You may have to wait more than three years to learn the inner workings of a multi-billion-dollar stadium deal between local and state leaders and the Kansas City Chiefs. An attorney for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas has denied a request from KMBC 9 Investigates for any emails between city and county leaders and Chiefs employees discussing the stadium deal.The county’s denial hinges on 2024 state law to lure the Chiefs and Royals to Kansas using Star Bonds that said “associated documentation” about any stadium deal could be confidential until July 1, 2029.“Any emails pertaining to a potential stadium is considered associated documentation at this time,” Unified Government Attorney Wendy Green said, in denying KMBC’s records request.After the denial, KMBC 9 Investigates emailed the entire county commission and the mayor to ask about withholding emails for the stadium deal but has not heard back.A Unified Government spokeswoman reiterated on Thursday the county is complying with the laws enacted by the Kansas State legislature.Meanwhile, Kansas economist Michael Austin, who has questioned the financial impact of the deal between the State of Kansas and the Kansas City Chiefs, has questions about the county’s email denial, believing transparency is important.“I’m not saying that everything needs to be available at the snap of a finger,” Austin said. “I’m saying that you should have reasonable expectations. Holding emails from the UG and the Chiefs up to three years after it was already decided that they’re coming here, I find that honestly unreasonable.”The emails may only represent a few pieces of the large puzzle of the multi-billion-dollar Star Bond package taking place in both Wyandotte and Johnson counties.The State of Kansas and local leaders announced the package in conjunction with the team on December 22nd. Since then, state and county leaders have touted the deal’s impact on the region, but Unified Government’s Mayor/CEO Christal Watson has reiterated the deal is not signed yet and questions remain.Austin also raised concerns about revenue distribution away from future state budgets.“The tradeoff will be how much state tax dollars will they have to divert away from services in order to pay off the bond,” Austin said.KMBC is publishing the full language of the records request below, and the county’s exact language in the denial:“Pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-215 et seq.), I respectfully request copies of emails received by Wyandotte County and/or the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas from any sender using a Kansas City Chiefs–controlled email address.This request is limited as follows:Date range: January 1, 2023, to the presentRecord type: Emails onlySender limitation: Emails sent from any email address ending in @chiefs.nfl.comThis request includes emails received by any Wyandotte County or Unified Government elected official, administrator, or employee, regardless of department, that originated from the @chiefs.nfl.com domain.If any records are withheld in whole or in part, please identify the specific statutory exemption relied upon and release all reasonably segregable non-exempt portions of the records.I request that the records be provided electronically in their native format or as searchable PDFs where available. If there are any anticipated fees associated with fulfilling this request, please provide a written estimate prior to processing.Please confirm receipt of this request and advise of the expected timeline for response as required under the Kansas Open Records Act.Thank you for your assistance.Sincerely,Matt FlenerKMBC 9News*Please also include in this request any emails sent to a domain with a @chiefs.nfl.com email address from any Wyandotte County or Unified Government elected official, administrator, or employee, regardless of department.UNIFIED GOVERNMENT DENIALPursuant to K.S.A. 12-17,181(c), the UG declines to provide any associated documentation since it is confidential until at least July 1, 2029. Any emails pertaining to a potential stadium is considered “associated documentation” at this time.Your request has been closed.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
You may have to wait more than three years to learn the inner workings of a multi-billion-dollar stadium deal between local and state leaders and the Kansas City Chiefs.
An attorney for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas has denied a request from KMBC 9 Investigates for any emails between city and county leaders and Chiefs employees discussing the stadium deal.
The county’s denial hinges on 2024 state law to lure the Chiefs and Royals to Kansas using Star Bonds that said “associated documentation” about any stadium deal could be confidential until July 1, 2029.
“Any emails pertaining to a potential stadium is considered associated documentation at this time,” Unified Government Attorney Wendy Green said, in denying KMBC’s records request.
After the denial, KMBC 9 Investigates emailed the entire county commission and the mayor to ask about withholding emails for the stadium deal but has not heard back.
A Unified Government spokeswoman reiterated on Thursday the county is complying with the laws enacted by the Kansas State legislature.
Meanwhile, Kansas economist Michael Austin, who has questioned the financial impact of the deal between the State of Kansas and the Kansas City Chiefs, has questions about the county’s email denial, believing transparency is important.
“I’m not saying that everything needs to be available at the snap of a finger,” Austin said. “I’m saying that you should have reasonable expectations. Holding emails from the UG and the Chiefs up to three years after it was already decided that they’re coming here, I find that honestly unreasonable.”
The emails may only represent a few pieces of the large puzzle of the multi-billion-dollar Star Bond package taking place in both Wyandotte and Johnson counties.
The State of Kansas and local leaders announced the package in conjunction with the team on December 22nd.
Since then, state and county leaders have touted the deal’s impact on the region, but Unified Government’s Mayor/CEO Christal Watson has reiterated the deal is not signed yet and questions remain.
Austin also raised concerns about revenue distribution away from future state budgets.
“The tradeoff will be how much state tax dollars will they have to divert away from services in order to pay off the bond,” Austin said.
KMBC is publishing the full language of the records request below, and the county’s exact language in the denial:
“Pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-215 et seq.), I respectfully request copies of emails received by Wyandotte County and/or the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas from any sender using a Kansas City Chiefs–controlled email address.
This request is limited as follows:
Date range: January 1, 2023, to the present
Record type: Emails only
Sender limitation: Emails sent from any email address ending in @chiefs.nfl.com
This request includes emails received by any Wyandotte County or Unified Government elected official, administrator, or employee, regardless of department, that originated from the @chiefs.nfl.com domain.
If any records are withheld in whole or in part, please identify the specific statutory exemption relied upon and release all reasonably segregable non-exempt portions of the records.
I request that the records be provided electronically in their native format or as searchable PDFs where available. If there are any anticipated fees associated with fulfilling this request, please provide a written estimate prior to processing.
Please confirm receipt of this request and advise of the expected timeline for response as required under the Kansas Open Records Act.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Matt Flener
KMBC 9News
*Please also include in this request any emails sent to a domain with a @chiefs.nfl.com email address from any Wyandotte County or Unified Government elected official, administrator, or employee, regardless of department.
UNIFIED GOVERNMENT DENIAL
Pursuant to K.S.A. 12-17,181(c), the UG declines to provide any associated documentation since it is confidential until at least July 1, 2029. Any emails pertaining to a potential stadium is considered “associated documentation” at this time.
Your request has been closed.