We've had a few posts dedicated to the Unified Government's Ethics Code situation today, along with stories from earlier this summer.

The issue has been a hot this summer and will culminate in tonight's meeting.

First, I agree with writer and reader Patty Dysart – it's extremely unfair to demonize UG Commissioner Mark Holland and his efforts. I think they are legit and they are not intentionally targeting a specific community or group of people.

However, the Argentine community is stand to lose big time if the amendment is passed and about $800,000 is likely lost with it.

Although the amendment is not targeted at the one community directly, Argentine will certainly become the biggest and only loser if the move is made. The passage would not hurt anyone else in Wyandotte County presently other than those in Argentine.

That strikes me as unfair.

The $800,000 (and matching funds) could do a lot for a community, especially one that has infrastructure as old as a century and one that is not the wealthiest in Wyandotte County.

Future development is crucial for areas like Argentine and the loss of this funding could hinder it.

If the changes are approved tonight, the UG should look at ways to help provide the lost funding for the area. Perhaps the district could become a top priority if the UG is successful in passing a sales tax next Spring?

NOTE: A reader requested where the amended code can be found. It can be found here. The link leads to a PDF file in which you'll have to download. The code is found on pages 259–278.

EDITOR's NOTE: The following commentary of support for Mark Holland is from Patty Dysart. Earlier today, The Kansan published a letter supporting Ann Murguia and her case.

I just found a copy of a paper titled “The Truth about Commissioner Holland’s proposed ordinance”.

This paper also says it comes from the people of Argentine.

This paper accuses an honorable, honest man with high morals of the following, discrimination against their community; wasting public dollars, halting NSP dollars which are stimulus dollars designated for building of housing.

What a crock?

The ordinance merely asks that commissioners not be allowed to be NBR directors.
All of these so called facts in that paper contain untruthful material.

This letter also lays claim to a high poverty Hispanic community long ignored by the Unified Government. If they are high poverty how do they afford to pay their NBR director $60,000.00 a year which is then supplemented by the NBR salary of $27,000.00 a year, plus the monthly commission salary?

Let me see does that not amount to around $90,000.00 a year? These facts were glaring to Commissioner Holland as to most of us who are NBRS. They fly in the face of ethical behavior.  Did you ever see any other commissioner or the Mayor attempt to become an NBR?

The rest of us are paid only the $27,000 per year and we are required to raise half of that salary. We are paid in quarters after submitting proof of raising $5,500 per quarter or we would not get paid.

When I founded the NBR for Armourdale, it took me three years of hard work with absolutely no salary. The rest of us are required to serve all entities, the residents, the businesses, the churches and agencies.

All of those entities work with Armourdale Renewal to improve out community and help our inner-city lower income residents that contains just as many Hispanic families as Argentine.

We just do not go around using that as a crutch, we try to serve the families with the community resources available to us. It also took Wilma Allen and the residents of the 1200 block of Osage 3 years to obtain sidewalks for one block of one side of the street.

Mr.Boykin applied for his sidewalk block on Miami over 5 years ago. No one has stepped forward to help us.

Don’t get me wrong Argentine deserves all the improvements they are getting and any other benefits they receive in the future. I love Argentine and its people. I am thrilled to see Wolf Burgers opened up again. I have missed Mac’s Little Banquet every week since the day it closed. My Aunt, Buetta Meyers moved right behind the pharmacy after the 51 flood until the day she died. She raised me in Armourdale along with her own children and gave me a wonderful childhood. (CLICK READ MORE)