Pilot program for trash service on Thursday’s UG agenda

A pilot program that would change trash service in Kansas City, Kansas, is on Thursday’s Unified Government agenda, along with amendments to the rental license ordinance.

The UG meeting will begin at 7 p.m. May 10 at the Commission Chambers, lobby level, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The pilot program for trash service was previously discussed at the April 23 UG Public Works and Safety Committee meeting, and the topic has generated more comments than any other in recent months.

As presented in April, the pilot program for an automated cart system for trash collection would affect three neighborhoods for six months. The neighborhoods are Strawberry Hill, North Ridge in Piper Estates, and Highland Crest.

Under the April proposal, residents would continue to have weekly trash collection. They would receive one 95-gallon trash can for their trash. Anyone with additional bags of trash would have to purchase stickers at $1.25 for each bag, or they could sign up for an additional trash cart for $5 a month more.

Residents would receive another 95-gallon can for recycling, which would be collected every two weeks, according to officials. There would be no limit on recycled items; extra cans or bags could be added to recycling.

Waste Management officials described an automated truck with an arm that reaches out and grabs a trash can, emptying it into the trash truck.

Some commissioners said at the April committee meeting that they were against giving Waste Management any of the UG’s money or credits to conduct a pilot program that would in theory save them money by using automation, and also by reducing recycling collections from every week to every two weeks.

To see the earlier stories on the trash policy, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/ug-committee-moves-trash-collection-pilot-program-forward/.

Also on the UG’s agenda May 10 will be an amendment to the UG ordinance on rental licensing. The amendment states that a licensee cannot own any rental dwelling that has been on the UG’s unfit list for 12 months or more at the time of application or renewal of the rental license.

Also on the agenda is the issuance of up to $31 million in Community Improvemenet District Sales Tax Revenue Bonds for the Legends garage and West Lawn project.

The agenda also includes:

– Appointment of two persons to observe the destruction of old ballots.
– Nomination of Janice Santiago to the Advisory Commission on Human Relations and Disability Issues, by Commissioner Jim Walters.
– Nomination of Roger Millers to the Golf Advisory Board, by Commissioner Walters.
– Nomination of James Schrader to the Landmarks Commission, by Commissioner Walters.
– Nomination of Jerrold Childress to the Planning Commission – Board of Zoning Appeals, by Commissioner Walters.
– Nomination of John McTaggart to the UG Board of Park Commission, by Commissioner Walters.
– Nomination of Delores Elliott to the Wyandotte-Leavenworth Area Wide Advisory Council on Aging, by Commissioner Walters.
– Nomination of Cynthia Crable to the Advisory Commission on Human Relations and Disability Issues, by Mayor David Alvey.
– Nomination of Don Jolley to the Housing Authority Advisory Board by Commissioner Ann Brandau-Murguia.

Also on the 7 p.m. agenda are Land Bank transactions, including:
Property acquisitions:
1730 Haskell Ave., Geraldine White.
1901 N. 11th St., Tim Danner.
3240 Cleveland Ave., Annette Brown, yard extension.

There is also a 5 p.m. UG Commission meeting scheduled in the fifth floor conference room, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., to discuss the animal services facility study.

Temperatures to reach mid-80s today, storms possible Thursday, Friday nights

National Weather Service graphic

Today’s temperatures will reach the middle 80s, with storm chances in the forecast for Thursday night into Friday morning, and Friday night into Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Storms on Friday night will have the potential to be severe and will need to be monitored, the weather service said.

Storm chances will continue Sunday through the beginning of next week, as the pattern remains active, according to the weather service. It is too early to tell if any storms starting Sunday will be severe.

Today’s forecast is sunny with a high near 83 and a west northwest wind of 6 to 13 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, the low will be around 63 with a west northwest wind of 5 to 7 mph, becoming calm, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 88 and a south wind of 5 to 13 mph, the weather service said.

Thursday night, expect a 20 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m., with a low of 66, according to the weather service. There will be a south wind of 10 to 14 mph, gusting to 20 mph.

Friday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m., with a high near 87, the weather service said. A south southwest wind of 13 to 17 mph will gust as high as 24 mph.

Friday night, there is a 20 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m., with a low of 70, according to the weather service.

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

Saturday night, the low will be 62 with mostly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.

Sunday, the high will be near 80 with partly sunny skies, the weather service said.

Sunday night, the high will be near 80 with partly sunny skies, according to the weather service.

Sunday night, the low will be around 62 with mostly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.

Police officer charged with sexual battery

Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree today announced that a charge of sexual battery has been filed against a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer. (Photo by William Crum)

by William Crum

A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer who was formerly assigned to a former mayor has been charged with sexual battery, according to Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark A. Dupree Sr.

The charge is a misdemeanor, according to court documents.

Dupree, at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, said Steven Rios, the police officer, is currently on leave. Rios was formerly assigned to former Mayor Mark Holland, according to Dupree.

According to the charges filed in Wyandotte County District Court, Rios was accused of unlawfully touching a person who was 16 or more years of age and who did not consent on or about March 9, 2018. The victim is a civilian police employee.

The offense carries a possible sentence of six months and a $1,000 fine.

Dupree said Rios is innocent until proven guilty.