[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6189874,"mediaKeyId","5054405-ae4e1ead15d09fa15d359a1ba5be80f1","parentId",5054405,"title","SEIU presents safety and training complaints for Jackson County Parks & Rec; legislators seek documents, administration promises follow-up","audioSeconds",2411,"startMs",701000,"endMs",3112000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5054405-ae4e1ead15d09fa15d359a1ba5be80f1&start=701&end=3112","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5054405-ae4e1ead15d09fa15d359a1ba5be80f1/thumbnail_701000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189874/Jackson-County/Missouri/SEIU-presents-safety-and-training-complaints-for-Jackson-County-Parks-Rec-legislators-seek-documents-administration-promises-follow-up","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189874-6d11cbb2cb2115df325b57d4762e8cb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156052&Signature=b3RVWFh4IV99pc4PvcDZqzDd6EcsbLdn10U7mkrmpaMF29qrSJ-4csNVxNXotXxTdfEWdoQTwJt6oFXCpO58q-LqXxnnOb2DiFG7s8CyI2UggCkUlLa0p~ASnmwR-av1avnq-DJF94-fQWn3qqPlYWzGZ-ziUQP8ckwbdd7TZn7jzbmZjIzXRwEx58KB1IL2o8vtTylnvy9rF-GIULlqIs-Rz4-qkuWGOwo7oKpIUutamAdkuFLpNlffWD~zGa0pxofxf~zT7oGqoLlzCoqqWh6dToMg8dTePV4plCfr6GAG3l4LjH-09RcAPHqxV9CUPAf5irYhTJgGjlfRUpKpxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MO / Jackson County ","date","2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","article","Rose Welch, lead organizer for SEIU Local 1 in the Greater Kansas City area, told the Jackson County Legislature on June 18 that parks and recreation workers reported “minimal familiarization” on heavy equipment, inadequate commercial driver’s license training, and deteriorating or improperly maintained equipment and safety supplies.

The presentation, delivered by Welch and followed by questions from multiple legislators, outlined training practices the union considers insufficient: new hires reportedly watch a video, observe a coworker for a few hours, and then operate multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar equipment without certified trainer oversight or checklists. Welch said workers are sometimes expected to obtain Class B and Class A CDLs after only 10–15 hours of county practice time and that the department requires no minimum permit period for newly licensed drivers.

Why it matters: the complaints, if accurate, implicate public‑safety risk for operators and the public, potential regulatory gaps with federal and state commercial vehicle rules, and county oversight of procurement and maintenance for public equipment.

In testimony Welch described multiple categories of concern: insufficient trainer certification and curricula, lack of comprehensive on‑the‑job practice, gaps in weather and emergency planning, deteriorated trailers and hydraulic lines, expired or out‑of‑date personal protective equipment (PPE), and missing or long‑overdue first‑aid and fire‑safety inspections. On equipment, she said a worker had “red tagged” a trailer that was bending under a barge load and that supervisors attempted to return it to service until a group of union workers refused to use it.

Welch urged certified trainers and more robust checklists, a longer minimum permit/practice window for CDLs (she suggested even 30 days as an improvement), OSHA 30 training for supervisors, regular preventative maintenance inspections, and a clear, enforceable red‑tag process that cannot be unilaterally overridden by supervisors.

Legislators responded by asking for documentation. Legislator Sean E. Smith, Legislator Lauer, Legislator Donna Payton and others asked Welch to provide the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Jackson County and a copy of the slide deck so legislators who were online could see the images and photos she referenced. Welch said she could provide the MOU and the slide deck quickly.

County administration replied later in the meeting. A county representative, Mr. Clifford, read a prepared statement noting that Parks & Rec leadership recently met with SEIU and that a follow‑up safety‑committee meeting is scheduled under the existing MOU. Clifford said Parks & Rec “has a long and consistent record of meeting and exceeding federal, state, and local safety standards” and that the department had voluntarily run additional OSHA 10 training for associates. He said a joint letter had been sent from the county executive and the parks director after receiving the union’s presentation and that administration welcomes further discussion and a fuller presentation of “facts, actions, and plans.”

What the Legislature directed or agreed to: legislators asked SEIU to email the MOU and slide deck to the clerk so the full body could review them. Several legislators said they would like administration and the Parks & Rec director to appear before the Legislature at a later, scheduled hearing to respond in detail; the chair agreed to schedule that follow‑up. No appropriation or formal policy change was adopted at the hearing.

Context and next steps: Welch told the body that the safety committee comprises five union and five management members under the MOU and that the committee’s next meeting is set for August (date cited from the presentation). Welch said some items raised are not grievable under the MOU and that some safety actions had already been taken after union pressure, including ordering fire extinguishers. Clifford said administration will provide a written statement and meet with the Legislature at a future hearing to respond.

The presentation included photographs and video excerpts documenting alleged equipment and facility problems; Welch and legislators agreed the presentation materials and the MOU would be distributed to the full Legislature for review before the promised follow‑up meeting.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the hearing or the administration response and are identified below.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jackson County Legislature June 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Rose Welch, lead organizer for SEIU Local 1 in the Greater Kansas City area, told the Jackson County Legislature on June 18 that parks and recreation workers reported “minimal familiarization” on heavy equipment, inadequate commercial driver’s license training, and deteriorating or improperly maintained equipment and safety supplies.","taxTitle","Jackson County, Missouri","taxId",2579,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189865,"Jackson County Legislature fast‑tracks transfer of $1.79 million within 2025 anti‑crime sales tax fund to enable prosecutor to execute anti‑crime agreements",72,2993000,3065000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5054405-ae4e1ead15d09fa15d359a1ba5be80f1&start=2993&end=3065","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5054405-ae4e1ead15d09fa15d359a1ba5be80f1/thumbnail_2993000.jpg","/articles/6189865/Jackson-County/Missouri/Jackson-County-Legislature-fasttracks-transfer-of-179-million-within-2025-anticrime-sales-tax-fund-to-enable-prosecutor-to-execute-anticrime-agreements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189865-fc5fbbf53dd84b7294fcc17454f294be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156052&Signature=Ng36wSneAtPKXGrqpIuqkAsCr92HpOs8YvVcDffU8V11MGq7fBBtCcN5QSvhPQ2sp1UNTnhfomZCWEN0HBxEJdhbxLuXybGdJqrKVCoBA-7LN9p-uItmHyvPiQZAfy9zOlgKANQv5ThQpzdsrNM6WUMgGaJUXppX18i2UQ0uCPnWSfmMxeB1fKKu7uuVsQRF4swImIhce~jR~H4xmk-U2yxK1ixOXMEnDVukViNgaNcLr-Y-CYlQ8N4i7tp1xOSphQKI~ko8Uz3aRKLsWgQJmjp-oBeAulzVKy0KBArKJTD7r1tMxFIRW8sBX9aVaNsqxZvw0-0Hd7EndvK4CJgT2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On June 18 the Jackson County Legislature voted to approve resolution 21,936, transferring $1,788,171 within the 2025 anti‑crime sales tax fund and authorizing the prosecuting attorney to execute agreements with outside agencies engaged in anti‑crime, violence prevention, drug prevention and treatment activities, and school‑based law enforcement initiatives.

Legislator Donna Payton introduced the item and asked the Legislature to fast‑track the measure so the prosecutor could begin executing contracts and distributing funds promptly. The prosecutor requested “immediate adoption” during the meeting so work on contracts could begin.

The clerk called the roll on the motion to adopt; the motion carried on a recorded roll call. The meeting transcript records the adoption tally as seven yes votes with two members absent on the roll call for that item.

Why it matters: the action reassigns funds within a voter‑approved anti‑crime sales tax fund and authorizes the prosecutor to contract with outside groups, which will direct taxpayer‑designated anti‑crime dollars to community programs and law enforcement partners.

Details from the meeting: the resolution text, as read by the clerk, transfers $1,788,171 within the 2025 anti‑crime sales tax fund and authorizes agreements “with certain outside agencies…for purposes that cost the county not to exceed $13,000,863.34” as written in the item introduced by Legislator Payton. The prosecutor was present and asked for immediate adoption so contracting could proceed.

Next steps: per the resolution, the prosecuting attorney’s office will begin executing agreements and distributing funds under the limits specified in the resolution. The Legislature placed several related appropriations and prosecutor office items on the consent agenda during the same session.

Speakers quoted in this article are listed below.","The Legislature adopted resolution 21,936 to transfer $1,788,171 within the 2025 anti‑crime sales tax fund and authorized the prosecuting attorney to execute agreements with outside agencies related to anti‑crime, violence prevention and school‑based initiatives.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189870,"Jackson County Legislature approves $850,000 settlement and pension payment tied to employment claim against Sheriff's Office",75,4677000,4752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5054405-ae4e1ead15d09fa15d359a1ba5be80f1&start=4677&end=4752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5054405-ae4e1ead15d09fa15d359a1ba5be80f1/thumbnail_4677000.jpg","/articles/6189870/Jackson-County/Missouri/Jackson-County-Legislature-approves-850000-settlement-and-pension-payment-tied-to-employment-claim-against-Sheriffs-Office","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189870-14ababced89d5a4e4cc0da1ba5ae11b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156052&Signature=ZeI4X0BrS4zI6QwJLd4-9n5TO001AZ89nGKmvJzyX-Yi6t9SP8B6XbBSAqzMqaGVs0A3W-g~GyLH2t26rkJiBQ4So0TIih2RlQ13M1nlRnNQfaxtgtEa9P0FbsDqG4aOyNKJFHGB14stbzqQOelQgh9oW6iw4Yjq9a~NSNqthhs2GnpYjbMB30-r6rL8UF6KkBqasUwDfg3UxU1lCPM5znXnAyzJQkFqXKlZYTQJ58TaKSB3KKpm4gSguLSxoGKHpeBSJT7MmkExhTskD6KtJEASVlM-nlYXht7t6pBwCeWNM1~-24DiM9FgvCxIK-eDaDBd5CG2Kb-3GrJsTbg1oQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jackson County Legislature on June 18 approved a resolution authorizing settlement of claims by Audrey Kelly related to employment with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, authorizing payment of $850,000 plus an additional payment to the Jackson County, Missouri revised pension plan for purchase of service credit not to exceed $115,000.

Legislator Doron McGee introduced the resolution, which was considered after the Legislature convened a closed meeting earlier in the session. A motion to adopt the settlement passed on a roll call with seven votes in favor; the meeting record shows one abstention and one absence.

Why it matters: the settlement and pension‑plan payment together commit county funds to resolve employment claims against the Sheriff’s Office. The resolution directs the county counselor to execute the settlement under the terms approved by the Legislature.

What happened in the meeting: the Legislature voted on resolution 21,944 after returning from the closed session. The clerk called the roll as requested by the chair; the published vote count at the end of the roll call was recorded as “7 yes, 1 absent, 1 abstaining.” The resolution text as read in the meeting specifies the $850,000 payment and an additional pension payment calculated by the pension plan actuary, not to exceed $115,000.

Context and process: the resolution’s title indicates the county counselor will settle the claim for the amounts specified and make the pension payment as calculated by the pension plan board’s actuary. The meeting record shows the settlement was handled following a closed meeting; the Legislature voted publicly to authorize the settlement upon returning to open session.

Next steps: the county counselor will execute the settlement documents and arrange the pension‑plan payment as directed by the resolution. No further details about the underlying claim were discussed on the record during the open session.

Speakers quoted in the public record for this action are listed below.","After a closed session, the Jackson County Legislature voted to authorize a settlement payment of $850,000 plus an additional pension‑plan purchase payment not to exceed $115,000 related to claims by Audrey Kelly regarding employment with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

SEIU presents safety and training complaints for Jackson County Parks & Rec; legislators seek documents, administration promises follow-up

Jackson County Legislature fast‑tracks transfer of $1.79 million within 2025 anti‑crime sales tax fund to enable prosecutor to execute anti‑crime agreements

Jackson County Legislature approves $850,000 settlement and pension payment tied to employment claim against Sheriff's Office