‘He’s not up to it’: Councilwoman wants to remove aviation official from KCI project
A Kansas City councilwoman says the city’s top aviation official should no longer oversee construction of the new airport terminal, writing in an ordinance that he has “failed to properly exercise his responsibilities of oversight.”
Councilwoman Katheryn Shields, 4th District at-large, introduced the ordinance Thursday to amend the city’s contract with Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate, developer of the new $1.5 billion single terminal at Kansas City International Airport.
Under the current contract, Aviation Director Pat Klein represents the city in dealings with Edgemoor. In an interview Friday, Shields expressed concern about Edgemoor’s recent hiring of contractors, particularly a bid for concrete work reportedly worth $80 million that may be awarded to an out-of-state company.
“To paraphrase Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet,’ there’s something rotten at KCI terminal project,” Shields said.
Shields said she had advised former City Manager Troy Schulte against putting Klein in his post.
“It’s pretty clear in my mind that Pat really just isn’t up to the job, and so he just does nothing,” Shields said. “I mean, in meetings he’s like a frightened little rabbit quivering in the corner. I mean, he’s not up to this job. He is not up to representing the citizens of Kansas City in a billion-and-a-half dollar project. He’s not up to it.”
In a statement, Klein said he was “proud of the work the Aviation Department has done and continues to do to keep the largest single infrastructure project in Kansas City’s history on time and on budget.”
“With more than 79% of the work on the project being completed by residents of the Kansas City region, and the developer on track to meet or exceed the goals for minority and women-owned participation, the Build KCI new single terminal project is impacting the local economy in a very positive way,” Klein said. “A directive to change the project structure at this point is interesting and I look forward to a public discussion to better understand the perceived benefits such a change would create.”
Local trade groups earlier this week held a press conference to criticize Edgemoor for awarding the concrete contract to ESCO Construction Co. of Colorado. They said the company was not going to hire enough minority- and women-owned businesses. The group, led by the Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City and the Greater Kansas City Building and Trades Council, favored Ideker Inc. of St. Joseph, whose owner, Paul Ideker, serves as the group’s treasurer.
“When I campaigned for the new airport, I told voters it would mean jobs for Kansas City, and in particular jobs for minority contractors and workers,” Shields said. “Edgemoor specifically promised that this terminal project would be a game-changer for minority contracting, minority … training and minority employment.”
Shields said she believed hiring ESCO for the concrete work would be a “betrayal of that promise.”
Council members and trade groups have said ESCO’s bid was cheaper. The Aviation Department and Edgemoor have not provided copies of the bids to The Star.
Terry Cassidy, whom the city contracted to look out for its interests on the airport project, said in a letter to City Council that the Aviation Department had done its duty on the concrete bid.
Cassidy said that if ESCO is chosen, Edgemoor carries the risk of having to make fixes if the contractor does a poor job.
“If Edgemoor/CWC is directed to select an alternative bidder,” he said, “the city is exposed to (cost) risks if the new subcontractor has any type of failures to perform under their contract.”
Under the city charter, the mayor and council are prohibited from appointing or removing “any person to or from office or employment by the city manager or any subordinate.” But Shields said she would leave to the city manager whether to remove Klein as director of aviation. Her ordinance, she said, would simply alter the contract with Edgemoor that the council passed.
City spokesman Chris Hernandez said the attorney’s office could not comment Friday because it is “involved in giving advice to council members regarding this ordinance.”
This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 3:19 PM.
