Month: July 2019

Mayor looks forward to new American Royal complex

Opinion

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by Murrel Bland

If all goes well, the American Royal will break ground this fall on its new complex.

That was the message that Mayor David Alvey delivered at the summer membership meeting of Business West Wednesday, July 10, at the Rowe Ridge Vineyard and Winery in the Piper community. About 30 persons attended.

The American Royal Association announced in 2016 that it will move from the West Bottoms of Kansas City, Missouri, to a location in Village West in Wyandotte County.

The complex will be “an ideal location for a variety of food and agriculture events,” according to its website, www.americanroyal.com. The new location will be larger with more space for exhibitors, vendors and spectators. An events complex will offer 300,000 square feet of exhibit space and an arena that will seat up to 8,000 persons.

The American Royal is expected to attract various complementary retail development. The new complex is being financed with sales tax bonds from the state of Kansas and private donations.

Mayor Alvey talked about the challenges he faces as a public official. One such challenge was the need to manage storm water. He said he is well aware of the problem. He lives in the former Shawnee Township in Wyandotte County without the benefit of storm sewers. When it rains a lot, the mayor has water in his basement.

The mayor learned that certain businesses and nonprofit organizations in western Wyandotte County, including Business West members, are concerned about excessive fees for storm water treatment. Some of these businesses invested substantial amounts by building very costly retention ponds. The mayor was told that such businesses need to receive credits for their investments in abatement fees.

Mayor Alvey said in looking at the 2020 budget for the Unified Government, it was necessary to hold the line with no rate increase while paying down debt.

The mayor was rather humorous when he commented about how to deal with the population challenge in Wyandotte County. He suggested jokingly that younger couples have more children. He also joked that a wall needs to be built on County Line Road and that Johnson County would have to pay for it.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press.

Excessive heat watch issued for Wednesday afternoon

The heat index could reach a high of 107 on Wednesday afternoon in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)
An excessive heat watch is in effect from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday evening in Wyandotte County and the surrounding area. (National Weather Service graphic)
The heat index could be 105 on Thursday afternoon, and 103 on Friday afternoon in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)
Residents are asked to practice heat safety outdoors, on the job, indoors and in vehicles. (National Weather Service graphic)

An excessive heat watch has been issued for Wednesday afternoon through Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures will rise into the 90s, with a heat index ranging from 100 to 110 Wednesday through Saturday, the weather service said.

On Wednesday, the heat index could reach 107 here, according to the weather service. The prolonged duration of heat and humidity could become dangerous to those who are most vulnerable, including young children and the elderly, the weather service said.

Night temperatures could be uncomfortable for some. Overnight temperatures will reach a low only of 79 on Wednesday night and Thursday night. On Sunday, the extreme heat may break, and temperatures will reach a high of 93.

This will be the first prolonged period of heat this season, and some people may not have acclimated to the heat, according to the weather service. Heat illnesses will be possible for those spending prolonged time outside or time indoors in non-air-conditioned locations.

Residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors, the weather service said.

The Missouri River at Parkville, which includes Wyandotte County in its coverage area, is currently in action stage, which is below flood stage. The Kansas River at 23rd Street, where the gauge is near Kansas Avenue and the state line, is currently below flood stage and below action stage.

There is no rain in the forecast for the next week, according to the weather service forecast.

Today, it will be partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 89 and a light and variable wind, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 74 and a south southeast wind of 6 mph, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97 and heat index values as high as 107, the weather service said. A south wind of 6 to 15 mph will gust as high as 24 mph.

Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 79 and a south wind around 10 mph, gusting as high as 22 mph, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be sunny and hot, with a high near 97, the weather service said. A south southwest wind of 10 to 13 mph will gust as high as 26 mph.

Thursday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 79, according to the weather service.

Friday will be sunny and hot, with a high near 97, the weather service said.

Friday night will be mostly clear, with a low of 78, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny with a high near 96, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 76, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 93, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low around 73, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 91, the weather service said.