The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Congrats to Raytown Alderman Jim Aziere, longtime LMC supporter, and Martin Rucker, member of Heavy Construction Laborers Local 663, for their election to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

The LMC Construction Industry Committee next meets at 8 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 at Mark OneElectric Co., Inc.

The LMC wishes you a great Thanksgiving. And a reminder on Black Friday and beyond to buy local, buy American and buy union products and services.

The LMC's Mid-Level Leadership Program completed the Fall portion last week. Excellent presenters such as Pete Bicak, Jim Maloney and Terry Stone were key to the program. We did miss James Daley but continued, though not as well, to use his materials. The Spring portion begins Jan. 24 at Rockhurst University.

Consttruction Committee Enjoys KCI Result, Discusses Many Projects

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

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

Attending:  Jim Albano, Sam Alpert, KC Borden, Greg Chastain, Greg Davey, Brian Deitz, John Fennesy, Chris Heegn, Jerry Helmick, Dave Kirkpatrick, Greg Lever, Bill Livingston, Joe Mabin, Brian Mann, Alise Martiny, Colleen White, Bob Jacobi.

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

•The landslide margin of the vote to build a new KCI testified to the work of the committee and the broader business/labor community.  The CIC began discussing the need for a modernized KCI more than five years ago, and nearly all committee members were active leaders in the campaign.  Project developers Edgemoor are interested in continuing to work with the committee through the process.

•The Cerner project is letting grading packages and will begin bids for phases III and IV soon.

•JE Dunn has been awarded the Johnson County Courthouse project.  Construction is expected to begin in 2019.  That project will be a great asset for the County and citizens who use the courthouse.

•The downtown KCMO hotel project now hopes to have financing wrapped up by the end of the year.  The construction schedule will be compressed to meet convention booking needs.  The new flag Loews is more engaged financially and otherwise than the previous flag, which should help the project.

•Smithville School District is moving forward with new school approved in a bond issue earlier this year.  JE Dunn is project manager.  The project is not 100% union, but the portions being done by union crafts are ahead of schedule and under budget.

•Missouri is requesting prevailing wage reports by Dec. 1.  All contractors are urged to meet that deadline.  The KCI project will be using Missouri prevailing wages.

•Volunteers are sought for the next Construction Summit planning committee.  Topics will include health care and technology.

•Missouri Rep. TJ Berry will be the next Clay County Economic Development Council executive director.  He has begun working with the agency and will take the new position after the legislative session ends.  It is expected that the industry will be able to work well with him.

•An attorney with construction industry understanding is running for an open Missouri House seat in the St. Louis area (84th district): Brad Baker.

•The committee will invite newly elected Unified Government Mayor David Alvey to a future meeting, and will also invite each of the KCMO mayoral candidates throughout the next year.

•KCMO’s recent disparity study makes several recommendations now under review before being sent to the Council for consideration.  Those recommendations addressing the statutory agencies should be supported, at least for discussion by the Council.

•iBuild will be May 3, with move-in May 2 at Bartle Hall.  Judges, volunteers and booth sponsors are being sought as there may be a significant increase in student participation from 2,200 to as many as 4,000 with more schools using Crayons to CAD and promises of increased involvement from several districts including Kansas City Public Schools.

•The Builders’ Association and Mechanical Contractors Association are sponsoring an address by James Benham, “Construction Disruption,” lunch and training center tour Nov. 29 at the Builders’ Training Center.  Benham will discuss far-reaching impacts of technology that construction is experiencing and will experience in the future.

•Upcoming events include:

 *Contractor Alliance on prevailing wage, Nov. 13, Jefferson City

 *Diversity Business Luncheon, Mountain Plains MBDC, Nov. 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., GKC

   Chamber Board Room

 *Lean Construction Institute Lunch, Nov. 15, noon at WSP/Core First Building, 16021 W 95th

  Street, Suite 200, Lenexa

 *Builders’ & MCA “Construction Disruption” luncheon and tour, Nov. 29, 11:30 a.m.,

  Builders’ Training Center

 *MCA Toy Drive for Operation Breakthrough, volunteer pickup Dec. 14-15, contact Marc

   Lasalle at (913) 948-9273 to volunteer, be a pickup site or other questions

 *Midwest Construction Safety Conference, March 15 2018, Adams Pointe

 *LMC Anniversary & Awards, April 19, 2018, Argosy Casino

 *iBuild Showcase May 3, 2018, Bartle Hall

 *Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 8-11, 2018, Camden on the Lake

 *LMC Craig Whitaker Golf Tournament July 16, 2018, Oakwood Country Club

 *FMCS National Conference, Aug. 21-23, 2018, Chicago, “Labor-Management Cooperation:

    Solutions for Today. Vision for Tomorrow”

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

•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, Mark One Electric Co., Inc. 

•M/S/C/t to adjourn at 9:30 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 LMC thanks its members and supporters as well as KCMO voters for the overwhelming vote in favor of a better KCI yesterday. Hard work by so many including the GKC AFL-CIO, GKC Chamber of Commerce, KCADC and KCMO leadership educated the public and made the voter approval possible.

Congrats to LMC Executive Committee member Mike Kane on his reelection to the Unified Government Commission. We also congratulate all the candidates, win or lose, for their participation.

The LMC Construction Industry Committee meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 9, 8 a.m. at Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

The LMC congratulates Missouri State Rep. TJ Berry on his appointment as the next executive director of the Clay County Economic Development Council. He will succeed Jim Hampton after the 2018 legislative session. And congrats to Jim for 17 years of excellent leadership.

Tuesday we have the opportunity to address the future of KCI. The airport needs help. Airlines are switching to larger planes that don’t fit the current terminals’ setup, the 45-year old “guts” of the buildings are deteriorating and it’s a pain to be a passenger there for more than a few minutes. The LMC board, construction committee and membership have studied and discussed this issue for several years. The unanimous conclusion is that KCI must be modernized.

The good news is there is a plan to fix those problems, and give the local economy a boost. The even better news is that doing so won’t cost KC taxpayers a dime unless we fly. We can put this plan in place by voting “Yes” Tuesday. Voting “Yes” will modernize KCI, create jobs and move the city forward. The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City urges a Yes vote Nov. 7.

There are also important races Tuesday for others in the metro area. Eastern Jackson County voters will select a new state senator, voters in Missouri’s 23rd district will choose a new state representative and Kansas voters will elect city and school board leaders. The LMC urges you to vote and help choose our area’s leaders wherever you live.

Congratulations to IBEW Local 53 on its centennial anniversary celebration Nov. 4. A large crowd of Local 53 members, area leaders and international IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson celebrated at the Overland Park Convention Center. The local was chartered with nine leaders Nov. 3, 1917, and now has a membership more than two hundred times that.

The LMC mourns the death of Chris Winger, who provided accounting services to many LMC members and their affiliated funds for years. He supported the LMC's mission and many activities of LMC members in the community. Services will be Nov. 3 with Rosary at 6 o.m. followed by visitation until 8 p.m. at Church of the Ascension, 9510 W 127th St., Overland Park, 66213, and Mass at 10 a.m. Nov. 4. In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to Goodwill Industries, Parkinson's Foundation or Rockhurst High School. Condolences at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com .