Merriam mayor, council candidates share visions for downtown, views on tax incentives and more

Candidates vying for mayor and city council in Merriam laid out their visions for the city, particularly the downtown area, which could see dramatic changes in coming years, in a forum hosted by the Johnson County Post on Tuesday night.

The candidates also shared their differing views on property taxes, the use of incentives for development and the city’s impending move next year to a single trash hauler.

The forum on Tuesday was one of 12 scheduled nights of local candidate forums that the Post is hosting across Johnson County ahead of the Nov. 4 election.

Both candidates for mayor and the two candidates for the single contested city council seat in Ward 4 participated.

Who is running?

Mayor

• Billy Croan
• Bob Pape (incumbent)

City Council (Ward 4)

• Rob Arnold
• Reuben Cozmyer (current councilmember, appointed last year)

Voters should note that three incumbent councilmembers are also running unopposed and were not asked to participate in Tuesday’s forum because they have no opponents.

Those include Jacob Laha in Ward 1, Amy Rider in Ward 2 and Christine Evans Hands in Ward 3.

How to watch the Post’s forum

The Post livestreamed Tuesday’s event on our Facebook page. A recording of the forum can be viewed there, though it is now Facebook’s policy to erase live videos 30 days after they are produced.

You can also watch the full Merriam forum on the Post’s new YouTube channel, where it should be preserved into the future.

The full forum video is also embedded below:

Questions

The candidates gave opening statements and answered a series of questions based on reader feedback and suggestions received by the Post before the event.

Timestamps are included at the end of each question to help you navigate through the forum video if you’d like to jump around to issues that matter most to you.

1. Opening statements [4:15]
2. Vision for Merriam: What is your vision for the future of Merriam? And what would you to achieve that if elected? [9:46]
3. Property taxes: From a reader, “My only concern is property tax. I am an elderly, 87-year-old resident of Merriam for many years and live on a fixed income. My home is paid for and has been for a number of years. I would be very thankful if something could be done to lower or eliminate the property tax for those who are elderly and on a fixed income in Merriam.” What are your tax priorities? [14:38]

   

4. Tax follow up: Merriam does plan to lower its mill rate next year by a quarter mill. Still, many Merriam homeowners’ actual tax bills will go up with rising valuations. Should Merriam cut taxes more? Why or why not? [19:28]
5. Single trash hauler: We have this reader via email, asking “What’s the city’s motivation in awarding trash hauling to one contractor when there are currently others available?” If you missed it, the city this summer finalized a five-year contract with GFL to be the city’s lone solid waste contractor, starting in November 2026. So, residents have until that time to cancel their contract with their current waste hauler. Do you support this move? Why or why not? [22:32]

   

6. Economic development: From the audience, “What are your plans for working with businesses in both Merriam and Shawnee” — of course, Merriam shares a border with Shawnee — to get more visitors and foot traffic. Maybe a study? What are your plans for increasing business activity? [26:22]
7. Downtown plans: For years, Merriam has been contemplating the future of its downtown area along Merriam Drive. In a city survey last year, 82% of residents who responded either agreed or strongly agreed that the city should move downtown Merriam in a direction that is “considerably different” from the present downtown. What is your vision for downtown Merriam? And how would that impact residents citywide but also businesses in the downtown area? [30:48]

   

8. Demolishing downtown buildings: The city is considering multiple plans to deal with flooding along Turkey Creek, including potentially razing buildings — including current long-standing businesses — in order to elevate the area away from Turkey Creek. Do you support razing downtown buildings in order to counteract possible flooding? [35:00]
9. Building up areas outside of downtown: This question comes from the audience, “Would you encourage commercial development to continue in areas outside of downtown?” Are there other areas of the city ripe for economic development, and what would be your approach? [37:55]
10. Use of tax incentives: One of the biggest changes in Merriam that will develop over the next four years is the continuing transformation of the northwest corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch Road, site of the former Antioch Library. This spot will become home to the $102 million Merriam Grand Station Marketplace, which includes a planned Trader Joe’s. The project area will get incentives, including tax increment financing and a community improvement district. What is your stance on TIF, tax increment financing? Is it being overused? [42:35]

    

11. Working with city staff: A couple of questions from the audience regarding city staff. One person asks, “How would you work with city staff or city council (for mayor candidates) if elected?” Another person asks more specifically, “What is your opinion of the current city administrator?” Maybe take on both of those questions. [46:06]
12. Accountability: This person from the audience asks, “What will you do to improve accountability among elected officials?” Maybe framed another way, what will you do to be transparent and open with residents? [48:56]
13. Qualifications: Take this as a kind of closing statement, this is the final question: What are your qualifications for the job? Why should people vote for you? [52:08]