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Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas
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Tuesday, February 10, 2015
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 Rendering of the new DFA global headquarters to be Built in Kansas City, Kansas.
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Improving the Quality of Lives in Kansas City, Kansas
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ENews Source
Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas
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DFA Announces Plans to Build Global Headquarters
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), Kansas City's largest private company with approximately $18 billion in revenue in 2014, has announced plans to build its new global headquarters in Kansas City, Kansas.
This will relocate DFA's more than 325 employees from office space it has leased in Missouri since its formation in 1998, to a state-of-the-art office building being constructed in the expanded Village West area in Wyandotte County, Kansas.
Owned by more than 15,000 dairy farmers across the country, and invested in brands such as Borden Cheese, Kemps, Keller's Creamery and Hiland Dairy, DFA is the nation's largest milk marketing cooperative. An exporter of dairy products and powders to nearly 50 countries, DFA is also the sixth-largest global dairy company.
With this new building, the Kansas City-based cooperative will join Cerner Corporation, U.S. Soccer and other companies in calling this area of Kansas City, Kansas, home.
"We are pleased to welcome Dairy Farmers of America to the vibrant and growing Village West area where we offer world-class entertainment and retail for residents and visitors to our city," said Mayor Mark Holland. "We're excited to continue to grow the region with new housing and office development."
Featuring open floor plans and abundant glass, the three-story, 100,000-square-foot building will be constructed with sustainability in mind and designed to LEED standards.
"This building will pay tribute to our cooperative's farmer-owners and the sustainable practices they employ on their dairies," said Rick Smith, DFA president and chief executive officer. "More importantly, as DFA strives to be the workplace of choice for employees, the new building will feature a modern, flexible work environment designed for employees of today and tomorrow."
The layout of the building will foster increased collaboration between employees while offering the technology and amenities that play a crucial role in ensuring employee success and satisfaction. Kansas City companies have been chosen to complete the project and include RED Brokerage, LLC; J.E. Dunn Construction Group; HOK; and VanTrust Real Estate, LLC.
"Amongst DFA's priorities was retention of their current talent while offering a location that could improve and expand employee recruitment efforts. Secondly was a location that would provide their staff and visiting farmer partners with immediate access to a wide variety of amenities," said Tim Schaffer, executive vice president of RED Brokerage. "We worked with them to ensure their new location met this criteria."
DFA employees live by the core values of quality, integrity, passion, accountability, innovation and community and have pledged to work in partnership with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, to help them achieve the vision of a healthier and more sustainable community.
"We are privileged to be working with Dairy Farmers of America on this significant project within the Kansas City metro area," said Peter Sloan, vice president of HOK. "Throughout the design process, DFA has demonstrated exceptional leadership and thoughtfulness in their desire to create a progressive office environment that will best support the needs of their employees, their membership and the DFA brand."
Expected completion of the project is December 2016.
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Mayor's State of the Government Address
Mayor Mark Holland invites the community to join him for the 2015 annual State of the Government Address to be held on Tuesday, February 24th at 11:30 am at the Jack Reardon Civic Center located at 500 Minnesota Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas
The event is hosted by the Downtown KCK Rotary Club. Tickets are $24 and are available to purchase online by the February 17th deadline. If you need to pay by check, please contact the Mayor's office at 913-573-5010 or Mayor Holland@wycokck.org.
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UG-Hollywood Casino 2015 Grant Information
On Monday, February 9th the applications for the 2015
UG-Hollywood Casino Grants will be available. The application process is on-line only and can be accessed on the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation website.
Application support will be provided by contacting Matthew Fuller at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, (816) 627-3420.
The grant information sessions for interested individuals and organizations have been scheduled:
February 18, 2015, 1:30 p.m.
Health Department Auditorium
619 Ann Avenue
March 11, 2015, 3:00 p.m.
West Wyandotte Library Auditorium
1737 N. 82nd Street
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Budget Public Hearing
You are invited to attend a public hearing to be held on Thursday evening, February 19, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Unified Government Board of Commissioners Chambers in the Lobby of the Municipal Office Building 701 North 7th Street. The public hearing is being co-sponsored by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas Departments of Budget and Community Development.
The purpose of this meeting is to request public comment on budget priorities. Citizens and organizations will have the opportunity to comment on budget priorities for the adoption of the Unified Government's revised 2015 and proposed 2016 budgets. Budget proposal packets for the Unified Government and CDBG budgets will be available for citizens and organizations at the meeting and online. Packets must be submitted no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday February 27, 2015 to the Unified Government Budget Office, 701 North 7th Street Suite #510 or via email to rlindsey@wycokck.org.
The public hearing is also being held to receive public comment on housing and community development needs, including non-housing community development needs for the 2015-2019 Consolidated Five Year Plan and the 2015 Annual Action Plan and budget.
The 2015 Annual Action Plan includes the following program applications: 41st Year Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), 2015 HOME Investment Partnership Grant Program, and the 2015 Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG). The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas Department of Community Development is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas will make reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If accommodations are needed for a disability, contact the Human Services Department 48 hours in advance at 913-573-5024.
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Stormwater Quality Education Program
The Unified Government has established a Stormwater Quality Education Grant Program to help fund educational projects and activities related to stormwater quality. The Grant Program is funded by the UG's Stormwater Utility Fund and is administered by the Public Works Department.
The main goal of the Grant Program is the improvement of surface water quality in Wyandotte County. To accomplish this goal, this program has been developed to provide financial assistance for programs, projects, or activities which provide public or private education related to stormwater quality.
Because runoff reaches the water resources that people and wildlife depend on, it is important to maintain or improve the quality of water in our local streams and lakes.
The UG will award up to $30,000 annually, with successful applicants receiving grants of up to $5,000 per project. Grants are awarded on a competitive grant application process. Each grant application will be reviewed by a selection committee for eligibility and merit, according to the procedures and criteria set forth in the guidelines outlined in this packet.
The selection committee will make recommendations to the Public Works Director for final determination of all grant applications. All approved projects will receive funding by means of an executed Grant Award Agreement between the UG and the Applicant laying out the approved project elements, eligible expenses, and terms of grant implementation.
Stormwater Quality Education Grant Program 2015
- Grant program has $30,000; applicants can receive up to $5,000 per project.
- Project to promote water quality education and outreach.
- Projects to be located within and provide direct benefit to residents and businesses in Wyandotte County.
- Program is intended to support local youth or community groups, schools, not-for profit organizations, neighborhood groups, or other eligible entities.
- Applications for grant due March 15, 2015. Awards will be announced April 2015.
For more information or to request an application packet, please contact: Sarah Fjell White at sfjell@wycokck.org or 913.573.5724. Applications also on our website: www.wycokck.org/pw.
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Tornado Preparedness Drill
The National Weather Service will conduct the annual Kansas-Missouri Tornado Preparedness Drill sometime between noon and 2 pm on Tuesday , March 3, 2015. A simulated Tornado Warning will be issued at that time.
They will also activate the All Hazards (weather) Radio system. These alerts messages will be indicate that this is a test of the system and not an actual Tornado Warning.
This test will not be performed if there is a potential for threatening weather in the area to avoid any confusion on the part of the public. If that is the case, the backup date will be the following Thursday, March 5th within the same time frame.
When the simulated Tornado Warning is issued, we suggest listening to one or more of the following:
- National Weather Service radio
- Local radio and television stations
- Listen for outdoor warning sirens
Do not rely solely on the outdoor warning sirens as these  are not designed to be heard in all locations within the county or inside structures. In Wyandotte County, the test will consist of sounding the "Tornado Warning" signal (a three minute steady blast) on the Emergency Management outdoor warning sirens.
We encourage citizens to use this test as an opportunity to practice going to their tornado safe place. Whenever severe weather threatens, citizens are urged to stay tuned to local radio and television stations, or the National Weather Service weather radio (KID-77 - 162.55 MHz) for watches and warnings.
Personal responsibility and preparedness are vital to successful tornado safety. Many damaging tornadoes and thunderstorms are relatively small and short lived; early detection and warning are sometimes difficult or impossible.
In addition to listening to local radio and television stations, National Weather Service radio, prudent citizens will WATCH and LISTEN for tornado development from their home, school, shopping place, work, or vehicle whenever severe weather develops. Motor vehicles and mobile homes are generally unsafe during tornadoes. Occupants should seek shelter in a basement or low-lying area. Wherever you are, you should always know where to go for the best possible safety.
Citizens should report tornado sightings in Wyandotte County to the Emergency Management Department (573-6300) or to their Police and Fire emergency via 911.
This year Wyandotte County is again hosting a Severe Weather Awareness Seminar.
This Seminar is free and open to the public.
- Wednesday March 18, 2015, 7:00 p.m. in the Kansas City Kansas Community College's Performing Arts Auditorium. Guest Speaker: Andy Bailey, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service, Pleasant Hill, Missouri.
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New Director Appointed to Health Department
UG County Administrator, Doug Bach, recently announced the appointment of Dr. Larry Franken, PhD., as the new Director of the Wyandotte County Public Health Department.
Larry has been an employee of the department since 2008 serving in the role of Manager of Infectious Disease/Epidemiology. Larry earned his PhD in Public Health/Epidemiology from Walden University and has also led the departments Quality Improvement Program.
The position of Director was previously held by Joe Connor. He vacated the position following his appointment as interim Assistant County Administrator. Terry Brecheisen served as the interim Director of the Health Department during the transition into this recent appointment.
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Energy-wise Anytime Savings in the Kitchen
Traditionally, the winter holidays are a time for meals shared friends and family. While today's kitchen appliances use nearly 50 percent less energy than those built a decade ago, your energy bills can rise considerably during the winter season with your stove, oven, and dishwasher running overtime.
Thankfully, there a few simple things you can do to keep added energy costs to a minimum.
Oven Tips
Don't open the oven door to take a peek at what's cooking inside. Instead, turn on the oven light and check the cooking status through the oven window. Opening the oven door lowers the temperature inside - by as much as 25 degrees - which increases cooking time and wastes energy. As long as your oven is on, cook several items at the same time.
Stovetop Tips
When cooking on top of your range, match the size of the pan to the heating element. More heat will get to the pan and less will be lost to the surrounding air. A six-inch pan on an eight-inch burner will waste more than 40 percent of the energy.
Other Ways to Cook
Don't overlook using other cooking appliances. Microwave ovens use around 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens, and they don't heat up your kitchen. Remember your small appliances, great energy savers that can save you money all year long. Slow cookers (crock-pots) are perfect for busy families. On average, they will cook a whole meal for about 17 cents worth of electricity.
Refrigerator Tips
Refrigerators remain one of the largest energy consumers in your house, often accounting for as much as 15 percent of your home's total energy usage. Help your refrigerator operate economically by keeping the doors closed as much as possible so cold air doesn't escape. However, leaving the door open for a longer period of time while you take out the items you need is more efficient than opening and closing it several times. It's also more efficient to keep your fridge full, because the mass of cold items inside will help it recover each time the door is opened.
Dishwasher Tips
Consider washing and drying your dishes by hand. But don't keep a steady stream of hot water flowing, or you'll waste more energy than you'll save. According to research, a load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher requires 37 percent less water than washing dishes by hand. However, if you fill the wash and rinse basins instead of letting the water run, you'll use half as much water as a dishwasher.
If you use the dishwasher, wash full loads only. If you must rinse your dishes before loading them, use cold water so you're not running up your energy bill by heating water unnecessarily.
Saving energy in the kitchen is a habit you should practice all year long. Throughout the New Year, you'll watch your energy bills drop even as you use less of our precious energy resources - just one more thing to be thankful for this coming year.
Sources: ConsumerEnergyCenter, CA Energy Commission
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Applicants Sought for BPU Ethics Commission
The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is seeking letters of interest and resumes from persons interested in filling a vacancy on the BPU Ethics Commission.
The purpose of the Ethics Commission is to ensure proper implementation of BPU's code of ethics and to review and report on all violations of the ethics policy. The commission meets to deliberate ethical issues and renders advisory opinions concerning questions of ethics, conflicts of interest, and the applicability of BPU's Ethics Policy.
The commission is comprised of five members. The BPU Board of Directors desires that the Ethics Commission represent the diverse population of the community. The commission must fill one vacancy.
Applicants must live in Wyandotte County. They must be of good moral standing and cannot have been convicted of a felony or serious crimes. All commission members must comply with BPU Ethics Policy.
The deadline for submitting letters of interest and resumes is March 16, 2015.
A search committee will review the applications; the full BPU Board will make the appointment.
Interested persons should send a letter of interest and a resume to:
Ethics Commission Application
C/o Chief Communications Officer
Board of Public Utilities
540 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
Letters and resumes may also be faxed to (913) 573-9175 or e-mailed to dmehlhaff@bpu.com
For further information please call (913)-573-9173.
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City and School Elections Next Month
City Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2015 for voters who reside in the city of Kansas City, Kansas only.
We mistakenly provided some incorrect information in the last edition of the newsletter related to the hours for advance voting at the Election Office and Satellite locations. Please see corrected information below:
March 3, 2015 Primary Election
Election Office
- Saturday, February 21, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, February 22 - closed
- Monday through Friday, February 23-27, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, February 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, March 1 - closed
- Monday, March 2, 8 a.m. to 12 Noon
Satellite (Kansas Speedway Conference Center)
- Saturday, February 21 and February 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, February 23-27, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
April 7, 2015 General Election
Election Office
- Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, March 29 - closed
- Monday through Friday, March 30 - April 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, April 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, April 5 - closed
- Monday, April 6, 8 a.m. to 12 Noon
Satellite (Kansas Speedway Conference Center)
- Saturday, March 28 and April 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, March 30-April 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Coffee and Donuts with Sheriff Ash and Chief Ziegler
Wyandotte County Sheriff, Donald Ash and Kansas City, Kansas Police Chief, Terry R. Zeigler, will participate in a "Meet and Greet" event at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2015, at Mount Zion Baptist Church located at 417 Richmond Avenue in KCK.
The "Meet and Greet" is being hosted by the Kansas City, Kansas Baptist Ministers Union and participating churches. The faith based organization consisting of local Baptist ministers is providing an opportunity for the residents to become more acquainted with local police, the Sheriff's department and their command staff with the hope of building the best possible relationship between the community and our local law enforcement agencies.
The meet and greet event will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will last no longer than 11:00 a.m.
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New Technology Center Keeps Youth and Adults Connected in KCK
Connecting for Good takes a moment to reflect on the  organization's accomplishments as it related to digital inclusion in 2014. They say one of the most significant events of 2014 was opening the Kansas City, KS center in March.
The project was in partnership with the Kansas City Kansas Housing Authority and the center is located directly across from the Juniper Gardens low income housing project. The center was equipped with a four-block wide Wi-Fi hotspot in April 2013 that reaches about 300 households.
The center is in the 66101 zip code which has faced many social challenges related to crime and poverty. Since it opened in March, 1,100 adults and 700 teens and preteens have used the center's twenty public access computers. The center also offers free digital life skills classes on-site.
Last summer, Connecting for Good moved the refurbishing shop to the new Kansas center while continuing to conduct regular training sessions in the Reconciliation Services building at 3101 Troost in Kansas City MO. The new community technology center is a model for similar programs in other Kansas City urban neighborhoods.
This year, Connecting for Good says they will focus on outreach to the Northeast area of Kansas City on the Missouri side of the state line. According to research, they say there's a very high percentage of families there living on the wrong side of the Digital Divide as well.
We want to thank Connecting for Good for all that they've done for our Kansas City, Kansas residents.
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Board of Commissioners
Commission Meeting Thursday, February 19, 2015 7:00 pm Commission Chamber
Planning and Zoning Thursday, February 26, 2015 7:00 p.m. Commission Chamber |
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Standing Committee
PW/S and A/HS February 17, 2015
N/CD and ED/F March 9, 2015
PW/S and A/HS
March 19, 2015
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Upcoming Events
Budget Public Hearing February 19, 2015
Mayor's State of the Government February 24, 2015
General Election
April 7, 2015 |
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| Unified Government Road Closures and Announcements |
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No UG Road Closures to Report this Week
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| KDOT Road Closures and Announcements |
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No KDOT Closures or Information to Report This Week
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