Month: December 2016

Temperatures to turn dangerously cold Sunday; freezing drizzle possible Friday

Coldest wind chill values Sunday morning. (National Weather Service graphic)
Coldest wind chill values Sunday morning. (National Weather Service graphic)

Freezing drizzle is possible across the area beginning Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are expected to warm above freezing south of the St. Joseph, Mo., area by noon Friday with freezing drizzle changing to drizzle as a result, the weather service said.

Light snow may be possible through the day on Saturday, according to the weather service. Amounts are expected to be less than an inch.

Dangerously cold temperatures are expected Sunday morning as wind chill values approach 10 to 25 degrees, the weather service said.

Today, the high will be27, with a light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon, according to the weather service.

Tonight, it will be mostly cloudy with a low of 23 and an east southeast wind of 9 to 11 mph, the weather service said.

Friday, expect patchy drizzle before noon, then patchy drizzle or freezing drizzle between noon and 1 p.m., followed by patchy drizzle after 1 p.m., according to the weather service. The high will be near 40, with a south southeast wind of 10 to 14 mph, gusting to 23 mph.

Friday night, there will be patchy drizzle before 4 a.m., then a slight chance of drizzle or freezing drizzle between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., followed by a slight chance of freezing drizzle after 5 a.m., the weather service said. The low will be around 23, with a southeast wind of 6 to 13 mph, becoming north northwest after midnight. Winds may gust as high as 18 mph.

Saturday’s forecast is a 50 percent chance of freezing drizzle before 10 a.m., then a chance of snow and freezing drizzle between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., followed by a chance of snow after 11 a.m., according to the weather service. The high will be near 25. It will be blustery, with a north northwest wind of 14 to 20 mph, gusting as high as 30 mph. New precipitation will be less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday night, there is a 50 percent chance of snow before 7 p.m., the weather service said. The low will be around 1.

Sunday, it will be sunny and cold, with a high near 15, according to the weather service. Sunday night’s low will be around 6.

Monday, expect sunny skies and a high of 31, the weather service said.

Public hearings on American Royal STAR bond district, U.S. Soccer $90 million bond issue on UG agenda Thursday

A public hearing on creating a STAR bond district for the American Royal project is on Thursday’s Unified Government Commission agenda.

Also, a public hearing will be held on tax abatement and payment in lieu of taxes, and a $90 million industrial revenue bond issue for the U.S. Soccer National Training Center Project.

According to the UG agenda, the proposed American Royal STAR (sales tax revenue) bond district includes about 363 acres of ground from Parallel Parkway to State Avenue, and between 110th Street and 118th Street. The American Royal part of the STAR bond district will have about 65 to 100 acres of undeveloped ground.

The STAR bond district also has an “overlay” area, which includes the existing developments of Piper Plaza and Plaza at the Speedway.

According to the proposed ordinance, buildings that could be constructed would include a livestock expo arena, education and conference center, entertainment complexes, other retail, restaurant, hotel, office and commercial uses, and other sporting and recreational uses. It also could be used for acquiring property rights and construction of infrastructure.

The version of the ordinance in the agenda released earlier this week did not specify a maximum dollar amount for the bonds. In an announcement in October, officials said the American Royal project would cost approximately $160 million.

The UG Commission also will consider an ordinance involving the $90 million industrial revenue bond issue for the U.S. Soccer National Training Center Project. A public hearing will be held on a tax abatement and payment in lieu of taxes for the U.S. Soccer National Training Center Project. The project is at 98th and Parallel Parkway.

In April 2015, the UG approved two agreements for the project. The same month, the commission also approved an intent to issue $83.225 million in industrial revenue bonds for the project, but only for a project exemption certificate for sales tax, according to UG agenda documents. In April 2015, the amount of the development agreement was stated as $64 million.

The development agreement from 2015 said the new facilities would be exempt, according to the agenda documents, either through a Board of Tax Appeals-approved exemption for an eligible ownership entity or through an abatement through industrial revenue bonds. The developer now has chosen abatement through IRBs, and a new resolution for intent to issue up to $90 million is proposed, according to agenda documents.

The base taxes cannot be abated under the UG’s tax abatement policy, and so an annual $50,0-00 payment in lieu of taxes is proposed, the agenda documents stated.

The UG Commission meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Commission Chambers, lobby level, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan.

Both the American Royal and U.S. Soccer ordinances received preliminary approval at a UG standing committee meeting on Monday.

Other items on the 7 p.m. agenda include:

• An amendment to a municipal ordinance allowing the county administrator to assess a diversion fee when necessary.
• An amendment to the alcoholic beverages ordinance.
• An amendment to the traffic code ordinance.
• Information about the Village West STAR bond payoff.
• Reappointment of Brandelyn Nichols-Brajkovic as municipal court judge for a four-year term.
• Appearance of 20/20 Leadership students.
• Request to accept a grant, if approved, from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City for $61,383 to fund a breast health patient navigator with an emphasis on African-American women, to help eliminate barriers to cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care.

The UG Commission also will hold a special session at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, a tour of the UG Employee Health Center at 800 Ann Ave.

At 5:30 p.m. Thursday, UG commissioners will attend the Sheriff’s Department graduation in the Commission Chambers, lobby level, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan.

Immediately following the 7 p.m. UG Commission meeting, a closed executive session will be held regarding labor in the ninth floor conference room, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., according to the agenda.

The 7 p.m. UG agenda is online at www.wycokck.org.