Freedom of Information Act documents from request filed by Angel Cushing, April 2021 with the National Park Service, received July 2021, posted to Western Region Property Rights Coalition Facebook page: July 24-August 2, 2021.
Introduction to 2021 FOIA Documents
by Norman L. Kincaide, Ph.D.
Board meetings Kansas Nebraska National Heritage Area Partnership (KNHAP) of January and February 2021 indicate they had no idea that opposition to their National Heritage Area (NHA) initiative was about to erupt. Thus far KNHAP garnered support from political officials, but had not informed the general public in the 49 counties of the proposed National Heritage Area (NHA).
Meeting minutes indicate KNHAP would have to grow the grassroots for this NHA initiative. Other telling statements include:
“Community outreach events can possibly be assigned as projects to Kristen’s
advanced event planning class.”
Class assignments at University of Nebraska, Lincoln were going to be used for the benefit of a private nonprofit?
“Not worth our while to have public meetings until FS [Feasibility Study] is in
motion because they will have to be part of that process.”
Why were the residents out in the counties to be the last informed about this federal government program?
“Estimate needed for student work hours to include as in-kind for grant applications.”
Estimates of student work hours can be included as in-kind contributions for a private nonprofit?
On March 2, 2021, KNHAP was made aware of NHA opposition mailings to boards of County Commissioners.
Kim Wilson asked: “Can we make it a strategy to communicate with all county
commissioners throughout our study area?”
Far too late to ask that question. Also, too late to consider diversifying KNHAP board of directors to include landowners, farmers and ranchers. Professor Wilson expressed concern to the NPS that KNHAP had been grouped in with President Biden’s 30X30 Plan. A letter published by the Willa Cather Foundation did not dispel concerns about a Kansas Nebraska NHA.
By the end of April 2021 KNHAP board lost five board members, four resigned
and one retired as a result of nine public meetings held in opposition to the Kansas Nebraska NHA. Nothing was ever mentioned in KNHAP minutes about holding their own public meetings, except as they were part of the feasibility study.
KNHAP’s Facebook page announced a pre-planned summer break. There is no
mention of a pre-planned summer break in any meeting minutes. Unless this decision was taken in their April 2021 board meeting. The FOIA only captured the April 2021 meeting agenda.