Friday, May. 09, 2008

Commission OKs education triangle for ballot

Leaders from the University of Kansas and Kansas State University joined forces Thursday, and the result was a step toward reality for the Johnson County education and research triangle.

The Johnson County Commission voted unanimously in favor of a public hearing on the issue and to put it on the ballot for the Nov. 4 election. The public hearing likely will take place during one of the commission’s Thursday morning meetings in the next few weeks.

If approved, the project would be funded by an eighth-cent sales tax. The project has been estimated to stimulate $1.4 billion in the economy and would connect the KU Cancer Center with the Edwards Campus and the K-State bioscience park in Olathe, which will feature the National Food and Animal Health Institute.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway and K-State President Jon Wefald spoke together in favor of the project, which they said would stimulate economic and educational growth not only in Johnson County, but throughout the state.

“Our universities are competitive with one another on the athletic fields, but we have come together today in support a cause that will provide Johnson Countians and Kansans alike with the opportunity for a victory in which everyone is the winner,” Wefald said.

Hemenway said the first phase of the project would be the 75,000-square-foot Business, Engineering and Technology Center, which he said would bring 10 new degrees and 1,000 students per year to the Edwards Campus.

Both Hemenway and Wefald spoke about the benefit of bringing state-of-the-art facilities for both animal and human health, including cancer research, to the area. Hemenway said it would have countless benefits for the county.

“As a cancer survivor, I know firsthand the importance of having access to exceptional care,” he said. “I applaud the Johnson County civic leaders who, in proposing the triangle, have recognized the importance of finding a cure and new treatments for cancer and other diseases right here at home.”

The commission also heard from others who spoke in favor of the project.

Jörg Ohle, head of Bayer HealthCare LLC’s Animal Health Division, spoke in favor of the project.

“We intended to shape here the future of the animal health industry,” Ohle said.

Terry Calaway, president of Johnson County Community College, also asked the commission to put the project on the ballot and said the college’s relationship with KU and K-State had allowed the three institutions to move toward a common interest.

“There is one thing we all have in common: We all want to do the right thing for Johnson County,” Calaway said. “This is a really good idea, and this is a good idea for right now.”

Supporters Mary Birch and Bob Regnier took questions from the commission for about an hour before Commissioner Ed Eilert made a motion to conduct a public hearing and to put the item on the ballot. The motion passed 6-0, with John Toplikar absent.

Submit an ad