Mr. Meadors, Director of Parks and Recreation, Johnson County Park & Recreation District (JCPRD) sent an email that addresses questions NeighborhoodNet has raised about whether statements made by JCPRD are false. My response to Mr. Meadors' email is available here.

Here is his email:

Mr. Phillips, your email below infers you have requested false information be corrected. What information have you requested to this office, be corrected? As a result of the Park and Recreation District's efforts to get a Q & A on our web site ASAP we did error and at your request corrected immediately the CSL Report's Economic impact #s as a result of 24 fields instead of 30 with a correction on our web site noting the earlier number. We even took it upon ourselves to have CERI, the County's Economic Research Institute to verify the revised numbers - thus the $24.3 million. We voluntarily reduced the number of youth to "ten's of thousands" from the 46,000 even though we are confident these numbers are in fact accurate in reporting participants, the number is actually approximately 50,000 but due to the difficulty in establishing the exact number, as the reporting by the different clubs and teams varies a great deal, we determined this was a safe description.

Additionally, I have sent you a letter from US Soccer (attached again) which in fact states the minimum required fields for US Youth Soccer Region II is currently 22 fields. It is important to note that these Regional Tournaments are in fact considered a part of the National Championship Series. In his letter Mr. Martella, states it is " ideal to have all of these fields at the same complex but not mandatory". In his phone conversation with Jill Geller, Superintendent of Recreation, in August, Mr. Martella, did in fact state it would be reasonable to expect by 2009, when the Soccer Park would be available to bid on such events, that 20 fields would be required to be located at one site. He addresses this expected growth in his letter stating two additional age groups will be added to the Championship Series in 2008. We would be doing a disservice to the taxpayer if we did not use this information provided by the national organization in the design of this park, and if we built a complex that is already obsolete by regional/national standards at its time of completion. In an effort to maximize the economic benefit of this site, it is in the best interest of the taxpayers to build as many fields as we can at this location. The need is evident. You may recall that the CSL study actually recommended a 30 field complex be constructed. We believe we have been prudent in recommending 24 fields with the artificial turf and full lighting that will maximize their use but at a reduced expense compared to the recommended 30 fields.

Mr. Phillips, you ask for accuracy in our reporting, when may I ask are you going to correct your false statement and slander you continue to throw at me and this project? I anxiously await your response and corrections!

Michael D. Meadors
Director of Parks and Recreation
Johnson County Park & Recreation District
District Administration Building, Shawnee Mission Park
7900 Renner Road, Shawnee Mission, KS 66219-9723
Phone: 913.894.3310 Fax: 913.492.7275 Cell: 913.909.3012
Mailto:michael.meadors@jocogov.org
Visit our website at http://www.jcprd.com
____________________________________________________________________ -----Original Message-----
From: phillips [mailto:phillips@kcnet.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 10:52 PM
To: updates@nbrhd.net; governingbody@opkansas.org; bvhatw@nbrhd.net;
BOCC-Commissioners; Meadors, Michael, PRK; info@jcprd.com
Subject: NeighborhoodNet: County Ethics & Misinformation and other stories

Hi folks,

These are recent updates to NeighborhoodNet. They for the most part have to do with trying to get factual information out to the public about the soccer issue which corrects misinformation supplied so far. A

new connection between the Wizards and the soccer fields is also addressed. Commissioner Peterson responded to my last email, involving both ethics and misinformation, but I found his response wanting and have therefore requested Chair of the BOCC Annabeth Surbaugh to take action.

Here are the headlines to look for:

NeighborhoodNet Requests False Soccer Information Be Corrected: Also Asks Commissioners To Investigate Possible Ethics Violations

County Commissioner Ed Peterson Responds To Ethics Questions: Full, Unedited Transcript of His Email

Major League Soccer (MLS) Pads Its Attendance Figures: Says San Diego Union Tribune

MLS Obligates Wizards to Form Youth Soccer Leagues : Who Supplies Fields

and Players?

Public Misled: 20 Soccer Fields Not Required On Site: See Letter from US

Youth Soccer

Bob Phillips
NeighborhoodNet
www.nbrhd.net

cc:
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Blue Valley Homeowners Against Tax Waste (www.bvhoagainsttaxwaste.com)
Johnson County Board of County Commissioners
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