Governor Laura Kelly recently announced appointments to Kansas state boards and commissions.
Appointment is subject to Senate confirmation*
Kansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River Commission
This commission facilitates cooperation of the appropriate state agencies in Kansas and Oklahoma in matters pertaining to the Arkansas River Basin and water law. It divides and apportions equitably between the states of Kansas and Oklahoma the waters of the Arkansas river basin, and promotes orderly development; provides an agency for administering the water apportionment; encourages the maintenance of an active pollution-abatement program in each of the two states, and seeks the further reduction of both natural and man-made pollution in the waters of the Arkansas river basin.
â—ŹRep. Ponka-We Victors, Wichita
â—ŹLisa French, Partridge
Kansas-Nebraska Big Blue River Compact Administration
The purpose of the Kansas-Nebraska Big Blue River Compact is to promote interstate comity between the states of Nebraska and Kansas; achieve an equitable apportionment of the waters of the Big Blue river basin between the two states and to promote orderly development thereof; encourage continuation of the active pollution-abatement programs in each of the two states; and to seek further reduction in both natural and man-made pollution of the waters of the Big Blue river basin.
The compact administration agency was created to administer the compact and its terms. The administration shall have the power to adopt rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this compact, to enforce such rules and regulations, and to otherwise carry out its responsibilities. It may institute action in its own name in courts of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with the provisions of this compact and with the rules and regulations it adopts.
●Dr. Hannah Birgé, Manhattan
Kansas Human Rights Commission
The mission of the Kansas Human Rights Commission is to prevent and eliminate discrimination and assure equal opportunities in all employment relations, to eliminate and prevent discrimination, segregation or separation, and assure equal opportunities in all places of public accommodations and in housing. The agency philosophy in accomplishing its mission is to act in accordance with the highest standards of professional conduct, ethics, efficiency, and accountability. Realizing that the principles of equality and the protection of basic human rights are the most noble of human efforts, we dedicate our activities toward that purpose, believing that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.
●Mike Kane, Kansas City – Labor representative (reappointment)*
University of Kansas Hospital Authority Board of Directors
The University of Kansas Hospital Authority is the public oversight body that governs the operations of the hospital at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
â—ŹDavid Dillon, Mission Hills (reappointment)*
â—ŹKevin Lockett, Leawood*
Kansas Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
One of the principal purposes of the ombudsman program is to investigate and resolve complaints made by residents or on behalf of residents in long-term care facilities. Certified ombudsman staff and volunteers investigate and work to resolve complaints while focusing resolutions on the resident’s wishes. Ombudsmen regularly visit long-term care facilities to be accessible to residents and monitor conditions.
â—ŹCamille Russell, Chanute*
Kansas National Guard
The Kansas National Guard consists of the Kansas Army National Guard and the Kansas Air National Guard, the latter established on Sept 18, 1947. The Kansas National Guard has been involved in the nation’s conflicts since the state’s inception as a territory.
●Col. Michael Venerdi, Bel Aire – Rank promotion to General and Director of Joint Staff*
Kansas Commission on Police Officer’s Standards and Training (CPOST)
The Commission may suspend, revoke, or deny the certification of a police or law enforcement officer who fails to meet the requirements of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Act or has met such requirements by falsifying documents or failing to disclose information required for certification. It also provides accredited instruction, which is required for permanent appointment of full-time police and law officers.
â—ŹSheriff Roger Soldan, Salina
Quality Care Improvement Panel
The purpose of the Panel is to administer and select the reimbursements of moneys in the quality care assessment fund.
â—ŹSarah Fertig, Lawrence
Kansas State Board of Tax Appeals
The Kansas State Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA) is the paramount tax tribunal and the court of record for all Kansas state and local tax cases. The board’s mission is to resolve disputes between taxpayers and taxing authorities promptly and impartially and to help maintain public confidence in the state and local tax system. In service to its mission, the board provides an independent venue for all citizens to contest the validity of assessments levied by state and local taxing authorities.
In addition, BOTA ensures that all property in the state is assessed for tax purposes in an equal and uniform manner in accordance with the Kansas Constitution and state statutes. It also reviews tax exemption decisions made by local governments, grievances resulting from technical errors and corrects tax inequities.
●Tom Browne, Topeka – Chief Hearings Officer (reappointment)*
●Virginia Powell, Topeka – CPA*
Kansas Water Authority
The water authority advises the governor, the Legislature and the director of the Kansas Water Office (KWO) on water policy issues — including the approval of the Kansas Water Plan and revisions, federal contracts, administration regulations and legislation proposed by the KWO.
●Dawn Buehler, Eudora – Chair*