Hello!

June is in full swing and so is the summer heat! We are excited to bring you this month's UG Monthly Employee Newsletter. 

This month's newsletter is jam-packed with lots of employee accomplishments, spotlights, resources and so much more. Keep up the fantastic job and dedication! 

We want to hear from you and celebrate the great things that are happening here at the UG. If you and your department have any major accomplishments, team photos, or upcoming events, please keep us posted by emailing:  communications@wycokck.org. 

Keep up the Impactful Work!

Our prayers and thoughts go out to the Parkinson Family, as well as the Buildings and Logistics Department with the passing of recently retired Buildings and Logistics Employee Jeff Parkinson. 

Jeff served with the UG for 32 years before recently retiring. Jeff will definitely be missed for his friendly demeanor, welcoming smile and his will to always help out however he could. 

Congratulations to Unified Government Clerk Monica Sparks for earning the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC), which is awarded by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), Inc.

IIMC grants the CMC designation only to municipal clerks who complete rigorous educational requirements and have a record of making significant contributions to their local government, community, and state. The Certified Municipal Clerk program is designed to enhance the job performance of the Clerk in small and large municipalities. 💐

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Keep up the fantastic work Monica!

Fleet Services Earns Honorable Mention

Fleet Services, a division of the Public Works Department at the Unified Government (UG), has been named on the 2025 “100 Best Fleets in the Americas” Honorable Mentions list. Presented by the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA), the recognition places Fleet Services among a select group of public and private fleet operations across North and South America, demonstrating innovation, efficiency, and service excellence.

"The recognition from NAFA is a huge honor for our team,” said Russ Owens, Fleet Manager. “Over the past few years, we have rethought how we operate, from upgrading software and streamlining processes to reshaping our teamwork, accountability, culture, and customer service. This award is validation that we are on the right path.”

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👨‍🎓 Congratulations to Michael Abbott and Zach Hunt of the Wyandotte County Elections Office on their hard work to become Kansas Certified Election Officials (KCEO)!

As graduates of the inaugural class of Kansas’ first-ever Certified Election Training (CET) Program, launched by Secretary of State Scott Schwab in 2022, this certification reflects a statewide commitment to excellence, integrity, and uniformity in election administration.

The CET Program, administered by the Secretary of State’s Office and implemented under the leadership of former Johnson County Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt , CERA/CMC, featured a comprehensive 2.5-year curriculum combining procedural education, technical training, and best practices across all areas of election administration.

Way to Go Zach and Michael!
Keep up the great work!

Last month the UG Clerk's Office held a fun contest for employees to guess how many phone calls were received in May, who answered the phone most often, what department received the most phone calls for and how many calls were actually for the Clerk's Office. 

Becky Scaife has been with the Clerk's Office since April of this year. She is tuned into her job and won the May contest by guessing the closest to actual numbers. She received a one-of-a-kind phone trophy and lunch on the Clerk.

"We are fortunate to work with her," said UG Clerk Monica Sparks, CMC.

Keep up the dedicated work Becky! 

On June 19, 2025, we are proud to acknowledge and celebrate the Juneteenth holiday. Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. This special day marks the county’s second Independence Day, by delivering the historic emancipation for enslaved African Americans in the United States.

Important to Remember: UG Offices will be closed on Thursday, June 19, in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday. 

Trash & Recycling: Although UG offices will be closed, recycling and trash collection will continue running and will not be impacted.  

Get more educated about Juneteenth: Abolition of slavery announced in Texas on "Juneteenth" | June 19, 1865 | HISTORY

A huge thanks to everyone that participated in the year- long plastic collection recycling challenge.

Together we were able to collect tons of plastic and also receive a bench that is featured at our Recycling Center (3241 Park Dr., KCK) 

Please Note: As of June 25th, there will no longer be any plastic collection at any of the UG locations (Municipal building and the NRC). You are asked to still collect your plastics and take them to any Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, or the Recycling Center at 3241 Park Dr., KCK). 

Directors and Managers: Don't forget about the UG Employee Appreciation Program.

County Administration is excited to reintroduce the UG Employee Appreciation Program. This program allows department heads to nominate employees each month that show great customer service and dedication by going above and beyond in their daily work.

Nominated/ selected employees have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of fun events around town, such as KC Monarchs tickets, Sporting KC game tickets, concerts at Azura Amphitheater, festivals, and various other special events.

Remember, Directors may send nominees at any time you feel you have a team or team member that you feel deserves to be highlighted for their accomplishments and hard work. 

Directors & Managers to learn more or to nominate an employee, please email Diana Segui at desegui@wycokck.org

Ashley Scott - KCKPD (Animal Services) Congratulations to Ashley for being nominated for the Employee Appreciation Program for your hard work and dedication to our community and our furry friends! 

She is a tireless advocate and leads an extremely small, but dedicated team with a HUGE job that’s very important to our community. One of the ways Animal Services has positively benefitted from her leadership is her ability to cultivate and maintain partnerships.  She is responsible for forming a new partnership with Pet Resource Center, which has led to a 40% increase in pet adoptions.

Congratulations Ashley! 

Erin Gaster of the Wyandotte County Health Department
Keep going above and beyond! Congratulations on being nominated for your stellar communication and customer service skills.  

Erin just celebrated her 3 year work anniversary and has not only taken in so much information, has gained experience, and most importantly brings her perspective of joy and blessings to the Public Health workspace and community!

Congratulations Erin!