The Unified Government Ethics Commission will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at the second floor, Wyandotte County Courthouse, Division 18, old county commissioners’ chambers.
Month: June 2015
Back to drawing board for Kansas Legislature on tax plan
After not passing a tax bill this morning, the Kansas Legislature plans to go back to the drawing board to work out another plan.
State Sen. David Haley, D-4th Dist., said a conference committee of three senators and three House members is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. today to work on the tax plan.
The Senate is in recess until 8 p.m. while the House was scheduled to meet again at 2 p.m., and is expected to announce a recess then, he said. The Legislature is in overtime, with extra expenses approaching $1 million while it works out the tax plan.
The conference committee’s two Republican senators and two Republican House members probably will be the ones who will be making the decision on the next tax plan that is presented, he said. That will be based on if they think they can get 21 votes in the Senate and 53 votes in the House to pass it, he added.
The tax plan presented this morning, including a sales tax increase and a cigarette tax increase, failed in the House by a double-digit margin, he added. It had earlier passed the Senate by one vote.
Sen. Haley said he believes the conference committee will come back with another tax plan to be presented to the legislators.
Sen. Haley said the Brownback administration was not humbly facing the failure of its income tax cut program that rolled back taxes on the rich, and instead was trying to balance the budget with additional taxes on the poor to pay for it.
The Brownback administration was expecting legislators to come it its assistance, he said, but legislators, many who face re-election next year, are balking.
Sen. Haley cited the Dr. Seuss “Yertle the Turtle” story of turtle shells all stacked up on top of each other, extending the king’s domain by reaching new heights, when the weight began to be unbearable on those at the lower levels. One lower level turtle let out a burp and toppled the entire group.
“I think one of these little legislators who has to run next year, getting crushed by the weight of the Brownback inheritance, needs to let a little yelp out,” Sen. Haley said.
“I believe the tax committee knows that Kansans are weary of the overtime expense and the indecisiveness of the Republican leadership, and the failure to reach a decision, and I think those six tax conferees studying different incarnations of the tax bill will come together at 3 and put together something to have enough votes to pass,” Sen. Haley said. “Whether or not it will pass, no one knows yet.”
Review: Château Avalon makes changes
by William Crum
It’s been 10 years since Chateau Avalon, a luxury hotel located in the Village West area, first came about in western Wyandotte County and there have been changes.
“We recently made a lot of changes,” said Steve Beaumont, owner and founder of Chateau Avalon. “One change is called the d’Nile bar we just started it a year ago. This bar gives people something to do while they’re here. When it’s nice and cool out they can even sit outside.
“Even our food has changed, everything is made from scratch,” he said. “We have everything including some the best cinnamon rolls ever made. All are made from scratch.”
The menu is mainly based on seasonal items such as shrimp skewers in the summer, he said, and apple dumplings in the fall for Applefest.
At a bar, Chateau Avalon offers a number of items, such as flatbread pizza, he said. Soon, it will add beer and wine tastings.
“I would also like to mention that we will have a live band out on the patio which will play four times during the summer months, however what dates we don’t know as of yet,” Beaumont said. “One thing I’d also like to mention is we are planning to hold a lot of wedding receptions here because there’s so much going on out here in western Wyandotte County.”
The website has more information on events that are offered.
After trying one of the dishes I was truly amazed. The food is very hard to describe, and cinnamon rolls will literally melt in your mouth, truly a delight especially for someone like me who enjoys good homemade cinnamon rolls. Their egg dishes are equally as good, you can definitely tell the difference. The staff is fantastic, they’re very polite and very attentive as well. The cleanliness is superior.
In fact if you want to get away for that second honeymoon or your first, or maybe hold a business meeting, this is definitely the place to go.
For more information on what is going on go the website www.ChateauAvalonHotel.com.
