ShawneeDispatch.com

Shawnee — It's down to the wire - on Tuesday, one candidate for the Ward IV Shawnee City Council seat will be out of the race.

Before Tuesday's primary, the lone primary in the county, the Dispatch asked Ward IV candidates Frank Imgrund, Mickey Sandifer and Paul Wohl a few last questions, this time specifically about their ward.

The city's fourth ward stretches along the southern border to Kansas Highway 7. Given all three candidates live east of Interstate 435, all were asked about their campaign efforts thus far.

Imgrund said he has largely been campaigning by talking to his neighbors and to people he knows through contacts in the community. He said he has tried to discuss concerns for those in the western areas with some people, but hopes to do more after the primary.

As the incumbent, Sandifer said he thinks he has proven his ability to keep in touch with his western constituents in his four years on the Council. He said he has gone door to door in neighborhoods throughout the ward to talk to residents.

Through his campaigning, Sandifer said he has a complete list of concerns residents have with the city, with the No. 1 being maintaining the integrity of neighborhoods.

"They definitely do not want to see any issues in the safety of our city," he added. "They think our police and our fire departments are the best, and they don't want to see anything compromise that."

Wohl said he also has been going door to door in various neighborhoods. He said he also has had some in-depth discussion with people who live west of I-435 to learn more about their concerns.

In his view, he said the biggest issue in the western area is responsible development and making sure the residents' concerns are heard. He said parks and trails are also a concern, because the younger families need places for children to play.

"I want to make sure all that is managed affectively and appropriately, because those are quality of life issues," Wohl said.

Economic development has been one of the most-discussed issues in all Council races, and two developments most recently approved in Ward IV were the Mill Creek Plaza West, which includes a Holiday Inn, and the Shops at Maurer Place, which includes a Best Buy.

All candidates agreed that Best Buy was an appropriate development, though Wohl said he was concerned there would be an appropriate buffer between the development and residential areas. All three also agreed that more work was needed on the plans for Holiday Inn.

Sandifer, who voted against the hotel, said he didn't think the residents got fair consideration from the developers, though there was communication between the two before plans were given to the city for approval.

Imgrund and Wohl said they would have voted against the hotel's approval given the neighbors' concerns. Wohl said in his traveling, he's seen different approaches taken to separate hotels from residential areas, and he thinks the residents didn't get enough input.

"That's really a big communication issue, and I think that's one of the areas where we need to improve," Wohl said.

As far as future developments along Midland Drive, the candidates agreed that the city would have to be careful about any developments allowed east of Maurer.

Imgrund said he would be sensitive to any development planned too close to residential areas.

"I would be careful and research it, talk to the people involved before making a decision," he said.

Sandifer said he would never condemn property for commercial development, and along Midland Drive, he wouldn't support any fast food or other high-traffic businesses west of Maurer when new developments come in.

"Each one will be evaluated on its own merits to determine if it's appropriate for that area," he said.

Wohl said he has seen how some planned communities transition from commercial to residential with appropriate buffers, something that should be considered on Midland Drive and for all commercial development.

"It can be done with a little bit of imagination and a lot of communication," he said. "I think so often we've taken a 'We've always done it this way,' or 'It's our property and we can do what we want' attitude."

In the ward's eastern areas, all candidates say they appreciate the new developments along 75th Street, with a new Walgreens at 75th and Quivira and improvements made when the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market was built.

Imgrund said though there are some vacancies in the area, he didn't think it was as big a concern as other areas in the city, such as the former Price Chopper at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Pflumm Road.

Sandifer and Wohl both said that while 75th is a major entry point for the city, the city shouldn't have to provide incentives for further improvements.

"There's been a great improvement in that area of the city," he said. "But of course we can always attract more high-quality businesses that would make our centers more viable."

Wohl said improving the older buildings in the area was the landlord's responsibility, and given the traffic in the area, they should already have an incentive to maintain buildings.

"So many times these tax incentives were an absolute waste, they were given to the wrong entity, and the burden falls on the people who can't afford it," he said.

A city project that has been reviewed in the ward recently is improvements to Midland Drive between I-435 and Barker Road at Shawnee Mission Parkway. City engineers have designated the road for four lanes and bike lanes in the future, and Council members have discussed the need for sidewalks or a recreational trail.

Imgrund said he would have to research costs involved with any improvements, but he did see a need for bike lanes in the area.

Sandifer said he didn't think the road needed to be four lanes in that area because it would encroach upon homeowners. He said he supports two lanes with curbs and gutters and either bike lanes or a recreational trail.

The road is a safety issue, Wohl said, saying he knows personally after riding his bike on the road. He said he too would want to know more about the costs of the road, and he suggested reducing the scope of another city project to pay for some improvements for that section of Midland Drive.