February 12, 2007

Kansas Association of Counties

Governing Board Meeting Minutes

February 12, 2007

Lower Level Meeting Room

League of Kansas Municipalities, 300 SW 8th

 

 

President Dennis Peterson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Board members present were as follows:

 

            Michele Abbott-Becker, Marion Co. Emergency Management Director

            Joe Connor, Unified Government Health Department Administrator

            Terry David, Rice County EMS Director

            Ted Ensley, Shawnee County Commissioner

            Shannon Francis, Seward County Commissioner

            Steve Garten, Barber County Commissioner

            John Miller, Norton County Commissioner

            Sheila Biggs, Dickinson County Commissioner

            Tom Wagner, Atchison County Commissioner

            Dick Works, Allen County Commissioner

            George Pogge, Jefferson County Road Superintendent

             Gary Post, Lyon County Appraiser

            Dennis Peterson, Riley County Noxious Weed Director

 

            Board members not present were:    

 

             Larry McAulay, Johnson County Director of Legal Services                 

            Tom Winters, Sedgwick County Commissioner

           

KAC Staff and others present:

 

            Randall Allen, KAC Executive Director

            Joel Wright, The Kansas Collaborative

            Kathleen Harnish-Doucet, The Kansas Collaborative

            Andy Carter, Haake Benefits, Leawood

 

Strategic Planning Agenda

 

Kathleen Harnish-Doucet and Joel Wright from The Kansas Collaborative updated the board concerning implementation of the strategies for the four ad hoc committees which emerged from the recent board planning effort. All four committees are at some stage of being formed, and the Transportation Committee already met in Manhattan in January, as part of the Long Range Transportation (LRT) project of KDOT. The Revenue Enhancement Committee The Revenue Enhancement Committee is scheduled to meet on Friday, February 16 and the remaining two committees (Learning, Kansas Collaborative) will meet as soon as it is possible to schedule meetings.

 

Status Report concerning County Health Care Program

 

Brian Johnston, attorney, Lathrop and Gage law firm in Kansas City, was unable to attend the meeting. Instead, Randall Allen and Andy Carter, Haake Benefits, reviewed a January 24, 2007 letter from Mr. Johnston to Mr. Allen, in which Mr. Johnston outlined the major policy issues surrounding formation of the KAC Employee Benefits Trust. Andy Carter from the Haake Company was present to answer questions about the legal structure and other requirements necessary to move forward with the new health/dental insurance program.

 

Following the board’s discussion concerning strategic planning and the health care program initiative, the board focused on its action agenda.

 

Additions or Corrections to Meeting Agenda

 

Steve Garten asked that the NACo report be deleted from the agenda as there were no new issues to bring before the body. Shannon Francis moved, seconded by John Miller, to approve the meeting agenda as amended to reflect deletion of the NACo report. Motion carried.

 

Approval of the Minutes

 

           Shannon Francis moved, seconded by Steve Garten, to approve the January

19, 2007 minutes. Motion carried.  

 

Approval of Bills and Payrolls for February, 2007

 

John Miller, KAC Treasurer, presented the documentation for the approval of

bills and payrolls for February 27, 2007. John Miller moved,

seconded by Shannon Francis, to approve the bills and payrolls dated

February 27, 2007. Motion carried.

 

December, 2006 Financial Report

 

Randall Allen presented the monthly financial report for December, 2006. Shannon Francis moved, seconded by Steve Garten, to receive and place the report on file. Motion carried.

 

KAC Affiliate/Associate Information Sharing

 

Gary Post announced that the Northeast Kansas “little KAC” meeting will be held April 13 in Emporia in the Lyon County Courthouse Jury Assembly Room. Cost is $13.00.   Gary attended the south central Kansas IAAO meeting as a presenter. His presentation was on taxpayer friendly hearings.   George Pogge announced that the Kansas County Highway Association will have its annual conference in Great Bend, May 7-9, 2007 and that the Kansas Collaborative and the KAC are both scheduled on the meeting agenda for presentations.  

 

President’s Report

 

Dennis Peterson told the board that he had attended the recent LAVTR restoration hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee and had sent an email to Rep. Sharon Schwartz, House Appropriations Committee chair, requesting a similar hearing in her committee. He said that he as well as others would be attending the upcoming NACo legislative conference in Washington in March.

 

Legislative Report

 

Judy and Randall talked about various legislative issues of concern to the KAC that they have been working during the past month. Those include: answering various budget-related questions, and testifying or attempting to move or stop legislation on county code courts, fingerprints and photographs of juveniles, treasurers renewal of driver licenses, the sexual predator law, landfill siting, open meetings and open records, capping the growth in assessed valuation, countywide sales tax, special election issues and special Sherman County legislation relating to the at-large election of county commissioners. Judy reviewed the speaker schedule for County Government Day, held the following morning at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.

 

Status Report: Kansas County Government Institute Workshops

 

Randall distributed several handouts prepared by Sarah Meyer, Conference and Meetings Coordinator, including a list of Learning Committee nominees from the various affiliate/associate groups and a schedule of upcoming workshops offered through the KAC’s County Government Institute.

 

Executive Director’s Report

 

Randall reported on a recent successful meeting with Secretary of Transportation Deb Miller and KDOT Public Affairs Director Julie Lorenz, in which he requested $100,000 in KDOT monies - $50,000 to launch the pilot Statewide County Road Engineer Program and an additional $50,000 to continue the work of the Transportation Breakthrough Team.   Randall received a tentative commitment from Secretary Miller for the funding, pending her review of the request with her internal finance and budget staff. Randall informed the board that he had signed an engagement letter with Lathrop and Gage, Kansas City law firm, for professional services from Mr. Brian Johnston, related to formation of the new Employee Benefits Trust program. He informed the board that Judy Moler is working on the Bench and Bar Task Force concerning the workings of the Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA) and the Kansas Travel Initiative (KTI), a statewide group strategizing to improve the promotion of tourism in Kansas. Randall reported on the recent “Introduction to the Commissioner’s Job” workshop in Topeka at which approximately 35 county commissioners attended. This is the first of several workshops in the Leadership Academy for County Commissioners curriculum. Randall also informed the board that the first case under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of elected officials had been filed and was awaiting hearing. The Conflict Resolution Committee, formed pursuant to the MOU, held its organizational meeting recently at the Brown v. Board historic site. Finally, he informed the board that staff is re-thinking the entire annual conference program and format and will likely have ideas to present to the board at the March 16 meeting.

 

Randall reminded the board of the dinner with the League of Kansas Municipalities board on Thursday evening, March 15, preceding the next board meeting on March 16. The event will be held at the Top of the Tower restaurant in downtown Topeka.

 

The Board adjourned at 9:45 pm in a snow storm.

 

                                                                                               

Respectfully submitted                                             

 

 

_________________________.

Judy A. Moler, General Counsel                                         

 

 

            Approved by the Board on March 16, 2007:  

 

 

__________________________________.

            Joe Connor, Board Secretary