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Johnson County Board of County Commissioners

July 18 through Aug. 8 2024 (most recent listed first)

Observers: Rebecca James, Joan Gilson, Jerry Gilson

The Board of County Commissioners encourages citizen participation in local governance processes. To that end, and in compliance with the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KSA 75-4317), the public is invited to participate in today’s meeting. A copy of the rules, BOCC materials, meeting schedules and videos are available at BOCC meetings.

Thursday, Aug. 08, 2024

Commissioner O’Hara was absent. Public Comments lasted about 10 minutes.

 After a presentation by Wastewater Facilities Director Susan Pekarek, Commissioners voted to execute a second loan agreement for $100,000,000 with the State, to help finance the Nelson Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements project. Repayment of this second loan will be made at an interest rate of 2.29%, which is more than a full percent lower than the current estimated conventional bond rate of 3.64%.

The Commissioners approved a contract with Railway Service Contractors, Inc. for locomotive repair and component upgrades for $645,004.65. The Johnson County Airport Commission (JCAC) owns and operates a short line railroad, servicing the last mile for up to nine business park tenants. Because the annual car count consistently hovers around 700, and because two new users will come into the system soon, a backup locomotive is critical. 

Greg Baldwin shared a spotlight on the “Happy or Not” survey tool for the Treasury, Taxation and Vehicles’ Customer Experience Initiative. 

 Partial Results: Customer Sentiment

--Mission DMV – 84% positive, 16% negative

--Olathe DMV – 84% positive, 16% negative

--DMV Email Inquiries – 95% positive, 5% negative

--TTV Inquiries – 98% positive, 2% negative

More information is available here: FINAL.BOCC_Presentation.DMV_CX.08Aug2024.pptx

Interagency Public Safety Response Training – More than 900 responders trained for an active shooter event, in cooperation with a number of other local agencies.

The Johnson County Fair was held from July 29 to Aug. 3 and allowed a great opportunity to share information about the functions of local government with residents. 

Notices of Proposed Property Tax Increase and Public Hearings — State law requires County Clerks to send property owners notification of the revenue neutral rate in estimated tax notices, updated this year to reflect legislative changes. The notices must include revenue neutral tax amounts and 2024 maximum (proposed) tax amounts compared to the previous year’s tax amounts levied by taxing authorities. The notices also provide the dates, times, and locations for public hearings to be held by each taxing subdivision intending to exceed their revenue neutral rate. Over 230,000 notices will be sent out by Aug. 10th, 2024. Over 14,400 notices will be posted online but not mailed as the County is not required to send notices to owners of property exempt from taxation. The school general line includes the special legislative session changes related to property tax relief, which included increasing the school levy exemption from $44,702 to $75,000 of appraised value, resulting in a $172.50 credit for qualifying properties. The notice is not a bill and should not be paid. Property taxes will be calculated November 1st and property tax statements will be issued later in November. New this year, property owners can view and print their notices by searching their property using their quick reference number or address online at www.jocogov.org/estimatedtaxnotice.

Thursday, Aug. 01, 2024

Public Comments lasted about 10 minutes.

The City of De Soto appointed David R. Anderson to the Northwest Consolidated Fire District Board effective July 2, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2026 to fill a vacant City appointment per city Resolution No. 2044. 

The Board approved the appointments to the Ad-hoc Resident Committee on Board of County Commissioners Salaries: First District Representative Ed Peterson; Second District Representative Patricia Mach; Third District Representative Anna Van Ophem; Fourth District Representative Dawn Rattan; Fifth District Representative David Lindstrom; Sixth District Representative Chrysalyn Huff; and Seventh District Representative Hillary Thomas through November 30, 2024. 

In order to assist in the move to cleaner modes of transportation, the Commissioners voted to accept the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Carbon Reduction Program grant award, administered by the Federal Highway Administration and distributed through the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for electric vehicle charging stations. A member of the public and Commissioners O’Hara and Ashcraft objected.  Commissioner O’Hara’s proposed amendment that the County will charge a fee for the stations within 90 days to cover the entire cost failed. 

The Board also accepted Section 5339 Federal Transportation Administration funding for $7,650,000 through the “Bus and Bus Facilities” competitive program to replace nearly half of the “end-of-life” vehicles with cleaner, energy efficient transit vehicles (clean diesel buses with 90% reduction in particulate emissions) for use in the JCT transit system. The proposed vehicles would be a mix of up to 12-30’ and/or 40’ transit buses, depending on the service application. No vote: Commissioner O’Hara. 

Commissioners accepted funds from the Kansas Department of Transportation to buy one energy efficient transit vehicle and transit technology. No Vote: Commissioner O’Hara.

NACO Achievement Awards--The National Association of Counties awarded the 2024 Achievement Award to Johnson County for several programs. The first program highlighted this week was “Problem-Solving Beds at the Johnson County Adult Residential Center (ARC).” The program is to serve justice involved individuals who lack support/resources to use as a short-term stay bed to solve the barriers of homelessness/housing insecurity.  The fact that this program offered an innovative way to use existing resources to address homelessness, the large number of people served, and the use of collaborative strategies with many groups to create the program were among the reasons cited for the award.

County Economic Research Institute (CERI) Indicators – July 2024 Edition. The unemployment rate as of this date is 2.8%; no multi-family building permits were issued; taxable retail sales declined 4.9%.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Public Comments lasted about 10 minutes.

The following reappointments were ratified or approved:

--Jennifer Day - First District Representative to the Museum Advisory Council through May 7, 2026.

--Emily Vietti - Fourth District Representative to the Public Art Commission through Dec. 31, 2026.

--Donna Davis – Fourth District Representative to the Museum Advisory Council through May 7, 2027.

--Logan Heley – Fourth District Representative to the Transportation Council through Aug. 31, 2026.

--Gregory Mains – Fifth District Representative to the Public Art Commission through Dec. 31, 2026.

--AJ Lang - Sixth District Representative to the Northwest Consolidated Fire District Board through Dec. 31, 2026.

--Brian J Walker – Sixth District Representative to the Fire District No. 1 Governing Board through July 1, 2027.

--Jean Hughes – Seventh District Representative to the Museum Advisory Council through May 7, 2025.

--James Green – Chairman Representative to the Transportation Council through Aug. 31, 2027.

-- Leonard Nick - Chairman Representative to the Investment Review Group through Dec. 31, 2025.

--Donald E. Sullivan - Chairman Representative to the Investment Review Group through June 22, 2026.

The following appointments were approved:

--Kay L. Shirley - Third District Representative to the Public Art Commission through Dec. 31, 2025.

--Louis A. Serrone – Fifth District Representative to the Airport Commission effective Aug. 1, 2024, through July 31, 2027.

 After a conducting a public hearing, the Board authorized $14,963,869 for the construction phase of the Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Wastewater Treatment Facility Influent Screening, Disinfection, and Plant Effluent Water Improvements Project, increasing the total project authorization to $16,743,854. Commissioner Hanzlick commended the careful planning for this project which has resulted in a rate increase of only 5%, compared to a larger increase in a nearby city. Commissioner O’Hara complained about taxes, “frontloading of fees.”  A contract with Crossland Heavy Contractors, Inc. to construct the Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Wastewater Treatment Facility Influent Screening, Disinfection, and Plant Effluent Water Improvements Project for $11,062,582 was authorized. 

After several public comments in support of the Homeless Services Center project and other remarks repeating falsehoods and complaints, the Board authorized Chair Kelly to execute the assignment agreement for the Homeless Services Center with reStart, Inc. This agreement assures reStart, Inc. as the owner/operator of the facility and authorizes the reallocation and expenditure of General Fund Reserves (Countywide Support Funds) for $3,700,000. United Community Services recommended ReStart to partner with the county as the best qualified of four proposals.

Adjustments to the Micro Transit Service Operations were put into place early in July as recommended below:

-- Reduce daily service hours from 100 to 50 to stay within FY2024 budget

--Monitor service to maintain OTP average of 90%

--Seek BOCC direction following Strategic Plan recommendations (Q1 2025)

The BOCC Board Priority Report details progress on the following strategic projects: Improved housing options, a healthy and safe community, infrastructure work, and investment in staff.

https://boccmeetings.jocogov.org/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Documents/priorities.

July 18, 2024

After the meeting was called to order and the Pledge of Allegiance, the Board heard public comments, which lasted about 10 minutes. 

The Board approved the following items:

--(Sitting as the Fire District No. 2 Governing Board, and continuing from 6/27/2024 meeting.) The publication of a proposed budget for Johnson County Fire District No. 2 for $10,085,579 for fiscal year 2025, notifying the County Clerk of the proposed intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate, and setting a public hearing on the proposed budget for Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in the Board Chambers. The 37% increase reflects the addition of the Spring Hill area, among other items. Although property valuations are increasing, mill levies are reduced. Pay levels for Fire District 2 employees are becoming more competitive. 2025 FD2 Budget Presentation.pptx

 --A request from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and St. John Paul II Parish, applicants, and Day3, LLC, landowner, for a 30-year-term, conditional use permit to operate a private school, on 4.5 acres, on property zoned RN1, Residential Neighborhood 1 District, at 16740 W. 175th Street.

 --The 10th Judicial District’s Financial Enhancement allocation for $460,558.24 to the Kansas Department of Corrections and authorizing the associated positions, contracts, and client services.

Briefing Sheet KDOC Budget Enhancement - Final.docx. 

--A services agreement with Hy-Vee to provide meal preparation and delivery for the Adolescent Center for Treatment (ACT), the respite unit at Youth and Family Services (YFS), the Crisis Recovery Center (CRC), the Youth Crisis Stabilization Center (YCSC), the Adult Crisis Stabilization Center (ACSC), and the Adult Detox Unit (ADU), for $475,000 annually for one year with the option to renew for three additional one year periods. The contract is too small to attract bids.

The audit of County financial transactions indicated no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses.  For more information go to  County of Johnson 2023 ACFR Final.pdf

Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (LFRF) Report – The Sheriff’s Department received about $16,450,000 from COVID 19 recovery funds. Food assistance, housing security, and mental health services also received funding. Covid19 Operating Summary Presentation - 2nd Qtr 2024.pptx

Commission Comments

Chairperson Kelly cited the importance of civility, especially after the events of July 13, 2024, including refraining from name-calling.

Commissioner Fast presented information on the Kuhlman project, stormwater and streamway trails to the Sierra Club. She also attended the addiction mediation court last week, and praised the rental assistance program for keeping many Johnson Countians in their homes.

 Commissioner O’Hara reiterated some inaccurate and homophobic public comments.

 Commissioner Hanzlick noted that Jessa Molina, from our Housing Department, will present at the KS Housing Conference about the success of our eviction mediation program, which is now a statewide program model.

Commissioner Ashcraft will introduce an agenda item about the process for calling the question at BOCC meetings.

Commissioner Allenbrand objected to the homophobic comments.

Johnson County Library Board of Directors Meeting

Aug. 8, 2024

Observer: Nancy Kalikow Maxwell

The Johnson County Library Board of Directors met at 4:00pm. The meeting began with a report from the Board Counsel on the procedures for adhering to any Kansas Open Records Report request that should be received. Guidelines for meeting the Kansas Open Meeting Act were reviewed, noting that the forthcoming Library Board Retreat would need to be posted publicly, but the public would not need to be provided an opportunity for input. A presentation by the Marketing and Communications Manager included an announcement that several promotional videos had won awards and that several electronic newsletters had enjoyed higher-than-average opening rates. The Library’s new email campaign directed new residents is highly successful and the 40-page Library Guide continues to be popular. Following the financial and facilities report, Program Coordinator Ashley Fick discussed the Library’s support of the recent election, noting that the Lenexa and Shawnee sites as early voting sites proved especially popular. Displays encouraging voting were also mounted in all branches. The security measures surrounding the ballot boxes outside the library were detailed, emphasizing that the election office – not the Library – is responsible for establishing video recording procedures. The meeting adjourned at 6:00pm

To learn more, click here.

Prairie Village City Council 

Aug. 5, 2024

Observer: Eileen Marshall

The Council met in person at 6:00 p.m., with public viewing in person or via livestream. Only six members plus the Mayor were present; a quorum is eight. Therefore, this was not an official meeting of the council, and no business could be conducted. Absent: Nguyen, O’Toole, Reddell, Selders, Sharp and Shelton

County Commissioners Fast and O’Hara were in the audience.

There was a lengthy presentation by Stephanie Boyer of ReStart regarding the Homeless Services Center planned for the former La Quinta Inn on 95th Street in Lenexa. Cities in the county are being asked to chip in 76 cents per capita per year for the first three years of operations, and this was a presentation to cover why the request is being made and how the money will be used. For Prairie Village, the total is about $17,500 for a year. Councilmembers asked lots of questions about the homeless shelter and the processes surrounding it. No commitment was made due to lack of a quorum.

Public comments were also lengthy. 

Starting around 9:00, Mr Hulett of the KC Y began a presentation of the projected financials of the community center, should it be built. (Many steps would still have to be taken, including a vote by PV residents.)

The meeting ended at about 10:00.

To learn more, click here.