November 18, 2007

Minutes

Governing Board Meeting

Kansas Association of Counties

November 18, 2007

Enterprise Board Room, Hyatt Regency Hotel

Wichita, Kansas

 

President Dennis Peterson called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. Board members present were as follows:

 

Michele Abbott-Becker, Marion County Emergency Management Director: Joe Connor, Unified Government Health Department Administrator; Larry McAulay, Johnson County Director of Legal Services; Ted Ensley, Shawnee County Commissioner; Steve Garten, Barber County Commissioner; John Miller, Norton County Commissioner; Terry David, Rice County EMS Director; Shannon Francis, Seward County Commissioner Tom Winters, Sedgwick 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; Tom Wagner, Atchison County Commissioner; and Sheila Biggs, Dickinson County Commissioner.

 

KAC Staff and others present: Randall Allen, KAC Executive Director; Judy Moler, KAC General Counsel; Andrew Goldschmidt, NACo; Mark Low, Finney County Appraiser, Mike Smith, KAC Senior Attorney and Dave Unruh, Sedgwick County Commission Chairman.

 

President Dennis Peterson recognized Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Dave Unruh, who welcomed the KAC Board to Sedgwick County.

 

The agenda was presented. No changes were suggested. Sheila Biggs moved, seconded by Steve Garten, to accept the agenda as presented. Motion carried.

 

Minutes for Oct. 26, 2007. Terry David moved, seconded by Dick Works, to approve the minutes of the October 26, 2007 meeting. Motion carried.

 

Approval of Bills and Payroll for Nov. 18, 2007. John Miller, Finance Committee Chairman, indicated that the Finance Committee met prior to the meeting to review the invoices and there were no items of special concern. Michele Abbott-Becker had reviewed the bills. John Miller moved, seconded by Shannon Francis, to approve the bills and payroll dated November 18, 2007. Motion carried.

 

Annual Conference Briefing. Randall Allen reviewed the meeting agenda for the annual conference and pointed out instances when the Board would convene and then go into the sessions together. He encouraged the Board to spend time in the Exhibition and visit with exhibitors, thanking them for exhibiting and participating in the conference.

Randall mentioned that there had been an inquiry about the source of funds for the Grand Prize Getaway Giveaway to be drawn at the conclusion of the business meeting on

 

 

 

Tuesday, November 20, 2007. He said that unanticipated, surplus funds raised from exhibitors at the 32nd Annual Exhibition were the source of funds for the giveaway, which cost $765.45. The cost breakdown is as follows: 1) Airline vouchers: $252.95; 2) Hotel: $260.00; 3) Dinner for two: $100.00; and 4) Theatre Tickets ($152.50).

 

Review of Protocols. Judy Moler walked the Board through the protocols to be used in the adoption of the 2008 Legislative Policy Statement.

 

National Association of Counties Report.   Andrew Goldschmidt, representing the National Association of Counties brought greetings from NACo to the Board.   He announced that Colleen Landkamer, Commissioner from Blue Earth County, Minnesota, would also be attending the conference and speaking to the KCCA would be County Commissioner Don Larson, Brookings County, South Dakota and Bob Wilcox, Executive Director, South Dakota Association of County Commissioners. South Dakota, through the efforts of these two gentlemen, has greatly increased the number of South Dakota counties who are NACo members. Steve Garten added that he will be attending a NACo Board meeting December 6-8, 2007 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

 

KAC Employee Benefits Trust Report. John Miller reported that the three agreements being prepared by our counsel, Brian Johnston, Lathrop and Gage are not yet ready and as such will not be discussed until next month’s board meeting. Mike Smith will follow up with Brian.

 

Travel Authorization. Randall asked for authorization for the Executive Director and Board President to travel to the NACo meeting for State Association Presidents and Executive Directors in Washington, DC, January 9-11, 2008. In addition, Randall asked for travel authorization for Sarah, Randall and Judy to attend the meeting of Midwest state associations of counties in Chicago, Ill., January 3-4, 2008. Ted Ensley moved, seconded by Tom Winters, to approve the travel as recommended. Motion carried.

 

December 13, 2007 KAC Reorganization meeting: Randall briefed the Board on plans for the annual reorganizational meeting to be held Dec. 13, 2007. The finance committee will meet at 11:30 am in the KAC offices. Lunch will be served for board and staff on the lower level of the building at noon followed by the Board meeting at 1:00 pm. The new board will be seated during this meeting. There will be a dinner that evening at the Row House Restaurant, 515 SW Van Buren.

 

Discussion of 2008 Board Meeting Dates: The following suggested dates for 2008 Board meetings were presented. The new Board will make the final decisions next month.

 

Date                                                     Location

 

Friday, January 25, 2008                      Topeka

Monday, Feb. 11, 2008 (evening)         Topeka

(evening before County Gov’t Day)

Thursday, March 13, 2008                   Topeka

(Dinner that evening with Board of the League of Kansas Municipalities)

Friday, May 23, 2008                          TBD, outside Topeka

Date                                                     Location

 

Friday, July 25, 2008                            Topeka

Friday, September 26, 2008                 TBD, outside Topeka

Friday, October 24, 2008                     Topeka

Sunday, November 16, 2008                Wichita (Annual Conference)

Thursday, December 11, 2008 Topeka (Reorganizational meeting)

Continued Discussion of 2008 KAC Budget. Randall summarized the discussion points concerning the 2008 budget which were first presented to the board at the October meeting in Manhattan. He indicated that the identified gap (i.e. deficit) between anticipated 2008 revenues and expenditures of $90,000+ in the preliminary budget presented in October had been reduced to $27,800, resulting from several factors, not the least of which are several suggestions which emerged from staff discussions about how to generate additional revenues for the KAC. As such, the recommended (November 18) version of the 2008 KAC budget assumes the following:

 

  • The KAC will implement a new Business Partners program, with $10,000 in new revenue expected from this program in 2008; 2) The KAC will offer an option for county officials to receive the County Comment online, rather than by direct U.S. mail, as a way to control and/or reduce printing and postage costs; 3) The KAC will implement regional suppers in 2008, in both February and August, as a way to better engage members in all aspects of the Association; 4) the KAC will request funding from the Kansas Health Foundation in recognition of the policy research support that the Sr. Policy Analyst provides to public health initiatives and to the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments (KALHD); and, 5) KAC staff will bring a draft policy to the KAC Board to implement a policy for late fees to be assessed for non-payment or late-payment of KAC invoices.

 

Board discussion ensued. There was general consensus to go forward and develop the business membership concept, titling it something other than a membership as such, even though General Counsel Judy Moler has opined that such concept is consistent with the existing KAC Bylaws. There was little or no discussion on the other changes or assumptions in the recommended 2008 budget, except for the possibility of assessing late fees for late payment of KAC invoices. It was agreed that additional board discussion is warranted on this option.

 

Ted Ensley moved, seconded by Steve Garten, to adopt the 2008 KAC budget of $897,131 as submitted, applying $27,800 in cash reserves to balance and fully-fund the budget. Motion carried. The cash reserves have been developed over the past few years under the steady guidance of the KAC Board.

 

President’s Remarks. KAC President Dennis Peterson wished everyone a great conference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

________________________________.
Judy Moler

General Counsel/Legislative Services Director

 

 

Approved:

 

 

___________________________________.

Joe Connor, KAC Board Secretary

December 13, 2007