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Minutes for SB20 - Committee on Transportation
Short Title
Designating a portion of United States highway 69 as the Senator Dennis Wilson Memorial Highway.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 18, 2021
Chairperson Petersen called the meeting to order and opened the hearing on SB20.
Assistant Revisor Adam Siebers briefed the Committee on the bill by identifying the section of US Highway 69 to be designated as the Dennis Wilson Memorial Highway. Responding to a question, he replied that the length of memorial highways in Kansas varies widely and no parameters are established in statute.
Senator Molly Baumgardner, District 37, testifying in support of the bill, briefly traced the career of Dennis Wilson and his distinguished contributions to his community, his county, his state as a legislator and mentor, and to his country (Attachment 1). She described him as a man of action who was adept at resolving issues and solving problems.
Dave Lindstrom, a long-time friend, used the opportunity of supporting the bill to provide an extensive eulogy of his friend's life as a businessman, entrepreneur, civic and legislative leader and mentor, a Kansas City Chiefs enthusiast, and Kansas citizen (Attachment 2).
Mike Brown, a friend and business colleague, listed many of Dennis Wilson's accomplishments to indicate that designating a memorial highway would be a fitting tribute to him (Attachment 3).
Michael Armstrong, General Manager, WaterOne, via WebEx related how Dennis Wilson's initiative, expertise, priorities, creative thinking, and sensitivity as a people person made WaterOne an effective, efficient, and vibrant company (Attachment 4).
The following individuals, some representing companies, provided written-only testimony in support of SB20:
- Kurt Knudson, Freedom Bank (Attachment 5);
- Mike King, former Secretary, Kansas Department of Transportation (Attachment 6);
- Michael Boehm, Mayor, City of Lenexa (Attachment 7);
- Terry Presta, Simmons (Attachment 8);
- Ed Pugh, Attorney and former House member (Attachment 9);
- Bill Gregoric, President, New Century Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM (Attachment 10);
- Jene Vickrey, former House member (Attachment 11);
- Stan Frownfelter, former House member (Attachment 12);
- Mary Birch, Government Relations Specialist, Lathrop GPM (Attachment 13);
- Gary Hayzlett, former House member (Attachment 14);
- Ed O'Malley, former House member (Attachment15);
- Tim Shallenburger, former Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives (Attachment 16);
- Miles Schnaer, Crown Automotive (Attachment 17);
- Doug Wareham, President, Kansas Bankers Association (Attachment 18);
- John Petersen, Polsinelli (Attachment 19);
- Ed Eilert, Chairman, Johnson County Commissioners (Attachment 20);
- Steve Douglas, President, MTB Services (Attachment 21).
The Chairperson closed the hearing on SB20.
