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GARDEN CITY AREA

2014Maxine AtkinsonARC Real Estate Inc.

Lynn BallingerConstituent Services Representative for Congressman Huelskamp

Della BrandenburgerAmericInn Hotel

Roy DixonHighlands Livestock Service Lona DuVallFinney County Economic Development

Mark HindeSouthwest Development Services, Inc.

Steve KarlinGarden City Public Schools

Nicole LucasDowntown Vision

Robert McDowellFarm Bureau Financial Services

Judy NusserColdwell-Banker, The Real Estate Shoppe

Randy PartingtonFinney County Administration

Lon PishnyPishny Financial Services

Steve DyerGarden City Area Chamber of Commerce

Myca BunchGarden City Area Chamber of Commerce

Steve DyerPresidentsdyer@gardencitychamber.net

Myca BunchVice Presidentmbunch@gardencitychamber.net

Sylvia LiraOffice Managerchamber@gardencitychamber.net

Mary WilsonAccounts Payablemwilson@gardencitychamber.net

Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce1511 E. Fulton TerraceGarden City, KS 67846

Office: 620.276.3264Fax: 620.276.3290www.gardencitychamber.net

Improve the quality of life, aid in cconomic growth and development, represent the business community on legislative issues and promote cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Government Affairs Committee

Local GovernmentKansas Government

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GARDEN CITY AREAState OfficialsKansas Governor Sam Brownback

Lt. GovernorJeff Colyer, M.D.

Secretary of CommercePat George

Secretary of RevenueNick Jordan

Secretary of TransportationMike King

Secretary of LaborLana Gordon

Secretary of AgricultureDale Rodman

Kansas Adjutant GeneralMaj. General Lee Tafanelli

Superintendent of KS Highway Patrol - Lt. Col. Ernest Garcia (Ret.)

Secretary of Administration, Office of RepealerJim Clark

Kansas Securities CommissionerJosh Ney

Secretary of Health and EnvironmentDr. Robert Moser

Secretary of KS Wildlife, Parks and TourismRobin Jennison

Secretary of KS Dept for Aging and DisabilityShawn Sullivan

Secretary of KS Dept of CorrectionsRaymond Roberts

Secretary of KS Deptartment for Children & FamiliesPhyllis Gilmore

Kansas State SenateSenator Larry Powell39th District2209 Grandview Drive EastGarden City, KS 67846lpowell18@cox.net

Kansas House of Representatives

Representative John Doll 123rd District (R)2921 Cliff Pl, Garden City, KS 67846johndoll22@gmail.com

Representative Bud Estes119th District1405 Elbow BendDodge City, KS 67801

Representative John Ewy117th District (R)727 Roughton, Jetmore, KS 67854

Representative Don Hineman118th District (R)116 S. Longhorn RoadDighton, KS 67839dhineman@st-tel.net

Representative Russ Jennings122nd District (R)PO Box 295Lakin, KS 67860

Finney County Commission Roman Halbur District 1

Dave Jones District 2

Duane Drees District 3

Clifford A. Mayo District 4

Larry C. Jones District 5

Randy PartingtonFinney County Administrator

Garden City CommissionDan FankhauserMayor

Roy CessnaVice Mayor

Chris LawCommissioner

Janet DollCommissioner

Melvin DaleCommissioner

Matt AllenCity Manager

Chamber Board of DirectorsKeith Collins, Chair Advance Merchant Services

Keysha UrieLewis, Hooper & Dick

Deanna Mann, Garden City Community College Todd DauberGarden City State Bank

Brian WeberWeber Refrigeration

Kenne WhitsonSt. Catherine Hospice

Mark NelsonAmerican State Bank

Stephanie BognerMBA Real Estate

Mark HindeSW Developmental Services, Inc.

Michelle StegmanCity of Garden City

Della BrandenburgerAmericInn Hotels

Maxine AtkinsonARC Real Estate

Erich SchaeferGolden Plains Credit Union

Robert SperlingR&M Enterprises

Ryan CornettGarden City Wholesale Supply

Holcomb City CommissionGary Newman, Jr.Mayor

Greg Cox

Mark Richmeier

Rob McCallister

Brian Rupp

Scott Homer

The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports programs that encourage people to relocate to Western Kansas through the following methods:

• The continuation of connecting employers with an available and ready workforce.

• Utilizing alumni networking resources for recruitment.• Focus on stronger marketing and opportunities with our students within

our elementary and secondary educational systems.• Creation in statute of the “Investment in Kansas Employment” (IKE) Economic Development Program.• Shifting from a “tax-credit” economic development strategy to a

“cash-equivalent” strategy.

Workforce Development & Job Creation

The Chamber supports the research and development of incentive programs to further the development of wage appropriate housing,with an emphasis on moderate housing in Southwest Kansas, in an effort to position the area more favorably for job growth opportunities.

HousingThe Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce realizes that a quality of education of pre-kindergarten through post-secondary for every student in Kansas is critical for the success of business and for a strong economy. The Chamber supports the following initiatives:• State government should provide adequate funding for suitable education no

matter where they live.• Students in urban, suburban and rural communities are all entitled to high

quality education.

The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports the following transporta-tion initiatives in order to efficiently address the transportation needs of southwest Kansas:

• State support and funding for public transit and local road improvements as well as local partnership projects for rural communities.

• Continued support of Garden City Regional Airport as the regional airport for Southwest Kansas.

• Continued support for the rail infrastructure for both freight and passenger service for Southwest Kansas.

• Obtaining BNSF Railroad’s agreement to develop the rail infrastructure in and around Garden City, including “double-tracking” the rail lines.

• Continued support and funding for a 4-lane US HWY 50/400 from Mull-inville to Garden City.

• Widening of US HWY 83 north to I-70 including passing lanes.• HWY 156 widening from Garden City to Larned including passing lanes.

TransportationEnergy &

Natural ResourcesThe Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce encourages sensible stewardship and conservation of the region’s natural resources with new emphasis on water preservation and Arkansas River Valley concerns.

The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports studies and development of:• Reliable, alternative energy sources.• Diverse and safe energy sources.• Energy sources that are self-sustaining after three to five years.• Economically affordable energy sources.

The Chamber encourages legislation that supports business in such a manner that results in ensuring fiscal integrity and accountability for expenditures of public funds. As such support encourages a business climate in which regulatory burdens on a business are minimized and necessary regulations are administered in a manner that promotes economic and community development and facilitates planning for the future.

Immigration Reform The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce shares the concerns of the Kan-sas Business Coalition for Immigration Reform regarding the need to protect our economy and workforce. The immigrant population of Southwest Kansas includes valued members of our community.

A federal solution to our immigration problem is to welcome change that will allow our economy to grow while protecting the quality of life of our citizens. The Chamber is supportive of a solution that allows reasonable access to work permits and/or to citizenship, while assuring adequate border security.

Taxation

Education Funding

The Chamber understands when businesses are heavily taxed and regulated, a community can suffer. The Chamber encourages the following actions where taxation is involved:• It is paramount to create a tax environment that enables economic growth.• Legislation that allows us to be competitive with other communities and other

states.• Allow our local elected officials to appropriately fund and enable local govern-

ment.

The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports meaningful health care reform aimed at lowering the overall cost of healthcare for employers and employees.

• On the state level, the Chamber advocates against cuts to Medicaid provider reimbursement rates as such cuts to this program will reduce the number of providers who accept Medicaid.

• On the Federal level the Chamber advocates against cuts to the Medicare program reimbursement rates.

• The Chamber advocates increasing the number of individuals covered with health insurance. Coverage and costs continue to be a major concern to businesses. Significantly reducing current reimbursement with-out increasing the number of patients with insurance may force health care providers to cut key services and decrease access.

The Chamber continues supporting and encouraging policies which:• Oppose government competition with the private market.• Oppose mandated employer-based coverage.• Support employer efforts to modify delivery systems.• Supports efforts to improve employee wellness.• Defend the right of employers to choose the plans they offer.• Reduce cost-increasing mandates insurers are required to include in poli-

cies so that more affordable plans are available for employers.• Increase participation in health care purchasing and the promotion of

health savings programs.• Preserve incentives available for employers and individuals.• Support the allowance of interstate health insurance policy sales.

Healthcare

Based on feedback from the membership, the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors approved the following legislative areas of focus for the year 2014.

The Government Affairs Committee will use this agenda as a guide throughout the year to represent the business community on issues that will affect the business climate of Finney County and the state of Kansas.

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GARDEN CITY AREA