The EDC Bylaws

ARTICLE 1: NAME AND PURPOSE

NAME:

This organization is formed by the City Commission of Junction City and the Geary County Commission pursuant to the Kansas Interlocal Cooperation Act and shall be known as The Junction City/Geary County Economic Development Commission (EDC).

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the EDC is to further the economic development of Geary County, the communities within the county, and its environs.

More specifically, the purpose of the EDC is as follows:
(1) Promote the county's assets and other resources which will enhance economic growth;

(2) To render assistance and encouragement to existing industries and promote on-going economic activities to ensure their continued operation and growth;

(3) To identify, meet and negotiate with potential new industries and other potential new business enterprises best suited to the resources of the Geary County area;

(4) To actively promote Geary County communities, specific industrial, commercial & retail sites and buildings as locations suitable for new business and industry;

(5) To encourage the development and implementation of a county-wide economic development plan, working in close liaison with the local chamber of commerce, development corporations, community organizations, educational and academic institutions, and allied agencies to accomplish this objective;
(6) Upon request, to provide technical assistance to communities located in Geary County to assist them to become more successful in the recruitment of new industry and other businesses which meet the needs of their citizens.

OBJECTIVE:

The primary objective of the Junction City/ Geary County Economic Development Commission is to mobilize the people resources, the financial resources, and the physical resources of the communities so that a systematic and meaningful program for upgrading the economic status of the community is in place.

LIMITATION OF METHODS:

While being non-partisan, the EDC will stress promotion and conduct of activities designed to improve the economy of Geary County. Educational efforts involving national, state and local political issues relating to economic development will be a part of the EDC's overall program. The EDC, however, will not lend its influence to the election of any candidate for any political office.

ARTICLE 2: MEMBERSHIP

The EDC board shall consist of eleven members appointed as follows:
(1) The Mayor of Junction City, Kansas with the consent of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Junction City, Kansas, shall appoint a Commissioner of the City of Junction City, Kansas for a term of one year to commence on May 1 and expire on April 30 of each year.

(2) The Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, with the consent of the County Commissioners of Geary County, Kansas, shall appoint a Geary County Commissioner for a term of one year to commence on May 1 and expire on April 30 of each year.

(3) The Mayor of Junction City, Kansas with the consent of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Junction City, Kansas, shall appoint four (4) additional members with terms of three years to commence on May 1 and expire on April 30 of each year.

(4) The Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, with the consent of the County Commissioners of Geary County, Kansas, shall appoint three (3) additional members with terms of three years to commence on May 1 and expire on April 30 of each year.

(5) The Mayor of Junction City, Kansas with the consent of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Junction City, Kansas and the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, with the consent of the County Commissioners of Geary County, Kansas, shall jointly appoint the remaining two (2) members with terms of three years to commence on May 1 and expire on April 30 of each year.

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS:

In addition to the EDC members, ex officio members may be appointed as determined by a majority vote of the EDC. These ex officio members will include but not be limited to the staff members of participating agencies or entities and the city manager. Such ex officio members shall serve without the right of vote.

COMPENSATION:

Members of the EDC Board shall serve without compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties.

VACANCIES:

In the case of death, incapacity, resignation or disqualification of any member, the City or County Commission making the appointment shall appoint another member for the unexpired term of such deceased, incapacitated, resigned or disqualified member.

In the event of a vacancy or term expiration the EDC Board shall provide to the Board of Commissioners of the City of Junction City, Kansas and/or the Board of County Commissioners, recommendations for appointments to the EDC Board. The EDC Board shall take into consideration the ethnic diversity of the community when making it's recommendations.
ATTENDANCE:

The Secretary or Chairman shall report attendance of members for each regularly scheduled and special meeting and any member failing to attend three consecutive meetings without an excused absence shall be considered as disqualified.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Any person shall be eligible for appointment by either governing body who resides in Geary County, Kansas, except that members of the EDC Board shall hold no elected public office, except for the City Commissioner and County Commissioner provided for herein.

PUBLIC LIABILITY & ERRORS & OMISSION INSURANCE:

Members of the Economic Development Commission Board shall be insured against public liability and errors and omissions insurance by the City of Junction City.

ARTICLE 3: MEETINGS AND VOTING

REGULAR MEETINGS:

Regular meetings shall be held the second Thursday of each month at 8:30 am in the EDC conference room. The EDC Board shall hold the right to cancel given monthly meetings if there is insufficient business to be conducted. The public media shall be notified of such meetings and cancellations. All meetings are open to the public.

SPECIAL MEETINGS:

Special meetings of the EDC Board may be called at any time by the Chairman at such time and place and for such purpose as said person shall designate. The public media shall be notified of such meetings.

QUORUM:

At any meeting of the EDC where official business is conducted, a simple majority of those holding appointments must be present to constitute a quorum.

VOTING:

All members, including the Chairman, shall have the right to take part in all discussions and to vote, except that any member who has a conflict of interest in regard to any proposal or matter under consideration by the EDC shall disqualify themselves from voting. A member must be present to vote.

CONDUCT OF MEETING:

All meetings of the EDC shall be conducted pursuant to Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, except to the extent and degree of other procedural requirements set forth by law or these Bylaws.

ARTICLE 4: FINANCING

OPERATIONAL FINANCING:

In order to promote economic development as set forth in Section 1.2 and to fund the activities of the EDC Board,

(1) The Board of Commissioners of the City of Junction City, Kansas, shall levy a tax of one (1) mil upon the taxable tangible property within the City of Junction City, Kansas, as authorized by Kansas Statute and as previously approved by the electorate of the City of Junction City, Kansas.
(2) The Board of County Commissioners of Geary County, Kansas shall levy a tax of one half (1/2) mil upon the taxable tangible property within Geary County, Kansas, as authorized by Kansas Statute and as previously approved by the electorate of the Geary County, Kansas.

(3) The EDC may accept gifts, donations and grants from any legal source to aid in carrying out its economic development programs.

BUDGETS:

An annual operating budget shall be prepared by the EDC's staff, approved by the EDC Board and submitted to the appropriate participating governments by May 1 of each year for the following calendar year. The fiscal year of the EDC shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31 of the same year. The following shall be the basis for review:
(1) The basic budget shall be equal or less than the amount which is provided in Section 4.1(1)&(2).

(2) In the event that the requested budget exceeds the amount which is provided in Section 4.1(1)&(2), the basic budget, the EDC shall present to the appropriate participating governments a supplemental request.

(3) The Board of Commissioners of the City of Junction City, Kansas and the Board of County Commissioners of Geary County, Kansas shall, in a joint working session, review the basic and supplemental budgets, as previously approved by the EDC Board.

(4) In the event that the budget, as approved, is in excess of the basic budget, as provided in Section 4.1(1)&(2), these funds shall be provided by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Junction City, Kansas and the Board of County Commissioners of Geary County, Kansas in the same mathematical ratio as the basic budget.

(5) The approved budget shall be monitored during the calendar year by the EDC Board.

ARTICLE 5: OPERATIONS

ELECTION OF OFFICERS:

The elected executive officers of the commission shall be a Chairman of the Board and a Vice Chair. Only voting members of the Board shall be eligible to hold office. Such officers shall be elected for terms of one (1) year by the Board during the regularly scheduled June meeting. In the event of death or resignation of the officers a vote for their replacement will be held at the next monthly meeting.

DUTIES OF OFFICERS:

The Chairman of the Board shall be the Chief Officer of the organization, shall be it's chief spokesman, and shall preside at all meetings of the organization. The Chairman also appoints persons to chair any necessary sub committees.
The Vice Chairman shall serve as second in command, shall preside at all meetings when the Chairman is not present, shall assume the duties of the Chairman if the Chairman is unable to fulfill their responsibilities until an election can be held as prescribed in Section 5.1.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

The EDC Board is hereby granted the authority to employ a full time Executive Director who will serve at the pleasure of the EDC Board. S/He will be supervised by and evaluated by the EDC Board. Compensation for the Executive Director shall be determined by the EDC Board.
Although S/He is employed by and serves at the pleasure of the EDC Board, said individual and their subordinate employees shall by considered, for administrative purposes (insurance, benefits and accounting) as City of Junction City, Kansas employees. Therefore subject to the basic personnel rules and policies of the City, and shall be eligible for benefits provided regular City employees. These benefits being inclusive of but not limited to health insurance, retirement, and public officials' liability insurance and error and omissions insurance. Further duties of the Executive Director shall be:

(1) S/He shall be the chief administrative officer of the EDC & its Secretary/Treasurer.
(2) S/He as Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, a book of minutes of all meetings, with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special. S/He shall or cause to be done a notice of meeting to all EDC Board members and the local media.
(3) S/He as Treasurer shall keep and maintain or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct accounts of business transactions.
(4) S/He shall see that the purpose of the EDC is carried into effect and shall attend all EDC meetings as a non-voting member. S/He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees established by the EDC.
(5) S/He shall appoint and remove all subordinate employees with the consent of the EDC Board in strict compliance with the City of Junction City, Kansas, rules, regulations and personnel policies.
(6) S/He shall be considered an "Exempt Status" employee.

OTHER PERSONNEL:

The EDC Board may authorize the Executive Director to hire additional staff as the need dictates, subject to budget constraints. Exempt status of staff will be determined upon hiring. S/He will be supervised by and evaluated by the EDC Executive Director. Compensation of subordinate employees shall be determined by the EDC Board, at the recommendation of the Executive Director.

Although S/He is employed by and serves at the pleasure of the EDC Board, subordinate employees shall be considered, for administrative purposes (insurance, benefits and accounting) as City of Junction City, Kansas employees. Therefore subject to the basic personnel rules and policies of the City, and shall be eligible for benefits provided regular City employees. These benefits being inclusive of but not limited to health insurance, retirement, and public officials' liability insurance and error and omissions insurance.

ARTICLE 6: AMENDMENTS

6.1 AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS:

These Bylaws may be altered or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted at any regular meeting of the EDC Board, provided that notice is given in writing at least ten (10) days before said meeting. A vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those present shall be required to alter, amend, or repeal these Bylaws.

ARTICLE 7: ADOPTION

These Bylaws were adopted by the Joint Board of the Junction City/Geary County Economic Development Commission at their regular meeting on this 11th day of February, 1998.