Month: June 2017

UG Commission approves climate change resolution

The Unified Government Commission voted unanimously on Thursday night to approve a climate change resolution.

The resolution says the UG supports a clean energy economy and healthy planet created by increasing investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and by building and strengthening relationships to protect the planet from hazards created by climate change.

This action follows President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.

More than 290 local governments, representing millions of Americans, have now committed to the goals of the Paris agreement.

Commissioner Hal Walker said he initiated this UG effort that the UG reaffirm its commitment to the purpose of the Paris accords, with other cities and counties.

He said the resolution doesn’t obligate the UG to do anything other than use its best efforts to use clean chemicals.

“Even if you don’t believe in climate change, what’s wrong with not polluting the environment?” he asked.

Commissioner Walker said although some believe that exiting the Paris agreement will put coal workers back to work, it’s his belief that politics didn’t put coal out of business, gas put coal out of business.

The resolution passed 9-0, and Mayor Mark Holland said he was in agreement with it, as well.

Kansas Board of Regents approves state university tuition increases

Tuition will be going up at the six state universities in Kansas. The Kansas Board of Regents approved increases at a meeting Thursday.

Most of the increases are 2.5 percent to 2.9 percent for undergraduate resident and nonresident students, according to a news release from the Board of Regents.

The University of Kansas Compact Rate will increase 5.5 percent and the University of Kansas Medical Center increase is 5 percent.

Tuition rates will also increase from 2.5 percent to 2.9 percent for resident and nonresident graduate students at the majority of universities, with the exception being students attending Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, no increase, and students attending the University of Kansas Medical Center, a 5 percent increase.

State appropriations for higher education have been held mostly flat, according to the Board of Regents release.

For more information, see http://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2017-news-releases/663-board-of-regents-approve-state-university-tuition-rates.

GM starts layoff notices

by Rebecca Tombaugh

Employee notifications began with a reduction from three shifts to two, says Mary Padilla, spokesperson at General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas.

Padilla said this will cause the least impact to workers. Lower demand for passenger cars is the reason, and she said GM is switching to the crossovers, which are increasing in demand.

Late Friday, Mark Holland, Mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, issued this statement:

“Upon hearing news of layoffs at General Motors’ Fairfax Assembly Plant, my first concern was for the workers and their families. Today, I reached out to the United Autoworkers Union #31 to express that concern and to let them know that we are ready to help in any way we can to minimize the impact on the workers and their families.

“No community likes to receive news of a major employer laying off employees. We are fortunate in Kansas City, Kansas, to have a strong partnership with GM. That partnership has helped GM invest $800 million in its Fairfax plant since 2009. I am hopeful that GM will remain strong and that the Fairfax plant will grow back to its full employment capacity very soon.

“We are also fortunate that the Unified Government, in partnership with Wyandotte Economic Development Council, has worked hard for more than a decade to diversify our economy so we can protect against downturns in specific sectors. In recent years, we have seen the growth of our health care, service, corporate, and small to mid-size manufacturing sectors, with 11,000 jobs added in just the last four years. I am confident that this work will continue to create a healthy economy in Wyandotte County and help us find new opportunities for the affected GM employees.”