Aug. 25, 2011
By Lynn Horsley
From The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Council declined today to place on the November ballot a measure challenging a new weapons plant in Kansas City.
The Council’s 12-1 vote against the ballot measure sets the stage for a lawsuit by a citizens group seeking the November vote.
The group calling itself KC Peace Planters gathered enough petition signatures for a ballot measure that would prohibit the production of nuclear weapons components at a billion-dollar plant under construction at 14500 Botts Road.
They recommended that the plant be converted into a “green technology” facility.
Councilman John Sharp argued that the ballot proposal violates the constitution because it conflicts with federal powers on national defense and violates numerous contractual obligations for a plant that is already one-third complete.
“We feel this initiative is unconstitutional on its face,” Sharp said.
Councilman Ed Ford was the lone dissenter, saying that, under the city’s charter, the council had no choice but to put the measure to the voters.
“You don’t mess around with our obligation under the city charter,” Ford said.
Supporters of the ballot measure agreed with Ford. They said they plan to go to court Friday to seek a court order requiring the council to put the matter on the November ballot.