Happy Thursday, Wyandotte County!
As we wrap up 2021 in the new Unified Government Strategic Communications office, we thank you for your feedback, questions, ideas, and shares! We're only just getting started with a small but growing team of people passionate about connecting community members to the information, services and resources we have available across the Unified Government. We look forward to engaging with you in 2022.
In the meantime, would you please help us by forwarding this eNews to a few of your friends? There are a ton of great programs, resources, and new funding opportunities to come to our county in 2022 -- and we want you and your neighbors to have the best access ever.
Thank you for your consideration and happy holidays!
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First Cases of Omicron in Wyandotte County |
On Monday, December 20, the Unified Government Public Health Department (UGPHD) announced that the first confirmed cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been detected in Wyandotte County.
Two Omicron cases in people living in Wyandotte County were confirmed through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) lab over the weekend. KDHE’s Laboratories are screening positive COVID-19 samples to check for genetic characteristics associated with the Omicron variant and sequencing samples to confirm if they are Omicron. The individuals in Wyandotte County with confirmed cases of the Omicron variant are both adults between 20 and 39 years of age. Both of these individuals are fully vaccinated with two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). Read more.
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Unified Government Assessing Storm Damage |
The Department of Public Works has been actively assessing storm damage across the community following the storms last week. With about 65% of the entire area covered, there is still work to do. However, once complete, we will be sure to follow-up with an update. In the meantime, please see this emergency declaration announcement from Mayor Garner, issued late last week following the storm. |
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Unified Government Launches the Small Business Resiliency Grant |
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS is looking to assist KCK small businesses with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Small business can apply for up to $10,000. Grant funds can be used to help business continue to prepare for changes in the way consumers are doing business. This includes funding for upgrading websites for e-commerce, buildings, and physical plants remediation to comply with safety guidelines, software upgrades, professional service support (accounting, legal), etc.
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Rep. Davids Releases Report on Roads |
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Representative Sharice Davids released a new report examining the status and safety of roads in the Third District of Kansas, the third installment in her office’s “State of our Systems” series. Key findings include:
- At current funding levels, most streets in KCK will be in a state of poor or failed condition by 2031;
- The bipartisan infrastructure law’s investments in Kansas roads and transit systems will add $625 million in state gross domestic product each year.
- By 2050, the US 69/167th Street interchange—which is advancing due to the federal funding available from the new law—is expected to see a 450% increase in daily vehicle traffic.
Over five years, Kansas will receive an estimated $2.8 billion in federal highway and bridge funding, $28 million for highway safety traffic programs to help reduce deaths and injuries from motor vehicle-related crashes, and $63 million to help reduce transportation-related emissions. Read more.
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"Driving on deteriorated roads costs Kansas motorists $1.1 billion a year – $509 per driver – in the form of repairs, vehicle depreciation, and increased fuel consumption."
State of our Systems, 2021
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Seniors Encouraged to Apply for Tax Rebates |
KCK and Wyandotte County residents are encouraged to look into and apply for programs designed to provide tax relief to seniors. |
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Senior Citizen's Utility and Sales Tax Rebate
The program is for Kansas City, Kansas residents. Eligible seniors can apply for a rebate of a portion of their BPU, Gas or AT&T utility bills and/or paid sales tax.
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Homestead rebates are offered to eligible senior citizens who live in Wyandotte County, Kansas for a portion of their property taxes.
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Loring Area Residents: 2022 Service Changes |
Starting January 1, 2022, the Unified Government will be providing county-level services to the Loring area. The City of Bonner Springs will no longer be providing fire and police services on behalf of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS. Services include:
- Unified Government Public Works Department for street maintenance, including snow removal;
- Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department for fire and emergency medical services;
- Wyandotte County Sheriff with support of Kansas City, Kansas Police Department for all other emergency services.
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Commercial Vehicle Registration Services Change January 1 |
Starting January 1, 2022, the State of Kansas will begin processing all Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) registrations directly for Wyandotte County. We are making this change due to the relatively low volume of transactions, challenges with staffing, and the desire to improve customer service for Wyandotte County residents.
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Winter 2021-2022 Warming Centers Available |
As the weather gets colder this winter, please know that there are several warming centers across Wyandotte County that are available during the daytime and overnight. |
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Unified Government announces new family leave policy |
On Thursday, December 16, 2021, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS (UG) announced the paid childbirth and parental leave policy for employees. This two-part policy, providing up to ten weeks of paid family leave, will help address the Unified Government’s focus of having a work/life balance for families. These newly adopted policies will take effect starting January 1, 2022.
“Offering paid parental leave is the right thing to do for our employees and their families,” said Commissioner Angela Markley, Chair of the Administration and Human Services Standing Committee. “Research clearly shows that employees who have access to family leave return to work healthier, happier and more productive, with better outcomes for parents and children,” continued Commissioner Markley.
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Holiday Light & Magic 2021 |
Evenings Thru January 2, 2022
This is a one-mile long drive-thru holiday lighting display to benefit our Wyandotte County parks. Timeslots are available every night of the week. Weeknight tickets cost $20/car and weekend evenings are $25/car.
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ARPA Committee Meeting
Monday, January 3 2022, 10:30AM-12PM via Zoom / UGTV
Full Commission Meeting
Thursday, January 6, 2021, 7PM
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To reduce the spread of COVID-19, the meetings of the Unified Government Board of Commission will be conducted remotely using Zoom and broadcast via UGTV and YouTube. Members of the public may attend meetings virtually or watch the virtual meeting in the lobby of city hall (701 N 7th Street, KCK, 66101). The virtual meeting information is also available on the agenda itself. |
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