Tag: Board of Public Utilities

A community group met last week in a meeting that was called “The People vs. the BPU.”
In the meeting March 26 at a room at Kansas City Kansas Community College, the 21st Century KCK Citizens United discussed topics about the Board of Public Utilities, including the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) fee, access and other fees on their bills and what the charges are for.  Residents also expressed their concerns about the new BPU meters.
Residents brought their bills in and the bills are being compared, according to Cardelia Walker, a real estate agent who is one of the leaders of the group.
“Our purpose is to work for the people of KCK and issues important to them,” Walker said. “BPU was No. 1 at this time.”
The group’s goal is to give the people a voice, she said. “People were hurting with $400 BPU bills,” she said.
At the April 2 BPU meeting, BPU officials discussed having an informative  public meeting in mid-April to discuss the BPU bill charges and what they are for.

by William Crum

At tonight’s planning session the Board of Public Utilities discussed new ways of informing the public about the charges on their bill.
Mentioned was the PILOT fee, which means payment in lieu of taxes. The fee is placed on BPU bills by the Unified Government.  The BPU expressed the desire to  give the public a greater understanding of what is going on regarding their BPU bill.
At the regular session a new proposal before the board is called the Kaw Point Revitalization Project. The project includes a building located next to Kaw Point in Kansas City, Kan.
This building would be right in front of the park and it might be a reason for new businesses to come to the Fairfax industrial area in Kansas City, Kan., according to BPU officials. This building would also improve the entrance and exit of the park itself.
The entrance to the park would be maintained by the landlord of the building, and after its completion on a tentative date of May 1, 2015, it may have the effect of attracting new businesses in the area, according to BPU officials. As of now the planning commission has not totally approved the project, but after it is approved, construction can get underway.