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Beautiful Wyandotte County Lake Park
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 ENews SourceUnified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas
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Two Projects Bring New Development to KCK
The Unified Government moves ahead with two redevelopment projects that have the potential of creating renewed synergy from midtown to downtown in Kansas City, Kansas.
The Unified Government Board of Commission approved a two year agreement with Lane4 Property Group, which allows them to marketing the former Indian Springs Mall site to those who potentially have an interest in being part of the redevelopment. Lane4 has established a successful reputation when it comes to spearheading large development projects like the former Indian Springs location.
"Once this area is back in play, the redevelopment of Indian Springs will help weave the community back together because of its key location in the community," says Greg Kindle, President of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council.
The UG took ownership of the Indian Springs property in 2007 and leased it out to various tenants until it officially closed in 2013 after the Neighborhood Resource Center moved to a new location. While it's too early in the process to speculate the kind of development that will be built on the pad site, the UG's planning staff envisions a horizontally integrated mixed-Use development that may include retail, commercial/office, restaurant, and multi-family.
"The new transit center and community room just west of Indian Springs have already created more traffic in this area than we've seen in years," said Mayor Mark Holland. "Lane 4 has experience tackling tough, urban projects like this one, and I'm confident they will bring life back to a site that anchors the center of our City."
The 39th and Rainbow project located directly across from KU Medical Center and the current construction of a new Walmart in Argentine are two of the most recent development projects Lane4 has managed in KCK.
In addition to mid-town, the Commission approved a redevelopment proposal for downtown KCK with Loretto Commercial Development LLC. The project proposes development on Minnesota Ave in downtown KCK. A major reinvestment in the downtown area that the UG has been trying to capture for some time now.
The development group is not ready to disclose details on the project at this time. However, the UG is supportive of what has been proposed and is ready to move forward with the partnership.
"These projects bring renewed momentum to our Midtown and Downtown communities," said Mayor Holland. "We've experienced more than a decade of vibrant growth in Wyandotte County including out west, 39th Street and inside the Fairfax District. My hope is that these new investments spur additional progress and job creation in neighborhoods that haven't witnessed the same level of development."
"KCK is very fortunate to have Loretto Properties join the community," Kindle says. "This development along with many others we anticipate, will help reinvigorate downtown to its' former glory."
The most recent developments in both areas have been the construction of two MetroCenters, which were completed in 2013.
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KCK and the National Resource Network
Kansas City, Kansas is one of the first cities in the nation selected to receive assistance through the National Resource Network. The Obama Administration has committed $10-million in seed funding to the National Resource Network (NRN) to provide assistance to some of the nation's economically distressed communities.
The National Resource Network (the Network) is one component of the Obama Administration's broader approach and initiatives to partnering with communities to stimulate the growth and prosperity of local economies. The network harnesses private sector expertise to help local governments implement strategies and solutions to grow their economies and build thriving and sustainable communities. The firms leading the Network bring decades of experience in helping cities to identify and attract new private capital, apply business solutions, and forge new partnerships between the private and public sectors.
The NRN will provide the first "311 for Cities" service that will provide timely, on-demand access to expertise and technical assistance to cities, focusing on issues like economic growth and competitiveness, public safety, workforce development, housing, and transportation. Cities will have the ability to ask questions and within 3 days, receive an initial response from an expert who can help identify additional support or resources.
In addition to the "311" resource, the Network will work with cities, side-by-side, to develop and deliver innovative solutions, share real-world expertise and best practices and help cities develop the tools, partnerships, and strategies they need to grow their economies. Cities will work with a team of experts that will assess their local needs, provide recommendations, and help cities identify and execute on strategies that align with their economic recovery.
The Network is administered and operated by a consortium consisting of Enterprise Community Partners, Public Financial Management, HR&A Advisors, New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and the International City/County Management Association.
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KCK Population Grows
The U.S. Census Bureau confirms more people are moving to KCK. The annual population report says as of July 1, 2013, the population of KCK is 148,483. That's a population gain of 2,697 people, or 1.8% since 2010. In 2010 the population was 145, 786.
Between the 2012 and 2013, Kansas City had a population increase of 1,148 persons (0.8%). Olathe had the largest increase during this period with a gain of 1,874 (1.4%) while Topeka lost an estimated 310 persons (-0.2%).
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Pools and Spray Parks Open
Parkwood Pool and three spray parks opened for the season on Saturday.
The pool hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 p.m. pm to 8:00 p.m. Admission to the pool is just $1.00.
Additionally, children of all ages and abilities can enjoy sprays of water from brightly colored towers at three local spray parks. The Spray Parks are free. They are open from 9am to 9:30 pm daily.
The spray parks are located at: Eisenhower Park, 2901 N. 72nd Street, Pierson Park, 1800 South 55th Street and Heathwood Park, Parallel Parkway and North 11th Street.
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Wyandotte Health Foundation Names New President/CEO
The Wyandotte Health Foundation (WHF) Board of Directors has announced the selection of Cathy Harding as its new President/CEO. She will transition to the role in early July, succeeding founding President/CEO Bill Epperheimer, who will retire after nearly 17 years at the helm of WHF.
Harding has worked in the health care safety net environment for nearly two decades, focusing on initiatives that improve the health of low-income and uninsured individuals. Since 2007, she has served as the Executive Director of the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved, the Primary Care Association of Kansas. As such, Harding has worked with health clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, local health departments, members of the Kansas Legislature and health foundations across the state to promote health care access for underserved populations, including those in Wyandotte County.
A Kansas native, Harding previously held leadership positions with Ozark Tri-County Health Care Consortium and served as the Executive Director of the Flint Hills Community Health Center in Emporia. The WHF Search Committee selected Harding from a "very strong slate of candidates." Leon Logan, chair of the WHF Board of Directors said, "We were impressed by Cathy's strong passion for making a difference in the lives of others. She has dedicated much of her career to supporting safety net clinics and advocating for policies that improve population health. The Board feels that her talents will be a great asset to the Wyandotte County community."
"To have been selected as the CEO of the Wyandotte Health Foundation is a great honor, as well as a great responsibility that I do not take lightly. I'm excited about working with the Board, stakeholders and citizens of this community to make an impact on the health of the county," said Harding.
The Wyandotte Health Foundation was established in 1997 with proceeds from the sale of Bethany Medical Center to Columbia HCA. The organization ranks No. 18 on the Kansas City Business Journal's list of top area charitable trusts and foundations, with approximately $40 million in assets. WHF has awarded over $30 million to organizations providing health care services to uninsured and underinsured residents of Wyandotte County, including $1.8 million in grants in its 2013 funding cycle. The Foundation recently announced a $1 million grant to the proposed $30-million Healthy Campus initiative in Kansas City, Kansas.
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Park Commissioners Board Meeting Changed
The Unified Government Board of Park Commissioners announces a change of location for the June 11, 2014 public Park Board meeting. The Unified Government Board of Park Commissioners meeting location will be at City Hall, 701 N. 7th Street, Kansas City, KS, 5th floor conference room.
The Board will meet at City Hall the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
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Road Closures
Based on information provided by both the UG's Public Works Department and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), we are able to provide motorist living in Wyandotte County an update on road and highway projects.
This information can be useful to prepare individuals, commuting to and from work, with early warnings on minor delays. This also encourages motorists to use alternate routes due to land and ramp closures.
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No UG Closures to Report
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I-70 Pavement Repair Project to Begin in WyCo
On Tuesday evening, May 27, a pavement repair project will begin for eastbound and westbound I-70 from 110th Street to I-435 in Wyandotte County. This also includes work on the 110thStreet interchange ramps. Project work includes partial depth patching, a 3-inch structural overlay on eastbound I-70 only followed by a novachip overlay and all new pavement markings on both eastbound and westbound I-70. Work will take place daily overnight between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., Monday through Friday.
Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening, May 27, eastbound I-70 west of I-435 to 110th Street will be reduced to one 12-foot lane through the project work zone for pavement repair work. There will be a posted speed limit of 60 mph through the project work zone during working hours only. Traffic will be directed through the project work zone via cones and signage during working hours.
Advance message boards will alert traffic to the lane closures. Drivers should expect minor delays during the overnight work hours. Updated traffic information for this project and the entire Kansas City Metro area can be viewed online at: www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.
Superior Bowen (Kansas City, MO) is the primary contractor on this pavement repair project with a total contract cost of $1.478 million. The scheduled completion date for the project is mid-July 2014, weather permitting.
This project is funded by T-WORKS, the transportation program passed by the Kansas Legislature in May 2010. Find out more about this and other T-WORKS projects at: http://kdotapp.ksdot.org/TWorks/.
For more information on this pavement repair project, please contact Kimberly Qualls, Northeast Kansas Public Affairs Manager, at (785) 640-9340, or Kevin Kellerman, Construction Engineer, Bonner Springs at (913) 721-2754. (KDOT Project #70-105 KA-3624-01)
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KCTraffic Update
As of 12:00 p.m. NOON, TODAY, Tuesday, May 27, northbound and southbound K-7 left lanes from south of Kansas Avenue to north of Riverview Avenuewere CLOSED to all traffic, 24/7 round the clock, for pavement reconstruction work scheduled to be completed in late August 2014, weather permitting. Also, the I-70 to southbound K-7 double left turn lane movement was reduced to ONE OPEN left turn lane throughout the project duration.
Updated daily traffic information for this project and for the entire Kansas City Metro Area can be viewed online any time at: www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.
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Extra Enforcement of State Seatbelt Laws Planned this Month Across Kansas
Two years ago Shelby Feugate was a 20-year-old who never wore her seat belt.
"I thought they were uncomfortable and I just didn't like them," Feugate said. "I never thought I'd get into a crash."
Feugate spoke from a wheel chair Wednesday at a Kansas Department of Transportation news conference at the Shawnee Police Department. Feugate says she never wore a seat belt until after the crash that cost the use of her legs. In 2012, a car she was driving was struck by another vehicle on the passenger side. The other driver was wearing a seatbelt and walked away; Feugate suffered a spinal cord injury that made her a paraplegic.
"I went to a rehabilitation center for two months to learn how to live life in a wheelchair," Feugate said. "What I miss most about my life before is being spontaneous. Now I have to plan everything in advance, even just to go out."
In May, the Kansas Highway Patrol and sheriffs and police departments across Kansas will be working overtime to catch drivers who are not buckled up.
"Given the choice between a crash death notification and writing a seat-belt ticket, any law officer would much prefer the latter," said Shawnee Police Sgt. Jim Baker.
"Making a death notification is one of the hardest parts of being an officer, especially when simply buckling up would have saved a life."
The extra enforcement is part of a larger, national Click It or Ticket mobilization that runs May 19 - June 1.
"Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer vacation season, and we want everyone to arrive alive," Baker said. "Just buckle up, or you will receive a ticket."
Kansas law allows that law enforcement officers can stop any vehicle simply for a seat-belt violation. No other violation needs be observed. Baker said enforcement will focus on younger motorists, pickup trucks and nighttime motorists. National statistics show crash fatalities in these categories are more likely to be related to failure to wear seat belts than other categories.
Jenny Scheve, a former trauma nurse who now speaks for ThinkFirst of Kansas City, an injury prevention program, says the biggest challenges with unbelted crash survivors are head and spinal cord injuries.
"The body cannot regenerate damaged brain or spine cells," Scheve said. "Crash victims who were not wearing a seat belt are the most difficult cases, medically for the treatment staff and emotionally for family and friends. Lives are changed."
Chris Bortz, KDOT Traffic Safety manager, said Kansans are below the national average in seat belt use. In 2012 Kansas had a 79.5 percent usage rate, which is 39th in the country, compared with 86 percent in the rest of the United States.
"To save lives, we've created a new message that Kansans will see on television and online," Bortz said. "The message emphasizes that you will be stopped and you will get a ticket if you don't wear a seat belt. In Kansas it's the law. Click it or ticket."
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Daily Lane Closure 
Remember, you can always go to the KDOT website for up to the minute road closures and traffic information. |
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Delinquent
Real Estate
Tax Sale #331
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Improving the Quality
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Kansas City, Kansas |
The Code Enforcement Division of the UG brings you this message monthly to encourage voluntary citizen compliance to reduce blight and beautify the appearance of our city.
Please click on the target to access information on the Code Enforcement for the month. You may contact Code Enforcement.
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