Crawford County Signs On to Renew Southeast Kansas Works Chief Elected Official Board Agreement

Crawford County commissioners reviewed a request to renew the chief elected official board agreement that governs Southeast Kansas Works, the regional workforce area operating under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

The agreement covers cooperating county governments in the WIOA local area (Region 3) and defines roles, responsibilities and how the counties manage workforce grant funds. Counties listed in the renewal documentation include Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Linn, Miami, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson.

Commissioner Carl (first-name only in the transcript) is now the county’s representative on the chief elected official board for Region 3, which includes Crawford County and nearby counties. Carl said he attended an initial meeting and described it as productive; the board meets quarterly and typically convenes in Chanute.

A motion to renew the agreement and authorize the chair to sign was made and seconded during the meeting. The transcript records a motion and second; the meeting did not include a detailed roll-call vote or a completed vote tally in the portions of the transcript provided.

Why it matters: the agreement is the operating document that allows the counties in Local Area 5 to coordinate workforce services and manage federal workforce grant funds under WIOA. Renewing the agreement permits the counties to continue the cooperative structure for administering those services and funds.

What was not decided or specified at the meeting: the transcript does not include the final numeric vote tally or any new budget details tied to the renewal. Commissioners said they expect to learn more about program activities and funding as the county’s representative participates in future meetings.