Board of Omissions

March 1, 2011 Johnson County Manager decided unilaterally that the Board Of County Commissioner Meetings will no longer be documented in writing via the long standing policy of providing transcripts.  This decision was confirmed in writing to NOjocoboco on March 8, 2011.  “As you know, the County no longer prepares written transcripts of meetings.”  It goes on to say “The full video of the meeting is also available online.”

March 10, 2011 Chairman of the County Board of Commissioners proclaims “National Deaf History Month”  March 13, 2011 – April 15, 2011.  “The deaf community has long been unrecognized and misunderstood by most Americans.”  The Proclamation was presented to Suzanne Dennis LSCSW of the Johnson County Mental Health ‘Deaf Services’ http://mentalhealth.jocogov.org/htpages/deafsrvs.shtml Ms Dennis also serves as a Kansas Coordinator and belongs to major National organizations serving our deaf communities.

Americans With Disabilities Act commonly known as ADA  http://www.ada.gov/q%26aeng02.htm states “It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.”  More information may be found here: http://www.ada.gov/ 

The Johnson County Government has decided to only provide the deaf community and County employees assigned to assist the deaf community with the audio recording of Official County Business.  It now becomes apparent that the Johnson County Board of Commissioners have knowingly and willfully violated Federal Laws.  Left unresolved, this may not only lead to law suits but could result in loss of Federal Funding to the County Mental Health and other programs serving those in need.

Ken Dunwoody                                     GOD
Henpecked Acres                                   One Nation
14850 W. 159th St.
Olathe, Ks. 66062
(913)768-1603
kdunwoody2@aol.com  www.NOlathe.com   http://NOlathe.net http://NOjocoboco.net
View Sarah’s Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUWuUvOZ7RY

http://kansascitykansan.com/blogs/john-altevogt/groper-carlsen-nominated-3rd-term-joco-arts-commission/9985

“One thing that did come out in the report was that Carlsen and former WYCO banker Dick Bond had personally selected the recipients of the college’s Johnson Countian of the Year Award.  Among the recipients of the “award” were Dick Bond, Charles “Groper” Carlsen, Sun publisher Steve Rose and several other members of the Mainstream Coalition leadership group (“Ah hereby presents the award for Johnson Countian of the Year to ME, c’mere honey you’re lookin’ mighty fine”).  Not ironically, 22 recipients of this less than prestigious “award”, including Rose wrote a public letter in support of Carlsen.  Apparently, fondling the hired help is an accepted practice in Johnson County.”

http://www.jccc.edu/foundation/awards/johnson-countian.html

2010 – David Wysong
2009 – Peggy and Terry Dunn
2008 – Fred Logan
2007 – Dick and Barbara Shull
2006 – Norman and Elaine Polsky
2005 – Ed Eilert
2004 – Bob Regnier
2003 – Walt Hiersteiner
2002 – Mary Birch
2001 – Drew Jennings
2000 – Betty Keim
1999 – Steve Rose
1998 – Dr. Charles J. Carlsen
1997 – George and Floriene Lieberman
1996 – Senator Dick Bond
1995 – William Dunn, Sr.
1994 – Adele Hall
1993 – SuEllen Fried
1992 – James P. Sunderland
1991 – Stan and Shirley Rose
1990 – John H. (Jack) Robinson
1989 – Paul H. Henson
1988 – Ben Craig
1987 – Dr. Robert H. Meneilly

“Groper” Carlsen nominated for 3rd Term to JOCO Arts Commission

Some of you may already know that the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners will no longer produce a “transcript” of meetings containing official county business.  As an Agenda item for a non-recorded Retreat in February and later in a County Manager’s Weekly Update, there was discussion that “transcripts” (aka: minutes) of meetings was in access of the minimum required by law and cost the county $25,000 a year to produce.  By decree/mandate of the County Manager and without a recorded vote of the Board of Commissioners, the “administrative policy” of producing this document changed and no longer available effective March 3, 2011.

During the March 3rd meeting I provided the Board with a KORA request for that day’s transcript and $500 cash to reimburse the county for that expense.  Our family made a $50,000 commitment to provide these documents to the public for the next two years and created this website where they could be viewed.  We debated what would be worse, the financial burden if they provided the documents or the cost to our Republic if they refused.

Today I received their answer and it is clear that the cost was only a ruse, albeit a clever ruse.  It has nothing to do with money and everything to do with transparency.  They even used the answer that I predicted they would use.  I have often referred to potatoes, it’s more like mushrooms.  So get use to this folks, our latest Commission has been in office for 2 months.  Measure if you can what we have already lost.

Dear Mr. Dunwoody: 

Legal Counsel has reviewed the open records request submitted to the Clerk of the Board on Thursday, March 3, 2011 requesting “the written “transcript” of the meeting by the Johnson County Board of Commissioners held today beginning at 9:30 AM and continued throughout this day under all jurisdictions of KORA”. As you know, the County no longer prepares written transcripts of meetings.  The Kansas Open Records Act applies to public records possessed by a public agency at the time the request is made and it does not require that a public agency create a record it does not already possess. Since we do not have any of the transcripts that you requested, we cannot honor your request.

The Clerk does prepare minutes for the business meetings of the Board. The minutes for the March 3, 2011 meeting will be approved by the Board on March 24, 2011 and will be available online at http://lims.jocogov.org at that time. Currently, the Annotated Agenda is available online for the March 3, 2011 meeting, which includes actions taken by the Board. The full video of the meeting is also available online. 

With you records request, you remitted to the County, in cash, the sum of $500.00, which we are returning to you. Please let me know if you plan to attend the Board meeting on Thursday, March 10 so I can personally return the $500 to you. If you prefer that I mail, or FedEx, the money to you, please let me know and we will do so. 

Regards,

Stephen E. Powell, CMC

Clerk of the Board/Chief of Staff

“The most effective government is the one closest to the people.”  Thomas Jefferson

Rather than embrace this simple concept, The Johnson County Government has chosen to place itself farther from the folks.  During an unrecorded or transcripted meeting in February, 2011 the County Commissioners concurred that official transcripts of public meetings was in excess of the minimum required by law and at a cost of $25,000 per year this public serving activity was expendable.  Following this meeting, the County Manager decreed and mandated the county would no longer provide transcripts and only provide a Journal of public meetings.  Journals only provide the topic discussed and in the event of a vote, the vote tally.

In an effort to keep my backyard government as transparent as possible, the name NOjocoboco (NO Johnson County Board of County Omissions) has been created.  During the public comments session of possibly the first public meeting in the history of Johnson County Government to not have written minutes or transcripts, I submitted a KORA request along with the County’s estimated cost of $500 to produce a transcript of that meeting.  Once received the transcript for the JoCo BOCC meeting of 3/3/11 will be posted on this site along with future retrieved transcripts.  My comments begin 23  min and 50  sec.  http://lims.jocogov.org/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=883&doctype=AGENDA .

NOjocoboco Comment:  Later in this same meeting, the County Manager’s request was approved combining the BOCC Staff with his staff because too many people were not fully utilized while the Commissioners continue their transformation to a part-time government.  In one hand they can not afford the time to provide transcripts and moments later they have staff with nothing to do.  Only in government, albeit dysfunctional.

Ken Dunwoody                                     GOD
Henpecked Acres                                   One Nation
14850 W. 159th St.
Olathe, Ks. 66062
(913)768-1603
kdunwoody2@aol.com    www.NOlathe.com     http://NOlathe.net    http://NOjocoboco.net
View Sarah’s Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUWuUvOZ7RY