Candidates’ Forum planned July 18, 19 at Community College

Business West, in cooperation with Kansas City, Kansas, Community College, and other neighborhood business associations, will sponsor a Candidates’ Forum for the Primary Election Tuesday and Wednesday, July 18 and 19 at Upper Jewell at the Community College. The election will be Tuesday, Aug. 1. Other neighborhood associations will include the Central Avenue Betterment Association and the Historic Northeast-Midtown Association. The candidates for Mayor and Chief Executive Officer of the Unified Government who have been invited include David Alvey, David Haley, Mark Holland, Keith Jordan and Janice Witt. The candidates for Wyandotte County Sheriff who have invited include Don Ash, Charles Bunnell, Marvin Main, Celisha Towers and Victor Webb. The candidates for Mayor are scheduled to appear at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 18 followed by the candidates for Sheriff at 7:30 p.m. Candidates for Unified Commission have been invited to appear Wednesday, July 19. The commissioner candidates include John Fotovich, Mike Kane and Sarah Kremer, Fifth District; George Cooper, Jim Gibson and Jim Walters, Seventh District; and Brad Isnard, Kendon McClaine and Jane Philbrook, Eighth District. Candidates for the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, At-Large District One, who have been invited include Kevin Braun, Mary Gonzales, Bryan Messmer and Nikole Owens. Candidates for the Unified Commission are scheduled to appear starting at 6 p.m. July 19, followed by the BPU candidates at 7:30 p.m. The Community College will tape the forum to be played back on Channel 17, the school’s public access channel on the Spectrum cable system.

Business West visits local units of government

Business West is visiting all units of local government in Wyandotte County, urging elected officials to hold the line on property taxes for their 2018 budgets. The Unified Government is proposing to reduce the city and county property tax rate by 4.8 percent. This budget, which shows about an 8 percent increase compared to the 2017 budget, allows for police body cameras, 30 new police vehicles, nine new fire trucks and other vehicles, completion of a new juvenile detention center and other jail improvements and stronger enforcement of building and safety codes. Other units of governments, including school districts, will present their budgets for the coming year soon.

College President placed on administrative leave

Dr. Doris Givens, the President of Kansas City, Kansas, Community College, was placed on administrative leave with pay, effective July 14. Edward Kramer, the Dean of Mathematics, Science and Computer Technology, was named Interim President by the College’s Board of Trustees. Givens came to the school in 2011 from Kern Community College, Bakersfield, Calif. The College Trustees will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 18 at Upper Jewell.

Community mourns loss of Cerner executive

Neal Patterson, the chief executive officer of Cerner and one of the company’s founders, died July 9. He was 67 and suffered unexpected complications from a soft-tissue cancer according to a statement from Cerner. Patterson, Cliff Illig and Paul Gorup, who all worked for the accounting firm of Arthur Anderson, founded Cerner, a huge electronic health records company. Cerner has about 25,000 employees, including about 13,000 in Greater Kansas City. About 4,000 Cerner employees work in the twin office complex in Village West. Patterson and Illig are co-owners of Sporting Kansas City.

Engineering, surveying firm marks 25th anniversary

BHC Rhodes Engineering and Surveying is marking its 25th anniversary. The company was founded in 1992. The company’s website attributes its success to being constantly innovative helping its clients overcome obstacles. The firm emphasizes drawing and retaining top talent. The firm fosters higher education through partnerships with Kansas State University, Manhattan.

Healthcare CEO retires

Randy Nyp, the chief executive officer for the Prime Healthcare Kansas City Market, including Providence Medical Center, has retired. He was honored at a reception at Providence July 5. His career started at St. Francis Hospital, Topeka. He also served in senior executive positions in hospitals in Denver and Wichita. He said he will be looking forward to traveling and spending time with his family including 13 grandchildren.  The new administrator at Providence is Karen Orr.

Shepherd’s Center to honor first responders

The Shepherd’s Center of Kansas City, Kansas, will honor first responders, including police and firefighters, at a potluck luncheon at noon Friday, July 21 at Grace Lutheran Church, 3333 Wood Ave. The public is invited. For more information or to make reservations, please telephone 913-281-8908.

Bank Midwest’s parent company expands

Lawrence-based Peoples Bank is now part of National Bank Holdings  (NBH) Corporation which owns Bank Midwest.  Peoples Bank had $490.1 million in assets as of March 31. NBH had $4.71 billion in assets for the same period; it has 86 branches in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and Texas. Wint Winter, the Peoples CEO said this will result in new business opportunities for bank customers.

Members always welcome

All Business West members are welcome to attend the organization’s monthly board of directors’ meeting at 12:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at The Dotte Spot Bar and Grill, 8123 Parallel Pkwy., in the Arrowhead Center.

For questions or comments, telephone 913-766-4300 or 913-406-6266 (cell) or email [email protected].