Month: April 2020

Rain and snow in forecast

Wyandotte County could get less than an inch of snow on Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)

Rain is possible tonight and Thursday, while snow will be possible Thursday night and Friday, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

The weather service said the amount of snow on Thursday night and Friday morning is uncertain at this time, but at this time it appeared that it could be less than a half-inch.

The area could experience a freeze Friday and Saturday mornings, according to the weather service. The sub-freezing temperatures could kill sensitive, unprotected vegetation and could damage exposed outdoor plumbing, the weather service said.

Today, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 52 and a north wind of 6 mph becoming light and variable, the weather service said.

Tonight, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, mainly between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 40 with an east southeast wind of 5 to 7 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation is likely.

Thursday, there is a 50 percent chance of rain, with a high near 48, the weather service said. An east wind of 9 to 15 mph will gust as high as 22 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of precipitation is possible.

Thursday night, there is an 80 percent chance of rain before 5 a.m., then rain and snow, according to the weather service. The low will be around 33. A north northeast wind of 9 to 13 mph will gust as high as 18 mph. Less than a half-inch of new snow accumulation is predicted.

Friday, there is a 60 percent chance of snow before 7 a.m., the weather service said. The high will be 47 with a north wind of 7 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch is possible.

Friday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 31, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 61, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 43, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 67, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 44, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 70, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 48, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 73, the weather service.

For more information, visit www.weather.gov.

UG to hold special Board of Health session on Thursday, also a full UG Commission meeting

The Unified Government is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 16, for a Board of Health update, according to a meeting notice.

The meeting will take place via Zoom, an online meeting tool, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public will be able to observe or listen to the meeting on YouTube; UGTV on Google Channel 141, and on Spectrum cable Channel 2; and on Zoom; or listen on telephone.

For Zoom, persons may go to this website:
https://zoom.us/j/99571054216?pwd=VFVzZFNWa0VxZitOMnlrclQ5MlN1dz09
Password: 099631

The meeting also will be on iPhone one-tap:
US: +13126266799, 99571054216# or +16465588656, 99571054216#

The meeting also will be accessible by telephone:

Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or 877 853 5257 (Toll Free) or 888 475 4499 (Toll Free)
Webinar ID: 995 7105 4216
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/abnrwuaUBy

Full UG Commission meets at 7 p.m. Thursday

The full UG Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, also conducted remotely, using Zoom.

Downtown redevelopment
On the agenda is an amendment to the Civic Center management agreement, allowing the downtown redevelopment project to continue. In this project, the Reardon Center will be torn down and a new development will be constructed there, to include apartments, a smaller meeting center, a fitness facility, and a small retail area at the northwest corner of 5th and Minnesota. The amendment will include a one-time payment of $51,000 to Brancato’s, the manager of the Reardon Center, and an early termination of the contract.

Westfield Shopping Center improvements
Also on the agenda is a public hearing, ordinance and resolution for the Westfield Community Improvement District and a development agreement at 81st and State Avenue. The CID would place an additional 1 percent sales tax on the sales of goods and services at Westfield Shopping Center. The improvements listed could include environmental remediation, a new roof, landscaping, parking lot improvements, face and sign enhancements and other capital improvements, according to the agreements.

The agreement caps reimbursable CID costs at $2.4 million, with no more than $710,000 eligible for land acquisitions. The agreement also stated a minimum of $1 million must be spent on capital improvements, with the developer able to seek reimbursement for up to $1.7 million in capital improvements. The agreement also stated the developer planned to spend around $8.8 million for land acquisition and capital improvements.

Small Business Relief Loan Fund
In other action, the Wyandotte County – KCK COVID-19 Small Business Relief Loan Fund is on the agenda. A proposal calls for the UG to contribute $175,000 to a loan loss reserve fund, enabling AltCap to secure and lend $700,000 in capital to Wyandotte County businesses. Small businesses with 20 employees or less, and $750,000 or less in annual revenue experiencing significant loss of business may qualify.


According to the agenda, the loan fund is needed because many small businesses here will not be able to access federal relief funds because they do not have previous business banking histories and relationships, or collateral. AltCap is a regional Community Development Financial Institution that can provide small businesses with access to highly flexible capital to help them recover. Businesses could receive a maximum $25,000 in loan capital.


According to the agenda, while the UG’s $175,000 contribution must be budgeted, the funds only will be required if a business defaults on the loan. AltCap, SourceLink and the Women’s Employment Network will work with the businesses throughout the term of the loan.

Changes proposed to boards, committees and terms
A draft ordinance is on the agenda, with changes to UG boards, committees and terms. The issue was previously discussed at the Administration and Human Services Committee on March 23. Several committees and boards are affected. A quorum would be defined as 51 percent, and a majority of a quorum could take action. The proposal standardizes terms for several different committees.

A recommendation was made to repeal an ordinance on the Wyandotte County developmental disabilities advisory board, which according to the UG attorney, has not had any members appointed since 2016. An ad hoc council currently performs a function required by state regulations. The UG Commission would serve as the disabilities governing board under the proposal, and the Human Relations Commission would make recommendations to the UG Commission on a plan and budget for the disabilities program.

Also on the 7 p.m. agenda:

• The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department is requesting to apply for and accept funding through the fiscal year 2020 COPS Hiring Program as part of Operation Relentless Pursuit. If received, the department could fund five patrol officer positions for three years.

• A resolution is proposed to authorize the UG to enter into the assignment of an agreement with SC Investors KCK and NADG NNN Spira-Troup (KC-KS) on the medical treatment and office facility at 9800 Troup Ave. The building is in the process of being sold.

• An agreement with United Food and Commercial Workers District Union Local 2 Public Safety Dispatch Division.

• An agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 4.

• Land Bank items that are being transferred from the Land Bank to the UG for the expansion of the Wolcott Treatment Plant. Their addresses are 5540 N. 94th St., 5544 N. 94th St., 5545 N. 95th St. 5551 N. 95th St., 5550 Walnut St., 5601 Walnut St. and 5621 Walnut St.

The meeting will take place via Zoom, an online meeting tool, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public will be able to observe or listen to the meeting on YouTube; UGTV on Google Channel 141, and on Spectrum cable Channel 2; and on Zoom; or listen on telephone.
For Zoom, persons may go to this website:
https://zoom.us/j/95240949369?pwd=eEt2OVNZY1JGbzVXR1JLY3FjU1k4UT09
Password: 091119

The meeting also will be on iPhone one-tap:
US: +16465588656,,95240949369# or +13126266799,,95240949369#

The meeting also will be accessible by telephone:

Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782
or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or 888 475 4499 (Toll Free) or 877 853 5257
Webinar ID: 952 4094 9369
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/abnrwuaUBy

Comments to any agenda item may be sent in to the UG clerk by 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting, through email to [email protected].
The UG agendas are online at https://www.wycokck.org/Clerk/Agendas.aspx.

First group of KC COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund grant recipients includes some Wyandotte County organizations

Several Wyandotte County organizations are on the list of grant recipients that will receive aid from the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.

The fund is distributing more than $2.6 million in aid to 56 area nonprofits for housing support, food assistance, access to health care and other critical human services, according to an announcement.

“At a time when our region is facing an unprecedented demand on human services, I’m proud this partnership has seen everyone in the community coming together to take action and make a real difference,” said United Way of Greater Kansas City president and CEO Brent Stewart. “The programs and organizations benefitting from this first round of grants are those on the front lines of providing the most urgent of basic needs. They are invaluable, and we thank them for their efforts. And, we thank each and every individual and organization whose contributions made this possible.”

“Thanks to our community’s generosity, the fund was able to quickly collect and deploy resources to address critical needs in vulnerable populations,” said Debbie Wilkerson, President and CEO, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. “But this is only the beginning. There are more rounds of grants to come.”

Additional grants will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues and needs are identified throughout all phases of the crisis.

Initial grant recipients:

  • Avenue of Life
  • Bishop Sullivan Center
  • Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph
  • Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
  • Center of Grace
  • City Union Mission
  • Community Action Agency of Greater Kansas City
  • Community LINC
  • Community Services League
  • Connecting For Good
  • Cross-Lines Community Outreach
  • Della Lamb Community Services
  • Don Bosco Centers
  • East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corp.
  • El Centro
  • Fairmount Community Center
  • Feed Northland Kids
  • Food Equality Initiative
  • Friends of Yates
  • Giving the Basics
  • Grandview Assistance Program
  • Guadalupe Centers
  • Harvesters
  • Health Partnership Clinic, Inc.
  • Heart of America Indian Center
  • Heart to Heart International
  • Hillcrest Ministries of MidAmerica, Inc.
  • Hope Faith
  • Johnson County Mental Health Center
  • Kansas City’s Medicine Cabinet
  • KC CARE Health Center
  • Kearney Enrichment Council
  • Kim Wilson Housing
  • Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope
  • Lee’s Summit Social Services
  • Love INC of Clay County
  • Metro Lutheran Ministry
  • Newhouse
  • Northland Shepherd’s Center
  • PACES, Inc.
  • Platte Senior Services, Inc.
  • reStart, Inc.
  • Rose Brooks Center
  • Safehome
  • Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center
  • SAVE, Inc.
  • Sharon Lee Family Health Care
  • Shepherd’s Center KC Central
  • Shepherd’s Center of Raytown
  • Swope Health Services
  • Synergy Services, Inc.
  • United Inner City Services
  • Veterans Community Project
  • Vibrant Health
  • Working Families’ Friend
  • Wyandot Center

The Advisory Board of the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund

The 20-member Advisory Board is made up of foundation, civic and community representatives who oversee the Fund. These individuals have both an understanding of the community’s needs and the charitable organizations that work to serve those needs, and they work together to assess potential grant recipients. The members of the board include:

• Mayra Aguirre, Hall Family Foundation
• Julie Brewer, United Community Services of Johnson County
• Rita Cortes, Menorah Heritage Foundation
• Micah Rose Emerson, Community Representative
• Carla Gibson, REACH Healthcare Foundation
• Geoff Jolley, LISC Greater Kansas City
• Jan Kauk, North Kansas City School Board of Education
• Randy Lopez, Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools Board Member
• Jim MacDonald, United Way of Greater Kansas City
• McClain Bryant Macklin, Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
• Maureen Mahoney, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas
• Denise St. Omer, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
• Rachel Russell, Community Representative
• Debbie Sosland-Edelman, The Sosland Foundation
• Carrie Stewart, William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank Trustee
• Qiana Thomason, Health Forward Foundation
• Randy Vance, Sunderland Foundation
• David Warm, moderator, Mid-America Regional Council
• Michele Watley, Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet
• Carey Wilkerson, The H & R Block Foundation and the Marion and Henry Bloch Charitable Foundation

Donor update
Since the launch of the Fund in March, dozens of new organizations have made significant donations to the fund.

These funders include:

 Academy Bank
 Ann and Gary Dickinson Family Charitable Foundation
 Bank of America
 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
 Burns & McDonnell Foundation
 Cerner Foundation, First Hand
 Cloud L. Cray Foundation
 CommunityAmerica Foundation
 Compass Minerals
 Coventry Family Foundation
 Dave and Dee Dillon Charitable Fund
 Deloitte
 Delta Dental of Missouri
 Evergy
 Francis Family Foundation
 Gautreaux Family Fund
 GEHA
 General Motors
 Gray Family Foundation
 Hulston Family Foundation
 Humana
 JDC Family Foundation
 Jedel Family Foundation
 JMW & Associates, LLC
 John W. & Effie E. Speas Memorial Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
 Kansas Gas Service, a Division of ONE Gas
 Kao Family Foundation
 Kiewit
 Mr. and Mrs. Isidor Wachstein & their son Julius & Thau Family Trust Fund
 Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation
 Parris Communications
 PNC Foundation
 Price Brothers Charitable Foundation
 PWC Charitable Foundation
 Steve and Carole Price Charitable Foundation
 Stuart A. Schlemmer Charitable Fund
 Tension Envelope Corporation
 The Abe & Anna Bograd Memorial Trust
 The DeBruce Foundation and Paul and Linda DeBruce
 The Granary Fund in memory of Pat and Cliff Jones
 The Ronald D. Deffenbaugh Foundation
 Tim and Elin Murphy Family Foundation
 TruckMovers
 U.S. Bank
 VanTrust Real Estate
 William G. McGowan Charitable Fund