NC Kansas News

On December 23, 2022, Representative Sharice Davids announced that $31.2 million is coming to the Third District of Kansas to benefit local projects, including updating a police mobile command center, modernizing a traffic-heavy bridge, purchasing necessary medical equipment at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and more. Out of hundreds of bipartisan submissions, 14 Davids-requested projects were passed into law today as part of the broader government funding bill.

“My job is to advocate for the Third District in Washington and make sure the priorities of folks in our community are being addressed,” said Davids. “Our team worked in tandem with local officials and conducted detailed reviews of each proposal to ensure they met strong standards with a high return on investment. I’ve long fought for responsible budget policies to protect taxpayers, and these investments maintain that commitment to fiscal responsibility while making a difference for Kansas.”

Each of the 14 Davids-requested projects were submitted in tandem with local officials and selected for their potential to improve health and safety in the community, tackle climate change, and bring opportunity to the Third District. Appropriations requests are subject to strict transparency and accountability rules, which can be found here.

Read more about each project and how Kansans are looking forward to using these federal funds to improve lives in our community:

Public Safety

• The City of Olathe will receive $300,000 to upgrade technology in the Olathe Police Department’s Police Command Post, which is used during critical incidents within the Kansas City Metro area and includes various pieces of public safety technology, to provide wireless capability for real-time assessment, and $660,000 to expand the Olathe Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program, which uses community paramedics who work directly with other health care professionals to provide on-site urgent and non-urgent care, to include a new, second team.
• “Olathe has been and continues to be successful because of strong partnerships with the community, the state and of course our federal delegation,” said Tim Danneberg, Director of External Affairs, City of Olathe. “The recent support we received allows us to continue being a truly safe community not only by supporting law enforcement but also by caring for those in need. That support also allows us to preserve the regional amenity and community treasure we have at Cedar Lake. The city truly appreciates Congresswoman Davids’ efforts to secure our federal partnership.”
• The City of Shawnee will receive $126,750 to install solar panels at two Shawnee Fire Department locations during future renovations. The Fire Station Headquarters and Fire Station 73 will each be upgraded, lowering energy costs for the city.
• "We are always focused on safety as our utmost priority at the Shawnee Fire Department,” said Rick Potter, Shawnee Fire Chief. “We place a huge priority on sustainability and innovation as well, so having the opportunity to install more solar panels to promote green energy and save taxpayers' money is an amazing step forward for Shawnee."

Health Care

• The University of Kansas Medical Center will receive $2,594,226 for the purchase of a new MRI scanner allowing community members to participate in the latest research studies for many years to come, and $2,956,507 for a CT scanner allowing researchers to obtain 3-D reconstructions of internal organs, a technology the KU Medical Center currently lacks.
• “On behalf of the University of Kansas Medical Center, I would like to express our sincere thanks to Representative Davids for securing this funding,” said Robert D. Simari, M.D., Executive Vice Chancellor for KU Medical Center. “These funds will be used to strengthen KU’s research capabilities, including access to cutting-edge medical equipment for researchers throughout Kansas. These types of medical innovations ensure that all Kansans can benefit from the latest research discoveries, clinical trials and treatment.”
• The Wyandotte County Public Health Department will receive $750,000 to increase access to mental and behavioral health services by integrating mental health services and funding new staff, helping reach more residents with better care.

“Wyandotte County residents, including those involved in the justice system, need and deserve to have access to quality behavioral health services," said Juliann Van Liew, Director of the Wyandotte County Health Department. "The provision of mental and behavioral health supports can make the difference in whether or not someone leaving the correctional system is successful in reentry into the community. We are excited to partner with our colleagues in the Sheriff’s Department, Corrections system, and the county mental health center, Wyandot Behavioral Health Network, to ensure additional services meet the needs of our community.”

Infrastructure

• The City of Overland Park will receive $5.4 million for infrastructure upgrades to the College Boulevard Bridge in Overland Park, KS and $4 million for the reconstruction of 167th Street from Switzer Road to Antioch Road, including a new roundabout and new sidewalks on either side of the road. The existing one-mile portion of 167th Street is designated in the Overland Park Future Development Plan as a major thoroughfare, but currently has narrow lanes, steep roadside ditches, and no pedestrian access.
• "Improving 167th Street is crucial to continuing to support growth for residents and businesses in Overland Park, and the College Boulevard project furthers the City's mission of maintaining and improving our critical infrastructure,” said Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog. “I thank Representative Davids and her team for pushing to make sure Overland Park residents, and our community's priorities, were included in this important funding bill."
• The City of Gardner will receive $3 million for their Gardner wastewater infrastructure project, which will create new space for residential and commercial development as Gardner has the highest projected population growth rate in Johnson County through 2030. Gardner’s current wastewater system operates at near 90% capacity while the need for additional housing continues to grow.
•  “We are very grateful for Representative Davids’ active interest and assistance in the City of Gardner's wastewater infrastructure project,” said Todd Winters, Gardner Mayor. “Bringing this project to fruition will open the doors to more growth and future development.”
• “The Gardner wastewater infrastructure project is critical to the continued growth and prosperity of the Gardner community,” said Jim Pruetting, Gardner City Administrator. “With the substantial commercial and industrial development occurring in southwest Johnson County, Gardner is best positioned to meet the workforce and housing needs of the region, as we are already at the forefront of diversified residential development in this area. With that, we greatly appreciate Representative Sharice Davids' support of this project and her continued efforts on behalf of the City of Gardner.”

• The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities will receive $3,707,250 for the purchase of an emergency electric back-up generator at the Nearman Water Treatment Plant, the primary water treatment facility in the event of electrical service disruptions.
• The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS will receive $2 million for a Kaw Point Wastewater Treatment Plant project aimed at reducing both long-term operation costs and rates paid by the public.

"We are extremely grateful to Representative Davids for the continued support and funding,” said Interim County Administrator, Cheryl Harrison-Lee.  “This is an important investment in infrastructure that not only supports our community today but creates great potential for our economic development growth in the future."

• The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) will receive $4 million to help further incorporate battery electric buses into the already established RideKC network, which covers the urban and suburban regions of the bi-state Kansas City area. This was a joint request with Representative Emmanuel Cleaver (MO-05).
• “It is vital for the Kansas City region and our riders and operators that the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority take meaningful steps to improve our air quality, address climate change and be environmental stewards. So we are tremendously grateful to Congresswoman Davids and Congressman Cleaver for their leadership in securing congressional funding for new Low and No Emissions buses,” said Frank White, III, Chief Executive Officer of the KCATA. “The $4 million that they requested for as many as 10 new battery electric and CNG buses for the KCATA system will help us achieve important goals, while also providing new and improved buses to serve the riding public. Congresswoman Davids is a true partner of the KCATA and we’re fortunate to have her advocating for these priorities in Congress.”
• The City of Olathe will receive $750,000 to design a new dam and spillway approximately 900 feet downstream of the current Cedar Lake Dam. Cedar Lake Dam is currently designated as a high hazard dam by the Kansas Division of Water Resources.
• “Olathe has been and continues to be successful because of strong partnerships with the community, the state and of course our federal delegation,” said Tim Danneberg, Director of External Affairs, City of Olathe. “The recent support we received allows us to continue being a truly safe community not only by supporting law enforcement but also by caring for those in need. That support also allows us to preserve the regional amenity and community treasure we have at Cedar Lake. The city truly appreciates Congresswoman Davids’ efforts to secure our federal partnership.”
• The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS will receive $1 million to address the aging infrastructure of parks in KCK. Specific upgrades include restoring rock work, improvements to shelters and play equipment, and rectifying issues with lighting for safety.

"We are excited and grateful to Representative Davids for the continued support of our parks,” expressed Unified Government Parks and Recreation Director, Angel Ferrara. “Parks are a clear reflection of a community's quality of life. They provide a sense of identity for residents and are an important factor in a community's livability.  Being able to repair and restore aspects of our parks to ensure every member of the community has equitable access to amenities, infrastructure and programming creates a better and safer community for our residents."

Original source can be found here.