Category: Communities

BPU to meet Wednesday

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, in a virtual meeting.

On the agenda are a public comment time; general manager and staff reports; COVID-19 update; Unified Government public works update; November financial report; Wyandotte County regional hazard mitigation plan adoption; miscellaneous comments; and board comments.

The meeting will be conducted through the internet and telephone. The BPU offices are closed to the public because of the pandemic.

The BPU Finance Committee meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.

The public may access the meetings through the telephone and internet.

To join the Zoom meeting, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84523139724.

To join by telephone, call toll-free 1-888-475-4499.

The meeting ID is 845 2313 9724.

The board meeting information packet is available online at https://www.bpu.com/Portals/0/pdf/board-information-packet-1-6-21.pdf.

Members of the community who wish to speak to the board must be logged in to the Zoom meeting via the internet using their browser or the Zoom application. Members of the public will be asked to raise their hand to signal they wish to address the board.

During the public comment section of the agenda, community members will be asked to provide their name and address and will then have 5 minutes to speak. They will “raise their hand” on Zoom to be recognized to speak.

Virtual town hall meeting scheduled tonight on superintendent search

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education is planning a virtual town hall meeting tonight on the search for a new superintendent.

The community and stakeholders are asked to provide comments on characteristics and skill sets they want to see in a new superintendent, according to a school district news release.

The first town hall meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, via the internet.

JG Consulting will conduct the meetings. Two of the meetings will be in Spanish.

The rest of the town hall meeting schedule includes: 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 9, in English; 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, in Spanish; and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, in Spanish.

The school district is asking that questions be submitted by email in advance to make sure the consulting firm can address as many questions as possible. The questions may be sent to SuperintendentSearch@kckps.org.

The link to the virtual meetings will be available on the school district’s website at http://www.kckps.org/.

Energy assistance fund starts taking applications

The Kansas Low-Income Energy Assistance program began accepting applications on Monday, Jan. 4.

The program provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay their winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups who are assisted.

Kansas will be accepting applications for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program from Monday, Jan. 4, until Wednesday, March 31.

Last year about 34,000 households received received an average of $600 in financial relief, according to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, which offers the program.

Kansas energy customers can apply for LIEAP program funds on the Kansas Department for Children and Families Energy Assistance website. Applicants will need utility account numbers, proof of income and Social Security numbers for all members of their household.

“We have customers in need of help right now and are pleased funds may be available to them with the opening of the LIEAP applications window,” said David Mehlhaff, BPU chief communications officer. “When we are connecting with our customers to provide helpful resources and services, sharing information about LIEAP is a meaningful way to help, especially now when times are challenging for so many.”

In response to the challenging times, in December the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities suspended disconnects of utility service for non-payment and extended this temporary moratorium through Feb. 28.

LIEAP is a federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a one-time per year benefit.

To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel and utility rates. Eligibility is based on an applicant’s heating bill. If an applicant needs assistance covering electric costs, they need to request the benefit be split between the two utilities.

Applicants need to have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less.

To learn more about eligibility requirements or fill out a LIEAP application, visit the Kansas Department for Children and Families website or call 1-800-432-0043. LIEAP applications are on the Kansas Department for Children and Families website at Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) beginning Monday, Jan. 4, until Wednesday, March 31.

Funding for the Low-Income Energy Assistance program is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Service through the Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Customers are encouraged to stay current with their bills to avoid getting too far behind and if anyone has any BPU billing or customer service questions, they can call 913-573-9190 and a utility representative is available to assist.

  • Information from David Mehlhaff, BPU chief communications officer