Political Meanderings in Clay County Missouri
Keep tabs on your elected officials and all the political happenings in and around Clay County Missouri.News from Kansas City City Hall 11/4/2009
A brief press release about trash delivery and city offices closures due to Veteran’s Day. This affect those in the Kansas City part of Clay County.
News from City Hall
City Communications Office
City of Kansas City, Mo.
www.kcmo.org
CONTACT: Mary Charles, city communications officer, (816) 513-1356
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 3, 2009
Trash pick-up delayed, City offices closed Nov. 11
In observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, curbside trash and recycling collection will be delayed one day and City of Kansas City, Mo., offices will be closed. The City’s 3-1-1 Action Center will be open on Nov. 11.
Residents who usually have Wednesday collection will receive this service Thursday, Nov. 12. Residents who usually have Friday collection will receive this service Saturday, Nov. 14.
For more information about solid waste collection services, visit http://www.kcmo.org/trash or call the 3-1-1 Action Center at 311 or (816) 513-1313.
Media inquiries about trash and recycling should be directed to Dennis Gagnon, public information officer for the Public Works Department, (816) 513-2659.
News Release from Rep. Bob Nance-11/2
Emergencyy declaration signed for Missouri farmers to allow extra hauling capacity in their vehicles due to wet weather.
For more information, contact DeAnne Rickabaugh, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services, (573) 526-8992.
Oct. 30, 2009 – For immediate release
Heavy Harvest Hauls Allowed
MoDOT Eases Truck Regulations for Row Crop Transportation
JEFFERSON CITY – Throughout a soggy Missouri, farmers are rushing to harvest row crops and get them to storage before unseasonably heavy rainfall ruins this year’s production. The Missouri departments of Transportation and Agriculture are working to help Missouri’s farmers cope with the situation.
At the request of MDA, MoDOT issued an emergency declaration that eases certain state transportation regulations through Nov. 30. While the declaration is in effect, farmers are allowed to load their trucks up to 10 percent heavier than the legal licensed weight when transporting row crop commodities from the farm to a local storage facility. Farmers may also operate their vehicles beyond the normal hours-of-service limits when hauling to storage facilities and returning the empty truck to the farm.
These heavier loads are not allowed on Missouri interstates, nor are they allowed on any bridge with a weight restriction lower than the gross weight of the loaded vehicle. When traveling over bridges, the drivers must limit their speed to 45 mph and drive down the center of two lanes.
A copy of Emergency Declaration 09-11 must be carried in each commercial motor vehicle that operates in response to the relief effort. It is posted on MoDOT Motor Carrier Services’ Web site, www.modot.org/mcs.
Because many highways are under repair and might have narrow lanes, drivers are expected to review their respective routes for work zone restrictions before beginning each trip. Consult the Traveler Information Map at www.modot.org or call MoDOT customer service at 1-888 ASK MoDOT (275-6636).
News From Kansas City City Hall
A few news releases from Kansas City City Hall below.
News from City Hall
City Communications Office
City of Kansas City, Mo.
www.kcmo.org
CONTACT: Mary Charles, city communications officer, (816) 513-1356
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 26, 2009
City honored with state planning association awards
The City of Kansas City, Mo., City has been recognized for outstanding work in the field of planning by the Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association. The City Planning and Development Department received recognition for the Trails KC Plan, Second Street Streetscape project, and a department staff member was recognized for leadership in planning.
The City’s first comprehensive trails plan, the Trails KC Plan, has been selected as the Outstanding Plan of the Year in recognition of its quality and effectiveness. The Trails KC Plan was adopted by the City Council in November 2008 and serves as the City s guide for regional trail development. The plan also has been honored this year by the local chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
The Second Street Streetscape Project, an implementation measure of the Second Street Corridor Infrastructure and Development Plan, which was adopted by the City Council in August 2005, received top honor in the Outstanding Implementation category. This project transformed an abandoned rail line into a pedestrian-oriented street and walking trail between Delaware and Cherry streets. This Plan also has been honored by American Society of Landscape Architects.
The Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association honored two individuals in Kansas City for their contributions to the planning field: City Planning and Development Department staff member Steve Lebofsky, AICP, received the Distinguished Leadership Award for a Professional Planner; and Diane Burnette, executive director of MainCor, was awarded the Dwight D. Davis Award for a Citizen Planner.
Lebofsky has served the city in the City Planning and Development Department for more than 30 years, providing critical research and technical analysis. Burnette has been instrumental in putting planning recommendations into action and implementing improvements and programs that benefit the Main Street corridor and its neighboring communities.
“The professional recognition of these individuals and planning projects affirms the commitment of the community, elected officials and the Planning Commission’s passion in promoting the livability of Kansas City, Mo.,” said Tom Coyle, director of the City Planning and Development Department. “City Planning and Development staff is appreciative of the on-going support of our department.”
City representatives attended the Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association conference in Springfield, Mo., on Oct. 22 to receive the awards.
For more information, contact Tom Coyle at (816) 513-2865.
News from City Hall
City Communications Office
City of Kansas City, Mo.
http://www.kcmo.org
CONTACT: Mary Charles, city communications officer, (816) 513-1356
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 29, 2009
Kansas City Project Hope to assist with housing needs
Landlord Forum on Nov. 3 to discuss participation in rental assistance program
The City of Kansas City, Mo., recently received American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (federal stimulus) funding for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and has created the Kansas City Project Hope to assist Kansas City, Mo., and Clay County residents maintain and/or obtain permanent housing.
As part of the program, landlords enrolled in Kansas City Project Hope may be eligible to receive assistance with rent and security deposits for new or existing tenants who meet specific U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines.
The City’s Neighborhood and Community Services Department is hosting a Landlord Forum from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 at Pioneer Community College, 2700 E. 18th St., for landlords with rental properties in Kansas City, Mo., and Clay County to learn more about the program and how to apply.
At the forum, City staff will also discuss other stimulus-funded programs such as weatherization, lead base paint and employment assistance programs. Additionally, representatives from the Human Relations Department will be available to address Fair Housing and landlord/tenant questions. City Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks, 3rd District, and chairwoman of the City’s Housing Committee will give the introductory address at the forum.
Seating is limited to 160 attendees. Landlords must RSVP for the event by noon on Nov. 2 by calling (816) 784-4440 or e-mailing dennell_lax@kcmo.org.
Media inquiries should be directed to Jackie Powell with the Neighborhood and Community Services Department, as (816) 754-4500.
News from City Hall
City Communications Office
City of Kansas City, Mo.
www.kcmo.org
CONTACT: Mary Charles, city communications officer, (816) 513-1356
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 30, 2009
North Indiana Avenue road improvement public meeting to be Nov. 3
Area residents will have an opportunity to discuss the first designs for the upcoming North Indiana Avenue improvement project at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 at Northland Neighborhoods Inc., 3015 Vivion Road.
This meeting will provide information about the planned redesign of North Indiana Avenue from Northeast Vivion Road to the Gladstone city limits. The redesign will include replacement of the North Indiana Bridge south of Northeast 55th Street.
Staff from the City’s Capital Improvements Management Office, a division of the City Manager’s Office, and engineers from Kansas City-based engineering firm Walter P. Moore Associates will be at the event to present and answer questions.
Media inquiries and other requests for more information about this issue should be directed to Sean Demory, Capital Improvements Management Office, Public Relations and Communications, (816) 513-0059 or e-mail kansascityworks@kcmo.org.
News from City Hall
City Communications Office
City of Kansas City, Mo.
www.kcmo.org
CONTACT: Mary Charles, city communications officer, (816) 513-1356
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 30, 2009
City entity awarded $35 million in New Markets Tax Credits
The Kansas City, Missouri Community Development CDE (KC CDE), a community development entity of the City of Kansas City, Mo., has been awarded $35 million in New Markets Tax Credit allocation authority under the seventh round of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund’s New Markets Tax Credit Program. This award represents the second consecutive year that the KC CDE has applied for and been awarded allocation authority under the federal program.
“I am very pleased that the Department of the Treasury has awarded Kansas City another round of New Markets Tax Credits,” Mayor Mark Funkhouser said. “This program complements and will reinforce the efforts of the New Tools Task Force, which recently released their report that emphasizes the need to leverage new tools that can stimulate investment in the city’s underinvested communities. I want to thank our congressional delegation for their efforts in helping securing these resources.”
The New Markets Tax Credit program permits taxpayers to receive a credit against federal income taxes for making qualified equity investments in designated community development entities. The entities are required to use substantially all those funds in distressed census tracts to make business loans or investments. The KC CDE’s New Markets Tax Credit allocation can only be used within the Kansas City, Mo. city limits.
“Given the current economic climate, the opportunity to help fill financing gaps in high-impact projects in areas of the city that have historically experienced significant disinvestment is essential to the future economic vitality of Kansas City, Mo,” said Jeffrey Yates, the City’s chief financial officer.
The KC CDE will continue to focus its allocation in the city’s most distressed communities by targeting investments in businesses and mixed-use, adaptive re-use and infill projects that benefit low-income communities. This investment will help in the creation of living-wage jobs and work force development support, provision of affordable housing options, promotion of women-, minority-owned businesses and use of “green” building practices. Specifically, investments will be made in highly distressed communities, which are defined as population census tracts where the poverty rate is greater than 30 percent or median family income is less than 60 percent of the statewide of metropolitan area median family income.
Last year, KC CDE was awarded $40 million in New Markets Tax Credit allocation authority. The KC CDE, whose New Markets Tax Credit program is managed by the City’s Finance Department, committed this allocation in less than a year, facilitating financing for six businesses and projects located in highly distressed census tracts throughout the city. Ruben Alonso of the City’s Development Finance Division was responsible for preparing this year’s application, which emphasized the growing need for alternative financing tools to assist the City in facilitating investments that create opportunities in low-income communities citywide.
“I’m proud of the work of City staff and the Advisory and Governing Boards of the KC CDE to successfully demonstrate the ability of the City to use this program and to help secure another allocation of these tax credits,” City Manager Wayne A. Cauthen said. “The projects that the KC CDE is helping with this program will have a tremendous impact on future investment in Kansas City s most distressed communities.”
For more information, contact Ruben Alonso at (816) 513-1021.
Congressman Sam Graves-Straight Talk With Sam Graves 10/26
This is kind of an odd topic when you compare it to the usual e-newsletter that Congressman Graves writes. It is interesting and a little bit scary though. Read on to find out why. Missouri bridges in this week’s Straight Talk.
Local Bridges Essential to Missouri
Some of the earliest bridges were built by the Romans. They built simple arch bridges out of cement which held up in conditions that destroyed other bridges. In fact, some of the bridges built by the Romans are still standing and in use today.
Bridges are important here in Missouri. Our state shares its name with the longest river in the country. There are countless tributaries and streams across the state. While many rivers are both beautiful and a blessing, crossing them can be a challenge.
Across Missouri, there are some 13,000 local bridges that are used everyday to get children to school, speed emergency responders to the scene and get produce to market. Of those bridges, 1,700 are functionally obsolete and 2,500 are structurally deficient.
Congress has long set aside 15 percent of the money it sends to states to be used to fix these local bridges. For many county governments, this funding is essential to getting those bridges fixed. Without the help, many bridges would simply continue to deteriorate until they were closed.
That is why I was stunned to learn that some Washington bureaucrat thinks we should eliminate this vital program. Last year, over $20 million was spent to rehabilitate and improve local bridges. That investment has literally kept bridges open, saved lives and made life easier for thousands of Missouri families and farmers.
I am going to fight to keep this bridge replacement program in place. Local and rural bridges may not be important to Washington, but in Missouri, they are essential.
Sincerely,
Sam Graves