Mayor highlights local safety initiatives, donations and awards at commission meeting

At the start of Wednesday’s commission meeting, Mayor Crystal E. Watson and staff shared several community announcements and recognitions intended for immediate public information.

The mayor promoted a community blood drive on Thursday, July 9 at City Hall (701 North 7th Street) and asked residents to sign up on the Unified Government website. Officials also described a bucket-brigade program to reduce fireworks-related fires: buckets will be available at KCK fire stations starting July 1, one per family while supplies last, and residents were advised of fireworks sale and discharge windows.

Mayor Watson read a proclamation declaring July as Secure Firearms Storage Awareness Month in Wyandotte County and invited Carla Openenheimimer of the Lock It For Love program and founder Judy Sherry to the podium; Openenheimimer said the program has distributed more than 10,000 gun locks in the metropolitan area and highlighted statistics on children living in homes with unsecured firearms.

Staff presented a check for $7,440.85 from '7 Days of Kindness' candygram sales to the Wyandotte County Parks Foundation; Angel Ferrara joined the mayor for the presentation and photo.

The mayor also read a citizen letter praising Officer Morgan Reed and praised environmental services staff (Jeff Miles was named) for a rapid response to a safety concern. Finally, the mayor recognized Dr. Shelley Kennean and the finance department for receiving the Government Finance Officers Association Triple Crown award for budgeting, reporting and transparency.

These items were informational; no formal action was taken on the announcements.