LWVKC Observer Corps: We’re 👁👁Watching
Quarterly Report: October-December 2023
The LWVKC Observer Corps committee was established in January 2021 to monitor governmental boards, committees, and commissions in the greater Kansas City, MO, metropolitan area. The Observer Corps follows up on the results of our local elections by monitoring the words and actions of those we elected and their appointees.
- Are they engaged and prepared?
- Do they tell the truth and fight back against disinformation?
- Do they comply with Sunshine Law requirements?
Observer Corps members attend public meetings in person or online and alert LWVKC leadership of any issues that may require action on the part of the League. One of the perks of working with the Observer Corps is developing a much greater understanding of how effectively our local governments work – the issues, the resources, and the personalities. Observers do just that – we do not speak for the League, we observe on behalf of the League. The elected and appointed officials we watch know we’re there.
Committee Chairs Donna Hoch & Teri Lane
Editor Jo Holt
We observe public meetings and events and report on the following issues of particular interest to the LWVKC:
- ELECTIONS, ELECTION INTEGRITY & VOTING RIGHTS
- Meetings of election authorities (KCEB, JCEB, Clay County, Platte County, Cass County).
- TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT
- All meetings of elected officials or their appointees. Have significant rules or legislation been voted on without discussion? Includes application and/or analysis of the MO Sunshine Law.
- JUSTICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT & COMMUNITY POLICING
- Meetings of the KCMO Board of Police Commissioners, city councils (KCMO, Independence, Raymore, Parkville, Liberty, etc), and county commissions.
- HEALTHCARE
- Meetings of the KCMO Health Commission and health departments overseen by cities and counties. Includes measures that impact public health and veteran’s care.
- HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT
- Meetings of the KCMO Land Bank, cities, and counties. Includes property tax assessments, affordable housing, evictions, homelessness, TIFs, and controlled growth.
- HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
- Meetings of the KC Human Rights Commission, the KCMO Police Board, and cities and counties. Includes all DEI issues in awarding city and county contracts and in hiring practices.
- PUBLIC SCHOOLS & LIBRARIES
- GREEN ENERGY IMPACTS, INITIATIVES & INFRASTRUCTURE
This quarter we focused on:
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
We observed Library Boards in Cass County and North Kansas City. In Cass County the Board received training on Robert Rules of Order, the Sunshine Law and the other State Statutes affecting the rules libraries follow. This training session followed Observer Corps concerns that current Board members were unfamiliar with these basic regulations and were therefore failing to conform to them. Meetings of the North Kansas City Library have been harmonious and productive. There has not been any discussion about taking items out of circulation or putting some material in just a certain area of the library. A Cass County newspaper, the Tribune & Times, has reported disturbing details about the Cass County Library Board and the resignation of Director Dan Brower. Mr. Brower agreed to talk with the newspaper if they held the story until he was settled in his new library job out of state. Mr. Brower reports that he conducted his job search privately and will not release his new location publicly due to personal threats he had received. A controversy over a single book for children has occupied the Library for almost 30 months at this point. Three members of the Library Board have been involved in promoting the dispute. This is an ongoing concern.
- Observers: Donna Hoch and Sheryl Eufinger.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
We observed North Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Center, Hickman Mills, and Blue Springs school boards. Many of these school board meetings are designed to follow upbeat, self-congratulatory themes. But there are also reports of hostility from members of the public and infighting between board members, sometimes resulting in censure and/or resignation. On the positive side, school boards (such as Hickman Mills) have demonstrated the ability to change and adopt a more constructive atmosphere. Transparency, evident in lack of discussion of agenda items prior to voting, continues to be a concern.
- Observers: Carol Gilmore, Maridella Carter, Dolores Blaser, Sandy Eeds, and Pat Gainey-Blechle
JUSTICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT & COMMUNITY POLICING
Board of Police Commissioners: Key topics in front of this board are the record homicide rate in Kansas City (182 in 2023), the proposals for the new jail development with the city, rising 911 call response times, and difficulties in recruiting and retaining police officers. The board is pursuing changes to the 911 call system (operated by MARC) and raising salaries for officers and call takers. This board, appointed by the governor, has one vacancy and the chair’s term is expiring soon.
TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT
The Observer Corps has recently begun observing the Cass County Commission, which is composed of three Commissioners, and the North Kansas City City Council, which is composed of 8 Counci Members. As noted in the Quarter 3 Report, the (weekly) Cass County meetings appear to be for voting purposes on financial and contractual obligations of the County. Researching, preparation, and most discussion of the resolutions are done elsewhere and so therefore not transparent. There have been no public comments. In North Kansas City the Council holds open discussion and good adherence to the Sunshine Law. North Kansas City, MO has a small population, but it has over 900 businesses including the North Kansas City Hospital complex and the Harrah’s Casino and Hotel center. (North Kansas City, MO is located directly to the north of the river separating Jackson from Clay counties.)
- Observer: Mary Jo Hackett, Sheryl Eufinger
HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
The KC Human Rights Commission meets monthly at City Hall, and was actively involved in the recent Hate Crime Ordinance. The Commission worked with the LGBTQ Commission, who spearheaded the ordinance. In Kansas City, charges of harassment can be brought but no charge of bias can be applied. The additional bias charge would add jail time and provide tracking information. The ordinance is planned to include the ability to sign up local businesses as “safe places” with a special logo for windows and doors. The Commission agreed to support a Hate Crime Ordinance in person at the legislative committee meeting in January 2024. In addition, the Commission continues to work on an update to the Quality of Urban Life Report issued in 1971 at their retreat in February 2024.
- Observer: Jo Holt (for Johnda Boyce)
ELECTIONS, ELECTION INTEGRITY & VOTING RIGHTS
Election authorities are preparing for an active 2024 election year as well as conducting November 2023 elections. We observed the election authority in Cass County (County Clerk Jeff Fletcher), the urban election boards in Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties, and the Kansas City Election Board. In Clay County the “Concerned Citizens of Cass County” continues to be active and attend meetings. The audit of the November 2023 election did not permit public viewing of the hand count. In Clay County, a new service for tracking election equipment has been purchased. In Platte County, the Board unanimously voted to no longer permit several residents to serve as election judges. These residents were recently listed as office holders in a newly declared sovereign government (the Platte County Settlement Covenant). A group of about 20 people of the new government attended the October Board meeting to express their displeasure. In Jackson County, the Board is purchasing all new equipment (precinct ballot counters and ADA counters) with the financial assistance of Jackson County. In Kansas City, the Board is developing a new podcast with voter information. They are now settled in a new facility at 4407 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
- Observers: Donna Hoch (with Mary Jo Hackett and Valerie Hastings), Patty Evans, Teri Lane, Jo Holt, Sharon Hannah, and Greg Woodhams.