Tuesday, Jun. 29, 2010

Voters to decide on county charter changes

In addition to selecting federal, state and county elected officials in the Aug. 3 Primary Election, Jackson County voters will be deciding on proposed amendments to the county’s charter.

On Monday, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders and former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes outlined these changes in a press conference on the steps of the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City.

The changes were recommended by a citizens’ task force and placed on the ballot by the Jackson County Legislature.

“Mike Sanders allowed us free reign of the County Charter,” Barnes said, who was appointed chair of the task force. “We believe the final product strengthens ethical standards for future county officials, streamlines the government to improve efficiencies and provides safeguards against discrimination in all of its forms.”

According to county information, the amendments would limit the county executive’s power to award professional service contracts by requiring a competitive bid process for any contract more than $5,000. “No elected official, no politician, should have that form of power and that should end,” Sanders said Monday. Sanders said under the current charter, if the county executive doesn’t like the vote he can reverse it.

“That one line in one document allowed the county executive to circumvent power,” Sanders said.

Additionally, proposed changes would broaden what constitutes discrimination to protect groups not currently protected including gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and pregnancy status.

The charter amendments also aim for ethics reform, in that if approved they will create a single place for residents to submit complaints regarding the conduct of county officers, employees, volunteers and elected officials by consolidating the Ethics Commission and the Human Relations Commission and any ethics complaint filed against the county executive of member of the legislature will be automatically forwarded to the State Ethics Commission for additional oversight.

“(The changes) make the county more accessible and more transparent,” Sanders said. “Now its up to the citizens to decide.”

For more information, go to www.jacksongov.org.

To reach Journal reporter Miranda Wycoff, call 816-282-7017, or e-mail mwycoff@lsjournal.com