The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Dirk Schafer Takes Office as
2017 Chairman of The Builders’ Association

Dirk Schafer is the 2017 Chairman of the Board of The Builders’ Association. He has been a member of the Association’s Executive Board since 2015. He succeeds Gregory A. Dunn, Vice President of Dun-Par Engineered Form Company, who remains an officer of the Association.
Mr. Schafer is President–Midwest Region of LMC member JE Dunn Construction Co. Other officers include Shawn Burnum (PCI [Performance Contracting Inc.]), Vice Chairman; Danny Edwards (Connelly Mechanical, Inc.), Assistant Chairman; and Jeff Werthmann, (LMC member Turner Construction Co.), Assistant Chairman.
Directors on The Builders’ Association board include Evelyn Craft Belger (Belger Cartage Service, Inc.); Jason Carson (Carson-Mitchell, Inc.); Alex Gonzalez (Gonzalez Construction LLC); Wells Haren, III (HarenLaughlin Construction); Susan McGreevy (Stinson Leonard Street LLP); Annabel Parkhurst (Modern Interiors, Inc.); David A. Ross (David E. Ross Construction Company); Jerry Schaefer (Flynn Midwest, LP); Steven P. Smith (Universal Construction Company, Inc.); and Chris Stanton (LMC member McCownGordon Construction).
Don Greenwell is President of The Builders’ Association, which represents nearly 800 general contractor, subcontractor, supplier, and service provider member companies employing about 25,000 people. With 130 years of service to the commercial construction industry, it also operates training and plan room service centers in Kansas City, Jefferson City and Springfield, as well as its Education & Training Center in North Kansas City. The Builders’ Association’s sister organization, the Kansas City Chapter, AGC, represents over 120 firms and is part of the AGC of America, the largest and oldest national construction trade association in the United States.

The significant impact of the Missouri Historic Tax Credit on the Kansas City and state economy was highlighted at the Construction Users Council today by former St. Louis Mayor Vince Schoemehl and public policy expert Jim Farrell. The tax credit is being considered for substantial reduction or elimination by the Missouri legislature and governor. More than $400 million in projects have been spurred in the Kansas CIty area the past four years by the credit, creating many construction and permanent jobs. Supporters are urged to talk with legislators and become involved with the Historic Alliance, of which Schoemehl is board chair.

The LMC mourns the passing of Woody Overton, a leader in Kansas City's public policy community. Woody was key to many of our community's outstanding accomplishments, sometimes out front and others behind the scenes. He was a friend to the LMC in his roles as aide to U.S. Sen. Tom Eagleton, head of the regional General Services Admnistration and representative of JE Dunn Construction Co. and other area organizations. His wisdom and good humor will be greatly missed. Services are Tuesday, Feb. 14, 6-8 p.m. visitation at St. Peter's Church, 701 E Meyer Blvd KCMO, and Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. The family requests in lieu of flowers contributions to Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope, Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth.

Construction Committee Learns About Downtown Hotel, PIEA, Workforce Development

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

 8 a.m., Thursday,  Feb. 9, 2017, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending:  Terry Akins, Sam Alpert, Louie Brinkoetter, Mike Burke, Ronnie Criss, Adrienne Foster, Alex Gonzalez, Jerry Helmick, Kevin King, Dave Kirkpatrick, Ruben Lara, Bill Livingston, Vince Migliazzo, Paul Neidlein, Brian Noland, Tim O’Byrne, Kevin O’Neill, Rosana Privitera-Biondo, Scott Ritzinger, Colleen White, Bob Jacobi.

•Thanks to Rosana Privitera Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.

•Presentation from Mike Burke, Paul Neidlein and Tim O’Byrne on the downtown hotel project in KCMO.  The extensive presentation included a history of the project, current status, financing and projected start and completion dates.  Plans are to begin site preparation in August/early September with completion by late 2019/early 2020.  JE Dunn is the general contractor.  Several large conventions plan to be held in KC due to the hotel; the vibrant downtown and central location makes KC attractive for conventions, but convention planners cite the lack of quality hotel rooms near Bartle Hall and KCI deficiencies as chief reasons for not choosing KC.  The prospect of the hotel has also spurred $75 million in upgrades to existing downtown hotels as well as new ones nearby.  Significant meeting and ballroom space as well as 800 rooms, restaurants and amenities will be included in the hotel at 16th and Wyandotte, a block now occupied by a parking lot and small office building.  KCMO is contributing land and tourism taxes; the LCRA will own the hotel and lease to the operators.  It will be a Hyatt Regency.  It is planned to be “the living room for KC.”  The project will be built union and includes a goal of 13% KCMO residents working on it; MBE/WBE goals are yet to be finalized. About 400 permanent jobs will be created as well.

•Adrienne Foster presented on a pilot workforce development project of hers and other urban churches.  The project plans to recruit potential workers according to the needs of an employer/union, with a 90 day training period in a facility at 3737 Flora with training by and with theemployer/union.  All trades, contractors and apprenticeship programs can contact Adrienne 913-908-1709, alfoster677@gmail.com to discuss how the the program can help meet recruitment and training needs.  Donors have been identified to fund the program initially.

•KCMO Planned Industrial Expansion Authority board members Brian Noland, Ronnie Criss and Kevin O’Neill presented on the agency’s desire to enact a prevailing wage policy.  A pilot program was postponed due to the city’s recent cap on economic incentives, which has also contributed to a significant drop in projects coming to the agency.  PIEA and LCRA want to develop a workable prevailing wage policy.  Education on prevailing wage’s benefits and what is required to enact a policy is needed for city council, EDC and community groups.  A stronger base of union MBE/WBE contractors is also needed.  The LMC and contractors should explain and advocate more on the issue.  PIEA is open to input on what a policy would be.

•Missouri SB 20, a prevailing wage repeal, and SB 6, to cut the historic tax credit cap, are on the Senate perfection calendar.  Continued contact with legislators is urged to ensure that SB 20 does not advance.  All are invited to a Construction Users Council presentation on the impact of historic tax credits Tuesday, Feb. 14, 8 a.m. at the Builders’ Training Center. SB 182 restricting Project Labor Agreements was perfected in the Senate.  Brian Noland also noted that SB 43, also on the Perfection calendar, would severely limit the ability to sue for race, gender and age discrimination.  SB 190, changing utility regulation and how utility projects are financed, was passed out of a Senate committee. Kansas HB 2185, to restore local option prevailing wage was heard Tuesday.

•Upcoming events include:

 *Construction Users Council meeting on Historic Tax Credits, Feb. 14, 8 a.m., Builders’

    Training Center.  Ex St.Louis Mayor Vince Schoemel will speak.

  *Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, Chief Darryl Forte, Feb. 21, Battle Hall

  *Midwest Construction Safety Conference and Expo, March 2-3, Adams Pointe

  *Building Trades/KCMO Job Fair, Mohart Center, March 4

  *Missouri Legislature spring break March 20-24

  *LMC Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner, April 20, Argosy Casino

  *iBuild Showcase, May 4, 2017, Bartle Hall

  *Missouri legislative session ends, May 12, 6 p.m.

  *Heart & Stroke Walk, May 20, 8 a.m., Power & Light District.

  *Rockhurst University Fr. Joseph Freeman Golf Tournament, June 26, LionsGate

  *Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 9-12, Camden on the Lake

  *LMC Golf Tournament, July 17, Oakwood Country Club

  *Construction Expo and Academies, Sept. 13, Bartle Hall

  *NICE Annual  Awards Luncheon, Oct. 17, Muehlbach

  For details on the above events, please contact the sponsoring group or the LMC

•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, March 9, 2017, Mark One Electric Co., Inc. 

•M/S/C to adjourn at 10:45 a.m.

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.

The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City Board of Directors has unanimously approved our 2017 Issues Agenda. The positions reflect the views of our region’s management and labor leaders:

Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City
2017 Issues Agenda

The LMC Issues Agenda was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors, which is comprised equally of representatives from management and from labor. The mission of the LMC is to enhance collaboration and trust between labor and management and the community.

Federal
•The LMC supports construction of the Keystone pipeline project.
•The LMC supports continuation of Davis-Bacon in any new federal infrastructure program.
*The LMC opposes any federal “right-to-work” law.
•The LMC opposes a benefits tax in federal health care reform
•The LMC supports future stimulus/infrastructure funds include significant vertical construction projects.

Missouri
•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives. While the LMC supports ensuring that tax credits and other incentives are cost effective, we want to preserve those tax credits crucial to economic development such as the historic tax credit, tax increment financing and enact an angel tax credit and data center incentives.
•The LMC opposes legislation to impose “right-to-work.”
•The LMC supports maintaining and increasing Medicaid eligibility and adequate provider reimbursement.
•The LMC supports state funding for a comprehensive transportation plan.
•The LMC supports Prevailing Wage in its present form.
•The LMC supports development of a statutory framework for public employee collective bargaining in Missouri to reduce uncertainty for workers and for public employers.
•The LMC supports state matching funds for the downtown UMKC performing arts campus.
•Watch: Unemployment Insurance, Workers Compensation, Utility Rates & Energy Capacity,
Education/Kansas City School District.

Kansas
•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives.
•The LMC supports continued funding for the comprehensive transportation plan.
•The LMC opposes immigration reform proposals that would put the burden of I-9 verification on contractors for subcontractors. Verification responsibility should fall only on the direct employer of those workers.
•The LMC supports reinstatement of a local option for prevailing wage in Kansas.
•Watch: Kansas “driveway” tax (proposed requirement for impact study if increasing user fees).

Local
•The LMC opposes elimination of the Kansas City, Mo. city earnings tax until an alternative is in place.
•The LMC supports the three ballot questions comprising the city of Kansas City, Mo., $800 million bond issue.
•The LMC supports prevailing wage on projects with economic development incentives.
•The LMC supports modernization of the Kansas City International Airport.
The mission of the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City is to enhance collaboration and trust between labor and management and the community.

The 2017 LMC annual Public Officials Reception will be held Oct. 12 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. More details later but please mark your calendars for these dates:
•38th Anniversary Celebration and 18th Awards Dinner, April 20, Argosy Casino
•Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 9-12, Camden on the Lake
•Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament, July 17, Oakwood Country Club
•Public Officials Reception, Oct. 12, 5:30 p.m., Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

The Missouri General Assembly has passed and sent to the Governor SB 19, "right-to-work." We urge our readers to contact Gov. Eric Greitens and urge his veto of this unneeded and divisive bill.