Feature Story — Kansas City Real Estate Report

Letter From Blue Valley School Superintendent Tom Trigg

August 19, 2010 By Steve Kornspan Leave a Comment

Today was a great day as we kicked off what I know is going to be a tremendous school year in Blue Valley. Our executive team and I visited every school this morning, and this school year could not have started off any better. My thanks to our staff who have done an outstanding job in preparing for and making this a great first day of school.

I also want to [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feature Story, Local News

Overland Park cuts budget 7.4 percent

August 19, 2010 By Steve Kornspan

Withstanding a year of dim financial news, the city of Overland Park passes a budget that reduces staff, freezes pay increases, keeps services at the same level without raising taxes.

The City Council approved a 2011 budget of $218.2 million, 7.4 percent less than the 2010 budget.

“The most important issue is maintaining current service levels to all of our citizens,” Mayor Carl Gerlach said.

The city’s operating budget is $101.5 million, 3.6 percent less than last year. The segment hit hardest in the budget was community development, including planning, parks and recreational services.

The planning department was reduced $1.4 million, which included eliminating 16 of the 57 positions.

The parks and recreation services cut $450,000, including the reduction of 11 positions. Jobs lost included a parks maintenance supervisor, a park attendant, a recreation supervisor, a customer service representative and a fitness supervisor.

Seven positions were eliminated in the police and fire departments, including five cops, a latent finger print examiner, a crime analyst, a fire battalion chief and a public education specialist.

Overall, the city’s work force will be reduced to 844 in 2011 from 901 in the current budget.

It is harsh but at least the did did not have to raise taxes. Keep your eye on the school board. They will likely raise your property taxes.

OP has delayed road projects and spent less on street maintenance as it weathers the dim economic forecast.

The city also has eliminated funding for public art and has delayed new projects at its arboretum because of a lack of sufficient private support.

The city has already made many of the cuts reflected in the proposed 2011 budget, including jobs eliminated in January when 42 employees were let go.

The current city budget didn’t provide for a pay raise this year. And while a pay raise wasn’t built into the 2011 budget, the city is holding out the possibility of using money from its contingency fund for raises later this year depending on the city’s financial outlook.

A decision on pay raises isn’t expected to be made until later this year as the city develops a new five-year financial plan.

Thanks Overland Park, the City Council, and the employees, most of the citizens of OP are not getting raises either. We are working harder, living more stressful lives and making less. But with all of us pulling together we will easily navigate the turbulent economic times and emerge as a strong and successful community.

We have one of the best cities in the country, a good economy, great services for our residents, great schools, we will thrive!

Excerpts taken from

Filed Under: Feature Story, Local City Info, Local News

Kansas shines in Business Facilities magazine’s 2010 Rankings Report

August 19, 2010 By Steve Kornspan Leave a Comment

Kansas earns Top 10 ranking in eight of 20 categories

Kansas has been named a Top 10 state in eight of 20 categories in Business Facilities magazine’s 2010 Rankings Report, officials announced today.

The annual Rankings Report rates the 50 states on their economic development efforts, with an emphasis on states that are leading the way in emerging industries such as [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feature Story, Local News

Kansas grabs No. 3 ranking in “Top Deals and Hot Markets” report

August 19, 2010 By Steve Kornspan

Just Released – Overland Park identified as most prolific suburb in 17-state region

Kansas has been ranked No. 3 in Southern Business & Development magazine’s annual “Top Deals and Hot Markets” report, the state’s highest-ever finish in the survey, officials announced this week.

The annual ranking examines 17 Southern states on their business recruitment and retention [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feature Story, Local City Info, Local News

Mission City Council Passes ‘driveway’ tax

August 19, 2010 By Steve Kornspan

Excerts from the article from By BRAD COOPER of the Kansas City Star

The Mission City Council just approved the so-called “driveway tax” to pay for roads.

The council voted 7-1 to begin a tax based on how much traffic properties produce instead of depending as much on property and sales taxes.

The fee, which starts in December, will run $72 a year for single-family homes. Larger businesses that generate lots of traffic, like Mission Bank, could pay $5,659 a year. A drive-thru fast food restaurant could pay $12,200 a year. Target could pay $64,750 yearly.

Commercial Properties will be charged more than residential homes, which don’t generate as much traffic.

The fee also affects tax exempt organizations like churches, schools and government buildings.

Statistics show that a single-family home generates about 91/2 vehicle trips a day. A Target store, generates nearly 8,500 trips a day. McDonald’s is predicted to produce 2,700 trips a day.

The fee is expected to raise $1.2 million a year with the proceeds going to a $38 million plan to improve the city’s roads during the next 10 years. It also will help fund a new express bus service between Overland Park and the Country Club Plaza that will run through Mission.

The fee was part of the city’s $23.1 million budget that the City Council approved.

City officials say they need the money for deteriorating streets. Some residents said poor economic times make it bad for what’s essentially a tax increase.

Mayor Laura McConwell and city council members said they are besieged with complaints about the condition of city roads. Delaying work on the roads will just increase the cost in the future, McConwell said.

“It’s something we have to do to save money for our families in the long run,” the mayor said.

Many people believe this type of tax unfairly taxes businesses, and non-profits.

Filed Under: Feature Story

NCOA Brochure and Assessment Tools Now Required for Reverse Mortgages

August 19, 2010 By Steve Kornspan

New HUD Protocol Offers Older Adults More Information and Deeper Financial Assessment, Using Tools and Materials Developed by NCOA

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) now requires all HUD-approved reverse mortgage counselors to provide their clients [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feature Story, Mortgage & Finance

Dick LeBeau’s NFL Hall of Fame Speech

August 16, 2010 By Steve Kornspan

To save time I have only shared a brief portion of his speech if you get interested and want to read more the link is attached below.

Born September 9, 1937 Dick was recently inducted into the National Football league Hall of Fame. He spent 14 years in the NFL as a player for the Detroit Lions and at the age of 72 he is entering into his 36th year as a coach as the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dick Lebeau

As far as my playing ability, I was known as the guy who was just going to come to work every day, I was going to play hard every day. Might not always play good every play, but I was going to play the next play as hard. I learned that from London, Ohio, a small town about two hours from where we’re standing. Honesty and hard work, that’s about all they value down there. It sure has stood me in good stead.

I’ll leave you with one thing. Life is for living, folks. Don’t let a number be anything other than a number. Don’t let somebody tell you that you’re too old to do this or too old to do that. Stay in life. Life is a gift. It’s a joy. Don’t drop out of it. Don’t let somebody else tell you and don’t let your mind tell you.

If I would have gotten out of my life’s work at 65 or 67, when they say is the age of retirement, here is what I would have missed, folks. I would have missed not one but two World Championship football teams that I got to be a part of. I got to be a part of a No. 1 defense that statistically had the lowest numbers in the last 35 or 40 years. I had my number retired from my high school. Had a building named after me in my hometown. I made the Detroit Lions all 75 year team. I was accepted into the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Now tonight I guess when I sit down, get off this speaking, which I’m gonna do, I’ll be in the NFL Hall of Fame.

My mother always said, Onward and upward, age is just a number. God love y’all. Thank you.

Link to Full Text

Filed Under: Feature Story, Interesting, Misc

What is RESPA?

August 6, 2010 By Steve Kornspan

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) was enacted in 1974 to provide consumers with improved disclosures of settlement costs and to reduce the costs of closing by the elimination of referral fees and kickbacks. Through the years, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued regulations and policy statements to provide RESPA guidance to industry and consumers alike. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feature Story

FHA premiums face new restructuring

August 5, 2010 By Steve Kornspan

From Matt Carter Inman News –

FHA premiums face new restructuring Congress OKs annual premium increase
By Matt Carter, Thursday, August 5, 2010.

Upfront premiums for FHA-guaranteed loans could soon be reduced by more than half, but annual premiums on the government-sponsored mortgage insurance are expected to nearly double now that Congress has given FHA [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feature Story, Mortgage & Finance

Yoder Wins Congressional Primary

August 4, 2010 By Steve Kornspan

Breaking News… Overland Park, KS- Kevin Yoder became the Republican nominee for the 3^rd Congressional District seat in the US Congress tonight receiving 45 % of the Republican Primary vote against 8 other GOP candidates.

“I first have to say thank you to the voters in the 3^rd District who, like me, are looking for a new direction in Congress,” said Kevin Yoder. “We need new [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feature Story, Legislation