Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Attending: Nigel Bayless, Greg Davey, Jon Dougherty, Jason Ferguson, Kris Heegn, Joey Flickner. Dan Loftis, DeRon McGee, Damon Miles, Ralph Oropeza,, Tony Roberts, Chuck Roseburrough, Cameron Seip, Chris Stanton, Nate Zier, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Rosana Privitera-Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.
•Session #36 of the Construction Summit: Efforts continue working with the Fair Contracting Alliance. Efforts are also underway to promote Responsible Bidder Ordinances for local governments and school districts.
•The Nov. 5 election results were discussed. Many rank-and-file members don’t make the connection between public policy made by elected officials and their jobs, and the Democratic Party hasn’t strongly enough identified itself with policies that help working people and economic development but is too identified with social issues. The incoming Missouri Speaker of the House is open to labor and construction issues. On the national level there will be changes to the US Department of Labor and OSHA; the pace of changes at the NLRB will depend upon whether Chairperson McFerran is confirmed for another term during the lame duck session.
•Jackson County has several issues of interest: the county has until the end of the month to determine how to use $70 million in pandemic relief funds or they will revert to the federal government. Many uses have been identified with county facilities needing hundreds of millions in deferred maintenance, key social service agencies and local governments also needing capital investments with the prospect of declining funding the next four years. The legislature and the county executive have not yet come to agreement on how to allocate the funds. The county is also looking to help with completing the funding for the proposed I-70 downtown cap. The location of the Chiefs and Royals is also undetermined; the Royals have the bigger economic impact due to more games. KCMO is buying land next to the county jail under construction to build its own facility, though the funding to build and staff is not yet identified. The rise in property crimes makes the need for short term corrections facilities an issue.
•NICE held its annual fundraising luncheon and announced a $225,000 capacity-building grant from the Kauffman Foundation. The grant will help build NICE’s finance and marketing infrastructure and add staff to expand programs. More than 700 attended the luncheon. There is a need for apprenticeship applicants a few years after high school to brush up on their math and reading comprehension; NICE may be able to offer some programing there.
•The Heartland Women in Trades Equity Summit will be Nov. 24. Registration information and draft agenda are attached.
•Upcoming events:
*USDOL Davis-Bacon Seminar, Nov. 13-14, online
*Joe Wiederkehr services: Visitation Nov. 19, 5-8 p.m., Carson Speaks Independence, Mass Nov. 20, 10 a.m., St Marks’ Catholic Church
*HWIT Equity Roundtable, Nov. 24, Fire Fighters Local 42, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
*Google Skilled Trades Graduation, Nov. 24, 6-8 p.m., JE Dunn 9556 NE 46th St KCMO
*Luncheon with NLRB Member Marvin Kaplan, Dec. 11, Polsinelli
*Builders’ Holiday Party Dec. 12
*DBIA-Metrowire Holiday Party Dec. 18, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Milburn Country Club
*Working Families Friend Casino Night, Jan. 31, 6-10 p.m., 1222 W 12th St KCMO
*USDOL Davis-Bacon Seminar, March 18-19, online
*NICE iBuild Showcase April 8, 2025
*LMC Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner, April 10, Argosy Casino
*USDOL Davis-Bacon Seminar, June 25-26, online
*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 6-9, 2025, Camden on the Lake
*LMC Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament July 22, Eagles Landing Golf Club
*LMC Sporting Clay Shoot Sept. 11, Saddle & Sirloin
*USDOL Davis-Bacon Seminar, Sept. 24-25, online
*NICE Awards Luncheon, Oct. 25
•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 12 at Mark One Electric Co.
The mission of the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City is to enhance collaboration by solidifying trust and communication between labor and management in the community