Either this "not a water park" is a pig in a poke, or I have heard this faerie tale before.

This article highlights the latest from the STAR bond cult: bond consultants and Kansas Dept of Commerce clan bag of tricks.

The main attraction can't support repaying the needed STAR bonds so they have to attach themselves to another retail development. In many cases they are tying into existing retail nodes to siphon off the sales tax from an existing retail operation. This is how how the Governors horse manure manufacturing facility aka the American Royal at the Legends is being financed via STAR bonds. In this Whitewater fiasco it looks like an even riskier proposition is being considered in that they are looking at new retail development to generate the sales tax.

The other trick to look for is for "local government guaranteed STAR bonds" As the article notes local governments are not normally responsible for defaults on STAR bonds. However the STAR bond cult has recently convinced the City of Salina to sign on as guarantor of their downtown project STAR bonds.

Don't be fooled, siphoning sales tax for these projects reduces the amount of revenue going to the Kansas general fund and local units that would other wise be available for schools, highways and other legitimate public needs.

What a great idea. I always wanted to my own private sales tax district and for a little money I can finally own shares in one. Instead of helping to pay for our schools, roads, police, fire department, and other city services I can stuff my pockets with sale tax money like I'm a big time Lawrence developer.

But seriously, how many times are we going to be sold the same scam? Why doesn't someone tell these guys we're broke? Don't they know that we've already spent all our money on a new recreation center and we'll be lucky to have the money to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of it.

The plan sounds like socialism. But there is nothing democratic about it.

Bernie would say no, no and no. I'm with Bernie.

So they are proposing that our tax dollars pay for this development. No No No.

For more background on this hair-brained scheme and their other brain-eating infested whitewater site (no I am not kidding), please visit my Facebook page or tinyurl dot com /whitewater-scheme

This whole concept is off the wall. Where do these fast talking developers get the idea taxpayers have money to spend on such a nonsensical idea? These folks are full of rhetoric not substance.

Another shopping center? Lawrence is over stored face it. Why would taxpayers want to turn existing shopping areas into empty boarded up buildings?

Hey my friends the taxpayers let's not get duped again!!! This is a shakedown that will increase our taxes. No way can this venture pay for itself.

WHY did this "technically 501C3" overlook the Sunflower Plant site, which was considering an OZ theme park?

Could Mr. Lawhorn cite who, specifically, approached Mr. Wise as a representative of KDWP or the governor's office to consider this project?

Can Mr. Lawhorn cite when this invitation occurred? Who was at this meeting? Has there been any subsequent meetings with state officials regarding this invitation to develop state parkland into entertainment areas?

Why, Mr. Lawhorn, wasn't such a proposal put in front of other cities in Kansas with state parklands, such as Wichita, or Hays, or Manhattan, etc.??

As a comparison, Mr. Lawhorn, what would officials in those cities have to say about such a project being proposed on or near state park lakes which serve as water sources for that city?

Not conjecture. Not opinion by editorial boards at the Topeka, Kansas City or Lawrence newspapers in support of this project, and thus biased. Facts. Are state officials going on record as having invited Mr. Wise? Does such an invitation mean the state will build infrastructure to support 700,000 visitors to this theme park?

BY THE WAY, have any LJW reporters considered walking around large manufacturing or retail businesses in town to look at the condition of storm water management runoff?

There is more trash in those areas than the city could collect. That's environmental issues already existing; not addressed, and certainly not managed by those businesses. To compare the dismissive statement by Mr. Wise that water resources would remain unaffected is easily refuted by factual evidence.

Who contacted Mr. Wise?

Ms. Snyder, Mr. Lawhorn may not likely do too much inquiring. You see even the Simons family wants the use of STAR bonds to develop their property downtown, long on the market.

btw, there is no storm water management downtown, not even grease management downtown. Look at the alleys behind restaurants.

A friend shared this link on the Facebook machine. Some may find this additional reading helpful.

http://m.clclt.com/charlotte/the-whitewater-six-meet-the-men-who-blew-12-million/Content?oid=2152300

This developer built the same type of waterpark in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2006. From the online publication Creative Loafing Charlotte: "The center, which opened in 2006, features a large man-made river for kayaking and rafting that is situated on 300 acres 10 miles from the Center City. The non-profit that runs it recently defaulted on $38 million in loans for the second year in a row."

The article lists the key backers of the plan to hold them accountable for the financial disaster. One of these backers, lawyer and businessman Jeff Wise (whom the developer made CEO) and quoted above, underestimated the number of rafters who would use their waterpark by 60,000 per year in his business plan. Now those local governments are on the hook for $12 million. Ouch.

One ploy the developer used to talk the local governments into voting for it was that the park would address their "identity crisis" and "separate them from other vanilla mid-sized cities."

Anybody smell a rat?

There was one supporter of this plan who said that it would be great if the kids had something to do in this town. If a kid comes from a family with money, they already have enough to do - movies, art center classes, arcade, shopping, rec centers, sports, etc. Lawrence does better than most for kids who don't have money, because the rec centers are free, an active boy's and girls club, scouting, etc.

The water park would only serve kids with money, period. Most of the places cost a lot, often over $30 for a day pass. Even if I had a lot of money, I wouldn't pay for my child to go but once a year, and many families would find cheaper ways to entertain their kids.

NO NO NO. I'm happy to see that many of the people I disagree with on other issues are very much in agreement on this issue.

If a developer wants to put something, then THEY need to fund it 100%. If it's such a good idea, then let them put their money where their mouth is. I'm tired of developers looking for handouts and then profiteering off the public.

Clinton Lake is fine how it is. It has a nice marina, nice camping facilities, and is otherwise untouched (as it should be) for nature.