Jackson County Missouri  
JOURNAL  
Jackson County Courthouse  
415 E.12th Street, 2nd floor  
Kansas City, Missouri 64106  
(816)881-3242  
County Legislature  
Manuel Abarca IV (1st) Chairman, Sean E. Smith (6th) Vice Chairman,  
Jalen Anderson (1st AL), Donna Peyton (2nd AL), Megan L. Smith (3rd AL),  
Venessa Huskey (2nd), Charlie Franklin (3rd),  
Office of  
Mary Jo Spino  
Clerk of the County Legislature  
DaRon McGee (4th), Jeanie Lauer (5th)  
Friday, July 17, 2026  
10:00 AM  
Special Meeting  
K.C. Legislative Assembly Area, Kansas City, Missouri  
Manuel Abarca IV, Chairman, called the meeting of the Jackson County Legislature to order.  
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ROLL CALL  
Present 8 -  
Manuel Abarca IV, Sean E. Smith, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,  
Megan L. Smith, Charlie Franklin, DaRon McGee and Jeanie Lauer  
Excused 1 - Venessa Huskey  
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THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
Recited.  
APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING  
A motion was made by Jeanie Lauer, seconded by Jalen Anderson to  
approve the journal of the previous meeting held on July 15, 2026. The  
motion passed by a voice vote.  
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HEARINGS  
None.  
COMMUNICATIONS WITH AND REPORTS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE  
None.  
PERFECTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEE  
None.  
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FINAL PASSAGE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES  
None.  
RESOLUTIONS IN COMMITTEE  
None.  
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CONSENT AGENDA  
None.  
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INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE  
None.  
INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE  
A motion was made by Jeanie Lauer, seconded by Sean E. Smith, to adopt  
Resolution #22354.  
Megan L. Smith, County Legislator, asked how she can join the closed  
session. Manuel Abarca IV said per the email sent to legislators phones will  
not be allowed in the legislative meeting and legislators must be present to  
participate in the closed session due to the sensitive subject matter. Megan  
L. Smith asked Whitney Miller, Deputy County Counselor, if the Chairman of  
the County Legislature has the authority to retrieve phones and not allow  
legislators to participate unless they are present for the closed session. Ms.  
Miller said she would need to review the law on this issue.  
A motion was made by Megan L. Smith, seconded by Sean E. Smith to hold  
Resolution #22354 to allow the County Counselor time for due diligence.  
Chairman Abarca said he will not hear the motion to hold. He said he did not  
receive notice from Ms. Smith that she would not be in person at the  
meeting.  
Discussion.  
Sean E. Smith said he would like to recess and he withdrew his second to  
the motion to hold Resolution #22354.  
A motion was made by Sean E. Smith, seconded by Jalen Anderson to take  
a 10 minute recess. The motion passed by a voice vote.  
The County Legislature reconvened.  
Whitney Miller said she reviewed the County Charter, Rules of the  
Legislature and the Sunshine Law with the assistance of outside counsel  
and they agree the Chair of the County Legislature does not have the  
authority to unilaterally change practices used when conducting closed  
meetings. She said procedural changes could be made with a majority vote  
of the County Legislature. Therefore, the County Legislature should follow  
the procedures used in the past until changes are voted on by the body.  
Due to concerns of privacy, she said each participant of the closed meeting  
by phone can attest verbally that no one is listening to the conversation. She  
then cited Section 610.020 section 3 of the Sunshine Law.  
Manuel Abarca IV summarized the three options of the County Legislature:  
(1) vote to change the rules governing closed meetings (2) postpone the  
closed session to Monday when all members can be in person or (3)  
proceed today with the closed session following procedures used in the  
past.  
22354  
A motion was made by Jalen Anderson, seconded by Jeanie Lauer, to  
adopt Resolution #22354, authorizing the Jackson County Legislature to  
hold a closed meeting on Friday, July 17, 2026, for the purpose of  
conducting privileged and confidential communications between itself and  
the Jackson County Counselor under sections 610.021(1)(3) and (17) of the  
Revised Statutes of Missouri and closing all records prepared for  
discussion at said meeting. The motion passed by a roll call vote:  
Yes: 7 -  
Manuel Abarca IV, Sean E. Smith, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,  
Megan L. Smith, Charlie Franklin and Jeanie Lauer  
Absent: 1 - DaRon McGee  
Excused: 1 - Venessa Huskey  
(ADOPTED)  
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COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDERS  
None.  
UNFINISHED BUSINESS  
None.  
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NEW BUSINESS  
None.  
ADJOURNMENT  
A motion was made by Sean E. Smith, seconded by Jalen Anderson, to  
adjourn the meeting. The motion passed by a voice vote.  
Meeting adjourned until Monday, July 20, 2026 at 3:00 P.M. at the Jackson  
County Courthouse, 415 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 2nd Floor,  
Legislative Assembly Area.