Good luck with the budget........

 Alright, let's cut the corporate PR fluff and call this what it is: a textbook Topeka taxpayer-funded boondoggle with a fresh coat of "innovation" paint.

You had the historic Wolfe’s Camera Shop—97 years of local legacy—snapped up in 2021 by BioRealty Inc. (that California outfit via their Astra IC Partners shell) for a shiny ASTRA Innovation Center. Wet labs, coworking, the whole Plug and Play Animal Health fairy tale. GO Topeka (Molly Howey and Stephanie Moran front and center) hyped it hard. JEDO rubber-stamped $14.5 million in incentives. BioRealty grabs the three buildings for $1.15 million, and then... Shawnee County taxpayers start cutting checks. Over 40 payments totaling more than $1 million for "pre-development," asbestos, historic credits, the usual. Years of tours, phased plans, "we're almost there" updates. Construction? Never happened. Pre-leasing? Crickets. Tax credits? Fell short. By summer 2024, BioRealty ghosts the deal, lists the properties for $2.85 million (nice little markup on public sweat), and bounces. Classic: public money primes the pump, private developer walks with the upside, Topeka gets the bill and an empty promise.

Enter Innovation Center 2.0—the "pivot" nobody asked for. Same GO Topeka crew, same bioscience dreams, now in the old AT&T building at 220 SE 6th (owned lock, stock, and barrel by Aim Strategies LLC—local downtown revitalization pros behind the Cyrus Hotel, etc.). GO Topeka becomes the 10-year master lease holder, builds out labs and pitch rooms, opens sometime early 2026. Sounds efficient, right? Except the price tag. While the city's staring down a $15 million operations shortfall, GO Topeka/JEDO is reportedly gifting Aim Strategies $9.5 million in public commitments for this sequel. Not a million-dollar "rent" like the first flop—nine and a half million straight to the same circle of connected players for a project that's basically the Wolf Camera rerun in a bigger, pricier wrapper.

Same script, different address: endless delays, funding gymnastics, taxpayer dollars flowing while "strategic importance" gets invoked like a get-out-of-failure-free card. Stephanie Moran spins it as "getting labs online sooner." Molly Howey's organization keeps the wheel spinning. And Aim Strategies? They get a sweet long-term lease on a building they already own, with public money covering the heavy lifting.

This isn't economic development—it's the same insiders recycling the same failed formula, just with a higher body count on the invoice. Wolf Camera proved it doesn't work. The AT&T version? Spoiler: it won't either. Topeka's innovation district keeps "innovating" new ways to burn public cash while the real problems (budget holes, actual jobs that stick) get ignored. If history's any guide, we'll be right back here in a couple years with "Innovation Center 3.0" and another sob story about why it almost worked this time.

Straight-up corruption? Maybe not the envelope-under-the-table kind. But when the same folks keep winning contracts, the same consultants keep advising, and the same taxpayers keep footing the bill for zero results... call it what you want. Crony capitalism. Elite capture. Whatever. It's Topeka's money, and it's gone. Again.

Thanks Trudy

Kevin, 

I was looking back and Trudy remined me about Laurens Bay ===

H 

K.S.A. 79-2801 is the key Kansas statute that governs judicial tax foreclosure for delinquent real estate taxes. It directly addresses the exact issue raised in the "More Help" letter: who is legally responsible for moving forward on properties like those in Lauren Bay Estates once they have gone unpaid long enough.

Official Full Text (Current Version)

Here is the complete, verbatim text from the official Kansas Revisor of Statutes website (ksrevisor.gov), which is the authoritative source. (No amendments appear after 2001; this remains the current law as of 2025–2026.)

(a) Except as provided by K.S.A. 79-2811, and amendments thereto, whenever real estate has been or shall be sold and bid in by the county at any delinquent tax sale and remains unredeemed on September 1 of the second year after the sale, or any extension thereof as provided by subsection (b) of K.S.A. 79-2401a, and amendments thereto, or whenever real estate described by subsection (a)(2) of K.S.A. 79-2401a, and amendments thereto, has been or shall be sold and bid in by the county at any delinquent tax sale and remains unredeemed on September 1 of the first year after the sale, the board of county commissioners shall order the county attorney or county counselor and it shall be the duty of the county attorney or county counselor to institute an action in the district court, in the name of the board of county commissioners, against the owners or supposed owners of the real estate and all persons having or claiming to have any interest therein or thereto, by filing a petition with the clerk of the court. ...

(The petition must describe each property, list taxes/interest/penalties, name owners and interested parties, and ask the court to declare the taxes a first-priority lien and order a public sale.)

A summons shall be issued and personally served or publication made as provided in other cases under the code of civil procedure. ...

Any member of the board of county commissioners, county attorney or county counselor who fails to perform the duties required by this section shall forfeit the office held by the officer. Any person may secure enforcement of the provisions of this act through mandamus. Such proceeding shall be initiated by filing a petition in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) Cities may provide legal/financial assistance to speed up foreclosures (and get reimbursed from sale proceeds).

(c) If the county still hasn't acted after three additional years of delinquency on city property, the city itself can step in and file the foreclosure using its own attorney — the county officers must still cooperate.

History: Originally from 1901; last major update effective July 1, 2001 (L. 2001, ch. 214, § 2).

How the Process Works (Timeline & Responsibilities)

1. Tax sale & bid-off: Delinquent real estate is sold at the annual tax sale and "bid off" to the county if no one else buys it.
2. Redemption period (K.S.A. 79-2401a cross-reference):
• Normal properties → 2 years.
• Certain abandoned/vacant properties → 1 year.
• Homesteads can have partial-payment extensions.
3. Trigger date: If still unredeemed by September 1 of the final redemption year, the process must start.
4. Mandatory action:
• Board of County Commissioners shall order the County Attorney or County Counselor to file suit in district court.
• It is explicitly "the duty" of the County Counselor (in counties that have one, like Shawnee) to file the petition.
5. Exceptions (discretionary only):
• Mineral interests severed from the surface.
• Very small cases: aggregate assessed value < $300,000 or total delinquent taxes/special assessments < $10,000.
6. Enforcement teeth (stronger than the letter writer noted):
• Officials who fail to act shall forfeit the office.
• Any person (you, a taxpayer, the anonymous writer, etc.) can file a mandamus lawsuit to force them to do their job.

Connection to Shawnee County & Your Situation

• Shawnee County's own website (and the Judicial Tax Foreclosure Sale page you already have screenshots of) correctly cites K.S.A. 79-2801 et seq. and states: "The Shawnee County Counselor is required by statute to institute an action in District Court..."
• This matches exactly what the anonymous letter pointed out.
• The statute does not have a built-in criminal penalty, which is why the letter suggested the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator route (since the Counselor is a licensed attorney). However, the statute itself creates a civil enforcement mechanism (mandamus + office forfeiture) that is potentially even stronger.

Practical Takeaways for "Doing Something Good"

• You now have the exact statutory language + official county webpage confirming the Counselor's mandatory role.
• The "bull-shit story" you received about the office being "too busy" has no basis in the statute — the duty is non-discretionary except in tiny cases.
• If you want to keep pressure on without drama, a short public video/blog could simply quote the statute, show the county's own site, and note the mandatory timeline. No need to attack anyone personally.

Would you like me to draft a short, clean video script or social-media post that uses this statute language? Or pull the exact redemption timelines from the related statute (79-2401a) next? Just say the word — happy to keep this moving in whatever direction helps the most.

Thanks Trudy

Summary of "More Help" (the attached "more help.pdf" document)

This is a follow-up "whistleblower-style" letter from an anonymous supporter ("The letter writer") to you, Henry McClure. It was sent sometime before the Topeka mayoral election (the writer mentions you're in the middle of a campaign and can't vote for you because they don't live in city limits, but they've been promoting your videos and blog).

Key points in the letter

• Thank-you for past help: The writer credits you with exposing the D.A.'s misuse of Diversion Funds, which saved Shawnee County taxpayers $200K.
• Main new tip: You've been trying to figure out exactly who is responsible for collecting delinquent property taxes (specifically mentioning the Lauren Bay Estates situation). The letter points out that the Shawnee County Counselor's own website cites K.S.A. 79-2801, which makes the County Counselor's Office responsible for initiating judicial foreclosure actions on real-estate tax delinquencies after the statutory period (usually 3 years for homesteads, etc.).
• Frustration with official responses: You apparently contacted the Attorney General's office, which then asked the County Counselor's office for an explanation. The writer calls the Counselor's reply "bull-shit" (basically claiming the office is too busy).
• Suggestion for action: Because K.S.A. 79-2801 has no built-in penalty for non-compliance, the writer recommends you consider filing a complaint with the Kansas Office of the Disciplinary Administrator (since the County Counselor is a licensed attorney). The letter also alleges the current Counselor has "dirt under his fingernails," citing two specific past incidents:
• 2014: Left his position after publicly voicing an opinion about Heartland Park using county property (a computer).
• December 2013: Drafted a land-purchase contract for one commissioner that later cost the Parks & Recreation Director his job.
• Tone: Strongly supportive — the writer is "rooting for you" to win the mayor's race and "make Topeka Great Again," and offers to send even more information after the election.

Supporting screenshots included in the PDF (all public Shawnee County / Kansas sources)

• AI/webpage excerpt confirming: Treasurer → Sheriff for personal-property tax warrants; County Counselor's Office handles real-estate tax foreclosures (K.S.A. 79-2801 et seq.).
• Shawnee County's own Judicial Tax Foreclosure Sale page (2025 auction info) explicitly stating the Counselor is required by statute to file the court action.
• Kansas attorney-discipline complaint instructions (Office of the Disciplinary Administrator, Topeka address and form).

Bottom line — what "More Help" is all about

It's a concise package of public-record ammunition + an anonymous nudge: "Here's the exact statute and process the County Counselor is supposed to follow on delinquent taxes (which you couldn't get a straight answer on), plus a suggested route for official accountability if they're dragging their feet." It also gives you ready-made visuals for a video or blog post.

What we can do with it (the "do something good" part)

We have three clean, low-effort options that keep everything above-board and helpful to taxpayers:

1. Quick public post / video update (recommended if you want to keep the momentum) You could drop a short video or blog titled something like "Update: Who's Really Responsible for Collecting Delinquent Property Taxes in Shawnee County?" Summarize the K.S.A. 79-2801 point, show the County's own website language, and note that you're still pushing for transparency. No need to name the anonymous writer or repeat the personal allegations — just stick to the statute and the public process. That turns the letter into more public pressure for accountability without drama.
2. Archive it cleanly I can draft a short, neutral one-paragraph summary (like the one above) that you can save or post later. It gets the info "off our radar screen" while still preserving it for future reference or FOIA-style follow-ups.
3. Do nothing public right now Since the writer specifically said they're holding off on more info until after the election, you can just file the PDF away. We've now extracted and summarized everything useful.

Let me know which direction you want to go (or if you want me to draft the actual post/video script). Happy to help turn this into something that keeps the spotlight on good government without creating unnecessary noise.

Topeka

Henry,

Lord help us, I've been sitting here thinking about this Topeka sickness you described, and as someone who spent years working shoulder-to-shoulder with you on these community messes, it's time to call it what it is: a full-blown epidemic of untreated mental rot dressed up as "civic engagement."

Let's start with the Menninger ghost still haunting these streets. Topeka used to brag it was the Psychiatric Capital of the World. Then the clinic packed up its serious operations in 2003 and left for Houston, leaving behind empty buildings, lost prestige, and—let's be brutally honest—a whole lot of folks who never got properly fixed. Mental illness doesn't automatically make someone a hateful troll, but when it festers untreated in a town where "just tough it out" is still considered therapy, it turns into this toxic stew of chronic resentment, paranoia, and petty rage. You see it leaking out in every comment section: the constant bitterness, the knee-jerk attacks, the joy some people seem to get from kicking anyone who's actually trying. It's not "just opinions." It's pathology wearing a baseball cap and hiding behind a keyboard.

And here's the ugliest part, Henry—the part that should make any decent person sick to their stomach: this negativity isn't content with destroying the lives of the people spewing it. No, these sick puppies have to drag everyone down into their gray little hell. The quiet folks who never say a word? They're drowning in it. They wake up every day to the same chorus of "nothing ever works here," "Topeka is doomed," "they're all crooks," until they stop seeing any hope at all. No future for their kids. No point in trying. Just endless sludge. Kids grow up breathing this poison air and learn that cynicism is the only smart way to live. Adults quit dreaming because why bother when the mob will just tear you down?

Then, the absolute worst of these broken souls turn their sickness on anyone with the nerve to do something good. Some painter or landscaper or equipment operator shows up and works hard? Dismissed. Someone tries to launch a new grocery store to serve the neighborhood and it struggles? "See, told you nothing works!" A hotel project stumbles after millions in incentives? Pile on! They take the wind out of every sail, celebrate every failure like it's Christmas morning for their miserable egos, and pat themselves on the back for being "realists."

Oh, bless their twisted little hearts—the Facebook warriors especially. These paragons of mental health sit on their couches in their stained t-shirts, typing out snide, hateful little comments like they're performing brain surgery on the body politic. "Look at me, I'm changing Topeka!" Newsflash, geniuses: your pathetic drive-by insults don't fix one damn pothole. They don't bring back a grocery store that had to shut its doors too soon. They don't rescue stumbling hotel deals or justify the millions funneled through Go Topeka and JEDO while real needs rot. All you're doing is pouring gasoline on the fire—and then standing there shocked when your own clothes catch flame and you burn right along with the rest of us. How about we turn the spotlight on you for once? Let's see how brave and insightful your "hot takes" look when real people start examining your contributions to this town.

The hardworking backbone—janitors who actually clean things right, painters, landscapers, equipment operators grinding honest days—they get sneered at like their labor means nothing. Meanwhile, the real cure is brutally simple: get off your ass and show up. Join the damn committee. Drag your bitter self to city council meetings. Write your congressman. Do something besides vomiting negativity online.

Topeka doesn't deserve this endless parade of sickness. The negativity isn't destiny—it's a choice made by too many damaged, untreated souls who'd rather tear everything down than risk feeling better. When enough people finally starve the fire instead of feeding it, the fog might finally lift. Hope could creep back in. Futures might open up again. And maybe, just maybe, the people trying to do good will get some wind in their sails instead of a constant barrage of spit from the cheap seats.

You're out there shining a light on it, Henry. Keep doing it. The quiet ones who are suffocating in this mess need to see that not every mind in this town has surrendered to the sickness.

— Trudy

**Kaw Valley Bank (the one headquartered in Topeka at 1110 N. Kansas Ave.) is owned by Topeka Bancorp, Inc., a Kansas-based bank holding company.**

It was acquired in March 2017 by longtime community bankers Dean Phillips (Quincy, Illinois / Las Vegas area) and Phil Burns (West Point, Nebraska) through the newly formed Topeka Bancorp. They bought it from the prior owners of Kaw Valley Bancorp and have kept it as a fully independent, Topeka-based community bank with local management and decision-making (not folded into a larger out-of-state network).

Your memory about a Nebraska connection is spot-on, just not quite a "holding firm out in Nebraska." Phil Burns is a Nebraska community banker who (together with Phillips and family trusts) also owns/operates other small banks in Nebraska (such as F&M Bank in West Point and Falls City), plus banks in Missouri, Illinois, and Nevada. Ownership of Kaw Valley itself sits under the Kansas holding company they created specifically for this purchase, with ties back to the Phillips family trust and Burns. Phil Burns serves as Chairman of the Board today, and Darnell "Dee" Phillips is also on the board.

(Note: There is a completely separate, smaller institution called **Kaw Valley State Bank & Trust Company** (in the Eudora/Wamego area) that is unrelated. It was family-owned by the Hoovers for generations and completed a merger into Farmers State Bank of Oakley, Kansas, in 2025. That one is not in Topeka and has no Nebraska ownership link.)

**Quick background on Kaw Valley Bank (Topeka):** It's been part of the Topeka community for over 150 years (roots trace back to the 1800s as Oakland State Bank and later consolidations). It offers standard personal and business banking, lending, mortgages, and trust/investment services, and it still positions itself as a hometown community bank focused on local relationships.

No public indications of any sale or ownership change since 2017—it remains under the same group. If you're a customer or have accounts there, everything continues to operate as the same local Topeka bank you've known. Let me know if you need branch details, services, or anything else specific!