Category: Unified Government Commission

Unified Government looks to change

Views
Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, is marking its 25th anniversary by having consultants explain how it can do a better job of governing about 165,000 persons.

I am not opposed to the Unified Government trying to do a better job. However, it is important to respect history in charting the course for the future.

Ashley Hand, the UG’s director of strategic communications, writing in a recent UG newsletter, said the present top-to-bottom study effort has never been done since the city and county governments were unified. That may be the case. However, it is important to examine what happened during the years before consolidation.

In the late 1970s, a volunteer Chamber of Commerce committee of professionals, including an accountant and senior private sector management personnel, did a very extensive study of city government. The committee’s conclusion was that the city could save a considerable amount of money if it had a central personnel director and a central finance director. Both those positions were instituted; considerable savings were realized

In 1981, a 15-member volunteer committee spent a year studying local government here and elsewhere. (I was a member of that committee.) The conclusion was that the city here could save considerable money with a professional city administrator. That came about after an election in 1982.

Consolidation of city and county government came about in 1997 after a volunteer committee studied the situation extensively. There had been various attempts at consolidation dating back to 1937. However, the community approved it in an election in 1997.

Presently groups of paid consultants, the Meriweather Group, Management Partners and the Robert Bobb Group, are making suggestions about how the Unified Government can do a better job. That could cost the UG as much as $118,000. I had considerable problems getting that cost information and finally did receive it with the help of Ashley Hand. Maybe one of the consultants will make a recommendation on how to improve open records requests.

Previous successful efficiency studies have originated and were driven by very responsible and committed volunteers. That is not the case with the present study. A strong volunteer base would have helped assure the study would have been successful. Besides, it would have saved the UG a considerable amount of money.

Murrel Bland is a former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Business West.

UG Commission to consider budget moves Thursday

Commission poised to set a public hearing, pass a resolution exceeding the revenue neutral rate and set a maximum mill levy.

The Unified Government Commission is scheduled to consider a resolution exceeding the revenue neutral rate and setting a maximum mill levy on Thursday.

The commission also would set a public hearing at 7 p.m. Aug. 22 if it approves the proposed resolution.

As said by UG officials at earlier budget meetings, the UG Commission, once it sets a maximum mill levy, does not have to approve that higher amount at a later budget-setting meeting, but could lower it.

There has been discussion during budget meetings of the wishes of commissioners and the mayor to lower taxes and fees this year.

According to UG agenda documents, the revenue neutral rate for Kansas City, Kansas, has been calculated at 33.82 mills, and the revenue neutral rate for Wyandotte County has been calculated at 34.62 mills.

The proposed budget, according to the resolution, will require the UG Commission to levy a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral rate.

The proposed tax rate and maximum mill levy listed for Kansas City, Kansas, in the proposed resolution is 38.48 mills.

The proposed tax rate and maximum mill levy listed for Wyandotte County in the proposed resolution is 39.33 mills.

UG officials explained in earlier budget meetings that the property valuations in Wyandotte County had increased this year. Even if the mill levy rates were left at the same level as last year, the amount of revenue collected here would be more than last year.

Other items on Thursday’s UG Commission agenda include:

  • An update on the Human Resources assessment.
  • An update on UG organization assessment.
  • An update on grants and grant process.
  • An update on the county administrator search process.
  • A resolution establishing a sister city relationship with the city of Carmago, Mexico.
  • Permission to submit a 2023 victim services grant.
  • A public hearing on the 2022-2026 Consolidated Plan, by the director of Community Development.
  • A resolution to set a public hearing date of Aug. 25 for creating a redevelopment district at 505 Central Ave.
  • A resolution to adopt procedures for redistricting the UG Commissioner districts.
  • A proclamation on the African American History Commission.
  • A proclamation on National Night Out on Aug. 2.

After the 7 p.m. meeting there will be an executive, closed session on personnel in the fifth floor meeting room of City Hall, according to an agenda notice.

The 7 p.m. meeting is in person at City Hall, Commission Chambers, lobby level, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

It also will be on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88089896696?pwd=czBVYmJxRzg5Zll3dUF5eGZMc0hHZz09.

For more information about how to access the meeting, visit https://www.wycokck.org/Engage-With-Us/Calendar-of-Events/Full-Commission-Meeting.

UG committees to meet Monday

Two Unified Government committees are scheduled to meet on Monday, July 11.

The UG Economic Development and Finance Committee will meet at 5 p.m. Monday, followed by the Neighborhood and Community Development Committee.

The meetings will be held in the fifth floor conference room, Suite 515, at City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas. They also will be on Zoom.

On the agenda for the EDF Committee meeting:

• A resolution to set a public hearing date on the 505 Central Ave. redevelopment district;

• A resolution adopting the 505 Central Development Agreement;

• An ordinance and resolution reallocating ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to reflect revised revenue replacement calculations;

• A review of the 2021 year-end fund balance and reserves for the general fund and special revenue funds;

• The 2022 first quarter cash investment report;

• The 2022 first quarter budget revisions greater than $10,000;

• The first quarter budget to actuals report.
On the agenda for the NCD Committee meeting:

• A resolution to adopt procedures for redistricting commission districts;

• Land Bank option applications and property transfers.

The Land Bank option applications include:
New construction, single-family homes, 15 homes:
• 1716 Southwest Blvd., Aaron Lawrence, one home;
• 3224 N. 44th Terrace and 3224 R. N. 44th Terrace, Ashleigh Downs, one home, landlocked unbuildable parcel;
• 2610 N. 57th St., Mark Roth, one home;
• 5711 Yecker, Mark Roth, one home;
• 2725 N. 59th St., Mark Roth, one home;
• 2922 N. 30th St., 2914 N. 30th St., 2910 N. 30th St., Dewanna Williams, 4036 Properties, three homes;
• 3509 Lust Drive, Brian Sparks, one home;
• 840 Ann Ave., 925 Ann Ave., Norlito Castillo Jr., two homes;
• 812 S. 10th St., James Michael, one home;
• 1914 N. 6th St., 1920 N. 6th St., 1922 N. 5th St., 1926 N. 6th St., two homes built on four lots, Communities Cares;
• 1927 N. 6th St., 1929 N. 6th St., 1931 N. 6th St., one home built on three lots, Communities Cares.

Multi-family:
• 1620 N. 75th Drive, Shonda Gonzales, four units;
• 1001 Brown Ave., Stone and Bush Homes LLC, parking lot;
• 835 Parallel Ave., 831 Parallel Ave., 827 Parallel Ave., 834 Troup Ave., 830 Troup Ave. townhomes, 15 units, Wall-Ties and Forms Inc.
• 843 Parallel Ave., 851 Parallel Ave., garden and orchard, Wall-Ties and Forms Inc.

Commercial:
• 706 Quindaro Blvd., Mohammad A. Chaudhry, parking lot.

Garages:
• 1037 Grandview Blvd., Teriona Emery;
• 2624 N. 21st, Edwina Gaskin, unbuildable lot at 2636 R. N. 21st St.

Land Bank property transfers:
• 5911 N. 123rd St., Rebecca Davis;
• 455 N. Bluegrass Drive, city of Bonner Springs;
• 426 N. 78th St., UG transfer to Land Bank;
• 621 Village West Parkway, UG transfer to Land Bank.

The Zoom link for the EDF meeting is at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86052704750?pwd=1kgtGpsO6cwewmMPq8m4au4mJekFy4.1.

The passcode is 462978.

For more information, visit https://www.wycokck.org/Engage-With-Us/Calendar-of-Events/Standing-Committee-Meeting-EDF-and-NCD.