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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!
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The following individuals joined the Unified Government family in the month of May!
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- Valentino Barajas - Health Department
- Samuel Bell - Public Works
- David Botello - Public Works
- Jonathan Burrion Keymolen - Sheriff's Office
- Courtney Copeland - Appraiser's Office
- Karma Gonzalez - KCKPD
- Alex Her - KCKPD
- Kaitlyn Kolich - Health Department
- Kasen Monds - KCKPD
- Koby Money - KCKPD
- Alejandro Mora Diaz - KCKPD
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- Bailey Piece - KCKPD
- Jesus Ramos - Sheriff's Office
- Angelina Revely - DA's Office
- David Richardson - Emerg. Mgmt.
- Anastasia Robinson - KCKPD
- Blanca Robles-Munoz - KCKPD
- Skylar Ryan - Neighborhood Resource Center
- Damaris Sandoval - Neighborhood Resource Center
- Robert Scott - KCKPD
- Kasie Taulbert - KCKPD
- Lloyd Thomas - Public Works
- Joshua Webb - Sheriff's Office
- Brendan Weber - KCKPD
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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.
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Honoring Many Years of Service!
Congratulations to Bonnie Nigh on her upcoming retirement after 42 years of service with the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department (KCKFD). Thank you for your dedication and hard work over your many years.
Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office
Congratulations to Major Buxton and Captain Cortes of the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office on their recent promotions!
Hats off to Deputy Mesler on his recent retirement after many years of service! According to the Sheriff’s Office, “Deputy Mesler truly is one of the hardest working and reliable people we have, and we wish we could make a few copies of him before he heads out! Congratulations, Deputy Mesler, we wish you all the best in retirement!”
Department & Employee Spotlights!
Congrats Monica Sparks, CMC!
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. 💐
Continue Reading.
Keep up the fantastic work Monica!
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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.”
Continue Reading
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Congratulations Michael Abbott and Zach Hunt!
👨🎓 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!
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And the Winner is....... Becky Scaife
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!
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Honoring Culture & Community: Juneteenth 2025 |
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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
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 Celebrate with us this Weekend!
Thank you to the UG Employees that participated in the June 13th Community Cleanup. This group canvassed blocks in district 1 in downtown KCK. Over 30 UG employees collected over 52 bags of trash, 12 tires, and 4 mattresses.
Mark your Calendars for Friday, September 5 for the next UG Community Clean-up
Last Day for Plastic Collection at UG Locations: June 25
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).
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UG Employee Appreciation Program |
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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
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June 2025 - UG Employee Appreciation Recipients
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!
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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!
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Keep up the Amazing Work!!!
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DOTS - Stay Safe: Cybersecurity Resources
Register Directly in Workday
In-Person Cybersecurity Training
Employees need to login to Workday, then use the below links. There are instructions written out in the LMS trainings on how to register for a FEMA Student ID, how to register for training, and the dates/times/locations of training.
Keep Your Information Safe!
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Experience an afternoon of hands-on fun, demonstrations, fire safety, and community connections with the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department! This free event is packed with exciting, educational activities that honor our local heroes and teach valuable fire prevention skills.
For more visit: KCKFD Mission Ready: Firefighter Fun & Family Day
Share your Memorial Hall Memories!
Have any great memories or photos from the iconic Memorial Hall? Please share them with us to be part of history at this September's Centennial Celebration.
Learn More: Help Us Celebrate 100 Years of Memorial Hall
Perfect Weather for Riding! Bikeshare is Back for the 2025 Season
With bike hubs across Rosedale and one in front of the Municipal Building (701 N. 7th Street, KCK), you now have another (greener) way to get around KCK – and what a beautiful day to get started with an electric-assist bike. Those hills will be a breeze!
You can rent an ebike at any of the bike hubs and ride/lock your bike anywhere east of 635 in KCK or take it into surrounding jurisdictions within the RideKC network (including KCMO and North Kansas City).
Unified Government Membership
PLUS, as employees of the Unified Government, you are eligible for 80 minutes FREE daily because of our group membership. Download the app, enter the Code: UG9722 and jump on an ebike today!
Spread the word!
Individuals who need assistance can sign up for an annual membership of just $10 – and you don’t need to have a credit or debit card to participate. Otherwise, it costs $1.00 to unlock an ebike and $0.15/minute to ride. You can buy a 24-hour pass, 30-day membership, 90-day membership, or an annual membership of $149 with 80 minutes of free riding time per day. Read more about the eBike features and hub locations: RideKC Bike – Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS
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Select the graphic below to learn more about the wonderful mental health benefits you receive as an employee through the UG Road to Wellness Program.

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