Kansas 911 Coordinating Council

About

The Kansas 911 Coordinating Council was created by the Kansas 911 Act (K.S.A 12-5362 et seq) and is tasked with monitoring the delivery of 911 services, developing strategies for future enhancements to the 911 system.

Mission

To serve Kansas PSAPs by implementing a coordinated, sustainable and comprehensive Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) service that responds anytime, anywhere, from any device in order to realize the full potential for 9-1-1 to provide public access to emergency services.

Vision

To enhance public safety in Kansas by providing statewide access to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) services.

(Click to expand.)

Kansas NG911 Acronyms, Abbreviations, Definitions

Public Service Announcements

Organization
of the
911 Council

Kansas 911 Council Contract Staff

Scott Ekberg

NG911 Administrator

Angela Murphy

South NG911 Liaison

Michele Abbott

Communication
& Training

Lori Criqui

North NG911 Liaison

Kansas 911 Council Contract Personnel

Phill Ryan

Implementation Support Specialist

Randall White

Program Manager

Executive Committee

Name
Chief Dick Heitschmidt	Retired Chief of Police, Hutchinson Chairman, Kansas 911 Coordinating Council
Ken Nelson	Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) Manager, Data Access and Support (DASC) Represents GIS Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017
Ellen Wernicke	Director- Johnson County Emergency Communications Chair, Training Committee
Sherry Massey	GIS Coordinator, Dickinson County
Josh Michaelis	Director- Rice County Emergency Communications Chair, Operations Committee

Kansas 911 Council Members (Voting)

The Council is an elite team of hand-picked volunteers appointed by the governor. Each member is a subject matter expert having special background and experience with each critical element of 911 public safety. Council membership includes 17 voting members and nine non-voting members.

Name	Info	Appointment Ends
Mike Albers	Technology Director, City of Colby Represents Government IT Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017	6/30/2020
John Carmichael	Kansas Representative, District 92 Democrat House Minority Leader Appointment
Troy Briggs	Sheriff, Haskell County Represents Kansas Sheriff’s Association Appointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017 Last term eligible 2020-2023	6/30/2023
Kathy Kuenstler	Director, Garden City Kansas Represents Kansas Chapter of APCO Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017 Appointment Office -pending replacement	6/30/2021
Marci Francisco	Kansas Senator, District 2 Democrat
Dick Heitschmidt	Retired Chief of Police, Hutchinson Chairman, Kansas 911 Coordinating Council	Chairman of the Board- Non-Voting
Kyle Hoffman	Kansas Representative, District 116 Republican
Jacqueline Brown	IT, Riley County Police Department Represents Government IT 2020-2023 First Term Eligible for one additional term	6/30/2020
Nick Robbins	Director of Franklin County EMS Represents EMS First term – 2021-2024 Eligible for one additional term	6/30/2024
Robert McLemore	Fire Chief, City of Colby Represents Fire Chief Association	6/30/2021
Josh Michaelis	Director, Rice County Emergency Communications Represents PSAP<75,000 Reappointed to two-year term on 7/5/2017 Last Term eligible. 2020-2023	6/30/2023
Robert Cooper	Executive Director, Kansas Commissions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Represents Kansas Commissions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing	6/30/2021
Jonathan York	Kansas Department of Emergency Management Branch Director Represents Adjutant General’s Office	6/30/2023
Ellen Wernicke	Director, Johnson County Emergency Management & Communications Represents PSAP>75,000 Reappointed to two-year term on 7/5/2017	6/30/2024
Sherry Massey	GIS Coordinator, Dickinson County Represents PSAP<75,000 Appointed to a three year term 8/11/2017 Last term eligible 2021-2024	6/30/2024
Melanie Mills-Bergers	Director, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Represents PSAP>75,000 Appointed to a four year term 7/24/2017 to succeed Lance Royer, 1st Full term 2019-2022. Eligible for one more term	6/30/2022
Rick Billinger	Kansas Senator, Republican	6/30/2020
Jerry Harrison	Represents Kansas Police Officer’s Association 1st Term 2019-2022 Eligible for one additional term	6/30/2022

Kansas 911 Council Members (Non-Voting)

Name (Title)	Info	Appointment Ends
Jerry Daniels	County Commissioner, Allen County Represents Kansas Association of Counties Appointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017	6/30/2020
David Cowan	Public Safety Director, City of Independence Represents League of Kansas Municipalities Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017	6/30/2020
Sara Spinks	Director, Network and Telecommunications Services Kansas Office of Information Technology Services Chair of Technical Committee	6/30/2019
Mark Tucker	Cox Communications Represents VOIP Appointed to three-year term on 8/2018	6/30/2020
John Fox	Local Exchange Carrier Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017	6/30/2020
Michael Daniels	Public Safety Administrative Manager, Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Appointed to fill George Walker’s term 1/22/2020 to 6/30/2021	6/30/2021
Patrick Fucik	Manager, Wireless 911 Implementation for Sprint Represents Large Wireless Providers Appointed 7/2018	6/30/2020
Ken Nelson	Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) Manager, Data Access and Support (DASC) Represents GIS Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017	6/30/2020
Rob McDonald	Represents Rural Independent Phone Companies Appointed 7/2018	6/30/2020
Elizabeth Phillips	Represents Non-Traditional PSAPs Assistant Director University of Kansas Public Safety	6/30/2022
Terry Clark	Represents Non-Traditional PSAPs Chief of Police Potawatomi Tribal Police	6/30/2022

Kansas 911 Council Committees

Operations Administration Technical GIS

Operations Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Robert Cooper	KS Comm. For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Kathy Kuenstler	Director/Garden City Emergency Communications
Josh Michaelis Operations Chair	Director/Rice County Emergency Communications
David Cowan	City of Independence
Ellen Wernicke	Director/Johnson County ECC
Sherry Massey	Dickinson County Emergency Communications
Melanie Mills-Bergers	Director/Shawnee County Emergency Communications

Training Sub-Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Ellen Wernicke (Chair)	Director/Johnson County ECC
Michele Abbott	Butler County Emergency Communications
Pam Opoka	MARC
Kathy Kuenstler	Director/Garden City Emergency Communications
John Michaelis	Director/Rice County Emergency Communications
Angela Murphy	Director/Allen County Emergency Communications
BJ Tracy	Director/Sumner County
David Cowen	Public Safety Director, City of Independence
Melanie Bergers	Director/Shawnee County Emergency Communications
Becky Snook	Director/Mitchell County Emergency Communications
Nick Robbins	Director/Franklin County Emergency Communications
Jerry Harrison	Chief of Police/Independence, Kansas

Text-To-911 Sub-Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Melanie Mills-Bergers (Chair)	Shawnee County Emergency Communications
Josh Michaelis	Rice County Emergency Communications
Robert Cooper	KS Comm. For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Nikki Thomas	MARC
Jody Mader	Butler County Emergency Communications
Roxanne Van Gundy	Lyon County Emergency Communications

Public Safety Dispatch Center Inclusion Workgroup (PSDC)

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Michele Abbott	Butler County Emergency Communications
Kathy Kuenstler	Director, Garden City Kansas Represents PSAP<75,000 Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017
Sherry Massey	GIS Coordinator, Dickinson County

Administration Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Jerry Daniels	County Commissioner, Allen County Represents Kansas Association of Counties Appointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017
Troy Briggs	Sheriff Represents Kansas Sheriff’s Association Appointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017
Vacant	Vacant Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017
Dick Heitschmidt	Retired Chief of Police, Hutchinson Chairman, Kansas 911 Coordinating Council
Kyle Hoffman	Kansas Representative, District 116 Republican
Robert McLemore	Fire Chief, City of Colby
Mark Tucker	Cox Communications Represents VOIT Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017

Technical Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Hassan Al-Rubaie	MARC
Michael Leiker Chair	Director of IT Ellis County
Ken Nelson	KGS/DASC
John Fox	AT&T
Michael Albers	City of Colby
Phill Ryan	911 Council

Security Sub-Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Dustin Alexander	AT&T
Jared Meier	Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Brent Trease	AT&T
Nathan Johnson	Sedgwick County
Mike Albers	City of Colby
Michael Leiker	Ellis County
Mike Pollock	Nex-Tech
Jeff Maxon	State of Kansas
Tracer Giess	Tracer Giess
John Fox	AT&T
Phill Ryan	911 Council
Joe Currier	Sedgwick County
Patrick Robinson	AT&T
Terry McLarty	AT&T
Lesa Thye	AT&T
Billy Blankenship	AT&T

GIS Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Ken Nelson (Chair)	KGS/DASC
Sherry Massey (Co-Chair)	Dickinson County, KS
Eileen Battles	DASC
Eamonn Coveney	City of Hays/Ellis County
Kyle Gonterwitz	KDOT
Saralyn Hayes	MARC
Jack Joseph	Sedgwick County
Sheri Taylor	Riley County, KS
Mike D’Attilio	KS Adjutant General’s Office/Division of Emergency Management

SIF Working Group

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Ken Nelson (Chair)	KGS/DASC
Sherry Massey (Co-Chair)	Dickinson County, KS
Eileen Battles	DASC
Scott Ekberg	911 Council
Lori Alexander	911 Council

Operations Administration Technical GIS

Operations Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Robert Cooper	KS Comm. For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Kathy Kuenstler	Director/Garden City Emergency Communications
Josh Michaelis Operations Chair	Director/Rice County Emergency Communications
David Cowan	City of Independence
Ellen Wernicke	Director/Johnson County ECC
Sherry Massey	Dickinson County Emergency Communications
Melanie Mills-Bergers	Director/Shawnee County Emergency Communications

Training Sub-Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Ellen Wernicke (Chair)	Director/Johnson County ECC
Pam Opoka	MARC
Kathy Kuenstler	Director/Garden City Emergency Communications
John Michaelis	Director/Rice County Emergency Communications
BJ Tracy	Director/Sumner County
David Cowen	Public Safety Director, City of Independence
Melanie Bergers	Director/Shawnee County Emergency Communications
Becky Snook	Director/Mitchell County Emergency Communications
Nick Robbins	Director/Franklin County Emergency Communications
Jerry Harrison	Chief of Police/Independence, Kansas

Text-To-911 Sub-Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Melanie Mills-Bergers (Chair)	Shawnee County Emergency Communications
Josh Michaelis	Rice County Emergency Communications
Robert Cooper	KS Comm. For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Nikki Thomas	MARC
Jody Mader	Butler County Emergency Communications
Roxanne Van Gundy	Lyon County Emergency Communications

Public Safety Dispatch Center Inclusion Workgroup (PSDC)

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Kathy Kuenstler	Director, Garden City Kansas Represents PSAP<75,000 Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017
Sherry Massey	GIS Coordinator, Dickinson County

Administration Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Jerry Daniels	County Commissioner, Allen County Represents Kansas Association of Counties Appointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017
Troy Briggs	Sheriff Represents Kansas Sheriff’s Association Appointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017
Vacant	Vacant Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017
Dick Heitschmidt	Retired Chief of Police, Hutchinson Chairman, Kansas 911 Coordinating Council
Kyle Hoffman	Kansas Representative, District 116 Republican
Robert McLemore	Fire Chief, City of Colby
Mark Tucker	Cox Communications Represents VOIT Reappointed to three-year term on 7/5/2017

Technical Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Hassan Al-Rubaie	MARC
Michael Leiker Chair	Director of IT Ellis County
Ken Nelson	KGS/DASC
John Fox	AT&T
Michael Albers	City of Colby
Phill Ryan	911 Council

Security Sub-Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Dustin Alexander	AT&T
Jared Meier	Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Brent Trease	AT&T
Nathan Johnson	Sedgwick County
Mike Albers	City of Colby
Michael Leiker	Ellis County
Mike Pollock	Nex-Tech
Jeff Maxon	State of Kansas
Tracer Giess	Tracer Giess
John Fox	AT&T
Phill Ryan	911 Council
Joe Currier	Sedgwick County
Patrick Robinson	AT&T
Terry McLarty	AT&T
Lesa Thye	AT&T
Billy Blankenship	AT&T

GIS Committee

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Ken Nelson (Chair)	KGS/DASC
Sherry Massey (Co-Chair)	Dickinson County, KS
Eileen Battles	DASC
Eamonn Coveney	City of Hays/Ellis County
Kyle Gonterwitz	KDOT
Saralyn Hayes	MARC
Jack Joseph	Sedgwick County
Sheri Taylor	Riley County, KS
Mike D’Attilio	KS Adjutant General’s Office/Division of Emergency Management

SIF Working Group

Name (Title)	Affiliation
Ken Nelson (Chair)	KGS/DASC
Sherry Massey (Co-Chair)	Dickinson County, KS
Eileen Battles	DASC
Scott Ekberg	911 Council
Lori Alexander	911 Council

History

Kansas 911 Act

Charters

Strategic Plan

Kansas NG911 Strategic Plan (2021-2023) (can be found in the Portal)

Adopted Policies of the Council

Adopted Policies of the Council (Summary)

Governance

Project Contracts

Allied Technical Consultants, Inc	Proposal	Contract
GeoComm	Proposal	Contract
GIS Data Resources, Inc.	Proposal	Contract
Kimble Mapping, Inc.	Proposal	Contract
R&S Digital Services, Inc.	Proposal	Contract
Alexander Open Systems (AOS)		Contract

Council Meeting Minutes

2021

Kansas NG911 Council Final Minutes to be posted January 22, 2021
- Kansas NG911 Council Handouts for January 22, 2021
Kansas NG911 Council Final Minutes to be posted April 12, 2021
- Kansas NG911 Council Handouts for April 12, 2021
Kansas NG911 Council Final Minutes to be posted June 11, 2021
- Kansas NG911 Council Handouts for June 11, 2021
Kansas NG911 Council Final Minutes to be posted August 27, 2021
- Kansas NG911 Council Handouts for August 27, 2021
Kansas NG911 Council Final Minutes to be posted October 11, 2021
- Kansas NG911 Council Handouts for October 11, 2021
Kansas NG911 Council Final Minutes to be posted December 10, 2021
- Kansas NG911 Council Handouts for December 10, 2021

Kansas NG911 Council Meeting April 6, 2020 – Cancelled due to COVID-19

Kansas NG911 Council Draft Meeting Minutes for June 5, 2020

Kansas NG911 Council Meeting Handouts for June 5, 2020

Kansas NG911 Council Final Meeting Minutes to be posted for August 21, 2020

Kansas NG911 Council Meeting Handouts for January 24, 2020

Kansas NG911 Council Meeting Financial Handouts for January 24, 2020

Kansas NG911 Council Briefing March 30, 3030

Kansas NG911 Council Meeting April 6, 2020 – Cancelled due to COVID-19

Kansas NG911 Council Draft Meeting Minutes for June 5, 2020

Kansas NG911 Council Meeting Handouts for June 5, 2020

Kansas NG911 Council Final Meeting Minutes to be posted for August 21, 2020

KS NG911 Council Draft Meeting Minutes to be posted for December 13, 2019
KS NG911 Council handouts for December 13, 2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Committee and Subcommittee Meeting Minutes

2020

Check back soon for committee notes for 2020

2019

Security Subcommittee Meeting Minutes 11072018

Kansas 911 Coordinating Council

About

Mission

Vision

Public Service Announcements

Organizationof the911 Council

Kansas 911 Council Contract Staff

Kansas 911 Council Contract Personnel

Executive Committee

Kansas 911 Council Members (Voting)

Kansas 911 Council Members (Non-Voting)

Kansas 911 Council Committees

Operations Committee

Training Sub-Committee

Text-To-911 Sub-Committee

Public Safety Dispatch Center Inclusion Workgroup (PSDC)

Administration Committee

Technical Committee

Security Sub-Committee

GIS Committee

SIF Working Group

Operations Committee

Training Sub-Committee

Text-To-911 Sub-Committee

Public Safety Dispatch Center Inclusion Workgroup (PSDC)

Administration Committee

Technical Committee

Security Sub-Committee

GIS Committee

SIF Working Group

History

History

Kansas 911 Act

Charters

Strategic Plan

Kansas NG911 Strategic Plan (2021-2023) (can be found in the Portal)

Adopted Policies of the Council

Governance

Project Contracts

Council Meeting Minutes

Kansas NG911 Council Meeting Handouts for June 5, 2020

Kansas NG911 Council Meeting Handouts for June 5, 2020

Kansas NG911 Council Draft Meeting Minutes to be posted for January 25, 2019

KS NG911 Council Draft Meeting Minutes to be posted for June 7, 2019

KS NG911 Council Draft Meeting Minutes to be posted for December 13, 2019

Organization
of the
911 Council