The Unified Government Commission may take action at tonight’s meeting on changing the way casino charitable dollars are distributed.
The UG Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at City Hall, Commission Chambers, lobby level, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan.
The casino charitable funds come from an annual $500,000 charitable donation by Hollywood Casino to the Unified Government for purposes of giving the money to charitable uses in Wyandotte County.
The commission is considering a proposal that would eliminate the selection committee used last year, and change to commissioners making direct decisions on grants. There would be no minimum or maximum size for grant applications, and the organizations applying for the grants would be 501 (c) (3) organizations or be partnered with those organizations.
The grants would still be used to improve health in Wyandotte County.
With commissioners each controlling about $45,000 in grant funding, there is more of a possibility that the grants will be more widespread geographically throughout the community, according to a committee that worked on the changes. Former grants seemed to be concentrated in certain areas of the county. Also, there is the possibility that smaller organizations would receive grants under this process, according to commissioners.
Commissioners are hoping that the grants help “leverage” other funding for the programs.
The commission as a whole will approve the final distribution of funds, under the rules. The commissioners who worked on the changes were Ann Murguia, Brian McKiernan and Jim Walters.
Several other rules will apply to grant applications, and are found on the agenda for Jan. 22 at www.wycokck.org.
Applications are expected to be available Feb. 9, with the application deadline March 27. The commission may vote on the grants on May 21, under the proposed schedule.
Other items on tonight’s agenda include:
– An addition to the budget to buy a new scoreboard for the CommunityAmerica Ballpark, where the T-Bones play. The estimated cost of the electronic scoreboard is between $400,000 and $450,000. The budget would have to be increased by $250,000 for the new scoreboard.
– 18 new defibrillators would be purchased by the Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department. A lease-purchase agreement would require almost a half-million dollars, according to the agenda documents.
– Approval of Section 42 housing tax credits for the $6.9 million Armstrong Estates Family House Development, including 40 new duplex units near 7401 Armstrong Ave. They are low-income housing tax credits. There will be a public hearing Jan. 22.
– Approval of Section 42 housing tax credits for the $10.8 million West Village 55-plus senior independent residences housing development near 735 N. 89th St. Builders Development Corp. is the developer. They are low-income housing tax credits. There will be a public hearing Jan. 22.
– Also on the agenda are some Land Bank transfers.
