Late last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued their strongest recommendation yet, urging people who are pregnant, recently pregnant or planning to become pregnant to get their COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as possible.

“CDC strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits of vaccination outweigh known or potential risks,” according to the new Health Advisory. As of September 27, 2021, more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant people, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths. Approximately 97% of pregnant people hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 infections were unvaccinated.

Nationwide, only 31% of pregnant people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Recent CDC information shows that pregnant and recently pregnant people are at an “increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 when compared with non-pregnant people.” Pregnant people who get COVID-19 are also at increased risk of preterm birth and may be more likely to have other poor pregnancy outcomes. If you are pregnant, we urge you to talk to your doctor about the vaccine. If you need prenatal care and don’t have health insurance, please call the Public Health Department Prenatal Clinic at 913-573-8855 for an appointment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $469,924 in funding for three Sustainable Materials Management projects in the Kansas City area. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas has been selected for $95,000 in funding to conduct a feasibility study for an organic material composting facility, including a site evaluation, feedstock & processing technologies evaluation, concept design, and financial evaluation.

The Unified Government’s Public Works Department is excited to announce the community's first Dumpster Days, an event to help residents recycle electronics waste and dispose of unwanted bulky items like old mattresses and furniture for free.

The event will be held in the parking lot of the former Kmart location at 7836 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66112, on October 22 & 23 from 8AM to 1PM.

A bridge deck replacement project on the northbound I-635 bridge over northbound K-5 and the southbound I-635 to southbound K-5 ramp bridge, in Wyandotte County, began October 1, with lane closures scheduled to begin on October 7, weather permitting.

The goDotte Strategic Mobility Plan is a plan for Wyandotte County that strives to reimagine mobility to focus on moving people and not just vehicles. The plan will ensure that future transportation investments support the community’s goals to improve quality of life for the people who live, work, and play in Wyandotte County. The community is encouraged to check out the foundations report which analyses the existing conditions across the county, complete a survey, and share your ideas.

Becoming a member of a board or commission is an excellent way to take an active role in the decision-making process of city government. It offers citizens an opportunity to provide personal and professional knowledge in a meaningful and impactful way. The Unified Government has launched a new online application to make even easier to get involved with any number of our boards and commissions.

Residents of Wyandotte County who are looking to gain new job skills or need assistance finding and applying for jobs can now get help through WYCO WORKS. The free program aims to help people facing employment challenges — people who are unemployed or underemployed, veterans, people with a disability, older adults or people who speak English as a second language — find and get jobs.

Last week, the Unified Government celebrated Employee Appreciation Week and honored the service of many employees who have spent the last 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of their career in service to our community. We thank all of our staff for their commitment and passion for making Wyandotte County a wonderful place to live.

We have featured Fred before and he is still waiting to meet you. A two year old Mastiff, Fred is a big, silly goofball and full of playful fun. Fred is dog friendly but prefers the girls. At 90 lbs, he would be best suited for a home with older children.

Join us on Monday, October 11 at 6PM for the next City Planning Commission when the Department of Planning & Urban Design presents the draft Armourdale Area Master Plan for consideration. Please join us for the presentation and public comment before the plan is advanced to the full Commission on October 28.