Many topics on UG Commission meeting agenda Dec. 10

Refinancing for some public buildings and the appointment of an interim county appraiser are among the items on the agenda for the Dec. 10 Unified Government Commission meeting.

Public buildings that will be up for approval and that will go through the Public Building Commission include issuing revenue bonds for refinancing and acquiring the Board of Public Utilities office building at 540 Minnesota Ave. at $7.25 million, financing of bonds up to $750,000 for the Cricket Wireless Amphitheater in Bonner Springs; and the acquisition of real estate at 800 and 810 Ann Ave. with bonds in the amount of $1.83 million for the construction and furnishing of a building to be used as the UG’s medical clinic.

More bond financing, BPU utility system improvement revenue bonds, not to exceed $133 million, also are on the agenda. The resolution lists air-quality control systems.

Also on the agenda is the appointment of Katherine Briney as interim county appraiser. County Appraiser Eugene Bryan Jr. has announced his retirement effective Dec. 16, according to agenda documents.

The UG Commission also will consider an ordinance amendment on farmers’ markets and food trucks. The ordinance change would allow farmers’ markets in certain areas of the city to apply administratively for a permit at a lower cost than the current special use permit requires.

The food truck ordinance amendment would allow the community to be more food truck friendly, and a special use permit would not be required. However, food trucks could not go to shopping center parking lots, for example, if they are not welcome there. The food trucks would have to submit an annual agreement with the planning department. The food trucks could operate in certain specified districts, otherwise they would need a special use permit.

Also on the agenda is a special use permit application for a liquor license at a skilled nursing facility at 8900 Parallel Parkway.

An update will be given on the K-32 corridor plan, Rosedale master plan and a rewriting of the sign code.

Also on the agenda is an agreement for 8.99 acres donation for a site for the South Patrol police station, near Metropolitan and South 24th.

Transit policy changes will be considered. Some of the changes: Fixed-route ADA passenger fare would become fare-free in February 2016. The eligible age for non-ADA senior paratransit would be increased from 60 to 65 in February 2016; non-ADA senior paratransit fare would increase from $1 to $2 for each one-way trip; senior group trip fare would increase from $1.50 per person per trip to $5 per trip in February 2016.

A new grant application policy will be considered. It would authorize administrative approval of grants. Under the new policy, grants of more than $50,000 which require matching funds greater than $50,000 would go to a Standing Committee and UG Commission. Grants less than $50,000 that require matching funds between $10,000 and $50,000 would go to the county administrator with the approval of the mayor if they are core UG functions. Grants that are considered discretionary would go to the UG Commission. Grants of less than $50,000 that require matching funds of less than $10,000 would go to the UG administrator for approval.

Two industrial revenue bond issues, one for $14 million and one for $13.5 million, for the PQ Corp. at 1700 Kansas Ave., will be considered.

Also on the agenda are some agreements with unions, including the Fraternal Order of Police 4, and the Plumbers Local Union No. 8.

Also on the agenda will be several zoning items:
– Change of zone from A-G agriculture district to R-1 single-family district to subdivide property at 11011 Leavenworth Road, Joe Herring for Herring Survey Inc.;
– Change of zone from R-1 single-family district to A-G agriculture district for an agriculture use at 7251 Locust Ave., Harold Phelps with Phelps Engineering;
– Change of zone from R-1 single-family district to CP-O planned nonretail business district for a new doctor’s office with parking and expansion for existing doctor’s office at 1205 N. 90th St., David and Patricia Johnson with PSB Investments;
– Renewal of a special use permit for a kennel for four dogs at 334 N. Thorpe St., Richard and Mary Leslie;
– Special use permit for a storage container at 3002 Delavan Ave., Ronald E. Isom;
– Renewal of a special use permit for live entertainment in conjunction with event center at 3150 N. 91st St., Reid Roberts;
– Special use permit for the temporary use of land to keep lawn care equipment for a business at 1701 S. 40th St., Jesus M. Rodriguez;
– Special use permit for a mechanic-heavy repair shop at 4439 Shawnee Drive, Diego Toto with XM Automotive;
– Renewal of a special use permit for a dirt fill at 8600 Gibbs Road, Jeff Pierce – L.G. Everist Inc.
– Vacation of an alley at 1122 Southwest Blvd., Wil Anderson with BHC Rhodes.
– Preliminary plan review for a convenience store at 7552 State Ave., Khalid Banday – KAM Design and Construction Inc.

The regular meeting starts at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 in the Commission Chambers, lobby level, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan.

The evening will begin with a special meeting at 4 p.m. between Wyandotte County legislators and the UG Commission. The 4 p.m. meeting will begin with a dinner on the ninth floor, and a discussion will take place afterward in the fifth floor conference room at City Hall.

After the 7 p.m. meeting, there will be a meeting of the UG Public Building Commission in the ninth floor conference room, City Hall, to discuss Cricket Wireless financing; proceeding with the BPU office refunding; and medical building acquisition and improvements at 800 Ann Ave. and 810 Ann Ave.

KCKCC holiday tradition continues with annual candlelighting ceremony

Kansas City Kansas Community College recently held its candlelighting ceremony. (KCKCC photo)
Kansas City Kansas Community College recently held its candlelighting ceremony. (KCKCC photo)

Andrea Watts, a KCKCC alumna and current Wyandotte High School choral music director, was the keynote speaker at the candlelighting ceremony. (KCKCC photo)
Andrea Watts, a KCKCC alumna and current Wyandotte High School choral music director, was the keynote speaker at the candlelighting ceremony. (KCKCC photo)

by Kelly Rogge

A Kansas City Kansas Community College tradition continued Dec. 2 as the college celebrated the start of the holiday season during the school’s oldest tradition, the Candlelighting Ceremony.

This is the 93rd year for the ceremony, which featured performances by the KCKCC music and theatre departments including the Vocal Jazz Ensemble “The Standard” and a reenactment of the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” in under 10 minutes.

In addition, students from the Intercultural Center performed John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

Those in attendance were asked to stand toward the end of the ceremony to light their candles and sing familiar holiday carols including “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” and “Silent Night.” A new feature this year was selecting Christmas carols through text message voting.

Andrea Watts, a KCKCC alum and current Wyandotte High School choral music director, served as the keynote speaker.

A student at KCKCC from 2001 to 2004, she attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City where she received a bachelor of music education. She has been teaching at Wyandotte High School since 2009 where she helped to create the school’s choral music program. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is the praise and worship leader and music director at Reaping the Harvest Ministries International.

“I was able to glean from some of the best musicians, teachers, educators and people here in this building,” Watts said of her time as a KCKCC student. “This school is phenomenal. The staff here are amazing I am indebted to the people here at KCKCC.”

During her speech, Watts shared some of the obstacles she had to overcome while pursuing her degree. She encouraged students to continue working hard to achieve their goals.

“If you continue to keep the faith and move forward and think positively, you can overcome any challenges you may face,” she said.

The Candlelighting Ceremony was started in 1923 by KCKCC faculty members. It remains the oldest tradition at KCKCC and serves as an opportunity for students, staff and faculty to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. During that first year, a collection was taken to fund student scholarships. This tradition has continued in the form of a free will offering, and over the years, more than $10,000 has been collected for student scholarships at KCKCC.

“Thank you to everyone who gave to the KCKCC Foundation,” said Andrica Wilcoxen, director of student activities at KCKCC. “Your donations will help to continue to provide scholarships for our current and future students.”

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.

KCKCC falls to hot-shooting No. 12-ranked Iowa Western, 97-86

by Alan Hoskins

Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball coach Kelley Newton has no quarrel with Iowa Western’s No. 12 ranking in the NJCAA Division I men’s basketball poll – except that it may not be high enough.

“Iowa Western is a very good basketball team,” said Newton after the Reivers (12-1) turned back KCKCC 97-86 in Council Bluffs Tuesday night. The win completed an Iowa Western sweep of the Blue Devils, who fell 83-73 at home Nov. 24.

The loss dropped the Blue Devils to 7-6 heading into their final pre-holiday game Friday at home against North Central at 7 p.m. The No. 8 KCKCC women will also play their 2015 finale, hosting No. 20 North Arkansas at 5 p.m.

Torrid shooting led by 6-2 sophomore guard Donovan Jackson proved too much for the Blue Devils to overcome at Iowa Western. Hitting 9 of 12 shots including 7 of 9 from three-point range, Jackson finished with a game high 25 points.

“He’s a very good player, very good,” Newton said. Jackson’s sizzling shooting enabled the Reivers to shoot 58.6 percent for the game (34-of-58) and 54.2 percent from three-pint (13-of-24).

Iowa Western opened up a 48-37 halftime lead and then turned back repeated Blue Devil rallies.

“We could just not quite put them away,” said Iowa Western Coach Jim Morris, whose Reivers were 8-of-10 from three-point the final half.

“We made runs but we just couldn’t get stops,” Newton said. “That was the game. We just couldn’t get stops.” Iowa Western also had seven blocked shots.

Six Blue Devils scored in double figures for the Blue Devils including all five starters. Mike Lee led with 16 points while Xavier Gaona and Jonathan Murray added 14 each, Joe Lendway 13 and Kellan Turner and backup guard Devante Sayles 10 apiece.

KCKCC had a slight rebounding edge 35-31 as Lee, Lendway and Murray had five each.

Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.