Unified Government Commissioner Jane Philbrook invites you to attend an 8th District Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.at the Eisenhower Community Center located at 2901 North 72nd Street in Kansas City, Kansas.
The meeting provides an opportunity for residents to learn about recent developments taking place and planned in District 8, and an opportunity to voice your concerns and share ideas with your commissioner and UG staff.
You are invited to attend a public hearing to be held on Thursday evening, February 19, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Unified Government Board of Commissioners Chambers in the Lobby of the Municipal Office Building 701 North 7th Street.
The public hearing is being co-sponsored by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas Departments of Budget and Community Development.
The purpose of this meeting is to request public comment on budget priorities. Citizens and organizations will have the opportunity to comment on budget priorities for the adoption of the Unified Government's revised 2015 and proposed 2016 budgets.
Budget proposal packets for the Unified Government and CDBG budgets will be available for citizens and organizations at the meeting and online.
Packets must be submitted no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday February 27, 2015 to the Unified Government Budget Office, 701 North 7th Street Suite #510 or via email to rlindsey@wycokck.org.
The public hearing is also being held to receive public comment on housing and community development needs, including non-housing community development needs for the 2015-2019 Consolidated Five Year Plan and the 2015 Annual Action Plan and budget.
The 2015 Annual Action Plan includes the following program applications: 41st Year Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), 2015 HOME Investment Partnership Grant Program, and the 2015 Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG).
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas Department of Community Development is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
OPINION
Moody's Investors Service has assigned an A1 rating to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City's, KS $29.9 million General Obligation Improvement Bonds, Series 2015-A, $3.9 million Taxable General Obligation Improvement and Refunding Bonds, Series 2015-B, $5.3 million General Obligation Improvement Bonds, Series 2015-C, and $21.9 million General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2015-D.
Concurrently, Moody's has downgraded to A1 from Aa3 the ratings on the government's outstanding long-term general obligation and Public Building Commission (PBC) Bonds, Series 2013-A. Additionally, Moody's has downgraded to A3 from A2 the rating on the government's outstanding Special Obligation Annual Appropriation Bonds, Series 2010-H.
Post-sale, the government will have $324 million of long-term general obligation debt outstanding; $73 million of short-term general obligation debt outstanding (not rated by Moody's); $8.1 million of appropriation-backed debt and $9.45 million PBC debt outstanding which are both rated by Moody's. The outlook has been revised to stable.
SUMMARY RATING RATIONALE
The downgrade to A1 reflects the county's inability to achieve operational balance resulting in narrow General Fund reserves and liquidity compared to similarly rated credits; dependence on economically sensitive revenues; below average socioeconomic income indices; and a high debt burden that is not expected to decline in the near term.
OUTLOOK
The stable outlook reflects our belief that the government's financial position will improve but remain somewhat limited in the near term, given a variety of revenue raising and expenditure reduction measures. The outlook also reflects ongoing commercial and residential development, which should allow for some revenue growth.
KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- The Unified Government Black History Planning Committee will host the 23rd Annual Black History and Scholarship Banquet this coming Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 6 p.m. at the Jack Reardon Convention Center, located at 500 Minnesota Ave. in Kansas City, Kan.
Mark Holland, Mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas will host a public hearing at City Hall for the Mayor’s Public Safety Recruitment Task Force this Thursday, February 5th, at the beginning of the 7 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting.
The public is invited to attend and give comment regarding diversity in public safety recruitment in Wyandotte County.
Mayor Holland initiated formation of the Task Force in early 2014 and invited the Department of Justice to join the conversation early in the process.
The Task Force is chaired by local pastor, Reverend Jimmie Banks, and consists of representatives from all KCK Public Safety Departments, Wyandotte County School Districts, The Archdiocese, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Donnelley College, appointees from all UG Commissioners and other community organizations.
“Our Task Force meetings have generated thoughtful discussion and innovative ideas,” said Mayor Holland. “Now we need to hear from our residents. It is imperative their input is heard and considered as we move forward.”
The goal of the Task Force is to form an action plan by April 2015 that includes steps to guide Unified Government Commissioners and Administration to improve diversity in public safety recruitment.
The Unified Government's Budget and Community Development departments will hold a public hearing on Thursday evening, February 6, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Commission Chamber located on the Lobby level of City Hall at 701 North 7th Street.
We invite citizens and organizations to attend this public meeting and provide input on budget priorities for the adoption of the Unified Government's revised 2014 and proposed 2015 budgets.
Budget proposal packets for the Unified Government and CDBG budgets will be available for citizens and organizations at the meeting and online at www.wycokck.org. Packets must be submitted no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Thursday February 20, 2014 to the Unified Government Budget Office, 701 North 7th Street Suite #510 or via email to rlindsey@wycokck.org.
In addition to the Budget, the public hearing is also being held to receive public comment on housing and community development needs for the 2014 Consolidated Annual Action Plan and budget.
The 2014 Consolidated Annual Action Plan includes the following program applications:
- 40th Year Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
- 2014 HOME Investment Partnership Grant Program
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas Department of Community Development is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- The 2014 Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG)
The Unified Government Public Works Department would like to inform residents of a major project that is expected to cause disruption in traffic flow.
The Kansas Gas Service Contractor began replacing the gas main on 17th Street from Central Avenue to Armstrong and on Orville Avenue from N. 13th Street to N. 17th Street on Monday, January 13th.
It is anticipated that the project will take approximately 65 days to complete. There will be several pavement cuts on both 17th St. and Orville Ave.
The installation of the new gas main will be directional bored underground, usually under sidewalks or grass areas. Once the gas main installation has been completed, most service lines installed to the residential dwellings will be replaced along with gas meters.
Residents should be receiving door hanger notifications shortly from the contractor. The notification should provide contact information in case residents have issues or questions related to this project.
UG Offices will closed on Thursday, December 25, 2014 in observance of the Christmas Holiday. City and County offices will reopen the following day for business, Friday, December 26th.
UG Offices will also be closed on New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1, 2015. Offices will open on Friday, January 2nd during regular scheduled business hours.
The administrative offices and customer service lobby of the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU) will be closed on Thursday, December 25th, 2014 for Christmas. The BPU offices will also be closed on Thursday, January 1st, 2015 in observance of New Year's Day.
Although BPU's business offices are closed on holidays, emergency service is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
For power emergencies, customers should call (913)-573-9522. The water emergency number is (913)-573-9622.
"While we are in favor of providing food to those who are in need in our community, it’s important for this to be done in a location that’s less disruptive to traffic flow and safer for residents living close in proximity to the activity. Also another major factor to consider is the proximity to the hospital. Having traffic congestion near the hospital for emergency vehicles was an additional consideration we had to take into our analysis of this location. Once again, the intent of the congregation is admirable but we have to consider safety too."The 41 story also details a breakdown in communication between the UG and representatives from the food pantry.
