Thursday, April 11, 2013

Gas leak forces evacuations at KU Medical Center

Two buildings at the University of Kansas Medical Center have been evacuated as a result of a gas leak.

The evacuations happened at around 3:45 p.m. after a chemical odor was detected. No injuries have been reported as of yet.

More information when available.

Friday, December 7, 2012

UG approves authorization of $25 million emergency communications system

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

The Unified Government Board of Commissioners unanimously approved of a new $25 million emergency radio communication system for Wyandotte County at their meeting Thursday night.

The Unified Government and Board of Public Utilities will share responsibilities of operating the system and paying for it.

BPU will pay 25 percent of the installation's common costs, along with 25 percent of the maintenance costs. Meanwhile, the UG will pay the remaining costs in both areas.

Along with the costs, the UG and BPU will share operational responsibilities.

BPU's responsibilities include the following, word-for-word from the UG agenda:
"• Project management of the system install
• Warranty Management of the core system and BPU Subscriber Units
• Maintain all BPU Subscriber Units
• If requested and agreed to maintain UG portable subscribe units
• Develop, coordinate and maintain the fleet map
• Coordinate and install all over the air subscriber unit modifications
• Coordinate all system hardware, software installations and upgrades.
• Management and operation of the towers and microwave system and the sites
thereof
• Maintenance and of core communication network, fiber, microwave, towers and
antennas
• Coordinate with Unified Government departments and outside agencies as
required"
According to the UG agenda, the UG will have the following responsibilities of the new communication system:
"• Execute and manage all contracts and agreements with outside agencies for the
core system including the primary system vender
• Obtain, manage and maintain frequency and FCC licensing
• Coordinate with outside agencies for talk group assignments
• Continue to maintain and manage the 911 dispatch area
• Coordinate all specialty equipment and services such as special alerting
• Provide legal resources for project management
• Provide and update information for the fleet map"
Approved terms of the cooperative partnership between the UG and BPU will be in effect for 15 years.

A governance committee featuring equal UG and BPU representation will meet throughout the year to discuss the communications system.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Car accident causes gas leakage

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

A handful of homes around the area of 2900 Block of 83rd Street were evacuated Saturday night after a truck struck a gas meter in the area.

The homes were evacuated as a precaution, but no one was injured as a result of the accident of the gas leakage.

“Crews responded to the scene of a gas meter struck by a pickup truck,” said Craig Duke, deputy chief of the Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department. “On arrival crews found vehicle on top of gas meter. Crews were unable to shut off gas due to vehicle on top of meter.”

A tow truck was called to remove the vehicle from the meter. After the gas was shutoff, residents were allowed to return home.

Full statement from Duke:
Crews responded to the scene of a gas meter struck by a pickup truck. On arrival crews found vehicle on top of gas meter. Crews were unable to shut off gas due to vehicle on top of meter. Gas Company was immediately dispatched. As a precautionary measure several homes within the immediate vicinity were temporarily evacuated until Gas Company arrived and shut off meter. Tow truck was called to remove vehicle from meter. Occupants returned when gas was shut off. No injuries reported.