December 14, 2006
Kansas Association of Counties
Governing Board Meeting Minutes
Thursday, December 14, 2006
300 SW 8th, KAC Conference Room
Topeka, KS
President Gene Merry called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Board members present were as follows:
Michele Abbott-Becker, Marion County Emergency Management/Homeland Security 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
Gene Merry, Coffey County Commissioner
John Miller, Norton County Commissioner
Dennis Peterson, Riley County Noxious Weed Director
George Pogge, Jefferson County Road Superintendent
Gary Post, Lyon County Appraiser
Florence Whitebread, Geary County Commissioner
Tom Winters, Sedgwick County Commissioner
Board Members not present:
Larry McAulay, Johnson County Director of Legal Services
KAC staff and others present:
Sheila Biggs, Dickinson County Commissioner
Tom Wagner, Atchison County Commissioner
Dick Works, Allen County Commissioner
Randall Allen, KAC Executive Director
Judy Moler, KAC General Counsel/Legislative Services Director
WELCOME
President Gene Merry welcomed the new, incoming board members and guests to the meeting.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
President Merry asked to add an agenda item to discuss the Council on State Governments Award to the Kansas Collaborative. Steve Garten moved, seconded by Florence Whitebread, to approve the meeting agenda as amended. Motion carried.
RECONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
The minutes of the October 27, 2006 meeting, as previously approved, did not include the formation of the Ad Hoc committees created by the Board nor did it include presentation of the audit report for the wireless E 9-1-1 report. Language has been added to the minutes to reflect these corrections. Tom Winters moved, seconded by Ted Ensley, to approve the minutes of the October 27, 2006 meeting, as revised to include reference to formation of the Ad Hoc Committees as well as presentation and action on the audit report for the Wireless E-911 Fund. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Terry David moved, seconded by Dennis Peterson, to approve the minutes of the November 19, 2006 Board meeting after correcting the date of the meeting from Friday to Sunday. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS AND PAYROLL
John Miller moved, seconded by Florence Whitebread to accept the report of the monthly bills and payrolls for December 14, 2006. Motion carried.
MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT
Executive Director Allen presented the Monthly Financial Report for October, 2006. Florence Whitebread moved, seconded by Gary Post to receive and place the report on file. Motion carried.
GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE
Andrew Hampson of the Bukaty Agency in Leawood presented information regarding group employee health insurance renewal with United Healthcare for KAC employees. The plan presented would require board authorization to establish health reimbursement accounts for employees. This restructuring of the health insurance plan would significantly lower the KAC costs for health care while offering employees the same or better benefits. Shannon Francis moved, seconded by Steve Garten that the KAC implement the United Healthcare alternate plan as of January 1, 2007, with the KAC contributing $750 and $2,250 to single and family coverage respectively; that the KAC implement the vision coverage for employees per the Vision VOO10-Plan 2; and, the Executive Director present a formal written change to the Personnel Policy 2.16 at the January, 2007 Board meeting effecting these changes formally.
WIRELESS 9-1-1 AUDIT RESPONSE
Executive Director Randall Allen reviewed his memorandum to the board, responding to the reportable condition listed on the Wireless E9-1-1 Fund audit done by Summers, Spencer & Callison, CPAs. The condition called for a dual reporting of checks received from the wireless companies and then given to the League of Kansas Municipalities. Tom Winters moved, seconded by John Miller to direct the Executive Director to send a letter to the auditor asking if the written response satisfies the auditor in fulfilling the corrective action directed by the audit, and request a written response. Motion carried.
COUNCIL ON STATE GOVERNMENTS AWARD
President Merry commented on receipt of an Innovations Award to the Kansas Pharmaceutical Collaborative, of which the KAC is an integral part, at the recent annual conference of the Council on State Governments held in Phoenix. The award to the Kansas Collaborative was one of eight given. There is much interest by other states in replicating the Kansas model, both for the drug program specifically and for The Kansas Collaborative generally.
31st ANNUAL CONFERENCE REVIEW
Sarah Meyer, Conference Planner, gave an overview of the 31st Annual KAC Conference held November 19-21, 2006. The numbers of attendees and vendors were up slightly. Evaluations were good although there were not too many returned. Sarah plans to create evaluations for each breakout session next year. The board discussed what worked, what didn’t and what they would like to see in the future. Sarah has five exhibitor contracts already signed for next year’s conference (2007). There will be an affiliate/associate meeting in the spring (probably in April, 2007) to assist with planning.
METHODOLOGY FOR MEMBERSHIP DUES
Randall reviewed the current methodology for assessing membership dues. He recommended that the 2007 membership dues to counties be allocated using the same methodology as was done in 2006. Gary Post moved, seconded by Terry David, for staff to proceed with preparation of the annual dues statements according to the methodology used in 2006. Motion carried.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ORGANIZATION REPORT
Steve Garten reported that he attended the NACo Board’s reorganizational meeting in Columbus, Ohio. The meeting was held in Columbus so that NACo board members could better appreciate the relationship of NACo to its exclusive deferred compensation program administrator, Nationwide Retirement Solutions. The goal of NACo is for all states to have 100% of their counties join NACo. For states with relatively few counties, this is a much easier task than it is for states like Kansas, with a large number of counties. The NACo Board awarded the annual conferences to Portland, Oregon in 2011 and Pittsburgh, Pennsylania in 2012.
DEPARTING BOARD MEMBERS AND SEATING OF THE NEW BOARD
Dennis Peterson thanked departing Board members Gene Merry and Florence Whitebread for their years of service on the Board and presented them with gifts of appreciation to the board. Gene Merry introduced his successor, Dick Works, Allen County Commissioner, who will represent southeast Kansas; Florence Whitebread introduced Sheila Biggs, Dickinson County Commissioner, who will represent north central Kansas; and Ted Ensley introduced Tom Wagner, Atchison County Commissioner, who will represent northeast Kansas on the board. Commissioner Ensley will serve for one more year on the KAC Board as its Past President.
REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Florence Whitebread, Nominating Committee Chair, presented the slate of officers for 2007. They were as follows: Dennis Peterson, President; Shannon Francis, Vice President; Joe Connor, Secretary; and, John Miller, Treasurer. Gary Post moved that the slate of officers for 2007 be approved unanimously; Tom Winters seconded. Motion carried. Dennis Peterson, Riley County Noxious Weed Director, assumed the Presidency of the KAC Board and thanked the board for its vote of confidence. President Peterson presided over the remaining part of the board meeting.
2007 BOARD MEETING DATES
The Board considered a calendar of dates for 2007 board meetings. By consensus, the board approved the following calendar of 2007 KAC Board meetings:
Friday, January 19, 2007 Topeka 10:00 a.m.
Monday, February 12, 2007 Topeka 7:00 p.m.
County Government Day is the following day (February 13)
Friday, March 16, 2007 Topeka 10:00 a.m.
Friday, April 27, 2007 Topeka 10:00 a.m.
Friday, June 15, 2007 Out-state 9:00 a.m.
Friday, July 27, 2007 Topeka 10:00 a.m.
Friday, September 21, 2007 Out-state 9:00 a.m.
Friday, October 26, 2007 Topeka 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, November 18, 2007 Wichita 9:00 a.m.
KAC Annual Conference
Thursday, December 13 and 1:00 p.m.
Friday, December 14, 2007 Topeka 8:00 a.m.
Reorganizational meeting
The March 16, 2007 KAC Board meeting will be preceded by a joint dinner with the League of Kansas Municipalities Board on the preceding night (March 15, 2007).
FINANCE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
President Peterson appointed Michele Abbott-Becker, Tom Winters and Ted Ensley to the Finance Committee. As provided for by the bylaws, Treasurer John Miller will chair the committee.
STAFF REPORT
Judy Moler reported that the KAC Legislative Policy committee will meet by conference call in early January to select the eighth member of the committee as provided for in the KAC bylaws. The Governor has asked for county flags to be displayed at the Inaugural. Judy requested that if a board member’s county has a flag, the flag should be sent to the KAC office as soon as possible.
CHRISTMAS BUSINESS
John Miller moved, seconded by Joe Connor, to direct Executive Director Allen to distribute $600 from the KAC budget for Christmas gifts to the KAC staff. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________
Judy Moler
KAC General Counsel/Legislative Services
Director
Approved: _______________________________
Joe Connor, KAC Secretary
January 19, 2007