Kansas City/County Manager Conference

State of Hospitals in Kansas: Challenges, Innovations, and Future Economic Vitality

• Join Professor Kent Spreckelmeyer from the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design as he explores innovative strategies to rejuvenate small-town main streets by integrating state-of-the-art health care facilities. Drawing from his collaborative work with KU alumnus and HDR design director Tom Trenolone, Professor Spreckelmeyer will discuss how consolidating dispersed resources into centralized downtown locations can serve as economic catalysts and community hubs. Their award-winning design for Haxtun, Colorado, exemplifies this approach by repurposing existing Main Street buildings and introducing new structures to create a vibrant, health-focused community center. This session will delve into redefining rural health beyond traditional medical services, emphasizing community well-being and revitalization.

Breakouts Round One:

• Designing an Environmental Prototype to Improve the Health of Rural Communities
• Enhancing Public Dialogue

Breakouts Round Two:

• Regional Solutions: Addressing Short-Term Rentals
• Fostering Connections: A Community Engagement Model to Enhance Collaboration and Impact

• KACM/KCCM Planning and Committee Work
• CPM Alumni Happy Hour 

Closing Plenary: Building a House with Good Bones: Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned from Local Equity Offices - Nicole Humphrey

• Many local equity offices, as well as positions related to equity in local government, were established over the last five years. This means that individuals in these offices were given the task of developing and stabilizing a new area within their local government. During this presentation we’ll explore the challenges faced and lesson learned from equity offices and equity managers as they worked to navigate this new space, and build a house with good bones.