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KANSAS CITY NEWS TODAY - Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Widest Concrete Bridge Deck Pour in Missouri History Begins on New Christopher S. Bond Bridge
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), April 28, 2010 - The single widest bridge deck pour in Missouri state history is underway and will last for at least a week off the north bank of the Missouri River, as part of the new Christopher S. Bond Bridge. This concrete pour will be 134-feet wide, and will be placed in 70-foot sections for a total of 1,750 cubic yards.

"Missourians have entrusted MoDOT with $245 million to maximize every dollar on this project and get it built as quickly as possible" said kcICON Project Director Brian Kidwell. "Design-build project delivery enables our contractor to continue to find ways, like this single, widest deck pour, to save time and complete the project on schedule by July 2011."

"This is the widest deck pour Paseo Corridor Constructors has ever done," said kcICON Project Manager Bryan Wilkerson. "We are always looking for new, innovative ways to save time and money on this project, keeping our promise to Kansas City that this will be delivered on time and on budget."

Concrete will be pumped from trucks on the river bank, below the bridge and roadway deck. Approximately 40 crew members will work to grade and finish the concrete before the cure process begins. Once the concrete on the deck is placed, it will be covered with wet, burlap sheets until the cure process is complete.

When complete, there will be approximately 219,000 square yards of concrete paving in the 4.7-mile project.

City Requests additional Home Weatherization Program Funding
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), April 28, 2010 - The City of Kansas City, Mo., Housing and Community Development Department has submitted a request for additional American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for the City's Home Weatherization Program. The submission was based on the Home Weatherization Program exceeding the minimum criteria to receive additional funding.

The City has completed 404 homes and currently has 401 homes on an active waiting list. With additional funding in the range of $3.5 million, the City anticipates, it may be able to assist more than 500 homeowners with energy conservation measures. The program assists with air sealing, wall and attic insulation, mechanical systems analysis, compact florescent light bulbs, energy star refrigerators, and health and safety items such as smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.

"This is a great example of the City's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars not only working, but exceeding expectations, creating jobs and reducing the impact of energy production on our sensitive climate," said Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks, 3rd District and Chairwoman of the Housing Committee.

The minimum benchmark established by the Department of Natural Resources is to be five homes ahead of projected schedule and to have spent a minimum of ninety-five percent of the projected funding as of June 30, 2010. The program is currently two months ahead of its projected schedule.

"These additional stimulus dollars are doing exactly what they were intended to do. The contractor work force has grown from 20 to 28 contractor and growth continues," Division Manager Bob Jackson, said.

If approved, additional funding may be available by July 2010, with all performance funding awarded by Sept. 15, 2010. All funds must be spent by March 31, 2012.

Vacant and Foreclosing Property Property Registration Due
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), April 26, 2010 - The City of Kansas City, Mo., is advising owners of vacant and foreclosing property located in Kansas City, Mo., that annual registration of such properties is due May 1, 2010. Registration is to be made with the City of Kansas City, Mo., Neighborhood and Community Services Department as outlined in ordinance No. 081277.

The vacant and foreclosing property registration requirements went into effect May 1, 2009. All vacant property must be registered within 90 days of becoming and remaining vacant. Failure to register a vacant or foreclosing property within 90 days of the property becoming vacant will result in the issuance of an administrative citation fine of $50. For each month (or portion thereof) that a vacant or foreclosing property is not registered, an additional $50 fee will be assessed.

Registration is required on an annual basis and will expire each May 1. The registration must be updated whenever the property status or contact information changes. For example, the registration will need to be revised if a property is sold or if a new property manager is hired.

Properties currently marketed by a licensed real estate professional hired by the former or current occupant of the property and to which has water service are not deemed vacant.

For this required registration, a vacant property is defined as a property that is lacking habitual presence of human beings who have a legal right to be on the property, or at which substantially all lawful business operations or residential occupancy has ceased.

Foreclosing properties must be registered within 14 days of the initiation of the foreclosure. In addition to registering the property, anyone initiating a foreclosure must inspect the property for occupancy and send notice of the foreclosure initiation to any occupant of the property. Owners selling a vacant or foreclosing property that is registered as required must provide a written notice to the department within 30 days of the closing. For more information, contact Shalisha Boles at 816-513-3200.

Monsanto Provides Job Skills for Teens in Honduras
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), April 26, 2010 - Children International, together with the Monsanto Fund, is helping impoverished youth in Honduras escape the trap of poverty.

"We are thrilled about reaching out to help poor youth around the world become better educated and trained adults," said Deborah Patterson, President Monsanto Fund. "By providing youth with real marketable job skills, we create stronger, successful members of their community."

The Monsanto Fund has approved a major grant to provide job-skills training through Children International, a Kansas City-based humanitarian organization. The grant supports a 14-month program that provides teens with technical training they need to get decent jobs. Impoverished youth from 17 to 21 years of age are eligible for the program.

According to the United Nations' World Youth Report 2007, employment and income levels for Latin American youth are at the lowest levels in 15 years. Without the grant, the youth accepted into the Children International, whose families live on less than $2 a day, would otherwise leave school and find work to help support their family to help alleviate the crushing blow of poverty.

Instead, with training in areas such as welding, electricity, refrigeration and industrial mechanics, the youth will also receive instruction on certain skills needed to find a job. Those skills include resume writing, job search and job interview techniques and how to dress and speak in the workplace.

The Monsanto Fund support for this program not only allows teens to acquire the technical skills they need to compete for the best jobs in a modern economy, it will also allow them to transition to adulthood with the potential to earn much more than their parents and at the same time, contribute to progress in their communities.

Amtrak Missouri River RunnerSchedule Changes Due to Union Pacific Track Work
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), April 26, 2010 - Leaving a little earlier in the morning or a little later in the afternoon will help ensure a punctual, uninterrupted ride for Amtrak Missouri River Runner passengers through the middle of June.

Maintenance work on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks near Sedalia is causing Amtrak to temporarily adjust its schedules from April 25 to June 16, 2010. The twice-daily St. Louis-Kansas City round-trip trains will operate with the following departure/arrival times at the end-points.

The temporary schedules are designed to ensure Amtrak trains continue to operate without lengthy delays and avoid the undesirable option of stopping service and transferring passengers to be driven around the track work on buses.

During this time, Union Pacific Railroad will replace more than 22,000 railroad ties in the Sedalia area. Replacement of the ties is necessary to maintain schedules and safety.

"Without these improvements, Amtrak speeds would have to be lowered as a precaution and our schedules would be lengthened," said Rod Massman, Rail Administrator at the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). "Completing maintenance on the track now will help ensure that the Missouri River Runner continues to run on-time."

Since installation of a side track near California, Mo., was completed in November, the service has experienced a marked reliability improvement. Passengers arrived at either end of the route on-time or early 94 percent of the time in March.

As the schedule has become more dependable, more people are choosing to ride the trains.Ridership in March 2010 was 24.2 percent higher than it was in March 2009. Visit Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information.

Coalition Launches New Campaign to Fight Loan Modification Scams
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), April 26, 2010 - The Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network, led by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and NeighborWorks America, has launched a national campaign to prevent loan modification scams through public education, complaint reporting and coordination with local, state, and federal enforcement agencies.

Loan modification scams are schemes in which people take advantage of vulnerable homeowners. Scammers prey on homeowners in distress by guaranteeing to help the homeowner obtain a modification of their mortgage to save their home. Frequently, the borrowers pay money up front but receive no help at all and their home is lost to foreclosure.

Homeowners who believe they may have been a victim of a loan modification scam, can also call the Homeowners Hope Hotline at 888-995-HOPE to log a complaint and to receive free foreclosure prevention counseling.

"We've joined forces with government agencies and other industry leaders to help fight loan scams across the country," said Jeff Hayward, Senior Vice President, Fannie Mae. "This effort links homeowners to free, legitimate counseling and helps to put scammers out of business. The goal of this campaign is to educate homeowners and empower those who have fallen victim to scammers to report and prevent future fraud."

"By working together we can help the public identify alleged loan modification scam artists, learn how these scams work, and give them a new way to fight mortgage fraud," said Senior Vice President Hollis McLoughlin, Freddie Mac. "The Network's new website form will enable citizens to report fraud artists to law enforcement agencies before other borrowers are swindled out of their homes."

For more information, including additional national and local partners and tips on how to avoid and report scammers, please visit www.PreventLoanScams.org or call the Homeowners Hope Hotline. 888-995-HOPE (4673).

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