on the back and I sit in rooms with them where they want to push me out a window. And I will tell you, sometimes those conversations where they want to push me out the window are the most productive and informative that I have. We don’t always end up agreeing on something, but we find some common ground that lets us continue to have those conversations moving forward in the future.
I can’t do this job if I don’t build some level of trust with the community. Trust does not mean agreement, but it at least means an understanding with the people in this city that when we have a conversation, they can believe what I say. They can trust I’m going to do what I’m going to do and that we are on the same page and I will continue to fight for them even in those moments of disagreement.
The community looks at that relationship as they do all relationships. If you want to come into this community and be a part of it, you have got to have those conversations with the people who live here. It’s critical and it’s imperative and it’s essential for anyone who wants to build a relationship with our citizens and have a future in this community. And so that is the bar that we have tended to set around here and I want to make you aware of that.
So I am glad that you did the informative session a couple weeks ago with citizens. I really hope that was not the one and only. I don’t know what the outcome of this will be, but I can promise you if you want to have any sort of path, it’s got to be with us, yes, but with the citizens who are going to be impacted by this. And so my advice to you is have more of those. Sit in the room with these folks, whether they want to pat you on the back or push you out of the window, and at least know that that’s going to be a path to all of us having better conversations on this issue as we move forward.
So that is why I am… part with you today. We are very thankful you are here and we hope to keep this conversation going. So, thank you very much.
(Compass responds briefly, someone jokes about there being no windows in the room, and then Duncan calls a short recess before Evergy comes up.)
Here’s a clear, plain-English breakdown of what Mayor Duncan is actually saying in that closing statement:
Core Message (stripped of the padding)
Duncan is doing three things at once:
- Signaling to the public that the city is taking the data-center issue seriously and is not just rubber-stamping anything.
- Putting Compass on notice that if they want any path forward in Topeka/Shawnee County, they must do a lot more direct engagement with ordinary residents — not just city officials.
- Personal branding / credibility move: He is emphasizing that he is a lifelong Topekan who will “fight for” residents, even when they disagree with him.
Line-by-line substance
“This will be the first of various conversations…” He’s telling the public: Don’t treat tonight as the final word. More meetings and discussions are coming.
Zoning cleanup + impact study + Sustainability Board involvement These are process signals. He’s listing concrete steps the city is taking so it looks like they’re doing due diligence rather than rushing.
The long personal section (“I was born just down the street… buried just down the street… Topekan through and through… friends and family… pat me on the back or push me out a window…”) This is the part that feels like word salad to many people. What it’s trying to do:
- Establish authenticity and local roots.
- Claim he listens even to hostile feedback.
- Position himself as someone who will defend residents’ interests.
Whether it lands as sincere or as political theater depends on the listener. Structurally, it’s a classic “I’m one of you” appeal.
“I can’t do this job if I don’t build some level of trust…” He’s saying trust ≠ agreement. He wants people to believe he is acting in good faith even when they disagree with the outcome.
The direct advice to Compass This is the sharpest part of the speech: “If you want any sort of path… it’s got to be with the citizens who are going to be impacted… Sit in the room with these folks, whether they want to pat you on the back or push you out of the window.”
Translation: One open house is not enough. You need ongoing, direct, public engagement with residents if you want political and community permission to proceed.
Overall Assessment
The speech is longer and more rhetorical than it needs to be. A lot of the language is circular and emotional rather than concrete.
When you cut through the personal storytelling and repetition, the actual policy content is relatively modest:
- More conversations are coming.
- The city is doing process work (zoning, impact study, citizen input).
- Compass needs to talk to regular people a lot more if it wants any chance of success here.
- Duncan is presenting himself as a local who will advocate for residents.
That’s the substance. The rest is style, positioning, and political signaling.
Footnote - He left the meeting with Mike Morse