Month: January 2015

by William Crum
Unified Government Administrator Doug Bach said today he expected an announcement in February about a new hotel near the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.

Speaking at a meeting of the Downtown Shareholders, Bach said there should be more information on the casino hotel on Feb. 9. He spoke to more than 100 people attending the meeting at Board of Public Utilities headquarters in Kansas City, Kan.

Bach also spoke about downtown revitalization. Minnesota Avenue, for example, has investors from the Hunt family, including Lamar Hunt Jr., who are revitalizing the old Katz building under the direction of Loretto Properties.

Another program that’s underway is Mayor Mark Holland’s healthy cities campaign. A health and fitness facility will be built at the location of Big Eleven Lake. The community center will be run by the YMCA.

“It is my job to help encourage new housing in the area that would support this facility,” Bach said. “Kansas City, Kan., in the year of 2015 is looking good for the future with programs such as this, making Kansas City, Kan., and Wyandotte County not only one of the most affordable communities in the Midwest, a community that offers a lot for those of us who reside right here in Wyandotte County. We are looking good for the year 2015.”

The February meeting of the Downtown Shareholders will feature Kansas City, Kan., Police Chief Terry Zeigler.

Three suspects are being sought by the police after five aggravated robberies between Dec. 30 and Jan. 9 in Kansas City, Kan.

Two robberies were earlier today at Fast Stop, 945 S. 55th St., and 7-Eleven, 2924 S. 47th St., Kansas City, Kan.

Three robberies were on Dec. 30, Jan. 1 and Jan. 4 at the Fast Trip convenience store, 4039 Metropolitan Ave., Kansas City, Kan., according to police.

The first and second suspects allegedly committed the three robberies at Fast Trip.

The first and third suspects allegedly committed the robberies at Fast Stop and 7-Eleven.

The description of the first suspect: Male, late teens or early 20s, slender build, 5-6, medium complexion, multi-colored stocking cap with a black ball on top, small goatee on chin only, armed with an all-black pistol or a silver-black pistol. He has worn a red Carhartt brand zip-up coat with white writing on the left chest or a red-white-black striped short-sleeved polo shirt or a dark blue sweatshirt during the robberies. He covered his face with a black scarf during the two robberies on Jan. 9.

The description of the second suspect: Male, late teens or early 20s, average build, 6-1 to 6-2, discolored teeth. He has worn red and blue hoodies or a dark blue coat, a black and white patterned stocking cap with ear flaps, and tassels, or a blue stocking cap during the robberies.

The description of the third suspect: Male, early 20s, average build, 5-1 to 5-2, medium complexion, wears red framed glasses, black coat, red Alabama University sweatshirt with white lettering, jeans, brown shoes, and armed with an all-black pistol.

The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department is encouraging anyone with information to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

A new telephone system was demonstrated at the Board of Public Utilities meeting Jan. 7.

The system was updated this past September to improve customer service, according to a spokesman. It is menu-driven with auto-routing capabilities. This feature is expected to help speed up the process and ensure customers don’t lose their place in the queue when calling BPU, the spokesman stated.

Since installation of the integrated voice response system, the BPU has processed more than 150,000 calls.

The BPU also heard a report on the Home Energy Audit Program. More than 300 customers took advantage of the Home Energy Audit Program and BPU distributed more than 3,500 CFL bulbs to energy audit customers.

The BPU’s energy efficiency initiatives in 2015 will include a refrigerator replacement program, Heartland Habitat low-income housing retrofit program and the possible extension of the successful Home Energy Audit Program, the spokesman said.

– Story by David Mehlhaff, BPU chief communications officer