May 23, 2008

Governing Board Meeting Minutes

Kansas Association of Counties

May 23, 2008

Cottage House Hotel

Council Grove, Kansas

 

President Shannon Francis called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Board members present were as follows:

 

Michele Abbott-Becker, Marion County Emergency Management Director; Joe Connor, Unified Government Health Department Administrator; Steve Garten, Barber County Commissioner; Shannon Francis, Seward County Commissioner; Tom Winters, Sedgwick County Commissioner; Dick Works, Allen County Commissioner; J.R. McMahon, Miami County Highway Director; Dennis Peterson, Riley County Noxious Weed Director; Tom Wagner, Atchison County Commissioner; Sheila Biggs, Dickinson County Commissioner; and Larry McAulay, Johnson County Director of Legal Services.

 

Board members absent were: Terry David, Rice County EMS Director; Mark Low, Finney County Appraiser; Gary Doane, Osborne County Commissioner; Dale Phillips, Barton County Noxious Weed Director.

 

KAC Staff and others present: Randall Allen, KAC Executive Director; Judy Moler, KAC General Counsel; Morris County Commissioners Darrell Miller and F.J. Revere.

 

Commissioner F.J. Revere welcomed the board to Morris County.

 

The agenda was presented and adopted by consensus.

 

Minutes for March 13, 2008. Tom Winters moved, seconded by Steve Garten, to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2008 meeting as presented. Motion carried.

 

Approval of Bills and Payrolls for May 23, 2008. Tom Winters, 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. Tom Winters moved, seconded by Dick Works, to approve the bills and payroll dated May 23, 2008. Motion carried.

 

Monthly Financial Report for April, 2008. The Executive Director reviewed the report with the board. Tom Winters moved, seconded by Sheila Biggs, to receive and place on file the Monthly Financial Report for April, 2008. Motion carried.

 

KAC Business Partners Program. Randall distributed a draft copy of the new brochure marketing the Business Partners Program. The board suggested that staff contact the various affiliate and associate members to acquire their vendor lists so that they can also be contacted.

 

Legislative Session Briefing. Judy briefed the board on the results and outcomes of the 2008 legislative session. The Legislative Summary is available at the KAC website. House Bill 2217, omnibus local government bill, allowed for dissolution of townships and requiring the electronic filing of budgets (beginning in 2009), passed. The Kansas Open Meetings Act was amended in a favorable manner, removing the “majority of a quorum” to read “majority” of the body. The bill adds definition to what constitutes a serial meeting and suspends the $500 fine for KOMA violation for one year. Finally, as of July 1, BOTA becomes “COTA” – the Court of Tax Appeals – with four hearing officers rather than the current three.

 

Request from Sedgwick County for filing of Amicus Brief. The County Counselors Association of Kansas has recommended to the KAC Board that we file an amicus brief, especially to support Sedgwick County in their protection of the discretionary function afforded counties. This is important in many policy areas that counties address. Larry McAulay moved, seconded by Michele Abbott-Becker, to file an amicus brief by outside counsel on behalf of the KAC, with expenditure up to $5,000. Motion carried.

 

Executive Director’s Report. Randall distributed a summary of the late Winter/Early Spring Regional Suppers held at seven sites around Kansas. Joan Wagnon and staff from the Kansas Department of Revenue spoke at all of the suppers. Based on the financial summary of the meetings, Randall recommended that we charge a $25 per person registration fee for future regional suppers. He also recommended that we procure some portable sound equipment to take to meetings such as the regional suppers, since some venues do not have such equipment in place. The board agreed with both recommenda-

tions and gave its consent to implement both suggestions. Randall briefed the board on the status of recruiting and selecting a successor to Judy for the Legislative Services Director and General Counsel position. He said that the application period closes on May 27, and then interviews would be scheduled, first with him and then with a committee including some of the board members. Randall then updated the board concerning planning for the 33rd Annual KAC Conference, and distributed a marketing brochure for the Exhibition and Sponsorship.

 

Affiliate/Associate Information Sharing. Below is a summary of the various topics discussed during the affiliate/associate reports:

 

Sheila Biggs talked about the Flint Hills Resource Conservation Council, which is meeting in Junction City on August 6. It includes counties, cities, and school districts. Judy asked Sheila to write an article for the County Comment.

 

J.R. McMahon said that the Kansas County Highway Association annual conference in Manhattan was extremely successful and that it had Darryl Lutz’ imprint all over it. He spoke to the Bridge Task Force’s work and about the possibility that the State would withhold funds from counties not completing their inspections.

 

Tom Wagner said that Atchison County has 326 bridges and that the bridge inspection process is a concern for his county.

 

Joe Connor talked about the introduction in the Senate Ways and Means Committee of the bill for additional money to address the problem of low birth weight babies. He said that the committee was receptive to the idea and he hopes to re-introduce next year. He said that Kansas is on the national stage in terms of our work in preparing for accreditation and functional regionalization. Several grants have been received by KALHD to assist with this process. There will be a reduction in preparedness money because pandemic flu funding is going away this year.

Larry McAulay announced that the CCAK will be having its midyear meeting in Abilene on June 27, 2008.

 

Steve Garten said the groundbreaking for a large wind farm in Barber County will be on June 19.

 

Michele Abbott-Becker said that other regions are now interested in replicating what the south central region for homeland security has done with GIS. At the KEMA Board meeting, there was discussion of a shake-up in the top positions at the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and Adjutant General’s office. KDOT has opened up the ability to use tower space and buy radios through its purchasing program.

 

Tom Winters announced that Butler County Commissioner Will Carpenter is running for the State Senate.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

___________________________________.
Judy Moler

Legislative Services Director/General Counsel

 

 

Approved:

 

 

___________________________________.

Sheila Biggs, KAC Board Secretary

July 13, 2008