As you know, The Kansas Collaborative is committed to fostering cross-government collaboration that improves government efficiencies by solving problem, saving money and networking leaders. Over $13.5 million has been saved to date as a result of the work of The Kansas Collaborative’s Breakthrough Teams, which focus on a common challenge and breakthrough to solution implementation.
Make sure you are “up to date” and “in the know” about the opportunities to solve problems, save money and network by participating in The Kansas Collaborative’s activities at this year’s annual conference.
- The pre-conference workshop on Sunday, November 18, “Maximizing Your Use of GIS” is a direct follow-up to the work of the Collaborative to help state and local governments implement geographic information systems in a coordinated fashion. This workshop is designed for Commissioners and Department heads that want to understand the full capability of GIS as an important decision- and policy-making tool. Jefferson County has worked hard to pull together easy to understand illustrations that will include an invaluable “map book” that beginners (that includes us) can understand!
- On Monday look for two workshop sessions related to transportation. The first one (8:00 – 9:30am) focuses on the Local Road Engineer services including what has been accomplished so far, priorities for going forward and discussion of current issues. The other session (4:00 – 5:00pm) concerns utilization of state purchasing contracts and advance notification of KDOT construction projects. This session will include reports from those that have utilized these programs and answers to questions on how counties can be more involved in these initiatives.
- On Sunday and Monday be sure and visit our extended booth near the KAC registration table. By stopping in you will have the opportunity to get the latest information on all the ways your county can benefit from the efforts of The Kansas Collaborative’s Breakthrough Teams:
- Health care purchasing: Medical supplies savings opportunities for your health department, ambulance service and county jail.
- Transportation: Check out KDOT’s overlay project schedule to see if your county has the opportunity to gain important negotiating information for your local road work. You can also check out the project-notification process and purchasing options.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Don’t miss an opportunity to find out more about what the state has to offer (free back-up services for GIS data, the data inventory project, technical assistance, vulnerable populations database and more) and to get copies of the latest technical assistance guides for aerial photography and GIS implementation.
- Health care purchasing: Medical supplies savings opportunities for your health department, ambulance service and county jail.
One last comment…we recently submitted an application for the 2007 Kennedy School of Government’s Innovation Award. In the application we were asked to articulate what we thought was the single most important achievement of The Kansas Collaborative. From our perspective, it is the catalytic role the Collaborative is playing in changing “how” government does “what” it does in Kansas. As you know, it is not new to put a county person on a state team. It is not new for county commissioners to hear from or meet with a state agency head. What is new, we believe, is a concerted effort to formalize linkages and view the roles of state and local government within the context of a larger system. We continue to see “breakthroughs” when state government steps up to its technical assistance role so county governments can take responsibility to find the best option for your local situation.
See you at the conference…
Kathleen and Joel