February 15, 2005
Kansas Association of Counties
Governing Board Meeting Minutes
February 15, 2005
League of Kansas Municipalities Conference Room
300 SW 10th Street
Topeka, Kansas 66603
President Gene Merry called the meeting to order at 1:43 p.m. Board members present were as follows:
Lonie Addis, Labette County Commissioner
Eileen Filbert, Jefferson County Health Department Administrator
Shannon Francis, Seward County Commissioner
Gene Merry, Coffey County Commissioner
John Miller, Norton County Commissioner
Alvin Perez, Republic County Highway Administrator
Dennis Peterson, Riley County Noxious Weed Director
Gary Post, Lyon County Appraiser
Nicholas Saldan, Johnson County Deputy Counselor
Florence Whitebread, Geary County Commissioner
Tom Winters, Sedgwick, Sedgwick County Commissioner
Members absent:
Ted Ensley, Shawnee County Commissioner
Mary Messamore, Sherman County Emergency Management Director
Guests: Jerry Carson, Labette County Commissioner, KCCA President
Kathleen Harnish-Doucet, TeamTech, Inc.
KAC staff present:
Randall Allen, KAC Executive Director
Judy Moler, KAC Legislative Services Director/General Counsel
President Merry asked to shift some items on the agenda around so that we could accommodate persons attending the meeting for specific agenda items.
January 21, 2004 Minutes Approval
The draft January 21, 2004 board meeting minutes reflected that Dennis Peterson was in attendance. He was not. Shannon Francis moved, seconded by Tom Winters, to approve the January 21, 2004 minutes as amended to reflect Dennis’ absence. Motion carried.
Finance Committee Report
Treasurer John Miller presented the bills and payrolls dated February 9, 2005. John Miller moved, seconded by Dennis Peterson, to approve the bills and payrolls dated February 9, 2005. Motion carried.
Consideration of the December, 2004 Monthly Financial Report was deferred as there had not been adequate time for staff to prepare the report once information was received from CBIZ.
Prescription Drug Work Group Status and Plans for “Road Show”
Executive Director Allen and Kathleen Harnish-Doucet, Team Tech, updated the board on plans to have a “Road Show” at several regional locations around Kansas in April and May, to inform county constituents of opportunities for savings in prescription drugs as well as for the purpose of engaging the membership in dialogue about other opportunities for breakthrough groups and identifying new leadership for the future.
The Board discussed the possibility of utilizing Team Tech to assist the KAC in securing grants from foundations and other outside groups to finance processes to “break through” barriers and organizational silos at the state and local levels, in the same or at least similar way to what was done with prescription drug costs. There was considerable board discussion about how this could be achieved. Tom Winters commented that “the KAC event (HHS Summit in September, 2003) with Joel (Wright) and Kathleen (Harnish-Doucet) on Health and Human Services was wonderful. Through the follow-up on prescription drugs, ways were found to save money and effect efficiencies in counties.” Tom Winters moved, seconded by John Miller, that the KAC Board endorse the road show concept and ask Team Tech to come back to the next meeting with a work schedule to roll out the road show and to search for potential projects and grant opportunities. Motion carried.
Executive Director’s Report
Dennis Kriesel, KAC Public Health Policy Fellow, presented and explained the report on E-911 remittances for the December, 2004 billing cycle.
Randall Allen reviewed the current status of 2005 county membership dues, with comments about each of the counties which had not paid as of the meeting date and the likelihood that they would pay their dues. As of February 14, 2005, 28 counties had not yet remitted their 2005 KAC dues, while 77 counties had remitted their dues. From the standpoint of prior year comparisons, receipts did not vary substantially to date from prior years.
Randall reviewed a schedule of workshops in the Kansas County Government Institute for 2005, including the Leadership Academy for County Commissioners, the Effective Supervisory Skills certificate program, and the Excellence in Customer Service certificate program. Florence Whitebread moved, seconded by Tom Winters, to approve the schedule of 2005 workshops as presented. Motion carried.
Randall briefed the KAC board on the status of the secretariat agreement with the Kansas County Commissioners Association. He distributed a copy of two agreements, 1) a secretariat and support services agreement, and 2) a partnership agreement concerning the Leadership Academy (education) program. KCCA President Jerry Carson clarified that any assistance on legislative efforts the KAC staff would give the KCCA would only occur if the legislative effort were included in the KAC’s legislative policy statement. The KAC board directed Randall to revise the agreements and return with new drafts.
Shannon Francis moved, seconded by Lonie Addis, to approve the revised secretariat and education agreements with the KCCA, subject to the changes discussed by the board and given to the Executive Director. Motion carried.
Consideration of and action on a secretariat agreement with the County Counselors Association of Kansas (CCAK) was deferred to the March 18 meeting.
Report of KAC Affiliates and Associates
The board took a few minutes to allow board members to report on concerns and information from their organizations.
NACo Report
Lonie Addis gave a report on the upcoming NACo Legislative Conference and the PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) program.
2005 Legislative Briefing
Randall and Judy reported on legislative hearings and 2005 legislation that is moving through the process.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________.
Judy Moler, General Counsel
Approved: __________________________
Florence Whitebread, Board Secretary