February 14, 2006
Kansas Association of Counties
Governing Board Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
KAC Conference Room, 300 SW 8th Ave.
Topeka, Kansas
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
Larry McAulay, Johnson County Director of Legal Services
Gene Merry, Coffey 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
Absent:
John Miller, Norton County Commissioner
KAC staff and others present:
Randall Allen, KAC Executive Director
Judy Moler, KAC General Counsel/Legislative Services Director
Rob Mahoney and Andy Carter, Haake Benefits Consulting Group, Overland Park
ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA
Florence Whitebread moved, seconded by Dennis Peterson, to approve the meeting agenda as presented. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Joe Connor moved, seconded by Ted Ensley, to approve the January 20, 2006, meeting minutes as corrected, to reflect the April APCO meeting will be in Junction City not Garden City. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS AND PAYROLL
In the absence of Finance Committee Chair, John Miller, Tom Winters gave the monthly report on the bills and payrolls for February 14, 2006. Commissioner Winters moved, seconded by Terry David to approve the bills and payrolls for February 14, 2006. Motion carried.
MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Executive Director Allen presented the Monthly Financial Report for January, 2006. Florence Whitebread moved, seconded by Larry McAulay, to accept and place on file the Monthly Financial Report for January, 2006. Motion carried.
PRESENTATION OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE POOL FEASIBILITY REPORT
Randall Allen introduced Rob Mahoney from the Haake Benefits Consulting Group. Haake has conducted the feasibility study for the KAC to determine if the KAC should move forward in forming a health insurance pool for county employees. The study was approved last fall at a cost not to exceed $10,000, with $5,000 coming from KAC funds and the remaining $5,000 split evenly between KCAMP and KWORCC.
Rob Mahoney gave a detailed presentation of the study findings. Based on the findings, Haake recommended the following:
1) Initiate a discussion with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas to determine if BC/BS would
have interest in establishing a health pool for Kansas counties. If successful, this arrangement would probably receive the greatest level of interest from KAC member counties. Definite benefits would be the retention of desired networks and plan designs. Possible benefits could be a negotiated “relaxed” medical underwriting for smaller groups, introduction of a claim experience “modifier” for small groups, and generally spreading the risk among a greater base which should achieve efficiencies and produce greater rate stability.
2) Distribute a Request for Information (RFI) to selected vendors including insurers and TPAs.
The primary focus of the RFI would be network capabilities and desire to offer a pooled arrangement. Ideally, this information would be captured in a manner that would accommodate a comparison of BCBS/KS penetration by county throughout the State.
Mahoney indicated that both steps 1 and 2 would be done on behalf of the KAC for no additional cost to the KAC. Tom Winters moved, seconded by Ted Ensley to authorize the Haake Group to follow-up on the two recommendations listed above. Motion carried. Ted Ensley also asked Randall Allen to follow-up with the League of Kansas Municipalities to ascertain their interest in developing the pool.
AFFILIATE RELATIONS REPORT
Dennis Peterson presented recommendations for the committee. The Affiliate Relations Committee determined its mission “to be the liaison between the KAC Board of Directors and the affiliate/associate members and the Kansas County Officials Association.” The Committee offered several recommendations, including:
1) be a spokesperson for bringing issues to the board from the affiliate/associate members of
KAC.
2) work with the conference committee to plan presentations that affiliate/associate members
would like to see at the KAC Annual Conference.
3) continue with the affiliate member reports at the KAC Board meeting with the possibility of
expanding to include commissioner district reports.
4) encourage the affiliate/associate members to participate as non-voting members on the
Legislative Policy Committee.
5) encourage greater participation from all affiliate/associate members at the KAC Annual
Conference.
6) encourage participation from all affiliate/associate members in the KAC education program.
7) be a liaison between the KAC and the KCOA. This would include: inviting KCOA to the
KAC/LKM annual board meeting in December; dual sponsorship of County Government Day; invite members of KCOA to the KAC Annual Conference; and propose a joint annual conference in the future.
Shannon Francis moved, seconded by Florence Whitebread to adopt the recommendations of the Affiliate Relations Committee. Motion carried. President Gene Merry thanked the members of the committee for their work. Members included Dennis Peterson, chairman; Gary Post, Joe Connor; Terry David; George Pogge; and Michele Abbott-Becker.
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Randall and Judy spoke of several pending bills that are of importance to county government. Testimony on some of these bills has been posted on the KAC website. The consolidation bill is on Senate General Orders and set to be debated this week. The Machinery and Equipment Exemption bill is on House General Orders with the amended language providing for a “slider” that makes up county losses for the next 5 years with a gradual decrease each year. The City of Tribune/Greeley County unification bill is to be heard this afternoon.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Allen indicated that 2006 county dues notices were mailed out along with a cover letter from President Merry. As of January 19, 38 counties had remitted their 2006 dues totaling $143,916.35. He asked that board members keep him informed as counties make their decisions about membership. In particular, he wants to know whether non-member counties have rejoined or whether any county needs more information on which to make their decision about membership.
Randall indicated that the annual Compensation Study was underway with the Austin Peters Group acting as contractor to the KAC. He urged counties which had not yet responded to the survey to do so as soon as possible. Randall briefed the committee on the status of The Kansas Collaborative and the activities of the four Breakthrough Teams.
KAC AFFILIATE/ASSOCIATE INFORMATION EXCHANGE
Board members representing the non-commissioner affiliate organizations shared information with the board. Information included the following:
Michele Abbott-Becker (KEMA): Clarification is being sought concerning the use of E-911 wireless funds and the data which have been purchased with these funds, and whether or not the data can be shared for other county purposes (e.g. appraiser’s functions, other GIS functions. For it not to be allowed would seem to be a contradiction of the goals of the Kansas Collaborative.
Larry McAulay (CCAK): The CCAK’s mid-year meeting is in Salina in June. Larry attended a hearing on SB 353, concerning counties’ ability to maintain a website and grant free access to certain court records. Larry is looking for a win-win situation for counties and the Kansas Supreme Court. The Office of Judicial Administration is clearly looking for revenues to support court operations.
George Pogge (KCHA): The KCHA’s annual conference is May 9-10, 2006 in Junction City. He anticipates that a presentation about the Kansas Collaborative and the Transportation Breakthrough Team will be conducted on May 9. George mentioned the recent signing of a KCHA/KDOT memorandum of understanding for the Road Scholar program.
Terry David (KEMSA): Terry mentioned that KEMSA was concerned about the reporting of wage and salary data for various EMS service personnel throughout Kansas. He said that some services run 12-hour shifts while others are 24-hour shifts and that we needed to make sure we are reporting compensation accurately. The KEMSA is holding a March 4 workshop, Legal Aspects of EMS, in Wichita.
Gary Post (KCAA): Agriculture values for 2006 are now out. Dryland cultivated land and pasture values are down rather dramatically. The KCAA is working on the legislation to restore the 5-member (currently 3-member) BOTA board during this legislative session.
Joe Connor (KALHD): The KAHLD has hired a full time Assistant Executive Director to work with Edie Snethen. He said that the regionalization issues involving bioterrorism are still brewing, as the bioterrorism regions do not always conform to other boundaries.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________
Randall L. Allen
Executive Director
Approved: _______________________________
Florence Whitebread
Board Secretary
March 17, 2006