Johnson County Questions Commitment & EPIC Public Meeting Cutbacks

Published first in the Johnson County Gazette . . . JoCo Insiders shared this word and asked us to pass it along . . .

Billable Hours vs. Public Service

In the last few weeks, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners has been discussing the 2024 Calendar. In the study session on the subject, Chairman Kelly pressed the idea of reducing the number of meetings nearly 50% from 46 to 26,emphasizing the need to be more efficient with the board’s and staff’s time.  46 meetings a year to 26? That is Chairman Kelly’s vision for his time commitment to Johnson County?

I countered that our responsibility of overseeing the $1.79 billion budget for Johnson County government requires our current weekly meetings. Biweekly meetings would send the message that county staff is running the show and the elected board is superfluous.

Perhaps it is difficult for Chairman Kelly to juggle his many commitments, which include his position as a partner in his law firm, Husch Blackwell. But shortchanging his elected position by reducing the number of BOCC meetings by nearly 50% is not the answer. Chairman Kelly’s other strategy in his drive for time efficiency? Loading up the consent agenda. This tactic takes items from the action agenda and places them on the consent agenda, undercutting transparency for the public. There is no discussion on consent agenda items for our BOCC board meetings.

Every week I make requests for most of the items to go back on the action agenda, citing the issue of transparency. Watch the first 10 minutes of the archived November 9th agenda review meeting and you will see Chairman Kelly berating me over and over and over for my requests.

Does our chairman need to reassess his priorities? Public service or private law practice. The need for billable hours must not drive public policy.
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