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ENews Source    
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
 

 
This Week In Kansas City, Kansas
Google Selects Kansas City Kansas for Fiber Project
Hollywood Casino Bids
Schlitterbahn Hiring
Grinter Place Events
Law Enforcement "On Track" to Prevent Child Abuse
UG Announces Official Launch of New Website
We Apologize!
Road Construction
Upcoming Meetings
Your Kansas City
3-1-1 Call Center

Google Selects Kansas City, Kansas for Fiber Project

Google AnnouncementGoogle announced today its selection of Kansas City, Kansas as the first city to conduct its High-Speed Fiber Pilot project. The announcement was welcomed by a crowd assembled at the auditorium at Wyandotte High School.

 

"The wonderful diversity of our community, neighborhoods and industry make Kansas City, Kansas a microcosm for the rest of the country," Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon. "When you combine these assets with our well-established track record of development partnerships, we feel Kansas City, Kansas is the perfect location for Google to launch its Fiber Project."

 

The news was delivered at 12:00 p.m. in front of an anxious crowd consisting of students, school personnel, Standing Ovation at Google Announcementarea neighborhood and community groups, local and state government officials wondering what the big announcement could possibly be.

 

Google unveiled their plan a year ago to build and study the use of ultra-high speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the country. As part of this process, the company asked interested communities to submit an application. Like more than 1,100 cities across the nation, the Unified Government (UG) submitted an application for this unique and innovative partnership.

 

"This project represents the future of how we connect to the web, and we want it to start in Kansas City," said Milo Medin, Vice President for Access Services at Google.  "It is a real honor for Google to be here, and we will work hard to deliver a service that will delight and empower this community to lead the nation forward in broadband."

 

Google plans to offer service to the citizens of Kansas City beginning in 2012.  In addition, as part of the agreement, Google will be providing free access to schools and city facilities as the fiber network is deployed.

 

"The deployment of this high speed Internet serviceMayor Joe Reardon into our neighborhoods will undoubtedly further advance the academic vision and goals of our local schools and universities. Our students will benefit from this new opportunity allowing them to use this next generation fiber optic system to fully realize their potential in a global economy," said Reardon.

 

Google has committed to providing 1 gigabit per second fiber straight to homes and businesses at a competitive price. This is 100 times faster than most broadband connections speeds.  One of the company's goals is to improve Internet access by observing how communities transition from traditional broadband to ultra high-speed fiber optic connections.

 

"Over the past decade, the jump from dial-up to broadband has led to streaming online video, digital music sales, video conferencing over the web, and countless other innovations that have transformed communication and commerce," Medin said.

 

Additional information on the Google Fiber project in Kansas City, Kansas is available at

www.google.com/fiber/kansascityks

 

About Google Inc.


Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Hollywood Casino Bids

Penn National Gaming announced that bid packages for the operations portion of the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway will be out in mid-2011.

 

In order to be informed about these opportunities you must be a registered vendor with Penn National Gaming. If you are interested in any of the upcoming opportunities please take a moment to visit Penn National Gaming's website at www.hollywoodcasinokansas.com to get registered.

Schlitterbahn Hiring

Schlitterbahn Vacation Villageis currently accepting seasonal employment applications for the 2011 season. A multi-million dollar 2011 expansion which includes the region's only surf ride, a mammoth rapids river, two head-first mat slides, a totally enclosed tube slide, a whitewater tube chute and ride-up Aqua Veyer,requires more than 150 additional staff members than last season.

 

Please email [email protected] for more information or questions regarding employment.

Grinter Place Events

The Kansas Historical Society announced that Grinter Place State Historic Site will offer visitors the experience of a traditional Victorian tea Saturday, April 9. Three sessions are available, 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m., with a limit of 25 people per session.

 

Visitors will be served cucumber sandwiches, butter cookies, scones with local jams and jellies, fresh fruit, tea, coffee, and water. The Grinter house will be decorated in Victorian style and visitors can enjoy poetry readings and classical music. Participants will also receive a small gift to take home. In keeping with the sophisticated elegance of this event, visitors are asked to dress appropriately for the occasion. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door and include a tour of Grinter Place, refreshments, and entertainment.

 

From April 29-May 1 Grinter Place will host the 35th annual quilt show. This year's quilt show theme is "Quilting Through the Years." Visitors can browse several Victorian quilts and make a donation on this year's opportunity quilt, hand-quilted by the Grinter Place Quilters. Proceeds from the quilt go directly to support the Grinter Place Friends, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides support for Grinter Place State Historic Site.

Admission to the quilt show is free courtesy of the Grinter Place Quilters. Visitors can enjoy a sit-down tea for $2 per person.

 

Grinter Place is located at 1420 S 78th Street, Kansas City. For more information call 913-299-0373 or visit www.kshs.org.

 

Law Enforcement "On Track" to Prevent Child Abuse

The Wyandotte County Sheriff's Department and the Kansas Speedway KCK are hosting Law Enforcement "On Track" to Prevent Child Abuse on Friday April 1, 2011 at 10:00 am at the Kansas Speedway promoting April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Law Enforcement from many agencies will be represented. Fully marked patrol units will be lined up in the pit area. Blue ribbons will be handed to each officer by children and their parents after a short program, asking officers to "help protect children from abuse." 

 

Wyandotte County Sheriff Donald Ash will wave the checkered flag and all units will activate their emergency equipment. After a brief moment, he will wave the flag again and officers will turn off their sirens, but keep all lights on. This will symbolize all officers working together to prevent abuse. The Kansas Speedway Show Car will start the processional of patrol cars leaving the pit area and going around the track in groups of 2. Pictures will be taken from the ground and a helicopter will be filming from above. 

 

In addition, The Sunflower House will be helping with the launch of the newly formed PACK (Prevent Abuse Coalition of Kansas). This will be a very busy morning!

 

The mission of our event is "One Passion, One Goal...Raising Strong Families". This month and throughout the year, the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making your community a better place for families. By ensuring parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help prevent child abuse and neglect by strengthening families and communities.

 

Child abuse continues to be a major social problem in the Kansas City Metro area. In Johnson and Wyandotte Counties alone, over 9,000 reports of child abuse and neglect are received by authorities each year.  Law enforcement believes many cases of suspected child abuse go unreported each year. 

 

For more information on child abuse, this event or to schedule an interview, please contact Lt. Kelli Bailiff at 913-573-8058.

UG Announces Official Launch of New Website

The Unified Government (UG) officially announces the launch of its newly redesigned website. The website has been designed with a fresh and inviting look, new menus and improved functionality to provide easier and quicker access to information.

 

"I am very excited about the improved functionality and design of our website. There are some great things taking place in our community and we want to make sure visitors have easy access to this information," Edwin Birch, Public Information Office said. "We listened to  comments and suggestions from our users about the previous website and incorporated those ideas into the design of our new layout."

 

Some of the new features include the "I Want To" section, which allows browsers to find answers to specific questions they're searching for. The Media Center and More Resources sections were designed to provide a clearer and more logical format to scan important information from the home page. The Media Center provides timely information on featured stories, events and activities relating to the UG. Also in this section you can sign-up for our weekly newsletter, social media site(s), and access news releases. All of this information located right at your fingertips, in the same location and simpler format.

 

One occasional user to the new website stated, "It's more modern and not as antiquated. It's more user-friendly and easier to navigate."

 

Mobile Website

Another exciting feature coming soon is a new mobile website. The mobile site allows Smartphone, Blackberry, iPhone, and other cell phone users easier interaction and access to information compared to viewing our site solely from a web based format. This new addition will allow the UG to improve and expand its communication efforts by enhancing device accessibility.  

 

"We've come a long way from the old design," Birch said. "There was no funding available to hire a professional web design team. So we had to do everything in-house. The new mobile site removes some barriers for those who attempt to interact with their local government from a mobile device." The UG plans to have the mobile site available by mid-April.

 

The website has been online since January of this year. There were some technical issues that needed to be corrected before the initial announcement of the new site. Take a moment to visit the site and while you're there, tell us what you think by completing the survey located under the Media Center - Stay Connected section.

www.wycokck.org

We Apologize!

Oops Sign

The UG's 311 Call Center had a technical issue with e-mail servers from December 21, 2010 through March 1, 2011 which prevented the Call Center from receiving e-mail notifications.  

 

If you attempted to communicate with us by way of e-mail during this time frame and your issue is yet to be addressed, please contact us again at [email protected]. You may also reach us by phone by dialing 3-1-1 or 573-5311.

 

Once again, we apologize for the technical issue and any inconveniece this may have caused. We hope to get your issue resolved as soon as possible.

 

Road Construction

Road ConstructionBased on information provided by both the UG's Public Works  Departrment and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), the UG is able to provide motorist living in Wyandotte County with a list of roads and highways that are scheduled for construction.

 

This information can be useful to prepare individuals, commuting to and from work, with early warnings on minor delays. This also encourages drivers to use alternate routes due to lane and ramp closures.

 

Visit the KDOT website for up to date information on lane and ramp closures:

www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.

KDOT Logo

Two I-35 Bridge Repair Projects Set to Begin

One of two bridge repair projects began this week on I-35 in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties. 

 

The first repair project is planned for the Lamar Avenue bridge spanning over I-35; the second repair project will take place on the I-35 bridge spanning over Southwest Boulevard.  On the Lamar Avenue bridge, crews will repair approximately 35-foot of the bridge wall due to damage caused from a vehicle crash.  On the I-35 bridge over Southwest Boulevard, crews will complete repairs on the finger joints and two columns.  Repair work will take place on the Lamar Avenue bridge during daylight hours, Monday through Friday; repair work on the I-35 over Southwest Boulevard bridge will take place during the overnight hours, Monday through Friday. 

 

Also begining Monday of this week, the northbound lane of Lamar Avenue was closed on the bridge over I-35.  Northbound Lamar Avenue traffic will not be able to access southbound I-35 due to this closure.  A marked detour will be provided.  Traffic will detour northbound on I-35 to 18th Street Expressway then back to southbound I-35.  This will also be the detour for northbound Lamar Avenue as the repair work does not impact any of the interchange ramps or southbound Lamar Avenue traffic.  This bridge repair work is scheduled to be completed in approximately five days, weather permitting.  

 

The following Monday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m., repair work will begin on the southbound I-35 bridge over Southwest Boulevard.  For this repair project, southbound I-35 will be reduced to one lane over the Southwest Boulevard bridge during working hours only.  Crews will complete the repair work overnight between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., Monday through Friday.  This bridge repair work is scheduled to be completed in approximately five days, weather permitting.  

 

Marked detours will be provided as stated above.  Updated traffic information for these bridge repair projects can be viewed online at:  

 

www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp

 

 

PCI Roads is the primary contractor on these bridge repair projects with a total contract cost of $46,500.  Both bridge repair projects are scheduled to be completed by early April 2011.   

 

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation urges all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and "Give 'Em a Brake!" when approaching and driving through the project work zone.  For more project information, please contact Kimberly Qualls, Northeast Kansas Public Affairs Manager, at (785) 640-9340, or Amy Pope, Bonner Springs Construction Engineer, at (913) 721-2754.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unified Government of Wyandotte County, KC, KS

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 Board of Commissioners meeting in Commission Chambers
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