Month: May 2022

Proposal moves forward for separate classes for PILOT fee

by Mary Rupert

A proposal that would create a new classification for the PILOT fee moved forward at Monday night’s Unified Government Economic Development and Finance Committee.

In a unanimous vote during committee meetings that lasted for almost seven hours, the EDF committee approved creating a residential category, along with a business-industrial category, for the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) fee.

Next, the proposal moves to the full UG Commission for approval. The committee requested that it be placed on the nonconsent agenda at a commission meeting.

As described by UG staff, if there were two classes for the PILOT fee, which is placed on customers’ BPU bills, then the UG Commission could set a separate fee for each class. It could lead to an opportunity later to lower the PILOT fee for residents.

Currently, there is an 11.9 percent PILOT fee on BPU bills that is voted on each year by the UG Commission.

Kathleen von Achen, UG chief financial officer, said this proposal was a means of reducing the tax burden on residents. She also presented a plan to expand the senior citizen utility tax rebate to include persons of all ages making $25,000 or less per year.

Von Achen said the PILOT fee on BPU bills makes up 20 percent of the Kansas City, Kansas, general fund.

There were slight reductions in the amount of money the PILOT fee collected in 2020 and 2021 because of the effects of COVID on businesses and industries here, as some were shut down for months.

The residential portion is $8.8 million for electricity and $1.7 million for water. Von Achen said the PILOT fee currently collects $28.4 million for electricity and $5.6 million for water, for a total of $34 million.

She said if, for instance, the UG decides to reduce the PILOT from 11.9 percent to 6 percent on residential bills, it would cut the residential revenues in half, collecting $4.4 million for electricity and $800,000 for water.

Although some hypothetical situations were discussed, the committee did not approve any cuts on Monday night that would affect the PILOT fee. According to commissioners, they might consider cuts in August during the UG budget discussions.

Patrick Waters, UG deputy chief counsel, said that the UG’s charter ordinance would have to be amended to add another classification fee. The amendment would take a two-thirds majority, or eight votes of the commission, to pass. Then, under Kansas law, citizens would have 61 days after publication to submit a petition and hold a referendum on it, if they choose.

Controversial penalty marks Current home opener loss against Houston

On as a late substitute, forward Kate Del Fava sprinted toward the Houston goal as the Current tried to tie the match in the closing minutes. The Current lost the home opener 2-0 to the Houston Dash. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Kansas City Current looked like it had the better of the Houston Dash in the Sunday home opener at Children’s Mercy Park, but the 2-0 final score told a different story.

The home side conceded the first goal shortly before halftime on a controversial penalty awarded to the Dash when Elizabeth Ball defended a run from Houston forward Michaela Abam. Ball checked Abam’s momentum toward goal and made contact but didn’t appear to foul her.

Though the in-stadium replays drew loud boos from the fans, NWSL does not have video review, and the call stood. Forward Rachel Daly stroked the penalty kick confidently into the net for the 1-0 lead.

Kansas City goalkeeper A.D. Franch kept the visitors from extending their lead with a diving stop four minutes into first half stoppage.

Houston midfielder Bri Visalli, a late game substitute, scored the second goal late well after the 90th minute as Kansas City pressed high up on the field in search of an equalizer.

Despite the one-sided score line, the Current generated plenty of offense to keep the home crowd engaged in the match, outshooting the Dash 15 to 9.

Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell was put to the test in the second half, collecting five saves overall in the match. In the 73rd minute, a Kristen Hamilton shot from the right side forced a kick save from Campbell.

Again in the 78th minute, after a flurry of activity in front of the Houston goal, Hailie Mace blasted a shot up the middle that Campbell had to dive to keep out of the net.

Winless in its first two regular season matches, the Current now faces a stretch of three games on the road at Orlando, Angel City, and the OL Reign, before taking on Louisville in its next home match on May 30.

Many moms and kids celebrated Mother’s Day at Children’s Mercy Park. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Houston goalkeeper leaped to snatch the ball on a Kansas City corner kick. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta headed a shot on the Houston goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Forward Kristen Hamilton made a run toward the Houston goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Defender Hailie Mace overlapped on a play to take a shot. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Midfielder Victoria Pickett slid to keep possession and cross the ball in front of the Houston goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Defender Elizabeth Ball played a cross from the right side. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Forward Kristen Hamilton and Houston defender Katie Naughton were both determined to get possession. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Houston defender Haley Hanson took down midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta on a first half run on the Houston goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sporting KC plays to scoreless draw in New York

A resolute defensive performance propelled Sporting Kansas City (2-6-3, 9 points) to a 0-0 draw against New York City FC (4-3-2, 14 points) on Saturday evening at rain-drenched Citi Field in Queens, New York.

New York City FC entered the chilly night on a torrid three-game winning streak that had produced 14 goals, but the reigning MLS Cup champions were stymied by a disciplined Sporting outfit that snapped its seven-match road losing streak dating back to 2021 and secured its third consecutive draw.

Goalkeeper Tim Melia collected his fourth shutout of the season and totaled three saves—reaching 600 regular season saves during his storied career in Kansas City—and Sporting picked up a valiant result ahead of Tuesday’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup clash versus FC Dallas at Children’s Mercy Park. The Round of 32 matchup will kick off at 7:30 p.m. with tickets available at SeatGeek.com.

Diverting from his trademark 4-3-3 formation against Sky Blues, Sporting manager Peter Vermes assembled his side in a 4-3-1-2 setup with captain Johnny Russell deployed as a central attacking midfielder behind forwards Daniel Salloi and Khiry Shelton. The midfield trio of Roger Espinoza, Remi Walter and Uri Rosell remained unchanged from last weekend’s 2-2 home draw with FC Dallas, while Sporting’s backline featured one fresh face as Academy product Cam Duke replaced the injured Graham Zusi.

A rip-roaring start saw Sporting nearly score twice within the first two minutes. Salloi dashed onto Melia’s booming delivery over the top and smashed a venomous volley that New York City gloveman Sean Johnson parried aside. On the ensuing corner kick, center back Kortne Ford latched onto Remi Walter’s in-swinging corner kick and glanced a header inches wide of the left post.

An end-to-end spectacle continued to unfold as NYCFC landed its first threat in the seventh minute. Right back Tayvon Gray was afforded space to swing in a low cross that midfielder Keaton Parks steered high and wide of the mark near the penalty area.

Salloi and NYCFC striker Heber exchanged audacious scoring attempts on either side of the 15-minute mark, with Ford doing well to block the latter’s volley inside the box.

Sporting had Melia to thank for the game remaining scoreless in the 34th minute. NYCFC created a turnover near midfield and broke forward with pace as Santiago Rodriguez darted his way into the box and sliced past Ford before pulling the trigger. Melia advanced off his line, sprawled low and spread himself to make the all-important save and keep the hosts off the scoreboard.

Undeterred by the scare, the visitors punched back by going agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock themselves. With 40 minutes on the clock, Shelton separated himself from his marker and whipped in a cross to Salloi for a lunging strike that was bound for the back of the net, but Johnson reacted with a right-handed stop by touching the ball onto the post and allowing for a subsequent NYCFC clearance.

NYCFC playmaker Maxi Moralez was summoned at halftime to replace Thiago Andrade and was involved in the buildup of a fleeting chance for the Sky Blues. Talles Magno was isolated on the left wing and cut the ball back to Rodriguez, whose long-range belter screamed wide of Melia’s left-hand post.

Not long later, Talles Magno saw the ball drop fortuitously to his feet on the edge of the six-yard area, but center back Robert Voloder intervened crucially by sticking out his foot and extinguishing the danger.

Following a pedestrian quarter-hour of action, both sides had goalscoring bids narrowly thwarted. In the 75th minute, Russell emerged from a scrap and unleashed a shot that took a wicked deflection goalward, but Johnson reacted well to smother the ball with both mitts. At the opposite end, Parks uncorked a left-footed sledgehammer at the top of the box that sizzled marginally wide of the frame.

The match remained goalless, and although NYCFC substitute Gabriel Pereira had a decent look from 20 yards in the 90th minute, his shot lacked the pace and direction to beat Melia.

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