Conference Presentations
Legislative Deep Dive: What's Ahead for 2026
KACo's Government Affairs team provides a preview of the 2026 legislative session, including the top priority of reshaping the shared responsibility of county jails in Kentucky.
- Shellie Hampton, KACo Director of Government Affairs
- Kayla Smith, KACo Policy Analyst
Smart Policies for AI Adoption
As artificial intelligence becomes an integral part of of life and work, counties need to understand both the opportunities and potential concerns when it comes its use. In this session, Mel Kimmel, COO and Certified AI Partner at Writing.io, will explore best practices for creating AI use policies, avoiding common pitfalls and fostering innovation while protecting data integrity and public trust.
- Mel Kimmel, AI Governance Specialist, Writing.io
Creative Paths to Economic Investment in Your County
Counties across Kentucky are finding new and innovative ways to attract investment and create local opportunities. Lucas Witt, Co-Founder and Partner at MWM Consulting, LLC, will share practical strategies and real-world examples of how counties can leverage partnerships, incentives and creative financing tools to spur economic growth and strengthen their communities.
- Lucas Witt, Co-Founder and Partner, MWM Consulting, LLC
Strategies to Address Housing Shortages and Affordable Housing
As required by 2025 House Bill 321 for planning commissioners and board of adjustment members, this session will explore housing needs across the state and discuss strategies that local communities can adopt to help alleviate the housing shortage and provide more affordable housing options.
- Brian Davis, Director, Louisville Metro Office of Planning
- Brian Howard, Executive Director, Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission
Records, Requests and Responsibility: Kentucky’s Open Records
Understanding Kentucky’s open records law is essential for every county official. KACo Staff Attorney Rich Ornstein will provide an overview of the law, share recent updates and outline best practices for handling records requests responsibly and efficiently while maintaining transparency and compliance.
- Rich Ornstein, KACo Staff Attorney
Kentucky Department of Corrections Reentry Simulation
This session will provide an in-depth overview of the reentry landscape in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with a particular focus on a reentry simulation from the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
- Kristin Porter, Director, Division of Reentry Services
- Natalie Burikhanov, Executive Director, Team Kentucky Office of Reentry Services
Setting Up Your IT Systems for Success
Technology plays a critical role in every county’s daily operations. Union County Judge/Executive Adam O’Nan and McLean County Judge/Executive Curtis Dame share how their counties have built reliable, secure and efficient IT systems that support staff, protect data and improve public service delivery. Learn practical steps and lessons that can help any county strengthen its technology foundation.
- Adam O'Nan, Union County Judge/Executive
- Curtis Dame, McLean County Judge/Executive
Leading Liability: What's Driving Insurance Costs for Counties
In this session, legal expert Jeffrey Mando examines the key factors contributing to increased liability exposure, recent legal trends impacting public entities and proactive strategies counties can adopt to reduce risk and control costs.
- Jeffrey Mando, Member, Adams Law