Month: May 2018

Strong to severe storms possible this afternoon

Wyandotte County is in a marginal risk area this afternoon for strong to severe storms, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)

This afternoon, isolated storms may develop in the region, with the possibility of damaging winds, hail and heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service.

Currently, Wyandotte County is in the marginal risk area for this storm.
Temperatures today are expected to reach a high of 88, with temperatures returning to the low to mid-90s on Friday, the weather service said.

Widespread storms are possible across the region on Saturday, according to the weather service, with damaging winds and hail the main concerns.

Above normal temperatures and drought are continuing in the region, the weather service said.

Today, there will be isolated showers and storms before 1 p.m., then isolated showers and storms after 3 p.m., the weather service said. It will be mostly sunny with a high near 88 and a southwest wind of 5 to 9 mph becoming light south southwest in the afternoon. The chance of rain is 20 percent.

Tonight, it will be mostly clear with a low of 67 and a south southwest wind of 3 to 6 mph, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be sunny with a high near 94, the weather service said, and a calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Friday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m., increasing clouds with a low of 72, and a southeast wind of 7 to 9 mph, according to the weather service. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Saturday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 89 with a southeast wind of 8 to 13 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon, and gusting as high as 25 mph.

Saturday night, expect a low of 63 with mostly clear skies, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny with a high near 86, the weather service said.

Sunday night, the low will be around 63 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be partly sunny with a high near 84, the weather service said.

Monday night, the low will be around 66 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, the high will be near 89 with sunny skies, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 69, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 90, the weather service said.

Severe weather outlook for Saturday. (National Weather Service graphic)

UG Commission scheduled to meet Thursday, May 31

The Unified Government Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 31, at City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The 7 p.m. meeting will be in the Commission Chambers on the lobby level.

Among the items on the agenda are a permit that would allow storage of cars and pickup trucks at The Woodlands.

Also on the agenda is an agreement with Bonner Springs to provide street and police services to the Loring area.

Rezoning for the Turner Vista area, west of the Turner Diagonal and south of State Avenue, is also on the agenda.

Amazon and 18th Street transit route proposals also are on the agenda.

At 6 p.m. May 31, a UG special session will be held in the fifth floor conference room of City Hall for a presentation on rewriting the planning and zoning code. This topic has changed from an earlier notice, which had scheduled a capital maintenance improvement program discussion. The CMIP discussion will not be held May 31.

Planning and zoning items on the 7 p.m. agenda include:

• 7000 Kansas Ave., renewal of a special use permit for a dirt fill, Leon Rieke.
• 4439 Shawnee Drive, renewal of a special use permit for an automotive repair business, Diego Toto and Ana Cervantes with XM Automotive.
• 239 S. 72nd St., special use permit to continue to keep a storage container.
• 1820 N. 90th St., home occupation special use permit for an Air BNB (bed and breakfast).
• 322 Cambridge St., home occupation special use permit for an Air BNB.
• 5235 State Ave., special use permit for a 190-foot self-supporting stealth-type monopole tower and related ground equipment, Pamcorp LLC.
• 3535 Wood Ave., special use permit renewal for a youth group home, Blue Door Project Inc.
• 2220 Central Ave., renewal of special use permit for KCK Farmer’s Market.
• 7240 State Ave., renewal of special use permit for KCK Farmer’s Market.
• 402 Osage Ave., special use permit for an automotive business that includes detailing of new and used automobiles and possible sale of one or two vehicles per month, M&M’s Auto Sales and Detail LLC.
• 9700 Leavenworth Road, special use permit for temporary use of land for storage of passenger cars and pickup trucks, Lathrop Gage LLP for Ruffin Woodlands.
• 3001 N. 73rd Place, home occupation special use permit for a day care, Ashley’s Home Day Care.
• 827 N. 54th St., special use permit for two horses.
• 4835 State Ave., preliminary and final plan review for a church, Jose Escarsega, Templo de Alabanza.
• 2116 N. 18th St., preliminary plan review for a new school, MKEC Engineering Inc. Plans are to demolish Northwest Middle School and construct a new middle school building.

Other items on the 7 p.m. agenda include:
• 342 S. Bethany St., an ordinance vacating right of way.
• 819 Southwest Blvd., an ordinance rezoning property from general industrial district to two-family district.
• Interlocal agreement with Bonner Springs for street and police services to the unincorporated area of Loring.
• Grant application for a Strategies for Policing Innovation Program – Project Safe Neighborhoods grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant program is focused on reducing violent crime.
• Grant applications for Sustainable Places grants to the Mid-America Regional Council for an autonomous vehicle transit study, KCK Greenway Urban Trail System, and 47th and Georgia Complete Street Study.
• Agreement with the Housing Authority to submit a grant application for a $1.3 million Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Action Grant for Juniper Gardens, requiring a $530,000 match, and authorization of $20,000 for grant preparation.
• Turner Vista rezoning request, for an area west of the Turner Diagonal and south of State Avenue.
• An ordinance amending the anti-discriminational ordinance to include gender identity and sexual orientation.
• The creation of a permanent transit route to serve the Amazon fulfillment center.
• A request to use the Amazon route savings to fund the 18th Street Transit Route, traveling north and south along the 18th Street corridor from Quindaro to Roeland Park.
• A plat of the Maple Hill Cemetery Co., 34th and Shawnee Drive.
• The nomination of Joe Peterson to the KCATA, submitted by Mayor David Alvey.
• The nomination of Mark Mohler to the UG Parks Board, submitted by Mayor Alvey.
• The nomination of Don Jolley to the Housing Authority Advisory Board, submitted by Commissioner Ann Brandau Murguia.
• The nomination of Bob Runnebaum to the Golf Advisory Board, submitted by Mayor Alvey.

The agenda is online at www.wycokck.org.

BPU recognized for reliable and safe electricity

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities was recognized in 2018 as one of the country’s most reliable and safe electric utilities.

BPU is one of a select few of the more than 2,000 public utility companies in the nation to receive the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Platinum award from the American Public Power Association (APPA), according to a BPU spokesman.

The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key areas: reliability, safety, training and system improvement. The measurements are based on sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.

“This recognition highlights BPU’s continued commitment to safety and reliability, and the quality of electric service we provide to our community,” BPU General Manager Don L. Gray said in a news release. “BPU’s selection as a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) is a result of our employee’s ongoing commitment and dedication, and distinguishes BPU as one of the top public utilities in the nation.”

Neil James, manager of distribution operations at Santee Cooper, South Carolina, and chair of the Association’s RP3 Review Panel, presented the designations on April 30 during the association’s annual Engineering and Operations Technical Conference held in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“This designation is about more than just reliability. It’s about operational excellence,” James said. “These utilities and their communities should be proud to represent the best of the best in the areas of reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement.”