Wyandotte County Election Commissioner Bruce Newby was sworn in for another term by Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab during the Unified Government Commission meeting on Thursday, Dec. 12.
The election commissioners here and in the other three large counties are appointed by the secretary of state, under state law.
“I want to really praise your election commissioner,” Schwab said, mentioning Newby’s military background and history in the election office. Newby has served for 14 years.
“He’s driving integrity in elections in this county,” Schwab said. “I respect him deeply.”
Schwab said it is more important than ever to have election commissioners that are prepared for the election coming up next year. He asked the commission to support Newby and the office.
In other action, the UG Commission approved small changes to existing agreements for the Foodie Park development and the Hilton Gardens Inn renovation.
The votes were 7-0 at the brief meeting Thursday night, without discussion on the items.
The KC Foodie Park development was requesting three more months to close on the first phase of the project, according to a Dec. 2 UG committee meeting. The developer stated Dec. 2 that there were some delays in the project’s timeline from the earlier UG approval process.
The Hilton Gardens renovation price tag is going from $4 million to $5.5 million, according to a discussion at the Dec. 2 committee meeting. The UG will not be responsible for paying the bonds, according to officials.
Also approved was a bond sale to pay for major improvements throughout the next year, and revisions to the UG cash and investment policy. The changes are minor to the cash and investment policy, a UG committee was told on Dec. 2.
In addition, a wastewater agreement was approved between the UG and Bonner Springs, for the Bonner Springs Crossing development at 118th and State Avenue area, southwest corner, as well as Land Bank items.