Month: May 2020

Wyandotte County looks to economic recovery

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

A 25-member committee, formed by Mayor David Alvey and including business leaders, is helping Wyandotte County adjust to changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. K. Allen Greiner, the Unified Government’s chief medical officer, issued a continuation of the stay-at-home order, effective until midnight May 10. At that time, if data allows, Wyandotte County will enter the “red zone” of the “Restart WyCo Road to Recovery.” If all goes well, Wyandotte County will move through the “yellow zone” and, later on, the “green zone.”

Mayor Alvey was quick to admit that the pandemic “has caused enormous hardship on families and businesses in our community.” He said it will be important to gradually restore and reopen the economy in the right way.

The “red zone” of the restart effort relaxes the stay–at–gome requirements, but recommends the highest level of caution for vulnerable persons. The “yellow zone” relaxes stay-at-home requirements even further while allowing more businesses to open under caution. The “green zone” is the least stringent with few restrictions. Details of the restart can be found at www.wycokck.org/COVID-19. These zones are similar to ones proposed by Gov. Laura Kelly.

The Unified Commission, meeting Thursday night, April 30, learned that the pandemic could cost the local government as much as $35 million this year and as much as $22 million in 2021. A large loss will come from lack of sales tax; two major contributors, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Legends Outlet, have been closed for several weeks.

County Administrator Doug Bach said, despite this loss, he does not anticipate a mill rate increase in local property taxes. The Unified Government has implemented a hiring freeze except for critical positions such as police and fire.

Mike Taylor, the lobbyist for the Unified Government, said Congress is debating how much the federal government will help state and local government. He said the state of Kansas is estimated to lose $1.2 billion as a result of the pandemic.

Taylor said the speaker of the House, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) wants to give state and local government $1 trillion; however, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), the majority leader of the Senate, suggested that states go bankrupt. Taylor said a compromise of about $500 billion could be a possibility.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

Today’s weather: Sunny, windy, high in mid-60s

Mild spring weather, with increasing winds, is in today’s forecast. (National Weather Service graphic)

Today there will be mild spring weather, with wind increasing in the afternoon.

There will be a 30 percent chance of rain tonight after 1 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Winds will become breezy this afternoon, with gusts of up to 38 mph possible, the weather service said.

Cooler temperatures are expected through the rest of the week, with rain returning Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon into Friday, according to the weather service. Severe weather is unlikely either day.

Today, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 68, the weather service said. A northwest wind of 8 to 13 mph will increase to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds may gust as high as 38 mph.

Tonight, there will be a 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1 a.m., according to the weather service said. The low will be around 47 with a north northwest wind of 9 to 14 mph becoming light northeast. Winds may gust up to 23 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is likely.

Wednesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 63, the weather service said. A light northwest wind will become north northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Wednesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 43, according to the weather service. A north wind around 6 mph will become calm in the evening.

Thursday, there is a 50 percent chance of rain, with a high near 63, the weather service said. A calm wind will become south southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is predicted.

Thursday night, there is a 50 percent chance of rain, with a low of 45, according to the weather service. New precipitation amounts will be between a tenth and a quarter of an inch.

Friday, it will be sunny with a high near 59, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be clear with a low of 37, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 66, the weather service.

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

Sunday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 64, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 42, according to the weather service.

Monday, there will be a 30 percent chance of rain, with a high near 62, the weather service said.

Ramp and lane closures planned in Wyandotte County this week

KDOT ramp and lane closures are planned this week in Wyandotte County. (KDOT map)

Numerous ramps and lanes are scheduled to be closed in Wyandotte County from Tuesday, May 5, to Saturday, May 9, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Traffic on all these projects will be diverted using mobile lane closures, signs and traffic cones, a KDOT spokesman stated.

For pavement grinding and road sealing, closures include:
• The two right lanes on southbound I-635 from 48th Street to K-32,
• The on and off ramps on southbound I-635 from eastbound and westbound State Avenue,
• The ramp from southbound I-635 to westbound I-70,
• The ramp from eastbound I-70 to southbound I-635,
• The on and off ramps to southbound I-635 from K-32.

These will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. May 5 to May 9. Ramps will be open from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For guardrail maintenance, the closure includes:

• Southbound 18th Street/U.S. 69 will be closed from Kansas Avenue to the Kansas River. The lane will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 5.

The KDOT spokesman urged all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone. To stay aware of all road construction projects across Kansas go to www.kandrive.org or call 5-1-1. Motorists were urged to drive safely and always wear their seat belts, the spokesman said.