Category: Business

Unemployment rate of 14 percent reported in Wyandotte County

Unemployment hit 14 percent in Wyandotte County during May, according to figures released today by the Kansas Department of Labor.

The figure was down from April’s 14.9 percent, KDOL reported. One year ago, in May 2019, unemployment was 3.9 percent, the KDOL reported.

The 14 percent represents 11,133 persons who were unemployed, according to the report.

Wyandotte County had the second highest unemployment rate in Kansas, with Sedgwick County (the Wichita area) reporting 14.7 percent.

In Kansas City, Kansas, the May unemployment rate was 14.1 percent, according to KDOL, representing 10,269 unemployed persons.

The KCK rate was down from 15 percent in April, KDOL reported. In May 2019, one year ago, the unemployment rate was 4 percent in KCK, according to KDOL.

Kansas City, Kansas, had the second highest unemployment rate of the larger cities in Kansas, and Wichita had the highest rate at 15.4 percent with 30,978 persons unemployed.

Overland Park had a 9.4 percent unemployment rate in May 2020, representing 10,300 unemployed persons, according to KDOL figures.

Statewide, Kansas reported an unemployment rate of 10 percent in May, a decrease from 11.9 percent in April. One year ago, in May 2019, the unemployment rate was 3.1 percent.

The state gained more than 24,000 jobs in May compared to April, according to KDOL officials.

“This follows historic job losses seen across the nation in March and April due to COVID-19,” Kansas Labor Secretary Delia Garcia said.

Seventeen percent of the jobs lost in March and April were gained back in May, according to state economists.

Sidewalk cafes, outdoor retail space now can open in Wyandotte County

Because of COVID-19, some of the rules governing restaurants and retail stores have been loosened to allow sidewalk cafes and retail space.

The Unified Government Commission approved the rules on June 4 and they went into effect on June 11, after publication.

The ordinance and resolution allows some businesses to use public rights-of-way as additional space to do business.

Businesses that are listed can offer outdoor sales on sidewalks, yards, in surplus off-street parking and in parklets, with certain restrictions. The “parklets” are parking spaces that temporarily can be turned into a sidewalk extension in order to provide more amenities and space for people using the street.

The ordinance temporarily will suspend enforcement of certain sections of existing Unified Government code of ordinances in order to provide Wyandotte County businesses trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic more space in which to operate in accordance with guidelines asking them to provide adequate room for proper social distancing between staff and customers.

“Recognizing Wyandotte County businesses would need assistance and flexibility as they worked to get their operations back up and running, I previously directed UG staff to identify opportunities and areas in which we might be able to help and support in that recovery process,” Mayor David Alvey stated. “This new ordinance allows businesses to temporarily create added outdoor space for retail customer sales, utilizing sidewalks, parking lot spaces, and other areas to sell their products and serve their customers, while still maintaining proper social distancing guidelines. It’s a win-win situation for residents and business owners, and a common sense approach to governing in these unique and unprecedented times.”

“In essence, the ordinance effectively legalizes sidewalk cafes, open-air markets and other retail spaces in what are normally public rights-of-way,” said Gunnar Hand, UG director of urban planning. “These common areas are the most valuable and widely used public open spaces in our community. The ordinance is a dramatic statement that allows this space to create a safer, more dynamic, and supportive environment for businesses.”

The Ordinance goes effect on June 11 and lasts until 11:50 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2020. It allows businesses within Wyandotte County to temporarily use the public right-of-way for the sale of goods as long appropriate access to services can be provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and that social distancing is maintained. This means maintaining a distance of at least six feet between workers, customers, and others while in public.

Businesses allowed to provide service within the public right-of-way include:

• Bars and restaurants
• Traditional retail
• Arts and crafts
• Book stores
• Jewelry stores
• Offices
• Nonprofit organizations

Businesses not covered by the ordinance include those providing any type of repair service, or any sales of appliances, electronics, or machinery.

Businesses providing alcohol sales are required to go through the normal Kansas Alcohol Beverage Control approvals process. Failing to do so will trigger an automatic review.

Other restrictions apply to businesses taking advantage of the terms of the ordinance, including:
• All temporary parklets and other temporary structures used for outdoor sales such as pop-up tents will only be allowed during regular business hours.
• Any items (such as merchandise, tables, chairs, etc.) brought into the public right-of-way are required to be stored in the associated business each night.

Unified Government Health officials caution that it’s important to continue to take precautions against the spread of COVID-19.

“COVID-19 remains a threat in our community,” said Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer with the Unified Government Health Department. “While it’s exciting to see our businesses reopening, everyone needs to continue to practice safe social distancing, wear a mask when in public, stay home and seek testing if you are sick, and continue with excellent hygiene such as washing your hands frequently with soap and water, covering your cough and not touching your face with your hands. It’s the combination of these actions that has been most effective at slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”

Residents or business owners with questions about this change may contact 3-1-1.

The ordinance and resolution are online at wycokck.org/Clerk/Agendas for “Special Session 6/4/20” under the “Agendas and Minutes” section. 

  • Information from Unified Government

Plans underway for a warehouse distribution facility for The Woodlands

The possible end of The Woodlands as a horse or dog track is under discussion, with the property at 97th and Leavenworth Road up for sale.

According to Mike Taylor, a Unified Government spokesman, The Woodlands’ owner has put the former racetrack up for sale to Scannell Properties, which wants to build a 1 million square foot warehouse distribution facility and office park with retail development at a corner of the former racetrack. The current owner, Phil Ruffin, is a Las Vegas casino owner.

Taylor said he understood the deal with Scannell was near closing, and if the sale happens, the development then would need to go through planning and zoning with public hearings. The horse and dog track buildings would be demolished, according to Taylor. The new plans would require UG approval.

About 1,000 new jobs would be created by the development, and plans called for 70 acres between the new development and Wyandotte County Lake to become walking trails and green space, according to the UG.

The selling price of The Woodlands was said to be near $20 million, as compared to about $15 million that Ruffin paid for it about five years ago, according to Taylor.

Taylor said the Unified Government has backed Ruffin’s efforts to reopen The Woodlands during the past few years in the Legislature. Under a different UG Commission and administration, the UG had opposed efforts to reopen. This past session, the Legislature again did not approve a law that would have allowed the racetrack to make a profit.

Taylor said The Woodlands issue did not come up again today in the Kansas Legislature, which was called back for a special session. The Legislature is largely dealing with COVID-19 legislation, he said. He added there was an attempt to bring up Medicaid expansion again today, but it failed.

The Woodlands opened in 1989 and closed in 2008 in a dispute with Kansas lawmakers over the amount of taxes that would have to be paid when slot machines were authorized. Horse and dog tracks were allowed to add slot machines, but would have to pay almost twice as much in gaming taxes as the state-owned casinos.

Scannell Properties is a real estate development firm with headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, that has more than 300 development projects in 44 states and in Canada.

According to the UG, project plans are being reviewed at the local level, and also by the state of Kansas and Army Corps of Engineers.

The Woodlands these past few years ran into some local opposition from neighbors at planning and zoning meetings when it used its parking lot to store vehicles, with neighbors complaining about traffic coming in and out of the facility.