Mayor Holland alleges ‘widespread corruption’ by firefighters; Mayor-elect Alvey says ‘gross misrepresentation’

by Mary Rupert

Mayor Mark Holland

Mayor Mark Holland, in his last week in office, is alleging that some Kansas City, Kansas, firefighters are engaged in “widespread corruption” in paying money for other firefighters working their shifts, and alleges the practice is jeopardizing the community’s safety.

However, Mayor-elect David Alvey’s reaction to this issue was that it wasn’t widespread corruption.

“I think it’s a gross misrepresentation to describe the process as ‘widespread corruption’ in the Fire Department,” Alvey said Wednesday night in a brief interview following the Board of Public Utilities meeting. Alvey is scheduled to take office next Monday.

The Unified Government Commission is holding a meeting on the topic at 7 p.m. tonight, Jan. 4, at the Commission Chambers, lobby level, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The end-of-the-year fire report is contained in the UG agenda located at www.wycokck.org, under agendas. Mayor Holland called the special meeting on Tuesday.

Mayor Holland sent out a Facebook message and also sent out a robo telephone call on Wednesday and Thursday about the issue.

His Facebook message read: “A recent end-of-the-year report has exposed widespread corruption in our Fire Department that is jeopardizing the safety our firefighters and our residents. I have called a special meeting to discuss the findings of the report and discuss how these practices are contributing to our taxpayers paying twice the amount for the same level of fire protection that other cities do. Please tune in at 7:00 pm to UGTV or on the Unified Government YouTube channel to see a presentation (linked below) about how this corruption is costing us valuable resources and putting our safety at risk.”

Mayor Holland reports alleged threat to KBI

After Mayor Holland’s Facebook and robo calls went out about the meeting, a social media post was allegedly made by a firefighter that the mayor reported to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, according to a news release this morning from the mayor’s office.

The social media post, according to the mayor’s news release, was “You might need security detail when you start witch hunts like so …”

The mayor’s news release called the threat “intolerable” and alleged that the fire union leadership had a “hostile mentality.” In the wake of the threat, according to the mayor’s news release, he called on the UG commissioners to “stand firm and not allow a few people in our Fire Union to intimidate them.”

Ordinance change proposed tonight

A change to the UG’s ordinance is proposed that would not allow UG employees to receive compensation from any source other than the UG for work or services they perform as part of their job. This would not apply to police officers who are serving as security officers, according to the ordinance, and it would not apply if the UG administrator gives permission for it.

According to the report on the Fire Department contained in the UG agenda, the contract allows trading time but the practice is selling time. The report stated that only six of 391 firefighters traded an equal number of shifts, and that 237 firefighters split $920,000 in taxpayer dollars for time not worked.

The report alleged that selling time created an unsafe work environment, with 15 firefighters exceeding a 24 trade limit, and some working hours in a row without adequate rest. The report did not address the possibility of firefighters who may be allowed to sleep during their shifts if there is not a call.

The UG previously discussed this issue in 2016 and 2017, and after an audit in 2016 pointed out the payments for shifts, the UG implemented a system for tracking the shifts. The firefighters’ contract that was negotiated by UG officials and approved by the UG Commission last year did not specifically say that firefighters couldn’t trade shifts, or accept payment for them.

Alvey comments on fire report issue

Mayor-elect David Alvey (File photo)

While Mayor-elect David Alvey said Wednesday night he did not yet have a chance to look at and read the data in the end-of-the-year fire report, he said it would have to be studied. He made some brief comments about the issue to the Wyandotte Daily after the Wednesday, Jan. 3, Board of Public Utilities meeting.

“My understanding is shift trading is revenue-neutral,” Alvey said. “If there are any abuses, we need to look at it.”

He said he understood that shift trading was done to achieve flexibility for the firefighters and the department itself. He said he talked with firefighters who told him they use shift trading for tasks such as taking care of sick kids.

Alvey added his personal opinion is that this issue would blow over.

Some of the examples in the fire study concern firefighters who are union representatives. It is a fairly common practice in America for many union representatives at large employee organizations to work on union issues, as part of their jobs, and still receive their pay during that time. They represent other employees who may have a problem.

When asked what he thought about Mayor Holland recently leading an effort to raise the mayor’s salary, to take effect in four years, Alvey said, “I didn’t do this for the money, so whatever money comes, comes.” He said he will be taking a pay cut in compensation when he becomes mayor, leaving a job that paid better at Rockhurst High School.

Previous news stories on the issue of firefighters trading shifts and the firefighters’ approved contract with the UG are located at:

Special UG session to be Jan. 4 on firefighters trading report
https://wyandotteonline.com/special-ug-session-to-be-jan-4-on-firefighters-trading-report/

UG contract with firefighters approved
https://wyandotteonline.com/ug-contract-with-firefighters-approved/

Firefighters say they’ve reached tentative agreement with UG on contract
https://wyandotteonline.com/firefighters-say-theyve-reached-tentative-agreement-with-ug-on-contract/

Firefighters upset about getting silent treatment at UG fire study meeting
https://wyandotteonline.com/firefighters-upset-about-getting-silent-treatment-at-ug-fire-study-meeting/

Fire study calls for 5 percent cutback in personnel, consolidation of four stations, and more funding for facilities and equipment
https://wyandotteonline.com/fire-study-calls-for-5-percent-cutback-in-personnel-consolidation-of-four-stations-and-more-funding-for-facilities-and-equipment/

Homicide suspect leads police on chase

A person of interest in a homicide this morning near 10th and Ivandale was pursued by police officers this morning.

According to a news release from the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department, officers pursued a red van just before noon that was believed to be occupied by a person of interest in the homicide. The van was stopped in Clay County, Mo.

Other law enforcement agencies helped stop the van, and all occupants were taken into custody without incident, the police spokesman stated. The person of interest was in the van, the spokesman added.

At 3:46 a.m. Jan. 4, police found a man in his mid-50s, injured inside a pickup truck in the area of 10th and Ivandale, according to the spokesman. The man was believed to have been shot near 10th and Montana. The man died later at a hospital.

KCKCC men begin countdown to shot at national tourney return

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

The countdown to the 2018 Jayhawk Conference season is underway for the Kansas City Kansas Community College men’s basketball team.

With less than three weeks before the start of conference play, six non-conference games remain starting Saturday against On Point Academy in El Reno, Okla.

The Blue Devils then return home for the inaugural Blue Devil Classic Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12-13. KCKCC will square off against Strength N Motion Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Penn Valley Saturday at 4 p.m. Fort Scott is the fourth team in the Classic and will play Penn Valley Friday and Strength N Motion Saturday.

The Blue Devils will also play host to Washburn’s junior varsity Tuesday, Jan. 16, and then play at Saint Mary junior varsity Jan. 19 and North Central Missouri Jan. 22 before beginning Region VI Division II play at Johnson County Wednesday, Jan. 24.

While the young Blue Devils (only two sophomores) are just 4-10, it promises to be another wide open conference race. KCKCC did not win the Region VI regular season standings two years ago but surged to the division championship and a berth in the national Division II tournament.

Four teams are closely bunched at the halfway mark of the season. Hesston (10-4) and Highland (11-5) lead with Fort Scott and Labette close behind at 10-6. KCKCC is fifth with Johnson County sixth at 4-11.

Three Blue Devils rank among the Top Five in individual Region VI statistics at the halfway point. Tyson Beringer, a 6-9 forward from SanTan Valley, Ariz., is the runaway leader in blocked shots with 2.6 per game, which is double that of his nearest rival. Beringer also is third in rebounding with 6.0 per game.

Scoring leader Soloman Thomas, a 5-11 freshman guard from Hogan Prep, is fifth in scoring at 14.7 while 6-0 Olathe East freshman Dion Union is fifth in 3-point percentage (.383) and 10th in scoring at 14.3 per game.

Guards have provided much of the Blue Devils’ 72.4-point scoring average. In addition to Thomas and Union, 6-3 Sterling Hicks of St. Joseph Lafayette is averaging 9.8 points and 5-11 sophomore Zion Buckner of Sedalia is scoring at an 8.8 per game clip.

The front line is led by 6-6 DuVonte Beard of Ruskin, who is averaging 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds; Josiah Laws of Cumming, Georgia, 3.9 points and 4.1 rebounds; and Beringer, who is averaging g 5.6 points in addition to his six rebounds a contest.

As a team, the Blue Devils have shot the ball well, 44.1 percent to .416 for opponents but have been hurt by turnovers (17.1 per game) and rebounding, where they’ve been outrebounded 39.9-33.1.