Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, May 13, 2021, Via Zoom
Attending: Sam Alpert, Jennifer Borkowski, John Cistaro, Angela Crawford, Greg Davey, Dawn Godard, Don Greenwell, Dustin Himes, Ramon Holt, Joe Hudson, Don Hunt, Gabe Jones, Kevin King,, Alise Martiny, Jen Monahan, Christi Rhoten, Bill Tillman, Tom Wyrsch, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Greg Davey and the Builders’ Association for Zoom hosting.
•Presentation from John Cistaro, Cigna, on health care plan regulatory changes from the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Provisions include greater accountability for Mental Health Parity, more transparency for hospitals and eventually health plans on all charges and discounts and No Surprise Billing provisions for out-of-network providers operating in in-network settings. John and Dawn Godard will provide links to more details.
•Session #5 of the Construction Summit:
Presentations will be developed for local government decision makers on responsible contracting benefits. An opportunity to team with the environmental community to advocate for responsibly built, green projects with federal infrastructure funds will also be pursued. A draft along with a presentation strategy will be shared at the June Construction Committee Meeting/Summit. Anyone who wants to help with the presentation can contact Bob.
•Missouri passed a gas tax increase for transportation, awaiting signature from the Governor. A strong labor-management effort helped pass the bill, sponsored by Senate President Pro Team Dave Schatz. The bill takes effect in October.
•The Missouri legislative session ends Friday at 6 p.m. There will be attempts to attach bills that otherwise did not move to bills likely to pass, so a close watch continues to be needed. Contractor licensing bills appear to be dead for roofing and mechanical. Medicaid expansion will proceed though eventually the legislature will need to appropriate funds as it has refused to do this session. Efforts to significantly cut unemployment compensation remain alive. In Kansas, the session is effectively over and no real chance for a resumption of prevailing wage local option until at least 2023, same for Medicaid expansion.
•NICE held a virtual iBuild April 22, and the presentations remain on the NICE website. It can be viewed at www.nice-kc.com and create an account under the on-line learning section. A live iBuild is expected to be produced next year.
•The Mid-America Labor/Management Conference will be held as an in-person event with appropriate safety precautions July 11-14 at Camden on the Lake. Early conference registrations and hotel reservationsl are encouraged. There will be many sessions of interest to construction.
•The site for a Workers’ Memorial has been announced at Waterworks Park. Donations are urged tot he 501c-3 organization and its website is up. Details will be sent to the committee.
•Upcoming Events:
*DBIA Golf Tournament, May 14, Shoal Creek (teams sold out)
*Missouri legislature adjourns May 14
*USDOL Essential Workers, Essential Protections KC Webinars, May 26 and 27, 1 p.m.
*Working Families Friend Golf Tournament, June 11, 7 a.m., Ironhorse Golf Club
*CWA/AT&T Charity Golf Tournament, June 12, Eagle’s Landing
*Builders’ Scholarship Foundation Golf Tournament, June 28, Milburn Country Club
*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 11-14, 2021, Camden on the Lake
*Craig Whitaker LMC Golf Tournament, July26, Oakwood Country Club
*LMC 41st Anniversary Celebration and 21st Awards Dinner, Aug. 12, 2021, Argosy Casino
*DBIA Regional Conference, Aug. 18, Lenexa Hyatt Place
*Labor Car Show, Aug. 21, Providence Medical Center Amphitheater, Bonner Springs
*GKC Building Trades Take a Kid Fishing Day, Aug. 28
*CREW KC Golf Tournament, Aug. 30, Canyon Farms Golf Course
*GKC Building Trades Golf Tournament, Sept. 2
*John V. Mesh Clay Shoot, Spet. 11, Powder Creek
*LMC Sporting Clay Shoot Sept. 16, Saddle & Sirloin
*LMC Public Officials Reception, Oct. 14, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
For details on the above events, please contact the sponsoring group or the LMC
•The committee expects to return to in-person meetings in August, with Zoom continuing to be an option when weather is a concern.
•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, June 10, 2021, via Zoom. This meeting will be the sixth session of the Construction Summit. Please rsvp to bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu
•M/S/C to adjourn at 8:50 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.
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