Jackson County Missouri

JOURNAL

Jackson County Courthouse

415 E.12th Street, 2nd floor

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

(816)881-3242

County Legislature

DaRon McGee (4th) Chairman,

Office of

Megan L. Marshall (3rd AL) Vice Chairman,

Mary Jo Spino

Jalen Anderson (1st AL), Donna Peyton (2nd AL),

Manuel Abarca IV (1st), Venessa Huskey (2nd), Charlie Franklin (3rd),

Jeanie Lauer (5th), Sean E. Smith (6th)

Clerk of the County Legislature

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

3:00 PM

Ninth Regular Meeting

K.C. Legislative Assembly Area, Kansas City, Missouri

DaRon McGee, Chairman, called the meeting of the Jackson County Legislature to order.

ROLL CALL

Present 9 -

DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,

Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer

and Sean E. Smith

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Recited.

APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

A motion was made by Jeanie Lauer, seconded by Sean E. Smith to

approve the journal of the previous meeting held on February 28, 2023. The

motion passed by a voice vote.

HEARINGS

None.

Resolutions #21186 and #21188 were adopted at this time. See pages 7

and 9 for details.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH AND REPORTS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE

Frank White, Jr., County Executive, said in 2021 House Bill 85 was

passed by the Missouri Legislature. This bill tied the hands of law

enforcement and made our community more dangerous. The law

prevented local law enforcement from working with federal authorities to

enforce gun laws as well as track and regulate guns. The Missouri

Legislature made it a crime for local law enforcement to cooperate with

federal law enforcement partners to investigate crimes with a gun. Jackson

County joined with St. Louis City and St. Louis County to file a lawsuit to

have this law overturned. Today House Bill 85 was ruled unconstitutional

by a federal judge. Mr. White said he commends Bryan Covinsky, County

Counselor, and his staff on the great work they have done on this

important issue. Jackson County continues to fight for the safety of our

residents which is essential to building a more equitable Jackson County.

DaRon McGee, County Legislator, asked for an update on the plumbing

issues at the Historic Truman Courthouse located in Independence. Troy

Schulte, County Administrator, said the main sewer collapsed under the

facility. It is approximately 150 years old. It will take some work to repair

and excavate the sewer line to the street. These will be emergency repairs.

They have Servpro in to clean the building. It is closed today (Tuesday)

and Wednesday to the public. Staff is either reporting to the Downtown

Courthouse or working remotely. The big issue is there are no public

restrooms. They will be renting portable restrooms outside the building

until the issue is resolved. This will be a 60 to 90 day repair project. Mr.

McGee asked for an estimate of cost. Mr. Schulte said he did not have

estimates but believes the repairs will be in the $500,000.00 range.

Jeanie Lauer, County Legislator, said her office is receiving many calls

from residents regarding long wait times for services in the Assessment

Department, including the inability to get online when a task is required to

be completed online. The frustration level continues to rise.

Troy Schulte said the issues are not with personal property tax

declarations. The bulk of the issue is with people paying taxes or trying to

obtain a tax waiver to get car tags. They were planning to open Saturdays

in March and April, but that may be a challenge with the plumbing issues

in Independence. The Assessment Department has a call center that is

fully staffed, but there are a lot of calls. He asks people to be patient. Mr.

Schulte said they had tried to use the Qless system, but too many people

would get in line through Qless, then not show up, exacerbating the

problem. Many people do not want to come downtown.

DaRon McGee asked about the estimated number of people who come to

the Independence office. Mr. Schulte said they see several hundred

people a day. Ms. Lauer said the line of people waiting goes out the door.

Manuel Abarca IV, County Legislator, said he had encountered a person

having trouble because of a language issue. Mr. Schulte said they try to

keep bilingual employees, but many times it is difficult to keep staff with

these skills. They are working on a bilingual pay incentive to recruit and

retain bilingual staff.

PERFECTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEE

5711

AN ORDINANCE enacting section 5575., Jackson County Code, 1984,

relating to a ban on conversion therapy for minors, with a penalty provision.

(Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee - 5th. Perfection)

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee will have a public hearing

regarding Ordinance #5711 on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 6 p.m. at the

Paseo Academy of Fine & Performing Arts, 4747 Flora Avenue, Kansas

City, MO 64110.

Jeanie Lauer asked if there will be a vote on the ordinance at this public

hearing. Manuel Abarca, IV said yes, the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Committee will be voting. There is some confusion about the wording on

the flyer that was distributed and that is being revised. Ms. Lauer asked if

the meeting will be live streamed. Mr. Abarca said that is a question for the

Communications staff. Ms. Lauer asked why that location was selected.

Mr. Abarca said Paseo Academy was picked because of its central

location. Ms. Lauer asked about its availability to people living in eastern

Jackson County. Mr. Abarca said it has ample parking and everyone is

welcome. He said they have identified several challenges in trying to get a

committee meeting set, and one of those challenges is location. Ms.

Lauer said, in her opinion, Paseo Academy is not a central point within the

County as a whole. Ms. Lauer asked how this off-site committee meeting

will work with staffing issues and input from the Prosecuting Attorney

regarding enforcement. Mr. Abarca said they have had ongoing

discussions with several officials including the Prosecutors, the Sheriff’s

Office, and other departments to get this perfected. That’s why the

committee has been holding this legislation for so long. Ms. Lauer said

this week is the 5th Perfection, next week will be the 6th Perfection, the

ordinance will fall off the agenda after the 8th Perfection, so does the

committee plan to bring it to the full Legislature for a vote after the public

hearing on March 16th? Mr. Abarca said that is the goal. Frank White, Jr.

asked if Sheriff’s deputies will be present at the hearing and if there will be

an overtime cost. Mr. Abarca said deputies will be present and there will be

an overtime cost.

A motion was made by Sean Smith, seconded by Jeanie Lauer, to waive

the reading of Ordinance #5717. The motion passed by a voice vote.

5717

Public Works Committee moved to perfect. Consent Agenda.

5718

AN ORDINANCE appropriating $5,000,000.00 from the Undesignated Fund

Balance of the American Rescue Plan Fund and authorizing the County

Executive to execute an agreement with the University of Missouri - Kansas

City (UMKC) for the purpose of continuing the Our Healthy KC Eastside

program for COVID-19 vaccination and minority health outreach for the

calendar year 2023, at a cost to the County not to exceed $5,000,000.00.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 1st. Perfection)

5719

5720

5721

Finance and Audit Committee moved to perfect. Consent Agenda.

Public Works Committee moved to perfect. Consent Agenda.

Justice and Law Enforcement Committee moved to perfect.

Donna Peyton objected to the Consent Agenda.

A motion was made by Donna Peyton, seconded by Manuel Abarca IV, to

hold Ordinance #5721 to allow time for additional information. The motion

passed by a voice vote.

FINAL PASSAGE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES

None.

RESOLUTIONS IN COMMITTEE

21170

A RESOLUTION amending Rule 12 of the rules of the Jackson County

Legislature.

(Rules Committee - 2nd. Meeting)

21173

Health and Environment Committee moved to adopt. Consent Agenda.

CONSENT AGENDA

5717

5719

5720

AN ORDINANCE repealing sections 4403., 4440., 4441., 4442., 4443.,

4450., 4451., 4452., 4454., 4455., 4460., 4461., 4462., and 4463., Jackson

County Code, 1984, relating to nuisances, and enacting, in lieu thereof,

fourteen new sections relating to the same subject.

(PERFECTED)

AN ORDINANCE appropriating $4,000.00 from the undesignated fund

balance of the 2023 Grant Fund in acceptance of funds awarded to the

Family Court Division by the Family and Community Trust for the “No Kid

Hungry Missouri Breakfast Grant” project.

(PERFECTED)

AN ORDINANCE appropriating $467,177.00 from the undesignated fund

balance of the 2023 Grant Fund and awarding a contract for the design and

construction of a new bridge in connection with Federal Project No.

BRO-B048(58), East Haines Road Bridge Replacement, County Project No.

3242, to Cale Seymour Construction, LLC, of Knob Knoster, MO, at an

actual cost to the County in the amount $467,177.00, under the terms and

conditions of Invitation to Bid 79-22.

(PERFECTED)

21173

A RESOLUTION awarding a twenty-four month term and supply contract with

two twelve-month options to extend for the furnishing of forensic toxicology

services for use by the Medical Examiner’s Office to Axis Forensic

Toxicology of Indianapolis, IN, under the terms and conditions of Request for

Proposals No. 114-22.

(ADOPTED)

Ordinance #5717, #5719, #5720 were moved to the Consent Agenda for

perfection. Resolution #21173 was moved to the Consent Agenda for

adoption.

A motion was made by Donna Peyton, seconded by Manuel Abarca IV, to

approve the Consent Agenda. The motion passed by a roll call vote:

Yes: 9 -

DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,

Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer

and Sean E. Smith

INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE

5722

Repealing sections 8200. and 8205., Jackson County Code, 1984, relating

to the Community Children’s Services Fund, with an effective date.

(Assigned to the Budget Committee.)

5723

Appropriating $8,377.00 from the undesignated fund balance of the 2023

Health Fund and authorizing the Director of Finance and Purchasing to issue

a check to the Mid-America Regional Council in the amount of $46,377.00

relating to the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

(Assigned to the Budget Committee.)

5724

A motion was made by Megan L. Marshall, seconded by Jalen Anderson, to

perfect Ordinance #5724 . The motion passed by a voice vote.

(PERFECTED)

Theresa Byrd, Deputy Court Administrator for the Family Court, explained

this request is a continuation of a grant the courts have had since 2016.

The grant runs from October 2022 through September 2023. The

Department of Public Safety has asked for this legislation to be approved

so the court may submit its billing for reimbursement.

5724

A motion was made by Charlie Franklin, seconded by Venessa Huskey, to

adopt Ordinance #5724, appropriating $65,111.00 from the undesignated

fund balance of the 2023 Grant Fund in acceptance of additional grant funds

awarded to the Family Court Division by the Missouri Department of Public

Safety for the Jackson County Disproportionate Minority Contact

Coordinator grant. The motion passed by a roll call vote:

Yes: 9 -

DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,

Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer

and Sean E. Smith

(ADOPTED)

INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE

21175

Authorizing the County Executive to execute a grant agreement with the City

of Greenwood, Missouri, and the Mid-America Regional Council, as part of

a Planning Sustainable Places project, at an actual cost to the County in the

amount of $5,000.00.

(Assigned to the Finance and Audit Committee.)

21176

21177

Declaring certain county-owned vehicles property as surplus and authorizing

their disposal pursuant to chapter 11 of the Jackson County Code.

(Assigned to the Finance and Audit Committee.)

Authorizing the Director of Parks + Rec to execute a Memorandum of

Understanding with the Cave Spring Association for the daily management,

operation, maintenance, programming, and improvement of the William M.

Klein Park, also known as the Cave Spring Park and Historic Site, at an

actual cost to the County in the amount of $30,000.00.

(Assigned to the Land Use Committee.)

21178

Awarding a contract for annual software maintenance for use by the

Recorder of Deeds Department to Aumentum Technologies of Niagara

Falls, NY, at an actual cost to the County in the amount of $87,980.00, as a

sole source purchase.

(Assigned to the Finance and Audit Committee.)

21179

21180

21181

Awarding a contract for annual software maintenance for use by the

Collection Department to Aumentum Technologies of Niagara Falls, NY, at

an actual cost to the County in the amount of $384,774.00, as a sole source

purchase.

(Assigned to the Finance and Audit Committee.)

Authorizing the County Executive to execute Cooperative Agreements with

certain agencies that provide services and assistance to victims of

domestic violence, at an aggregate cost to the County not to exceed

$125,000.00.

(Assigned to the Budget Committee.)

Authorizing the County Executive to execute a contract with the Jackson

County Board of Services for the Developmentally Disabled to provide for

partial funding of various programs of the Parks + Rec Department's

Special Population Services Division.

(Assigned to the Land Use Committee.)

21182

21183

21184

Awarding a contract for the leasing of golf cars for use by the Parks + Rec

Department to M & M Golf Cars of Lee’s Summit, MO, at an actual cost to

the County in the amount of $3,500.00

(Assigned to the Land Use Committee.)

Authorizing the County Executive to execute a permanent utility easement in

favor of the Kansas City, Missouri Water Department across certain

County-owned property for a fee payable to the County.

(Assigned to the Land Use Committee.)

Awarding a contract for annual software maintenance for use by the Sheriff’s

Office and Department of Corrections to Lexipol, LLC, of Frisco, TX, at an

actual cost to the County in the amount of $50,542.00, as a sole source

purchase.

(Assigned to the Justice and Law Enforcement Committee.)

21185

Transferring $220,000.00 within the 2023 Health Fund to cover the

contracted locum tenens services of Dr. Tracy Dyer.

(Assigned to the Budget Committee.)

21186

A motion was made by Sean E. Smith, seconded by Venessa Huskey, to

adopt Resolution #21186, congratulating Nilda Serrano on the occasion of

her retirement on March 8, 2023, after twenty-three years of service, most

recently at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Detention Center. The

motion passed by a roll call vote:

Yes: 8 -

DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Donna Peyton, Manuel Abarca

IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer and Sean E.

Smith

Absent: 1 - Jalen Anderson

(ADOPTED)

21187

A motion was made by Manuel Abarca IV, seconded by Megan L. Marshall,

to adopt Resolution #21187, authorizing the Jackson County Legislature to

hold a closed meeting on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, for the purpose of

conducting privileged and confidential communications between itself and

the Jackson County Counselor under section 610.021(1) 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: 9 -

DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,

Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer

and Sean E. Smith

(ADOPTED)

21188

A motion was made by Manuel Abarca IV, seconded by Megan L. Marshall,

to adopt Resolution #21188, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the

Kansas City Public Library’s Westport Branch. The motion passed by a roll

call vote:

Yes: 8 -

DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Donna Peyton, Manuel Abarca

IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer and Sean E.

Smith

Absent: 1 - Jalen Anderson

(ADOPTED)

No objection to the consideration of Resolutions #21189, #21190 and

#21191 - not on printed agenda.

21189

A motion was made by Donna Peyton, seconded by Megan L. Marshall, to

adopt Resolution #21189, honoring Dr. George W. Westlake, Jr., Pastor

Emeritus of the Sheffield Family Life Center on the occasion of fifty years of

service to the ministry. The motion passed by a roll call vote:

Yes: 9 -

DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,

Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer

and Sean E. Smith

(ADOPTED)

21190

A motion was made by Venessa Huskey, seconded by Megan L. Marshall,

to adopt Resolution #21190, honoring the life and achievements of Ronald

McFadden. The motion passed by a roll call vote:

Yes: 9 -

DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,

Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer

and Sean E. Smith

(ADOPTED)

21191

A motion was made by Megan L. Marshall, seconded by Venessa Huskey,

to adopt Resolution #21191, honoring the life and achievements of Ida

McBeth. The motion passed by a roll call vote:

Yes: 9 -

DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton,

Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer

and Sean E. Smith

(ADOPTED)

COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDERS

None.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

Closed meeting per Resolution #21187. Bryan Covinsky, County Counselor

said no vote was necessary after the closed meeting.

The County Legislature recessed for closed session.

The County Legislature reconvened.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Jeanie Lauer, seconded by Venessa Huskey, to

adjourn the meeting. The motion passed by a voice vote.

Meeting adjourned until Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. at the

Jackson County Courthouse, 415 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri,

2nd Floor, Legislative Assembly Area.