Welcome to our online chat with Douglas County Commissioner Jere McElhaney, Republican.

The chat took place at 3 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25 and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.

Douglas County Commissioner Jere McElhaney, left, dictates his responses to typist, Bobbie Flory, during an online chat with voters at the News Center Monday.

Moderator: Welcome to our chat today with Douglas County Commissioner Jere McElhaney. We’ll get started now. You can submit your questions any time during the chat.

Jere McElhaney: Welcome to the chat room. I’m Jere McElhaney. I welcome your questions today but bear with me because I’m new to this online chat!

John, Lecompton: You have stated publicly that the Planning Commission needs to be “reined in.” Since the Planning Commission only makes recommendations and has no decision authority, what action or actions concern you? How would you implement reining in the Planning Commission?

Jere McElhaney: John, the Planning Commission has a very important advisory role. But, as of late, the Planning Commission has taken a more direct role in making taxing authority requests, implementing mandates on developers and property owners, which are outside of planning parameters. The Planning Commission should be full of experienced people and know the vital history of our community.

The importance of an elected official is being able to appoint people to any advisory position. Those individuals appointed should have the community as their best interest, at heart.

It has been hard to have good qualified people who are interested in being on the Planning Commission today. It has become too political. We are loosing out on our best talents in our community.

Moderator: We’d like to invite our readers to submit any questions. Meanwhile, I have one question. What is your position on finishing up the SLT? Do you think it will ever be finished?

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Jere McElhaney: Yes, I think the SLT will be finished and it needs to be completed. The problem is we are 15 years behind the initial phase of completion and at this point in time we should have been looking for a southern route, south of 458. This community has just been slow to embrace needed transportation changes.

This and past County Commissions have worked diligently with K-DOT on planning and completing our transportation nodes throughout the entire county. This includes the SLT, U.S. Highway 59, U.S. Highway 40, Stull Road, Lecompton Roadway 1029, other bridges, and culvert upgrades in the county.

Ed, Lawrence: Is there any possibility that the SLT will be a reality or have we just hit a wall built by a vocal minority using the courts to win what they couldn’t win in a public vote?

Jere McElhaney: I firmly believe the SLT will be a reality. I anticipate the court decisions will uphold the will of the majority of Douglas County residents.

Mike, Overbook: How do you feel about Mrs. Ermeling living in her barn in 2001 and 2002 after she told County Building and Zoning and the County Health Department it was for ag use?

Jere McElhaney: Mike, we have had problems with county residents in the past who are abusing the agricultural exemption status. Commissioner Johnson is bringing to the table ideas for new agricultural implementation that would catch those who circumvent the zoning and subdivision regulations.

Susan, Lawrence: It seems to me that you have switched positions about supporting schools including after-school programs. Why the change of heart?

Jere McElhaney: Susan, I have never switched positions on supporting schools through after-school programs. We have fully backed our Douglas County Extension Services, which brings needed programs to our elementary and junior high school levels. They have introduced the 4-H program into the schools, which focuses on community and leadership skills.

I have always felt that it is the Kansas Legislature’s responsibility to fund our public schools. Now that they are not stepping up to the plate, I feel it is necessary for us to lend more on a helping hand through partnerships in a fiscally responsible manner.

I also would like to say we don’t have an endless supply of money and our decisions must be able to be sustained. Partnerships allow us to combine resources.

Thank you for asking, Susan.

Mark, Lawrence: You’re facing a challenge from an independent. Would you rather be facing a challenge from a Democrat? Or how about a fellow Republican? Or nobody at all? I’m just wondering if facing an independent makes it harder.

Jere McElhaney: Mark, I don’t care which party I face but I feel it is very important that a candidate choose a party. Those in the community know where I stand and I have not changed any of my fundamental positions through my four years as a county commissioner.

Through the campaign process, it is very easy for a person to say several things to be elected, but I have consistently stood behind my word.

Thanks Mark.

John, Lecompton: How has the Planning Commission been “making taxing authority requests” and “implementing mandates on developers”? Can you give examples of how this was done without the approval of a governing body?

Jere McElhaney: The Planning Commission is currently developing guidelines for rural growth, residential, commercial, and industrial. They have based their report, which has not officially been before the County Commission, the “Growth Does Not Pay For Itself” theory. This has not been proven by the Planning Commission. They have made recommendations in their report which would mandate developments costs. The Planning Commission is not a taxing authority or tax retrieving board.

John, Lecompton: According to Kansas Case Law, what are the criteria to be used in evaluating a rezoning request? Do you favor strictly following these legal guideposts?

Jere McElhaney: The Golden Factors. Not only do we follow these guidelines but public comment, experience, planning commission recommendations, and professional staff recommendations are also evaluated as part of the overall review.

We have a very structured system, which has always encouraged public comment and suggestions. An elected official must make a decision with the community’s best interest at heart. E = Everyone!

Moderator: This will be our last question.

Jim, Fairway: What is your number one priority for the next four years?

Jere McElhaney: There is not a single priority issue facing Douglas County over the next four years. There continues to be many very important areas that I will work such as public works, fire and medical, transportation, social services, court systems, and the budget.

My goal is to continue the tradition of being effective, efficient, and responsive to our community’s needs.

Jere McElhaney: This is the first time that I have ever answered questions online. This has been a fun experience but I prefer to visit with people face to face. Always feel free to contact me by phone or by mail.

I can’t type so … thank You Bobbie [Flory] for being my typist today!

Moderator: We want to thank Commissioner McElhaney for spending time with us today. We have a chat scheduled with his opponent, Independent Marguerite Ermeling, at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. You can submit questions early to Marguerite Ermeling here.