Kansas City Kansas Community College has made a sweep of Jayhawk Conference Player of the Week honors after the Lady Blue Devils’ outstanding performance in the power-laden SSC (South Suburban Conference) tournament in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., this past weekend.
Sophomore outside hitter Blair Russell was selected KJCCC Division II Player of the Week; sophomore libero Andrea Aparicio the KJCCC Defensive Player of the Week.
Ranked No. 12 in the first Division II rankings of the season, the Lady Blue Devils opened the year by defeating three ranked foes – No. 4 Illinois Central, No. 9 Des Moines Area Community College, No. 14 South Suburban College and Waubonsee, a team receiving votes in the preseason poll. KCKC’s only loss came in four sets at the hands of No. 1 ranked Parkland in the Blue Devils’ first match of the year.
A 5-10 outside hitter from Marysville, Kan., Russell averaged 3.58 kills per set on offense and 3.32 digs per set on defense and is currently No. 2 in the nation in total number of kills (68), sixth in kills per set (3.58) and 33rd in digs per set.
Aparicio, a 5-4 libero from Dorado, Puerto Rico, is the first Lady Blue Devil to lead the nation in a Division II statistical category, ranking No. 1 in both digs per set (6.26) on defense and the total number of digs (119). Andrea Aparicio (KCKCC photo)
A map shows the STAR bond district between 94th and I-435, from State to Parallel. Some areas east of 94th also are included. (Map from UG agenda)
A public hearing on an expanded STAR bond district and redevelopment plan is scheduled at the 7 p.m. Aug. 28 Unified Government Commission meeting.
Included in the STAR bond district, fourth project area, is a $75 million National Training and Coaching Development Center, to be the home of U.S. Soccer. Adult and youth soccer training will take place at the site. The plans for the soccer site include a training facility, a hotel, eight professional fields, eight youth fields, and specialized facilities. The completion date would be 2016.
Also included in the STAR bond district, second project area, is an automotive plaza, with space for four auto dealerships, two restaurant sites, a gas station and convenience store west of 98th Street. Two of the dealerships were formerly located in Wyandotte County, according to UG documents, under different owners.
The district, the Vacation Village STAR district, is located in the Schlitterbahn area near 98th and State Avenue. The project area is 94th to I-435, from Parallel Parkway to State Avenue. Areas east of 94th also are included. Schlitterbahn waterpark is the first project area in this STAR bond district.
A third project area includes an entertainment and retail area, with restaurants and lodging as possible tenants. This area could include an office building.
The fifth project area of the STAR bond district has a potential for different types of lodging facilities in the future, but plans are not yet set for this area, according to UG documents.
UG documents stated that the overall project budget was estimated at more than $607 million total in capital investment in the project, including money previously spent on projects in the district. It estimated $187 million for the auto plaza, restaurants and hotel project in the second project area, and $187 million for the retail-entertainment project in the third project area.
The STAR bond issue would be capped at $90 million of net proceeds, subject to marketability, according to the UG documents.
Also, about $5.4 million of the net STAR bond proceeds would be made available to the UG to reimburse the UG for the $5.4 million of temporary notes and interest that it incurred in improving 98th Street.
The development agreement calls for a $750,000 donation to charities, a foundation or nonprofit organization that the UG designates. Under the original agreement with Schlitterbahn developers, there was supposed to be a $100,000 a year donation increasing each year; however, these community donations were not made.
A two-thirds vote of the commission is required to pass the STAR bond ordinance.
Also on tonight’s UG agenda, which has mostly planning and zoning items:
– Change of zone, 240 S. 65th St., to request revision to previously approved stipulations.
– Change of zone, from agriculture, single family and planned general business, to planned general business district for auto dealership plaza at 9910 France Family Drive.
– Change of zone from limited business district to commercial district for auto repair shop at 2915 Brown Ave.
– Special use permit for temporary use of land for two classrooms at 2034 S. 51st St., Korean Presbyterian Church of Kansas.
– Renewal of special use permit for temporary modular classroom for Central Middle School, 813 Barnett Ave.
– Renewal of special use permit for temporary modular classroom for Sumner Academy, 1610 N. 8th St.
– Master plan amendment from business park to industrial at 240 S. 65th St.
– Ordinance amendment, regarding digital billboards and changes to the sign code.
– Ordinance rezoning property at 221 S. 72nd St from single family district to agriculture district.
– Ordinance rezoning property at 2708 and 2710 Merriam Lane and 3000 S. 27th St. from planned general business, single family, planned apartment and planned commercial districts to planned general business district.
– Preliminary plan review for new logistics facility for construction equipment rental, leasing and storage at 240 S. 65th St.
– Land Bank items.
To see more information, visit the UG meeting agenda site at www.wycokck.org.
For months, Mayor Mark Holland has been working with officials from the Department of Justice, KCK public safety officials and community stakeholders to develop plans for increasing diversity in the ranks of the KCK Police and Fire departments.
Holland will unveil details of that work to other members of the Unified Government Commission and public during a special session at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, in the 5th floor conference room of KCK City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan.
Following the diversity discussion, Interim Police Chief Ellen Hanson will talk about the proactive steps the KCK Police Department takes to establish positive relationships with citizens and community groups.
