HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisMinutes_2009_10_23Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities
October 23, 2009
A meeting of the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities was held at 2:00 p.m.
on Friday, October 23, 2009 in the Brookings City Hall with the following members present:
Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Alan Davis, Kim Lindell, Dave Miller, Jessie Kuechenmeister, Dave
Bertelson and Jeff Vostad. Absent: Kathy Heylens, Lonnie Bayer, Kurt Cogswell and Dona
Kornbaum.
Chair Dave Miller called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. The next meeting of the committee
was scheduled for November 20, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. A new brochure project about the facts &
myths of employing people with disabilities was added to the agenda by Lindell. The amended
agenda was approved.
New Business
Brochure – Facts & Myths About Employing People with Disabilities. Lindell presented
an idea for the Committee to create and distribute a brochure regarding the Facts/Myths of
employing people with disabilities. She suggested involving local business owners/managers that
would be willing to talk to other businesses about their successes. She offered to work on the
project and it also might be something Vocational Rehabilitation would be interested in
partnering on. She further suggested that the businesses that win the awards and hire people
with disabilities could be encouraged to distribute the brochures to their peers. She got her
inspiration for this project after attending the presentation by Deb Russell from Walgreens.
Russell emphasized how powerful peer to peer interaction can be. One myth Russell also
talked about was the cost of accommodating people with disabilities in the workplace. In the
case of Walgreen’s, nationwide they have only spent $10,000 for accommodations for people
with disabilities their 7,000 stores, which is a $16.50 per person average.
Renewal with ADA Leadership Network. Annual renewal with the ADA Leadership
Network (DBTAC) is due on November 1st. There was unanimous consensus to continue this
partnership. Thornes will prepare the annual renewal form and work plan.
Governor’s Awards Recognition. Recognition of the local Governor’s Awards nominees will
be held at the Tuesday, October 27th, City Council Meeting, at 6:00 p.m. Davis and
Kuechenmeister have prepared the mayoral proclamations for each nominee. Miller and
Kuechenmeister will assist Mayor Reed in the recognition.
The Governor’s Award is a program that recognizes individuals and employers for their
contributions to the rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities in South Dakota.
The Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities and Brookings NDEAM (National
Disability Employment Awareness Month) Committee are nominating the following local
nominations for the 2010 Governor’s Awards.
1) Outstanding Large Private Employer (non-government) – Aramark, Inc.
2) Outstanding Small Private Employer (non-government) – Valley Restaurant
3) Outstanding Employee with a Disability – Kristi Glenn (McDonalds Restaurant)
4) Outstanding Citizen with a Disability – Amy McGregor
Nominations will then be submitted to the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Employment of
People with Disabilities for statewide competition for the Governor’s Awards. Final selection for
these awards will be made by the Governor’s Committee in early January 2020.
Updates/Reports:
Update on presentation to SDSU Landscape Class. Last month Thornes was approached
by Matt James, SDSU Landscape Architect Professor, about a presentation to his class. The
Committee suggested a hands-on, out-of-the-classroom approach to discussing accessibility in the
outdoor environment. The Committee expressed interest in getting something arranged yet
this semester and suggested utilizing the SDSU people-mover and meeting onsite at one of the
review projects before the snow flies. Thornes contacted James with potential dates; however,
it was too late in his class session to make arrangements. She will try again for next year.
Accessibility Review Invites and Concerns (School & County & Parking Issues).
Miller attended the most recent school board meeting regarding the high school expansion project.
The plans should be ready for committee review in approximately 2 weeks. He noted that the
stage will have an interior ramp.
Brookings Post Office. Thornes reported having received an official letter of notification dated
September 17, 2009, from the United States Access Board acknowledging receipt of the
Committee’s April 6, 2009 accessibility complaint regarding the Brookings Post Office. The Access
Board will be processing the complaint.
Request for Information – City of Yankton. Miller was contacted by the Mayor of Yankton
requesting information about the Committee and its mission and activities. The Mayor hopes to
create a similar committee in Yankton.
City ADA Coordinator’s Report: Current open projects Thornes and the Committee are
working on include the City Hall/Police Department entrance and the Hospital expansion.
Calendar:
October 27th Governor’s Awards Recognition – City Council – 6 pm
October 27th City Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon – Swiftel Center – Noon
December 1st Mayor’s Christmas Party (tentative)
June 21-23, 2010 National ADA Symposium
Meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes