Aug 17, 2026 County Legislature

[00:00:02]

WELCOME

[1 ROLL CALL]

IT IS MONDAY, AUGUST THE 17TH, 2026 AT 3:00 PM AND WE ARE IN THE JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN THE KANSAS CITY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AREA.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ANDERSON.

HERE.

SMITH.

PRESENT.

ABAR HUSKY.

PRESENT.

FRANKLIN PRESENT.

MCGEE LAUER? HERE SMITH.

HERE.

PEYTON.

HERE.

SEVEN.

PRESENT.

TWO.

ABSENT.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE JOURNAL? SO, SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? IF YOU WOULD MATTER.

OH, EXCUSE ME.

, LET US RISE

[2 THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE, THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TWO, THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FRAUD.

MME. CLARK,

[11 INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE]

[22375 A RESOLUTION recognizing the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s Heart of America Hot Dog Festival.]

I'LL MOVE TO ADOPT.

SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

ANDERSON.

YES.

SMITH? YES.

ABAR? YES.

HUSKY.

YES.

FRANKLIN? YES.

MCGEE.

LAUER.

YES.

SMITH? YES.

PEYTON? YES.

EIGHT.

YES.

ONE ABSENT.

AND MR. KENDRICK, IF YOU COULD JOIN ME UP BY THE DAYS, PLEASE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I SAID THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

OH, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

.

WE'RE AT THE NEGRO LEAGUE'S BASEBALL MUSEUM, ESTABLISHED THE HEART OF AMERICA HOTDOG FESTIVAL IN 2013 TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORIC CONNECTION BETWEEN AMERICA'S NATIONAL PASTIME AND THE ICONIC ALL AMERICAN HOTDOG.

AND WHEREAS THE FESTIVAL HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE REGION'S MOST ANTICIPATED SUMMER TRADITIONS, ATTRACTING MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND ATTENDEES AND FEATURING SPECIALTY HOT DOGS, INSPIRED BY THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS AND OTHER LEGENDARY NEGRO LEAGUE PLAYERS.

WHEREAS THE HEART OF AMERICA HOT DOG FESTIVAL HAS CONTINUALLY EXPANDED ITS OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT, SHOWCASING, SHOWCASING ARTISTS SUCH AS MORRIS DAY IN THE TIME WAR AVERAGE WHITE BAND, CAMEO, ATLANTIC STAR, LAKESIDE CONFUNCTION, THE SOS BAND, HOWARD HEWITT, AND OTHERS, CREATING A DYNAMIC EVENT THAT MERGES FOOD, MUSIC, CULTURE, AND SPORT.

AND THE FESTIVAL HAS BECOME ONE OF THE NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL MUSEUM'S MOST IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS, PROVIDING AN AFFORDABLE, FAMILY FRIENDLY, FRIENDLY EVENT THAT INCLUDES FOOD, LIVE, ENTERTAINMENT, GAMES, MASCOTS, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE ENDURING LEGACY OF THE NEGRO LEAGUE'S, KANSAS CITY'S CENTRAL ROLE IN THAT HISTORY.

WHEREAS THE HEART OF AMERICA HOTDOG FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IT ALSO CONTINUES TO PROMOTE CULTURAL PRESERVATION, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE HEREBY RECOMMENDS AND COMMENDS THE NEGRO LEAGUE'S BASEBALL MUSEUM AND THE HEART OF AMERICA HOT DOG FESTIVAL FOR THEIR ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS TO CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND THE CELEBRATION OF KANSAS CITY'S HISTORIC CONNECTION TO NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL.

AND MR. KENDRICK, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS ON OUR BEHALF.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

WHO KNEW THAT A CRAZY IDEA THAT WE HAD TO CELEBRATE BASEBALL AND HOT DOGS WOULD TURN INTO WHAT IT HAS TURNED

[00:05:01]

AND AS MS. PAYTON SAID, ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED OUTDOOR FOOD FESTIVALS, BUT WHAT IS MORE SYNONYMOUS WITH OUR GREAT GAME THAN THE ALL AMERICAN HOTDOG? AND WE ARE PREPARING THIS COMING SATURDAY FOR THE 2026 HEART OF AMERICA HOTDOG FESTIVAL.

IT IS NOW OVER AT THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MUSEUM THAT WE'RE RUNNING OUT SPACE AT HISTORIC 18TH AND VINE, WHICH IS A PROBLEM, BUT A GREAT PROBLEM TO HAVE.

AND AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE MUSICAL ACTS THAT SHE JUST RAN OFF THIS YEAR, THE ZAP BAND WILL BE PERFORMING.

CONFUNCTION MAKES A RETURN.

CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS WILL BE LIVE IN CONCERT.

OUR VERY OWN SMOOTH JAZZ BASS, MR. JULIAN VAUGHN, WHO IS A NATIONALLY RENOWNED BASIS WHO JUST HAPPENS TO BE FROM KANSAS CITY, WILL ALSO BE PERFORMING.

THE GROUP CLIMAX WILL BE THEIR SOUL WILL INTRO AND IT WILL KICK OFF WITH OUR OWN B-SIDE BAND PERFORMING LIVE THIS COMING SATURDAY.

THE GATES OPEN AT TWO 30.

LIVE PERFORMANCES START AT THREE 30.

SO Y'ALL COME ON OUT, HANG OUT, TRY THE NEW COOL PAPA HOT DOG.

INSPIRED BY THE LEGENDARY NEGRO LEAGUE, JAMES THOMAS KOOL PAPA BELL.

IT IS A ST.

LOUIS STYLE HOT DOG BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE KO PAPA BEGAN HIS CAREER PLAYING FOR THE GREAT ST.

LOUIS STARS.

AND, AND AS LEGISLATIVE PEYTON SAID, EACH YEAR WE TRY TO TEACH HISTORY THROUGH FOOD.

AND SO WE NAME THESE HOT DOGS AFTER THE MONARCHS OR AFTER SOME OF THESE LEGENDARY STARS OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES.

AND SO IT'LL BE A LOT OF FUN AND THE WEATHER IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUTSTANDING FOR A FESTIVAL.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL AT THE HEART OF AMERICA HOTDOG FESTIVAL.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THIS IS ME.

THIS MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO OUR ENTIRE TEAM, SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN, WHILE YOU'RE TAKING PICTURES, WE DON'T OFTEN HAVE A CELEBRITY IN THESE CHAMBERS.

, UM, YOU JUST HEARD FROM BOB KENDRICK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME, AND MR. KANSAS CITY.

UM, THE HOTDOG FESTIVAL IS AMAZING, BUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS COMMUNITY, THE NELY HALL OF FAME, YOU, YOU HAVE OUR UNDYING SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIP.

AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL.

I TO VOLUNTEER AND I WOULD BE IN THE SPECIAL, THE SPECIAL HIGH DOGS ONLY.

MM-HMM .

SPECIAL, THE ONES THAT HE, JUST FOR THE DIFFERENT PLAYERS, THEY WOULD USUALLY BE THEM.

BIG JUICY ONES WITH ALL THE TRENDS AND EVERYTHING.

OKAY.

WE DO HAVE

[4 HEARINGS]

LET ME START OFF WITH THIS WITH SOME BACKGROUND.

UH, WE FORWARD EACH OF YOU THE 2025 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT OF JACKSON COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.

STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PUBLISH A COMPLETE SET OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PRESENTED IN CONFORMITY WITH THE UNITED STATES, GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND AUDITED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS BY A FIRM OF LICENSED CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS REPORT IS TO INFORM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THE LEGISLATIVE BODY CREDITORS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL CONDITION AND FINANCIAL RESULTS OF ITS OPERATIONS.

THE IN AN AUDITORS CONCLUDED SEVERAL THINGS IN HERE.

THE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE SINGLE AUDIT, INCLUDING THE SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES, OF FEDERAL AWARDS, FINANCE, EXCUSE ME, FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS AND AUDITORS REPORTS OF THE INTER INTERNAL CONTROL STRUCTURE AND COMPLIANCE WITH ETHICAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT.

AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO KEVIN SMITH, WHO CPA WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH CLIFTON LARSON, AND ALLEN.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

UM, AS MENTIONED, I'M HERE TO GO THROUGH THE RESULTS FROM THE 2025 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT, WHICH THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE EACH YEAR.

UM, THE, THE, THE GIANT DOCUMENT THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED IS, ARE THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

SO THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO EXPRESS AN OPINION ON THESE STATEMENTS AND WHETHER THEY'RE IN CONFORMITY WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.

SO THE, THE OPINION YOU SEE WITHIN THAT DOCUMENT FROM, FROM CLIFTON LARSON, ALLEN IS AN UNMODIFIED OPINION.

SO THAT IS THE, A CLEAN OPINION, THAT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE AS A PART OF AN EXTERNAL AUDIT.

AS, AS ALSO MENTIONED, WE DO, UM, REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROLS.

WE DO NOT GIVE AN OPINION ON CONTROLS, BUT WE DO REPORT BACK TO YOU ANY DEFICIENCIES,

[00:10:02]

THERE IS ONLY ONE ITEM REPORTED TO YOU THIS YEAR.

IT WAS AS A RESULT OF A SIGNIFICANT AUDIT ADJUSTMENT THAT OCCURRED, UM, RELATING TO FUTURE OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY THAT THE COUNTY WILL BE RECEIVING OVER THE, OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

UH, THE COUNTY HAD RECORDED EVERYTHING TO DATE THAT HAD BEEN RECEIVED.

THIS IS JUST UNDER GAP.

YOU WOULD RECORD, UH, A PROJECTION OF WHAT YOU EXPECT TO RECEIVE OVER THE UPCOMING YEARS SO THAT THAT CASH IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SPENDING, BUT THAT, THAT ADJUSTMENT DID NEED TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH, UH, ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.

SO THAT'S THE ONLY ITEM THAT YOU SEE REPORTED THERE.

THERE WERE NO OTHER AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE HAD, NO OTHER DEFICIENCIES REPORTED.

UM, SO OVERALL WE HAD FULL COOPERATION FROM EVERYONE AT THE COUNTY AND, AND ACCESS TO ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED TO IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE AUDIT.

UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I WAS PLANNING TO GO THROUGH, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE MIGHT HAVE.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE LEGISLATURE? UM, I, I HAD A COUPLE, UM, THAT I HAD SENT TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

IS IT OKAY WITH YOU, MR. EXECUTIVE, IF WE JUST KIND OF GET THOSE ON THE RECORD? YES, SIR.

SO, UM, PAGE 99 OF THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.

WE SHOWED A SHORTFALL IN SALES TAX REVENUE OF ABOUT $14 MILLION VERSUS OUR FORECAST, OUR FORECASTINGS GENERALLY PRETTY ACCURATE.

UM, I KNOW YOU EMAILED ME WITH A RESPONSE, BUT JUST MAYBE A QUICK COMMENT ON THAT.

I WOULD, I WOULD REFER YOU BACK TO MY EMAIL THAT I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT.

OKAY.

SORRY.

UM, SO I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, LOSS OF THE MARIJUANA SALES TAX.

AND NOT ONLY THAT WE HAD PROJECTED THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT REVENUE COMING IN, BUT THEN WE ALSO, AFTER THE MISSOURI SUPREME COURT DECISION, WE, WE HAD TO, UM, ESSENTIALLY GIVE IT BACK.

UM, SO THAT WAS KIND OF A DOUBLE HIT, UM, BECAUSE OF A JUDICIAL DECISION.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS, UM, RELATED TO, UH, $240,000 BEING OVER FOR THE INTERNAL IT SYSTEMS BUDGET.

UM, AND YOU HAD A RESPONSE FROM MR. L THAT SAID THAT, UH, UM, THERE WAS SOME OVERAGE COSTS FROM 2024 REALLY FROM WHEN WE HAD AN IT INCIDENT, UH, CYBER ATTACK FOR LACK OF A BETTER THE RANSOMWARE.

AND WE, WE, UM, EXPENDED MORE IN 2025 BECAUSE THINGS THAT CAME IN AS A RESULT OF THAT 2024 INCIDENT.

SO, UM, THAT, THAT WAS THE, THE KEY ONES.

UM, UH, SO I JUST, LIKE I SAID, TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS WILL GO ONLINE NOW AND THE PUBLIC WILL SEE IT IF THOSE CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

'CAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES FROM WHERE WE'D LIKE TO BE.

I JUST FIGURED I'D HIGHLIGHT 'EM NOW SO WE DON'T GET PHONE CALLS.

THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEW OF IT TOO, AND GET INTO US WITH THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. SMITH? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

COMMUNICATIONS

[5 COMMUNICATIONS WITH AND REPORTS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE]

I MUST START TODAY TALKING ABOUT BIRTHDAYS TODAY IS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR JACKSON COUNTY.

ANGIE JEFFREY'S BIRTHDAY TODAY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

HAPPY AN BIRTHDAY.

.

WE HAVE SOME CAKE.

WE HAVE SOME CAKE BACK THERE.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO IT.

AND TOMORROW IS THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE'S BIRTHDAY.

DONNA PEYTON.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EARLY BIRTHDAY.

MADAM CHAIR ONE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO I MOVE ALONG.

I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT AFTER WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANT CBIS, WE HAVE FINALIZED NEGOTIATIONS FOR JACKSON COUNTY'S EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE AND BENEFITS PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND I THINK THE BIGGEST NEWS IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT INCREASING HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES OR JACKSON COUNTY TAXPAYERS WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES.

THAT'S NEVER THE CASE.

IT IS THIS, THIS CASE.

I WANNA GO THROUGH SOME OF THE OVERVIEW, THE GENERALS THAT, UH, THIS WILL BE COMING FROM OF YOU FOR APPROVAL.

UH, NUMBER ONE, THE COUNTY WILL REMAIN WITH BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD AS A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH NO RATE INCREASE FOR 2027 AND NO DISRUPTION TO ASSOCIATES OR ADMINISTRATION, WHICH I'VE HEARD FOR SO MANY COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

IF WE CHANGE THAT, THEN THEY HAVE TO GET NEW CARDS AND THEY HAVE TO GET FIND A NEW DOCTOR.

AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD CAME IN WITH NO RATE INCREASE AT ALL FOR 2027.

UM, NEXT SLIDE.

OUR VISION COVERAGE WILL REMAIN THE SAME.

WE WENT TO A NEW CONTRACT WITH EMERITAS TO CONTINUE OUR VISION COVERAGE AT NO INCREASE IN PREMIUMS TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND AT NO INCREASE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF JACKSON COUNTY.

NEXT SLIDE IS OUR LIFE AND DISABILITY WILL REMAIN AT THE HARTFORD.

[00:15:02]

NEXT SLIDE IS OUR FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS.

A SI FLEX.

AGAIN, MORE GOOD NEWS, NO RATE INCREASE OF 2027 PLUS A THREE YEAR RATE GUARANTEE.

NEXT SLIDE.

WE HAVE 4 20 27, A NEW CARRIER FOR OUR DENTAL, WHICH IS DELTA DENTAL OF MISSOURI.

WHY THE CHANGE? WELL, DELTA DENTAL OFFERS NEARLY 12% IN SAVINGS FROM THE CURRENT PROGRAM, PLUS A THREE YEAR RATE GUARANTEE, INCREASED PROVIDER ACCESS, AND AN IMPROVED NETWORK STRUCTURE.

OKAY, BEFORE YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT A NEW BENEFIT I'M PARTICULARLY PLEASED WE'RE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE.

ONE ISSUE I'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES THIS LAST 10 MONTHS IS ACCESS TO GLP ONE WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS.

UH, RIGHT NOW OUR PLAN DOES NOT COVER THESE PRESCRIPTIONS.

EMPLOYEES WHO CHOOSE TO USE THEM CAN PAY ANYWHERE FROM 600 TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER MONTH OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET.

AND THAT SIMPLY PUTS THESE MEDICATIONS OUT OF REACH FOR MANY PEOPLE.

SO BEGINNING NEXT YEAR, WE WILL OFFER EMPLOYEES AN OPTION THROUGH TRIA HEALTH THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO GLP-1 PRESCRIPTIONS WITH A $150 MONTHLY COPAY.

UH, THIS WILL BE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT ALSO INCLUDES WELLNESS SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE PARTICIPANTS.

WE'RE REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE STRUCTURE THIS RATHER THAN ADDING THE BENEFIT ACROSS THE BOARD AND POTENTIALLY ADDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE COUNTY'S HEALTHCARE COSTS, THIS WILL BE AN OPTIONAL PROGRAM.

EMPLOYEES WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE CAN DO SO AND PAY THE COPAY WITHOUT INCREASING THE COSTS TO EVERYONE ELSE.

I WANTED TO GET THIS INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF THIS TO THE LEGISLATURE AS SOON AS WE FINALIZE NEGOTIATION BECAUSE NEXT WEEK WE'LL HAVE LEGISLATION BEFORE THE BODY AUTHORIZING ME TO ENTER INTO THESE AGREEMENTS.

I WANT TO GET ANY INPUT OR FEEDBACK YOU HAVE.

I'M HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE THIS LEGISLATION FORWARD QUICKLY.

WE STILL HAVE SEVERAL STEPS TO COMPLETE TO FINALIZE EVERYTHING AND ENSURE IT'S READY FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT IN OCTOBER.

UH, AGAIN, THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR JACKSON COUNTY.

WE'VE NEGOTIATED STRONG HEALTHCARE AND BENEFITS PACKAGE WITH NO INCREASE IN COST TO OUR EMPLOYEES OR TAXPAYERS, WHILE ALSO ADDING A NEW BENEFIT THAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.

AGAIN, USUALLY NOT MUCH GOOD NEWS WHEN YOU, GOOD NEWS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INSURANCE COSTS, BUT TODAY WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS.

SO BEFORE I MOVE ON, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT LEGISLATIVE SMITH? SO I I THINK FOR MEDICAL WE ARE SELF-INSURED, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

THAT'S CORRECT.

SO, SO BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD IS REALLY, UM, NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE RISK THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE MORE HEALTHY, LESS HEALTHY, NEED MORE SERVICES OR LESS SERVICES.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE REALLY, UM, KIND OF A, AN ADMINISTRATOR AND, AND THE COUNTY'S BEARING THAT RISK IS, IS THAT ACCURATE? WELL, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY DO ACTUARIALS AND THEY'LL DO 'EM EVERY YEAR TO SEE WHAT, HOW OLD COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE, HOW LONG THEY'LL BE THERE AND WHAT THE CLAIMS WILL BE.

LAST YEAR THE CLAIMS WERE NOT AS MUCH AS THEY ANTICIPATED.

SO THIS YEAR THEY'VE LOWERED THEIR LIABILITY OR THEIR WHAT THEY THINK, UH, THE COST WILL BE ON ANY CLAIMS. OKAY.

SO, SO, UM, SO YOUR STATEMENT THAT IT'S NO, NO, NO INCREASED COST TO THE COUNTIES, UM, NOT JUST THEIR FEE, BUT THAT'S THE EXPECTATION OF WHERE THE ACTUARIAL STUDIES ARE.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

OKAY.

THANKS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE LEGISLATURE PLEASE? UM, FURTHERMORE, THIS WEEK I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE WE SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED INTO A COLLECTIVE BARGAIN AGREEMENT WITH THE KANSAS CITY BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL, WHICH REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY, UH, REPRESENTS JACKSON COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

THIS AGREEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF ORGANIZED LABOR WHO WORK FOR JACKSON COUNTY AND ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE A STRONG AGREEMENT THAT PROTECTS THEIR RIGHTS AND EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, WHILE ALSO ALLOWING COUNTY MANAGEMENT TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS EFFECTIVELY.

I'M PROUD OF OUR LEGAL TEAM, PARKS AND PUBLIC WORK STAFF, EXECUTIVE STAFF AND UNION LEADERSHIP FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO FINALIZE THIS AGREEMENT.

IT IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY FOR APPROVAL.

MY NEXT STEP IS TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH OTHER LABOR UNIONS REPRESENTING THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SURE THEY ALSO HAVE EFFECTIVE AGREEMENTS THAT PROTECT THEIR MEMBERS WHILE MEETING THE NEEDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF JACKSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT IS BEING INTRODUCED TODAY.

I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THAT ONE.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE LEGISLATURE? PER PERFECTION

[6 PERFECTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEE]

[6077 AN ORDINANCE enacting section 6004., of the Jackson County Code, 1984, relating to standards for care and treatment in Jackson County residential facilities with a severability clause.]

WE WILL BE HOLDING THIS ORDINANCE 6 0 9 7

[6097 AN ORDINANCE establishing the position of Legislative Intern within the Office of the Jackson County Legislature and setting forth provisions governing the appointment, supervision, and employment of Legislative Interns.]

[00:20:01]

WE WILL BE HOLDING THIS ORDINANCE

[6105 AN ORDINANCE repealing sections 1030. and 1040. of the Jackson County Code, 1984, relating to competitive bidding, and enacting, in lieu thereof, two new sections relating to the same subject.]

YOU'RE APPEALING SECTION 10 30 AND 10 40.

THE JACKSON COUNTY CODE 1984 RELATING TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND ENACTING IN LUTHER OF TWO NEW SECTIONS RELATING TO THE SAME SUBJECT FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE.

THE COMMITTEE DID NOT MEET TODAY.

SO WE WILL BE HOLDING 6 1 0 5 FINAL PASSAGES.

FINAL PASSAGE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES.

THERE ARE NONE RESOLUTIONS IN

[22323 A RESOLUTION directing the County Executive, the Department of Public Works, and all appropriate County departments and agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive framework governing the siting, construction, expansion, and operation of artificial intelligence and high-capacity data center facilities within Jackson County, Missouri, and establishing conditions necessary to protect public infrastructure, utility systems, environmental resources, public safety, and neighboring communities.]

2, 2 3 2 3.

DIRECTING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL APPROPRIATE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK GOVERNING THE SIDING, CONSTRUCTION, EXPANSION AND OPERATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENT AND HIGH CAPACITY DATA CENTER FACILITIES WITHIN JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.

AND ESTABLISHING CONDITIONS NECESSARY TO PROTECT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, UTILITY SYSTEMS, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, LEGISLATURE AS A WHOLE.

AND THE SPONSOR.

NO, ACTUALLY WE ARE HOLDING THIS.

CAN I INQUIRE WHY WE'RE HOLDING? UM, IS IT BECAUSE I'M THE SPONSOR, MADAM CHAIR? NO, IT'S NOT.

'CAUSE I'LL MOVE FOR ADOPTION.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT.

IS THERE A SECOND? HEARING NONE.

RESOLUTION 2, 2 3 5 7.

[22357 A RESOLUTION establishing the Jackson County Housing Trust Fund to support the development, preservation, rehabilitation, and accessibility of affordable housing throughout Jackson County, Missouri, and requesting the County Administration to develop policies governing the use of the Fund.]

REQUESTING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP POLICIES GOVERNING THE USE OF THE FUND BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT FROM COMMITTEE COMMITTEE'S HOLDING RESOLUTION 2 2 3 6 8

[22368 A RESOLUTION declaring certain County-owned boats as surplus property and authorizing their disposal pursuant to Chapter 11 of Jackson County Code, 1984.]

PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 11, THE JACKSON COUNTY COURT BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT FROM COMMITTEE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ADOPTION WITH NO OBJECTION.

THIS WILL BE ADDED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

RESOLUTION 2 2 3 6 9.

[22369 A RESOLUTION awarding a six-month extension to a term and supply contract, with two (2) twelve-month options to extend, for the furnishing of personal computers, miscellaneous computer hardware, software, maintenance, and professional services for use by various County departments to ConvergeOne of Bloomington, MN, under the terms and conditions set forth in Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City Contract No. CO62518, an existing government contract.]

MISCELLANEOUS COMPUTER HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, MAINTENANCE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR USE BY VARIOUS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO CONVERGE ONE OF BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA UNDER THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SET FORTH IN COOPERATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF GREATER KANSAS CITY CONTRACT NUMBER C ZERO, I'M SORRY, CO 6 2 5 1 8.

AN EXISTING GOVERNMENT CONTRACT BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT FROM COMMITTEE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ADOPTION 2 2 3 6 9 WILL BE ADDED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHOUT IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.

[22370 A RESOLUTION awarding a split twenty-four-month term and supply contract, with one (1) twelve-month option to extend, for the furnishing of HVAC services for use by various County departments to EMCOR Services-Fagan of Kansas City, KS and Lippert Mechanical Service of Kansas City, MO, under the terms and conditions of Invitation to Bid No. 26-038.]

24 MONTH TERM SUPPLY CONTRACT WITH ONE 12 MONTH OPTION TO EXTEND FOR THE FURNISHING OF HVAC SERVICES FOR USE BY VARIOUS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO M COURSE SERVICES, FAGAN OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, AND LIPPARD MECHANICAL SERVICE OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

NONE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF INVITATION TO NUMBER 26 DASH THREE EIGHT BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT FROM COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ADOPTION RESOLUTION 2 2 3 7 0 WILL BE ADDED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, WE'RE AT THE CONSENT AGENDA WE HAVE, UM, FOR ADOPTION.

2 2 3 6 8 2 2 3 6 9 AND 2 2 3 7, 0 MOVE TO ADOPT.

SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED IT TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MME. CLARK, PLEASE CALL THE WRONG ANDERSON.

YES.

SMITH.

YES.

PEYTON, I'M SORRY.

DON'T DO THAT.

A BARCA.

DID YOU SEE HIS FACE? BARCA HUSKY.

YES.

FRANKLIN? YES.

MCGEE? YES.

LAUER? YES.

SMITH? YES.

PEYTON? YES.

EIGHT.

YES.

ONE ABSENT INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES

[6112 AN ORDINANCE amending the zoning districts established pursuant to the Unified Development Code by rezoning a certain 11.52± acre tract from District AG (Agricultural) to District RR (Residential Ranchette).]

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHAT WAS THAT TIME AGAIN? TWO O'CLOCK.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

[00:25:01]

[6113 AN ORDINANCE amending the zoning districts established pursuant to the Unified Development Code by rezoning a certain 66.00± acre tract from District AG (Agricultural) to District RR (Residential Ranchette).]

THIS IS ASSIGNED TO LAND USE COMMITTEE WHO WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 14TH AT TWO O'CLOCK IN INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI AT OUR, UM, ORDINANCE 6 1 1 4

[6114 AN ORDINANCE amending the zoning districts established pursuant to the Unified Development Code by rezoning a certain 0.32± acre tract from District AG (Agricultural) to District RE (Residential Estates).]

THIS IS ASSIGNED TO LAND USE COMMITTEE WHO WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, TWO O'CLOCK IN INDEPENDENCE 6 1 1 5.

[6115 AN ORDINANCE amending the zoning districts established pursuant to the Unified Development Code by rezoning a certain 3.00± acre tract from District AG (Agricultural) to District RS (Residential Suburban).]

[6116 AN ORDINANCE amending the zoning districts established pursuant to the Unified Development Code by rezoning a certain 4.00± acre tract from District AG (Agricultural) to District RE (Residential Estates).]

LAND USE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 14TH OF SEPTEMBER AT TWO O'CLOCK 6 1 1 7

[6117 AN ORDINANCE amending the zoning districts established pursuant to the Unified Development Code by rezoning a certain 2.07± acre tract from District AG (Agricultural) to District RE (Residential Estates).]

UM, THIS HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO LAND USE WHO WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 14TH AT TWO O'CLOCK.

ORDINANCE 6 1 1 8.

[6118 AN ORDINANCE appropriating $185,600.00 from the undesignated fund balance of the 2026 Grant Fund, in acceptance of the Family Court Division's Juvenile Court Diversion Program grant received from the State of Missouri, Division of Youth Services.]

$185,600 FROM THE UN-DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF THE 2026 GRANT FUND AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE FAMILY COURT DIVISION'S JUVENILE COURT DIVERSION PROGRAM GRANT RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES INTRODUCED BY VANESSA HUSKY.

THIS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE ANTI-CRIME COMMITTEE.

6 1 1 9

[6119 AN ORDINANCE repealing section 9104., Jackson County Code, 1984, relating to the Board of Equalization, and enacting, in lieu thereof, one new section relating to the same subject.]

JACKSON COUNTY CODE 1984 RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND ENACTING IN LUTHER OF ONE NEW SECTION RELATING TO THE SAME SUBJECT INTRODUCED BY SHAWNEE SMITH.

I FIGURED IT WOULD BE.

THIS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE RULES COMMITTEE.

ORDINANCE

[6120 AN ORDINANCE repealing Ordinance 6096 and submitting to the qualified voters of Jackson County at the general election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, a question authorizing Jackson County to continue its countywide anti-crime sales tax (COMBAT) at the rate of one-quarter of one cent for a period of ten years for the purpose of arrest, prosecution, incarceration, treatment, and prevention of drug-related offenses and violent crimes, and the judicial processing of adult and juvenile violators of such offenses.]

DO WE HAVE A, THERE'S AN AMENDMENT THAT WHITNEY WILL HAVE, BUT WE'RE READING IT IN FIRST.

GOTTA READ IT IN, I THINK.

YEAH.

UM, NO.

YEAH, I WAS JUST SEEING IF THE HEADING CHANGED.

OKAY.

THE NEW HEADING READS, REPEALING ORDINANCE 1696 AND SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF JACKSON COUNTY AT THE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 AT QUESTION AUTHORIZING JACKSON COUNTY TO CONTINUE ITS COUNTYWIDE ANTI-CRIME SALES, TAX COMBAT AT THE RATE OF ONE QUARTER OF 1 CENT FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING AND PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY WITHIN JACKSON COUNTY FOR COST RELATED TO THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION AND THE PREVENTION INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION AND THE DETENTION OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS AND DRUG DEALERS.

AND IT'S CURRENTLY IN, OR I MEAN IT'S INTRODUCED BY SHAWN E SMITH AND THAT WAS THE PROPOSED FLOOR AMENDMENT, WHICH CHANGED THE HEADING.

GIVE EVERYBODY A MOMENT, BUT I'LL EXPL OR HAVE WHITNEY.

IT'S A, IT'S A REALLY, REALLY MINOR CHANGE.

IT'S NOT THE CHANGE THAT WAS ON THE ORIGINALLY, ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AGENDA.

UM, THE LANGUAGE THAT WE PASSED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT WOULD'VE BEEN ON THE BALLOT, UM, SAID ESSENTIALLY THAT THIS WAS FOR, I'LL JUST SUMMARIZE ANTI-DRUG AND ANTI-CRIME.

IT SAID WE WERE GONNA SPEND THE MONEY INCLUDING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

AND BY INCLUDING THE WORD, INCLUDING IT MEANS THAT WE MIGHT ALSO SPEND IT ON OTHER THINGS.

THIS IS BASICALLY GETTING RID OF THE WORD INCLUDING AND REPLACING IT WITH TO COVER THE COST OF, SO THAT WE'RE EXPLICITLY SAYING THIS IS WHAT THE TAX IS FOR.

WE'RE NOT LEAVING IT OPEN-ENDED LIKE THE WORD INCLUDING.

DID, DID I, DID I COVER THAT ACCURATELY? WHITNEY? IT DID ALSO REMOVE ANY REFERENCE TO THE 50%.

RIGHT.

UM, BUT SO THE ONLY CHANGE FROM WHAT IS WAS ALREADY ADOPTED TO WHAT THIS WILL BE IS REMOVING THAT WORD, INCLUDING AND CHANGING IT TO FOUR ESSENTIALLY.

SO, UM, PROCEDURALLY MM-HMM .

SINCE WE HAD ONE THING ON THE AGENDA AND THEN WE GOT AN AMENDMENT READY.

DO WE NEED TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENT? YES.

THE FIRST THING THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN WOULD BE TO ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT AND THEN TO VOTE ON THE AMENDED LANGUAGE.

AND THEN FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYBODY, UM, THE INTENT HERE IS NOT TO CHANGE MUCH, IT'S JUST TO

[00:30:01]

BUT THE RENEWAL BEFORE THAT, UM, WAS WHEN IT REFLECTED MORE LIKE THIS, WHERE IT WAS KEEPING THE SPENDING IN A BOX THAT IS ANTI-CRIME AND ANTI-DRUG, WHETHER THAT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT OR PROGRAMS, IT MAKES THE WORD INCLUDING THAT WE PASSED TWO WEEKS AGO OR WHENEVER IT WAS.

MM-HMM .

UM, IS MEANS THAT YOU COULD EFFECTIVELY SPEND IT ON ANYTHING, UH, AT A, AT A, AT THE BROADEST INTERPRETATION, I THINK.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT WAS ANYBODY'S INTENT.

MADAME CHAIR? YES.

LEGISLATOR MCGEE.

CAN I MOVE THAT WE HOLD THIS SO I CAN TALK TO TIMING IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU? UM, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

SO ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, PLUS ONE DAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE CLERK TO CERTIFY THIS.

SO MY OBJECTIVE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD TAKE A MINUTE, SEE IF WE THINK GETTING RID OF THE WORD INCLUDING IS A GOOD IDEA.

THE PROSECUTOR'S HERE.

I KNOW SHE WAS CONCERNED WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED.

HOPEFULLY SHE'S LESS.

DID YOU GET A COPY BY THE WAY, MADAM PROSECUTOR? YES.

WE'RE REVIEWING IT NOW.

OKAY.

SO, SO IT'S, IT'S MUCH BETTER IN TERMS OF OUR CERTIFICATION DEADLINE IF WE PERFECT.

AND ADOPT THIS TODAY.

AND IF WE CAN'T, THEN THE LANGUAGE WOULD REMAIN THE SAME AS IT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO, MADAM CLERK.

SO IF WE HOLD THIS FOR A WEEK, THAT DOES, DOES THAT MESS WITH YOUR DEADLINE TO CERTIFY THIS? WELL, IT'S CUTTING IT CLOSE.

'CAUSE THE DEADLINE IS THE 25TH, SO IF WE PASS THIS NEXT WEEK, IT'S, IT WOULD BE FINE.

MAKES IT CLOSE.

I I, YEAH, I'D LIKE TO CERTIFY PRIOR TO THAT.

BUT AGAIN, THE DEADLINE IS THE 25TH BY 5:00 PM OKAY.

MADAM CHAIR TO INQUIRE.

YES.

OH, IF, IF LEGISLATOR MCGEE IS FINISHED, YES.

LEGISLATOR SMITH.

IF, UM, THIS IS TO BE PASSED TODAY, WHAT, WHAT, UH, DOES IT NEED TO BE, UH, PASSED UNANIMOUSLY? UH, COMING BACK TO THE MIC, BECAUSE THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE UNANIMOUS.

IT WOULD BE, UH, A, A STANDARD VOTE TO PERFECT ON THE SAME DAY AS VOTING TO ADOPT OR VOTE TO ADOPT ON THE SAME DAY AS VOTING TO PERFECT.

BUT IT WAS ON THE AGENDA, SO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE UNANIMOUS.

SO IN BOTH PERFECTION AND ADOPTION, IS THAT A SIMPLE MAJORITY? AS LONG AS THERE'S NO OBJECTION, CORRECT.

FIVE VOTES AND THEN IF THERE'S AN OBJECTION, THERE'S A SIX VOTE REQUIRED LEGISLATIVE FRANKLIN.

AND IF WE DON'T ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT, WE GO BACK VOTING ON THE ORIGINAL THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE AGENDA AND I'M NOT, THEN THE ORIGINAL WOULD STAND, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

THE ORIGINAL WOULD STAND IF WE DO NOT ADOPT THIS.

IF WE, IF WE DO NOTHING.

THE LANGUAGE WE PASSED A FEW WEEKS AGO STANDS CORRECT OBJECT YES.

TO INQUIRE STERS.

WHAT IS YOUR CONCERN ABOUT NOT BY THAT, WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS ISN'T IN THERE? WHAT IS YOUR CONCERN? YEAH, SO THE CONCERN IS, UM, THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT WE ADOPTED THAT'S RIGHT NOW SCHEDULED TO BE ON THE BALLOT SAYS THAT WE WILL SPEND THE MONEY ON THINGS INCLUDING ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAMS AND ANTI-DRUG PROGRAMS. UM, SO AS WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES? UM, SO, SO THE LANGUAGE AS SPECIFIED IS THAT, UM, WE'RE, UH, SPENDING PROGRAMS ON, UM, PROMOTING AND PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY WITH JACKSON COUNTY FOR COSTS.

RIGHT NOW IT SAYS INCLUDING COSTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF AND TREATMENT OF DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION AND THE PREVENTION INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION AND DETENTION OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS AND DRUG DEALERS.

SO THE WORD INCLUDING SAYS THAT WE'RE GONNA SPEND SOME MONEY ON THAT AND WE COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE MONEY ON NEW LIGHTING FOR THE CHAMBER.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYBODY'S INTENT, BUT THAT'S THE LANGUAGE THAT WE ADOPTED A FEW WEEKS AGO.

THAT WORD, INCLUDING SAYS THAT WE'RE GONNA SPEND MONEY ON STUFF INCLUDING THESE THINGS, BUT NOT EXCLUDING ALL OTHER THINGS.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY'S INTENT IS WE'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE SPENDING COMBAT MONEY ON THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION AND THE PREVENTION INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION AND DETENTION OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS AND DRUG DEALERS.

LIKE I THINK OUR INTENT IS WE HAVE A BOX AND THAT'S WHAT THIS COMBAT TAX IS FOR THE LANGUAGE WE PASSED BECAUSE IT HAS THAT WORD, INCLUDING IN THERE SAYS, WELL, AS LONG AS WE SPEND SOME MONEY ON THAT, WE CAN SPEND THE REST OF IT ON WHATEVER WE FEEL LIKE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYBODY'S INTENT.

I'M JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY THAT THE, THE LANGUAGE ON THE BALLOT KEEPS FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, EVERY LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT, OR BOARD THAT'S DECIDING HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY KEEPS THE, KEEPS THE SPENDING IN THE BOX.

THAT IS THE PROGRAMS

[00:35:01]

IS COMBAT AUDITED? YES.

WOULD SAY YES.

BOTH EXTERNALLY AND INTERNALLY AS PART OF THE COUNTY FINANCES.

OKAY.

SO WOULD THOSE NOT SHOW UP IN FINDINGS THEN? SO IF THE WORD IT, IF IT INCLUDE IN THE PAST, HAS IT BEEN AN ISSUE, IF THE WORD INCLUDING IS THERE THE AUDIT FINDING WOULD STILL SAY IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE VOTERS? NO, I MEAN, IN THE PAST HAS, IT, HAS, HAS THIS GENERAL STATEMENT BEEN CREATED AN ISSUE? SO THERE, THERE, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A FLAG OF AN AUDIT ITEM, UM, BEFORE THE FUNDS WERE WITH THE PROSECUTOR AND WHEN THEY WERE WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WHERE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ACQUIRED A CAR OR TRUCK FOR HIS CHIEF OF STAFF.

SO THAT WAS NOT INCLUDING ARREST PROSECUTION OR DRUG PREVENTION OR CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS. AND YET IT WAS NOT STATUTORILY PROHIBITED.

SO THAT'S A THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US.

WE DID HAVE AN EXAMPLE WHERE THE SPENDING WAS LAWFUL SEEMINGLY, BUT WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF THE VOTERS.

AND THAT WAS FLAGGED IN AN AUDIT ITEM.

OKAY, THANK YOU LEGISLATOR ANDERSON.

UM, I'M, I'M GLAD WE BROUGHT UP THAT BECAUSE THE, THE WHOLE ARGUMENT THERE WAS THAT IT WASN'T GONNA BE IN ANY POWER IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM CONTROLLED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE, WHICH IT NO LONGER IS.

AND THAT, UM, WE ACTUALLY FOLLOW WHAT THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THIS WAS, IS THAT THE PROSECUTOR AND THE COMBAT, UH, COMMISSION WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FUNDS ARE USED APPROPRIATELY.

UM, MY OBJECTION TO GETTING RID OF INCLUDING IS THAT WHAT IS THE, UM, REALLY THE, AS WE LOOK AT, LET ME GET TO EXACTLY WHAT I WAS READING JUST A MOMENT AGO.

UM, FOR CAUSE RELATED TO PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DRUG, UH, ABUSE AND ADDICTION AND PREVENTION INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTORS AND DETENTION OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS.

I THINK THAT AS WE'VE LEARNED THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY HOW IT WAS ORIGINALLY BASED OUT OF THE NINETIES, THAT PREVENTION IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS MAY BE THAT WE HELP AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY POSSIBLY NEED, UH, AID WHETHER IT'S REQUIRING NEEDING FOOD OR IF IT'S GETTING JOB ACCESS OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

UH, SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE NO QUES ISSUE WITH THE WORD INCLUDING, BECAUSE IF THERE'S PROGRAMS THAT HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HEADING TOWARDS THAT, UH, ASPECT OF BEING A CRIMINAL AGAIN OR POSSIBLY BECOMING A CRIMINAL, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER IF THEY, UH, ARE INVOLVED IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, UH, DOING SOMETHING VIOLENT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO GET AID TO OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE EXCLUDING THOSE THINGS.

UM, SO THAT WHY, IN MY JUDGMENT, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD LEAVE IT AS INCLUDING MADAM CHAIR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM CHAIR.

I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YES.

YES.

LET'S, HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED BY COMBAT? AND WHAT ARE THEIR, DO THEY APPROVE OF THIS? THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE LAST MINUTE ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND THEY WERE INVITED TO BE HERE.

AND, UM, I GUESS IF THE CHAIR WANTS TO HEAR FROM THEM, WE CAN, OKAY, THEY'RE HERE.

UM, IT'S NOT INTENDED TO BE DONE.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, WE'RE, WE'RE OUT HERE IN THE PUBLIC, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

AND LIKE I SAID, MY GOAL WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE, AND, AND IF I CAN RESPOND TO LEGISLATOR ANDERSON'S COMMENT.

SO TO THE EXTENT THAT PUTTING FOOD OR HOUSING IN, IN TO PEOP ONTO PEOPLE AS, AS HELPS PREVENT DRUG ABUSE OR HELPS PREVENT VIOLENT CRIME, THIS LANGUAGE WOULD STILL PERMIT THAT THIS JUST DOESN'T ALLOW THE LANG THE LANGUAGE, THE WAY IN MY MIND, THE WAY WE TIGHTENED IT UP HERE DOESN'T ALLOW US TO SAY, OKAY, THE OFFICE NEEDS SOME NEW FURNITURE, SO WE'RE GONNA USE IT FOR THAT.

RIGHT? AND WHEN I SAY THE OFFICE, I MEAN, IF WE STRUCK A BACK CHANNEL DEAL WITH THE PROSECUTOR TO HELP GET US NEW CHAIRS FOR THE LEGISLATURE, THAT'S NOT RELATED TO CRIME PREVENTION OR DRUG PREVENTION.

THAT'S, THAT'S ALL THIS IS TRYING TO DO, IS TO MAKE IT SO THAT THIS ISN'T SO BROAD THAT IT CAN JUST BE INTERPRETED TO MEAN AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA SPEND IT ON.

AND THAT'S HOW I INTERPRET THE WORD, INCLUDING BEING IN THERE.

UM, SO, SO LEGISLATOR ANDERSON, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU AGREE WITH THAT, BUT MY INTENT HERE IS NOT TO RESTRICT THIS FROM PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING, LIKE, LIKE HOUSING OR FOOD ASSISTANCE.

AT SOME POINT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM COMBAT WHETHER THEY APPROVE OF THIS OR NOT.

CERTAINLY.

UM, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME UP IF, SORRY.

AND BEFORE THEY START, MADAM, JUST TO VERY QUICKLY I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN BY WHAT USING THE WORD FOR, I THINK THOUGH, INCLUDING, UM, I, I WORRY ABOUT THE WORD FOR IN THIS INSTANCE BECAUSE AS THINGS KEEP CHANGING IN THIS REALM OF TRYING TO PREVENT CRIME, UM, I THINK SO MANY THINGS ARE MOVING AND SO MANY THINGS HAVE BECOME

[00:40:01]

UM, AND I I JUST WORRY ABOUT THE CONSTRAINTS, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

YES.

YES.

UM, FIRST, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, UH, LEGISLATIVE BODY.

UH, FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY, AND, UM, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

OH, MY NAME IS MURRAY WOODARD, UH, DIRECTOR OF JACKSON COUNTY COMBAT.

AND WHILE I ALSO, UM, UNDERSTAND THE, THE INTENT, UH, BEHIND THIS, UH, DID NOT NECESSARILY RESTRICT THE AGENCIES THAT WE CURRENTLY FUND, UM, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT IS, UH, REFLECTED IN 60, UH, 96, THE LANGUAGE YOU ALL APPROVED PREVIOUSLY WAS THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS ON THE BALLOT IN FRONT OF VOTERS PREVIOUSLY.

SO WE KNOW HOW THAT WAS TESTED.

UH, WE DID PULL POLLING, UH, FROM, UH, ANY OF OUR, UM, RENEWAL OR EDUCATION CAMPAIGN WORK BECAUSE THE BODY WANTED US TO REMOVE THAT.

SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW THIS PARTICULAR LANGUAGE WILL RESONATE WITH VOTERS.

AND WE, I DO THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOTE.

I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REFLECT THAT, UH, OUTSIDE OF THE 2000, I BELIEVE IT WAS 2018, UH, INCIDENT THAT YOU MENTIONED IN TERMS OF USING, UH, THOSE FUNDS TO PURCHASE A TRUCK, UH, EVERY TIME THIS, UH, UH, UH, RESOURCE HAS BEEN, OR THIS TAX HAS BEEN AUDITED SINCE THEN, THERE'S NOT BEEN ONE, UH, OCCASION WHERE THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WE DO FUND PREVENTION AND TREATMENT EFFORTS AND PREVENTION IS ABOUT GOING UPSTREAM.

AND TO LEGISLATOR ANDERSON'S POINT, IT DOES MEAN SOMETIMES THIS WILL MOVE INTO THINGS LIKE EDUCATION.

IT DOES MEAN IT WILL MOVE INTO, UH, THINGS LIKE HOUSING, FOOD INSECURITY, THOSE THINGS, UH, OFTENTIMES IN RESEARCH SUGGEST DECREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT INDIVIDUALS, UH, GET INVOLVED IN VIOLENT CRIME OR EITHER, OR EITHER DRUG ABUSE.

AND SO I AM HESITANT TO SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THESE SPACES.

I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, 65% OF ANTI-CRIME SALES TAX FUNDS ACTUALLY GOES TO THE INCARCERATION, THE PROSECUTION, CORRECTIONS, THE COURTS, ALL OF THAT.

THE, THE LESS THAN 40% OF THIS ACTUALLY GOES OUT IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY, UH, WHICH IS REPRESENTED IN, UH, OUR PREVENTION AND OUR TREATMENT EFFORTS.

AND WE STRETCH THAT MONEY ACROSS 107 AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

AND I WOULD BE HESITANT TO, TO USE ANY LANGUAGE THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO DO THE WORK THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO SEE DECREASES IN HOMICIDE RATES, DECREASES IN NON-FATAL GUNSHOT WOUNDS, AND HAS ALLOWED US TO CREATE A, A SAFER JACKSON COUNTY FOR EVERYONE.

SO I DON'T, I DON'T PERSONALLY AS DIRECTOR OF COMBAT SUPPORT THE CHANGE.

I DO SUPPORT WHAT YOU ALL HAVE APPROVED PREVIOUSLY.

AND, UH, IF ASKED, I, I'D LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

AND IF I MAY BRIEFLY ADD, JUST FROM A LOGISTICAL PERSPECTIVE, THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS APPROVED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UM, WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE PIE CHART LOOKS LIKE.

THAT KIND OF HIGH LEVEL DICTATES HOW COMBAT FUNDS ARE SPENT.

AND THE LANGUAGE PASSED TWO WEEKS AGO ALLOWS US TO USE A PORTION OF COMBAT FUNDS FOR THE ACTUAL ADMINISTRATION OF COMBAT, THE PERSONNEL, THE OFFICE SPACE, UM, THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, ET CETERA.

THIS LANGUAGE BEFORE YOU TODAY IN LEGISLATOR SMITH'S AMENDMENT DOES NOT EXPLICITLY PROVIDE FOR THAT COST OF ADMINISTRATION OF COMBAT.

AND SO THAT CAUSES ME GREAT CONCERN AS THE ELECTED PROSECUTOR WHO HOUSES THIS TAX.

UM, THIS BODY HAS AGREED PREVIOUSLY THAT A PORTION OF COMBAT FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR THE STAFF.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT, UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM AND WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY GROW THEM IN THE FUTURE LEVERAGING THOSE FUNDS.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THE WORD, INCLUDING, I THINK WE ARE LIMITED FROM DOING THAT.

CAN I? YES.

LET'S JUST SAY, SO I, I WOULD SAY THAT EVERYBODY THAT'S WORKING FOR COMBAT IS WORKING TOWARD CRIME PREVENTION, DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION.

UM, YOU ADMINISTER THE FUNDS THAT DO THAT.

EVERY AGENCY TODAY THAT YOU FUND, YOU'RE NOT FUNDING.

I'M, I'M JUST GONNA MAKE SOMETHING UP.

YOU'RE NOT FUNDING, UH, HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE THAT AREN'T AT RISK OF FALLING INTO ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

UH, SO AT LEAST I ASSUME NOT, YOU'RE NOT JUST SAYING, OKAY, THIS PERSON, THEY'RE, UH, MEDICARE, MEDICAID CHECK DIDN'T COME THIS MONTH, SO WE'RE GONNA FUND THEM.

RIGHT? WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO TARGET PEOPLE THAT ARE AT RISK FOR ENTERING THAT PIPELINE.

UM, SO IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE DOING, EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING IS FOR THE PURPOSES OF, UM, PREVENTING PEOPLE ENTERING A PIPELINE OF DRUG ABUSE OR VIOLENT CRIME OR THE, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF DRUG ABUSE AND VIOLENT CRIME.

I MEAN, I, I FEEL LIKE THIS EXACTLY MATCHES WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY.

[00:45:01]

IS, IS DOING AND FUNDED OUT OF THIS AND, AND ALL THEIR EFFORTS ARE DIRECTED TO THESE THINGS.

I, I, SO, SO THAT'S HOW I READ THIS.

AND LIKE I SAID, MY CONCERN IS IF WE LEAVE, INCLUDING IN THERE AN INCIDENT LIKE WE HAD BEFORE DOESN'T VIOLATE THE LAW.