The non-elected governing board of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority agreed to pay CEO and president Robbie Makinen $600,000 in exchange for his resignation last week after Kansas City Manager Brian Platt issued an ultimatum: find a replacement for Makinen or the city would find an alternative bus service. The amount represents two years’ salary, health benefits and other compensation, according to the separation agreement that The Star obtained through an open records request. The board for the taxpayer-financed KCATA was only obligated to pay him one year of pay under the terms of his employment agreement. The board gave no reason for his forced resignation and did not explain why they agreed to pay a higher amount. The KCATA provides transit service to Kansas City and other local jurisdictions on a contract basis. Two sales taxes fund Kansas City’s bus service. City officials have increasingly complained about the timeliness and dependability of bus service prov...