Chiefs stadium deal clears another hurdle in Wyandotte County

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - The Kansas City Chiefs’ proposed Kansas stadium deal cleared another hurdle Nov. 5, with Wyandotte County commissioners approving two related measures.

The vote comes a little more than a week after Gov. Laura Kelly (the state of Kansas) and the Unified Government announced a settlement in a lawsuit that Wyandotte County filed over the state’s role in the deal. The settlement preserved key local protections, including Board of Public Utilities (BPU) oversight and a seat at the table in project oversight.

The board voted to repeal two measures it approved Oct. 8 that would have exempted the Unified Government from parts of a state law governing the stadium project.

Staff said the October measure was not legally valid because it was published only once, instead of the required two times. They said repealing the measures would clear up legal questions after local lawsuits against the state were dismissed following clarifying conversations between the two sides.

Commissioners also approved changes to an earlier pledge to use local sales tax revenue to help pay back state bonds for the proposed $3 billion domed stadium in KCK. The changes bring the tax pledge in line with an agreement between the state and the Chiefs.