Thursday, May 14, 2026

SNCO. Project Otis

**I apologize for the omission in my initial summary.** 

Project Otis came up **only briefly during the public comment portion** of the meeting (near the end, around the 1 hour 13–14 minute mark), not during the main Parks & Recreation Master Plan presentation. My summary focused on the primary agenda item (the detailed Parks update), which took up the bulk of the ~1 hour 48 minutes of relevant discussion. Public comments are typically shorter and secondary in work sessions unless they directly tie into the main topic.

### What was said about Project Otis:
A member of the public (identified in other sources as likely Henry McClure, based on context from prior meetings) spoke during public comment. He referenced an Attorney General's opinion regarding the allocation and accounting of funds from **liquor-by-the-drink collections** (approximately **$2.1 million** annually flowing to Shawnee County). He argued these funds are not being used as originally intended under "Project Otis" and urged the commission to "help Otis out" and support the project. He also briefly mentioned a personal mixed-use development idea involving pickleball that he discussed with others, emphasizing it should stand on its own without public money.

The commissioners thanked him, asked if anyone else wished to speak (none did), and then moved on to administrative items, communications, and executive session. No discussion or action followed on Project Otis during this meeting.

Project Otis appears to be a recurring local issue/advocacy topic related to the use of specific county revenue streams (liquor taxes), which has been raised in prior commission meetings as well. It wasn't connected to the Parks Master Plan in this session. 

If you'd like me to expand the full summary to include more on public comments or dive deeper into Project Otis background, just let me know!

Henry McClure
785.383.9994 

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SNCO


**Summary of Shawnee County Kansas Commission Meeting (Work Session) – May 11, 2026**

This was a **Board of County Commissioners work session** held on Monday, May 11, 2026. Commissioners present included Bill Kriz (District 1, presiding), Kevin Cook (Vice Chair, District 2), and Aaron Mace (District 3), along with County Counselor Rich Eckert.

### Main Focus: Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update
The primary agenda item was a presentation from the Parks and Recreation Department by Director **Tim Lorent** and consultants from **Landworks Studio** (Nathan Harold and Brian Sturm). They provided a progress update on the county's comprehensive **Parks Master Plan**, which began in November 2025.

**Key phases of the process**:
- **Discovery**: Park assessments, community surveys, online engagement, stakeholder input.
- **Analysis & Visioning**: Synthesizing data into recommendations.
- **Implementation**: Creating a prioritized roadmap with timelines and costs for the next ~2 years.

**Community Engagement Highlights**:
- Statistically valid survey (Feb 2026): 427 responses (exceeding the quota quickly; low margin of error ~3-4%).
- Online engagement platform: 410+ responses (still open), with interactive map for comments/pins, upvoting, and priority-ranking activities.
- Community open house at Big Gage Shelter: ~40 attendees.
- Facility and program assessments completed across all parks.

**Top Community Priorities** (from survey):
- **Facilities**: Walking/biking trails (overwhelming #1), indoor pool, restrooms/amenities, more neighborhood parks + nature preserves.
- **Programming**: Adult fitness/wellness, senior programs, history/museums (interest in parks telling local stories).

**Other Notes**:
- Gage Park and Lake Shawnee were the highest-rated parks.
- The plan emphasizes awareness of existing assets, inter-agency cooperation, and addressing barriers to park use.
- A separate trails study will be incorporated.
- No formal action was taken; this was an informational update.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and closed after the presentation (total relevant transcription covers ~1 hour 48 minutes of discussion). It appears to be a routine work session focused on long-term planning rather than immediate decisions.

For the full video or more details, check the YouTube recording directly or the county's website for agendas/minutes.

Henry McClure
785.383.9994 

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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Same old same old

**Summary of the JEDO Board Meeting (May 13, 2026) – City of Topeka, Kansas**

This was a regular joint meeting of the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) board, involving leaders from the City of Topeka and Shawnee County focused on economic growth. The meeting was short, formal, and covered approvals, incentives, talent attraction, and updates on local initiatives.

### Key Agenda Items and Actions

- **Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call**: Standard opening with all voting members present (Commissioners Ripon, Maize, Cook; Mayor Duncan; Deputy Mayor Hoer; Council members Banks, Hiller).

- **Approval of Prior Minutes**: February 11, 2026 minutes were unanimously approved.

- **Incentive Agreement for Project Omega (Mellin Financial)**: 
  - Approved a **$1.43 million** performance-based incentive over 5 years.
  - The existing financial services company (20+ years in Topeka) plans **175 new jobs** (wages $50K–$250K+).
  - Projected 10-year economic impact: **$1.37 billion**; ROI ~39%.
  - The project supports expansion and community engagement. A video message from company president Jared Florence emphasized Topeka’s workforce, partnerships with JEDO/GoTopeka, and long-term investment.
  - Board members toured or noted the impressive new headquarters. Unanimously approved.

- **Choose Topeka 2.0 Talent Incentive Program**:
  - Approved **$300,000** in funding (primarily carry-forward) for ~2 years of incentives + welcome programming.
  - Program includes **employer match** incentives, “boomerang” (returning locals), and transitioning military support.
  - Stats since 2023: 90 individuals/families helped (avg. salary ~$96K); 9 boomerangs + 4 military (avg. ~$85K).
  - Enhancements: Welcome boxes (local products), new resident luncheons, expanded recruitment/onboarding (e.g., community tours, one-on-one leader meetings), and upgrade to **Career Coach** platform (formerly SkillFit) for resume/job matching ($50K subscription).
  - Strong interest noted, boosted by media like a CBS Sunday Morning piece. Unanimously approved.

### Presentations and Updates

- **GoTopeka Q1 2026 Update** (led by staff including Ashley Layman): Covered project pipeline (including data centers), business attraction/retention, and ongoing efforts.

- **Young Professionals / Forge & Top City Interns** (Caleb): Highlighted the annual gala (young pro-led, focus on recognition/retention) and the free Top City Interns program (kicking off June 4, ~200 interns, employer-supported events to showcase Topeka).

- **Link Innovation Labs** (Stephanie Moran): Post-February opening updates — strong attendance/tours/events, 8 tenants (11/14 offices leased), new sponsors (including Hills Pet Nutrition), lab equipment/setup progress, and upcoming Plug and Play Expo (May 26–28) with networking, pitches, and investor connections. Focus on attracting lab/startup tenants in animal health, AI, etc.

The meeting ended with routine next steps and positive notes on economic momentum, job growth, talent attraction, and innovation infrastructure in the Topeka/Shawnee County area. No major controversies; all votes were unanimous.

The full video is a straightforward public meeting recording (under an hour) with some Q&A and procedural discussion.

Henry McClure
785.383.9994 

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RE: : Great news to share

Mr. McClure,

Thank you for your message.  This message serves as confirmation that your email has been received by the council members. 

 

Tonya L. Bailey

Sr. Executive Assistant to the City Council

City of Topeka

215 SE 7th St. Rm 211

785-368-3710

 

 

From: Henry McClure <mcre13@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 12:21 PM
To: Spencer Duncan <sduncan@topeka.org>; Kevin Cook <kevin.cook@snco.us>; City Clerk <cclerk@topeka.org>; Governing Body <governingbody@topeka.org>; MCRE Media <mcre1.9999@blogger.com>
Subject: : Great news to share

 

Notice: -----This message was sent by an external sender-----

 

 

Pproject  Otis 

 

There should be funds from project otis that could pay.

 

It makes no sense to have two thirds of the money going to the county general fund as opposed to actually helping people.

 

 

Henry McClure

785.383.9994 

 

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get Outlook for Android


From: Monique Vopat <mvopat@lhcac.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 11:43:07 AM
To: Henry McClure <mcre13@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Great news to share

 

Hi Henry,

Thank you so much for reaching out and asking how you can help. Your willingness to support our mission truly means a lot.

At LifeHouse Child Advocacy Center, all of our services are provided free of charge to the children and families we serve. We work alongside law enforcement, child protection, medical professionals, and mental health providers to help child victims of abuse begin the healing process in a safe, child-friendly environment. 

Right now, one of the biggest ways the community can help is by increasing awareness. Many people still do not know what a Child Advocacy Center is or that these services exist locally for children in crisis. Simply sharing our mission, social media posts, events, and conversations within the community helps us reach more families and supporters.

There are also several practical ways to get involved:
• Attend or invite others to our fundraising events
• Introduce us to businesses, civic groups, or community organizations
• Share our posts and campaigns on social media
• Volunteer at events
• Become a monthly donor or sponsor
• Help connect us with people passionate about protecting children

As we continue expanding services and growing into our new facility, community support is more important than ever to ensure every child receives the care, advocacy, and resources they deserve.

Thank you again for your support and for caring about the children and families in our community. I would be happy to visit with you anytime. 🙂

Best,
Monique Vopat

 


From: Henry McClure <mcre13@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 10:03 AM
To: Monique Vopat <mvopat@lhcac.org>
Subject: Re: Great news to share

 

How can I  help 

 

Henry McClure

785.383.9994 

 

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get Outlook for Android


From: Monique Vopat <mvopat@lhcac.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 9:56:30 AM
To: Henry McClure <mcre13@gmail.com>
Subject: Great news to share

 

Good morning,

 

I hope you are well today. I am overjoyed to share the incredible impact of our recent Heroes Campaign.

 

Thanks to the efforts of our amazing community, we were able to achieve remarkable results:

 

$58,838 was raised in 23 days!

 

All Money raised by our Heroes goes directly towards services provided by LifeHouse Child Advocacy Center.

These numbers truly make a difference, and it's all because of generous people like you! 

 

Thank you again.

 

Best,

 

Monique

 

 

Error! Filename not specified.

 

Donate now at OneCause

Make your legacy one of love and lasting impact through a bequest gift.

 

If you'd prefer not to hear from me by email, please reply back and let me know and I'll update my records accordingly.

Image removed by sender.Image removed by sender.

: Great news to share


Pproject  Otis 

There should be funds from project otis that could pay.

It makes no sense to have two thirds of the money going to the county general fund as opposed to actually helping people.


Henry McClure
785.383.9994 

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get Outlook for Android

From: Monique Vopat <mvopat@lhcac.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 11:43:07 AM
To: Henry McClure <mcre13@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Great news to share
 
Hi Henry,
Thank you so much for reaching out and asking how you can help. Your willingness to support our mission truly means a lot.
At LifeHouse Child Advocacy Center, all of our services are provided free of charge to the children and families we serve. We work alongside law enforcement, child protection, medical professionals, and mental health providers to help child victims of abuse begin the healing process in a safe, child-friendly environment. 
Right now, one of the biggest ways the community can help is by increasing awareness. Many people still do not know what a Child Advocacy Center is or that these services exist locally for children in crisis. Simply sharing our mission, social media posts, events, and conversations within the community helps us reach more families and supporters.
There are also several practical ways to get involved:
• Attend or invite others to our fundraising events
• Introduce us to businesses, civic groups, or community organizations
• Share our posts and campaigns on social media
• Volunteer at events
• Become a monthly donor or sponsor
• Help connect us with people passionate about protecting children
As we continue expanding services and growing into our new facility, community support is more important than ever to ensure every child receives the care, advocacy, and resources they deserve.
Thank you again for your support and for caring about the children and families in our community. I would be happy to visit with you anytime. 🙂
Best,
Monique Vopat


From: Henry McClure <mcre13@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 10:03 AM
To: Monique Vopat <mvopat@lhcac.org>
Subject: Re: Great news to share

How can I  help 

Henry McClure
785.383.9994 

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get Outlook for Android

From: Monique Vopat <mvopat@lhcac.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 9:56:30 AM
To: Henry McClure <mcre13@gmail.com>
Subject: Great news to share
 

Good morning,

 

I hope you are well today. I am overjoyed to share the incredible impact of our recent Heroes Campaign.

 

Thanks to the efforts of our amazing community, we were able to achieve remarkable results:

 

$58,838 was raised in 23 days!

 

All Money raised by our Heroes goes directly towards services provided by LifeHouse Child Advocacy Center.

These numbers truly make a difference, and it's all because of generous people like you! 

 

Thank you again.

 

Best,

 

Monique




Donate now at OneCause

Make your legacy one of love and lasting impact through a bequest gift.


If you'd prefer not to hear from me by email, please reply back and let me know and I'll update my records accordingly.