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E&P Shield update: company says it absorbed $4.5M in costs; commissioners move to executive session over trade secrets
Summary
Rowdy Meyer of E&P (EMP) Shield told Coffey County commissioners the company invested about $1.3 million in the Lehi/Levo building and has ongoing production there; commissioners voted 4–0 to enter executive session to discuss trade secrets and financial affairs under the Kansas Open Meetings Act and returned with no action recorded.
Rowdy Meyer, representing E&P Shield, told the Coffey County Board of Commissioners that the company has continued limited production at the Lehi/Levo facility and has invested roughly $1.3 million in equipment, HVAC and flooring since purchase.
“We are producing PVC boards out there. We have an assembly line there,” Meyer said, and added that the company has “been out about $4,500,000” tied to federal program changes and evolving standards. He described partnerships with a company called Meditech and said former E&P Commission chair Bill Radowski is assisting the firm as it adapts to new technical requirements. Meyer also said he recently met with Congressman Schmidt to discuss ongoing items the company could not disclose in open session.
Commissioners pressed Meyer about timelines for rehiring and whether detailed technical or financial information could be discussed publicly without harming the company’s competitive position. County legal counsel and the board concluded that some specifics qualified as trade secrets and could cause competitive harm if aired in open session.
Chairman Peterson moved to enter executive session for discussions relating to trade secrets and financial affairs of a corporation under provisions of the Kansas Open Meetings Act; the motion was seconded and passed by a 4–0 vote. The board returned to open session and the clerk recorded that no formal action was taken following the executive sessions.
Meyer said the company is keeping a smaller automated assembly line at Lehi as a backup while primary capacity remains at the Burlington facility, and that the firm plans multiple product releases later in the year. Commissioners said they welcomed a more detailed briefing in executive session and asked staff to coordinate a closed meeting if necessary.
Next steps: the company and county staff agreed to schedule any detailed, proprietary briefings in executive session; no public decisions or contractual actions were recorded during the open meeting.
