Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Attending: Rudy Chavez, Greg Davey, Joey Flickner, Steve Gercone, Matt Harris, Chris Heegn, Kevin Hendrickson, Mike Himes, Brian Hursh, Matt Johnson, Gabe Jones, Chuck Martin, Matt McNamara, Pam Nolte, Ralph Oropeza,, Daniel Roach, Tina Shonk-Little, Sam Schultz, Chris Stanton, Ian Wood, Stacy Zerr, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Rosana Privitera-Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.
•The downtown KCMO “lid” first phase funding was approved by the KCMO City Council. The project will help make downtown more attractive for all classes of users and likely spur more development. When added to the Kansas City Royals stadium and Crown Center revitalization, the Children’s Mercy tower planned and the also recently approved Country Club Plaza revitalization, significant development likely will follow for the Downtown-Plaza corridor generating opportunity for the construction industry and the community.
•Data center development continues but new sites pose challenges with broad public opposition to most locations. The past practices of developers and particularly data center ones to plan projects out of public view may be a valid business practice but generates mistrust among citizens. Elected officials are losing their positions for supporting even responsibly-developed data center and battery projects, such as John Perkins in Independence, and logical points in favor of the developments are simply not heard by opponents who often view the projects as part of a larger concern on AI and economic change beyond the project specifics. A similar dynamic is seen with the Missouri Workers group and its opposition to the Royals stadium project in spite of the gains for low-wage workers from the development. While public votes on some projects may be appropriate, if every major development required a public vote rather than one by the local government elected representatives development would effectively be halted.
•Today may see resolution of the Missouri redistricting conflict as the US Supreme Court weighs in again. If the 2025 map is used for the November election there could be further legal challenges on the election’s legitimacy. Missouri Secretary of State Hoskins also faces a Missouri Supreme Court contempt hearing today based on his refusal to follow the earlier state court ruling. The final map used could impact the Kansas City area’s future ability to attract federal investment.
(Note: after the meeting ended the US Supreme Court stayed the federal court injunction requiring use of the “Missouri First” map, and Secretary Hoskins submitted a statement to the Missouri Supreme Court that he would instruct local election districts to use the 2022 congressional map for the November election. While the last minute federal suit that led to the injunction is not dead, it likely cannot be resolved in time to impact the November election so the 2022 map will be used. Secretary Hoskins was found in contempt of the Missouri Supreme Court)
•The Dave Coleman Take Kids Fishing Day is tomorrow; volunteers are still welcome and should arrive at 7:30 a.m. with the event beginning at 9 a.m. Iron Workers Local 10 members prepared 130 fishing poles for the event.
•The Building Trades Golf Tournament last week was successful, though the heat was a challenge.
•Fishing for Freedom will be Oct. 9-11. More boats for taking veterans fishing are still needed; go to http://www.fishingforfreedom for details; Chuck Martin and Steve Gercone are also contacts.
•The Heartland Women in Trades Kickball Tournament has a full field of 13 teams for the Sept. 26 event. Sponsorships are still available. The tournament helps fund HWIT’s work.
•The Missouri and Kansas Laborers Charitable Foundation Golf Outing Oct. 23 will generate proceeds for Working Families Friend.
•The LMC Sporting Clay Shoot is a week from today. There is still space for teams.
•The Public Officials Reception is set for Oct. 15 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Sponsorships are available; about 60 candidates who won August primaries have rsvp’d so far.
•The Building Trades Holiday Party will be Dec. 4. The planning committee is working now.
•Tradeswomen Build Nations is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 22-24 in Kansas City.
•Upcoming Events:(For details on these events, please contact the sponsoring group or LMC).
*Dave Coleman Take Kids Fishing Day, Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Penn Valley Lake
*KC Business Journal Where Construction is Headed in KC presented by JE Dunn, Sept. 16,
8-10 a.m., National WWI Memorial and Museum
*LMC Sporting Clay Shoot, Sept. 17, Saddle & Sirloin
*DBIA-MAR Next GenKC Happy Hour, Office Revolution, in Grand Place, Sept. 23, 5-7 p.m.
*Labor Car Show, Sept. 26, 9 a.m., IBEW Local 124
*HWIT Kickball Tournament, Sept. 26
*Fishing for Freedom Oct. 9-11, http://www.fishingforfreedom.com
*NICE Annual Luncheon Oct. 15, KC Convention Center
*LMC /BOMA-KC Public Officials Reception Oct. 15, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
*Missouri and Kansas Laborers Charitable Foundation Golf Outing Oct. 23, Drumm Farm
•Capital Electric Breast Cancer Corn Hole Tournament, Oct. 22, 3 p.m., 530 Sunshine Rd KCK
*General Elections Nov. 3
*GKC Building Trades Holiday Party, Dec. 4
*Missouri General Assembly session begins Jan. 6, 2027
*iBuild March 3, 2027, American Royal (West Bottoms)
*Tradeswomen Build Nations in KC Oct. 22-24, 2027
•The next meeting will be Thursday, October. 8. 10, 8 a.m., at Mark One.
•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:15 a.m.
The mission of the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City is to enhance collaboration by solidifying trust and communication between labor and management in the community
