Johnson County Board of County Commissioners
Aug. 15 through Sept. 5, 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 https://boccmeetings.jocogov.org/OnBaseAgendaOnline/.
Sept. 5, 2024
Public Comments lasted about 10 minutes.
The following reappointments were approved:
Gregory T Wolf – First District Representative to the Planning Commission through July 31, 2027; Stephen Bradley Miller – Third District Representative to the Planning Commission through July 31, 2027; Joshua Thede-- First District Representative to the Transportation Council through Aug. 31, 2027; Jarrod Ousley – Chairman representative to the Commission on Aging through Aug. 31, 2027.
The Mobile Crisis Response Expansion and Development Grant for $676,532 was accepted, and the Mental Health Department was authorized to add 3.0 FTEs to the Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT). The reallocation and expenditure of Mental Health fund balance (reserves) for FY 2024 for $120,000 and for FY 2025 for $267,000 was also approved.
Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Overland Park to serve individuals with behavioral health needs at the Overland Park Municipal Court for an initial term ending December 31, 2024 with four one-year renewals and authorized the Mental Health Department to add an FTE Clinician to serve as a Behavioral Health Specialist. They also authorized the reallocation and expenditure of fund balance (reserves) for FY 2024 for $55,000 and for FY 2025 for $120,000.
After a public hearing, Commissioners approved the 2024 Johnson County Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP), which is required by state statute. Commissioner Fast noted the importance of collaborative planning for recycling efforts. Commissioners O’Hara and Ashcraft wanted to have more measurement and study. Chairperson Kelly noted that a significant number of measurements and studies had already been performed. One member of the public objected. No Vote: Commissioner Ashcraft.
Because of an additional grant, the Board held a public hearing and approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Budget for the Transportation Fund, including increased appropriations for that fund for $9,991,140. One member of the public objected remotely. Other members of the public commented, asking for improvement specifically for the disabled community.
The Board recessed for two executive sessions, one for a matter concerning the Sheriff’s Department, the second to consult with legal counsel. The Commissioners approved an amendment to the agreement with Krupa Real Estate.
Aug. 29, 2024
Chairperson Kelly opened the meeting at 9:30 and requested a moment of silence in honor of the passing of Annabeth Surbaugh, first Chair of the Board. Commissioner Fast offered a few remarks about the many contributions of former Chair Surbaugh, including her work to create county parks, her support of restorative justice, the place for women in public office and many other gifts to Johnson County.
Public Comments lasted about 10 minutes.
The Board approved the appointment of Paul Lyons to the Commission on Aging.
The Board approved the following reappointments to the Commission on Aging:
John P. Smith, Second District;
Carol Feaker, Second District;
Dan Goodman, Third District;
Ben Harber, Fifth District;
And the reappointments of
Lisa Huesers, Third District Representative to the Transportation Council
Inas Younis - Fourth District Representative to the Developmental Supports Board
Commissioners ratified the following appointments to the Criminal Justice Advisory Council:
Kristy Baughman – Chairman Representative (Non-Profit Organization)
Susan Whitford – Chairman Representative (Community Leader)
Bob Pape – Chairman Representative (Council of Mayors)
After a public hearing and one objection from a speaker, Commissioners approved funding for the Lagoon Biosolids Cleanout Program for $3,076,800, increasing the total authorization to $6,734,300, and increasing the annual Lagoon Biosolids Cleanout term and supply contract limit with Denali Water Solutions from $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. The sewage solids have increased by 50%.
As the Governing Body of Fire District No. 2, Commissioners approved the 2024-2027 Fire Services Agreement with Fire District No. 1 and amended the 2021 Fire Services Agreement with Fire District No. 1 to terminate on Sept. 30, 2024.
Commissioners also approved the 2025 budgets for Fire District No. 2, No. 1, Northwest Consolidated Fire District and Consolidated Fire District No. 2. Recruiting, training and supporting staff are primary issues. Commissioners Ashcraft and O’Hara voted No on several of these Fire District budgets.
Chief Chick noted that the budget has been unanimously approved by every city in the Fire District.
The Board adopted the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and FY 2025 – 2029 Capital Improvement Program as proposed. Some items included were: Libraries, Parks and Recreation, merit raise pool, full time positions, Capital Improvement Program, and Wastewater repairs and construction.
For more information go to Briefing Sheet for Budget Adoption 2025.docx Four members of the public and Commissioner O’Hara objected, restating accusations of bribery and false information. No votes: O’Hara and Ashcraft.
Commissioner Hanzlick noted that State statute determined much of the budget and that the Sheriff’s Department, which has no accountability to the County Board, has the biggest portion of the budget.
Chairperson Kelly noted that the public complaints about specific budget items all referred to one-time dispersals of COVID and grant monies. Commissioner Allenbrand admonished Commissioner O’Hara’s ill-informed complaints about staff and many other issues on this open forum, advising her to address these concerns with the Chair in private.
County Economic Research Institute (CERI) Indicators – August 2024 Edition—June Unemployment rate, 3.3%; total taxable retail sales year-to-date are 4.1% through May 2024, down 2.0%.
The Johnson County Government Time Capsule will be buried after the dedication of the new courthouse.
Rotating art exhibits will showcase local and emerging artists at the Johnson County Administration Building.
Commissioner Fast reported that mental health calls will soon be directed to nearby local help. Johnson County mental health center has moved up in ranking from 50th to 28th, a significant improvement, but the lack of state Medicaid expansion in Kansas impacts our ranking.
Commissioner O’Hara reported that she attended the Lenexa Planning Commission meeting this week about the Homeless Services Center and is pleased this body voted to reject it. The City Council meeting will be in September. She led Bible study for minors in a county facility.
Commissioner Hanzlick noted that constituents are interested in how well the Board is moving the county ahead, while a few are focused only on money spent. She praised the Regional Housing Partnership, which has implemented the Community Housing Trust Business plan, needs assessment, data hub and locator tool. There is a metro shortage of 30,000 desperately needed childcare slots, with 6,000 in the county. Also, she’s been getting many emails from residents frightened about property taxes; a review of one anxious resident’s tax bill enabled her to see that she will see an increase of less than $2.00 per month. The largest portion of the tax bill is set by the public schools, not the BOCC. She asked that Commissioners and residents be careful of their words and stop scaring people. If people are worried about their tax bill, they should ask their commissioners for more information.
Commissioner Ashcraft asked that Annabeth Surbaugh’s name and photo be included in the commissioners’ display at the new courthouse.
On a somber note, Commissioner Allenbrand stated that she and other officials sign up for public office to serve the community. She stated that both she and members of the Prairie Village city council have received harassment and death threats. She asked that individual members of the public think twice about making threats and vandalizing personal property of public officials with trash. She attended the World Cup planning group meeting and the airport commission meeting, noting new leases and increased revenue.
Commissioner Meyers attended the informational meetings on the Homeless Services Center at Monticello Library, which were very good. There will be further discussion and more information shared about the Center.
Chairperson Kelly will order that all county flags flown at half-mast on the day of former Chair Surbaugh’s interment. He also attended the World Cup meeting on transportation. He stated that the Board always works together for the good of the community, that good work goes on there, and they will continue to find ways to meet the growing needs of the county. In honor of Labor Day he thanked the county employees, unions and labor.
Aug. 22, 2024
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 by Chair Mike Kelly. The Chair declared Aug. 31, 2024 Overdose Awareness Day, September 2024 National Recovery Month, and September 2024 National Preparedness Month. Public Comments lasted 11 minutes.
The Aug. 1, 2024, business session minutes were approved unanimously. 08-01-2024 BOCC draft Minutes.doc.pdf (jocogov.org).
The reappointments of Christy Ziegler (Second District Representative) to the Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board through June 30, 2027; Cynthia Schendel (Fourth District Representative) to the Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board through June 30, 2027; and Gary Hicks (Third District Representative) to the Museum Advisory Council through May 7, 2027, were approved unanimously.
Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 2024-031, authorizing a contract with Clarion Associates, LLC, for Zoning and Subdivision Regulations Update, at a cost not to exceed $343,765 was approved by a vote of 6-1, with Commissioner O’Hara dissenting. There was one public commenter disagreeing with the hiring of outside experts, along with Commissioner O’Hara. Staff responded that the staff updates regulations, as mandates are applied. However, this update will be comprehensive, incorporating, simplifying, and clarifying federal, state, county, and municipal regulations, as applicable.
Sitting as the Governing Board of Fire District No. 2, the Board held a public hearing, and the proposed budget, exceeding the revenue neutral rate, Resolution No. 2024-1, authorizing a levy of property taxes in support of the budget for Fire District No. 2 for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget year that requires a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral rate of 10.115 mills for the Fire District No. 2 General Fund, 0.607 mills for the Fire District No. 2 Debt Service Bond H Fund, and 0.839 mills for the Fire District No. 2 Debt Service Bond I Fund was passed by a vote of 7-0. Resolution No. 2024-2 approving the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget for Fire District No. 2 was adopted by a vote of 7-0.
A public hearing was held and Resolution No. 058-24, approving the 2025 Johnson County Environmental Sanitary Code (JCESC) was approved by a vote of 7-0, with an amendment requiring the Health Department to review at least every five years, or at intervals to be decided procedurally by staff.
Exhibit A - 2025 Johnson County Environmental Sanitary Code - DRAFT - 08.22.pdf (jocogov.org)
A public hearing was held and Resolution No. 059-24, approving the 2025 Johnson County Aquatic Health Code (JCAHC) was approved by a vote of 7-0, with an amendment requiring the Health Department to review at least every five years, or at intervals to be decided procedurally by staff.
2025 Johnson County Aquatic Health Code - DRAFT - 08.22.24.pdf.pdf (jocogov.org)
Charter Resolution No. 046-24, approving the use of home rule authority to exempt Johnson County from a provision of K.S.A. 65-202 regarding annual sanitary inspections of school buildings and grounds, including childcare facilities by the local health officer was approved by a vote of 7-0.
Charter Resolution No. 046-24 re School Sanitary Inspections (1).docx.pdf (jocogov.org)
A Public Hearing on FY 2025 Budget was held on Tuesday, the 20th, with 110 residents attending and 31 speakers asking questions, mostly regarding the appraisal process. More information regarding the process and what is state-mandated and what the county controls is available on the website. The video is available here View Meeting - OnBase Agenda Online (jocogov.org) and more information on the appraisal process here Appraiser | Johnson County Kansas (jocogov.org)
A Homeless Services Center Informational Meeting was held on Wednesday, the 22nd, with 100 residents attending. Questions that weren't fully covered are available as FAQs on the website Homeless Services Center | Johnson County Kansas (jocogov.org). Another public meeting will be held on Thursday, the 22nd.
The Public Sector HR Association (PSHRA®) 2024 Agency of Excellence Award for a Medium Agency (2000-9999 members) was presented to the Johnson County Government for its VIBE (Voices of Inclusion, Belonging, and Equity) program. VIBE represents a strategic effort to foster a workplace culture that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), including multi-modal DEIB training, an annual Juneteenth Community Celebration, and the agency’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coalition.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Fast attended the KS Housing Conference and presented the County’s Eviction Court successes.
Commissioner Meyers decried the public comment this morning, which suggested residents arm themselves, and he drew a through line to the public behavior of Commissioners.
Commissioner Ashcraft talked about the Homeless Center being an item before the Lenexa Planning Commission next week.
Commissioner Hanzlick gave a shout-out to the groundbreaking for the Golden Scoop in OP which employs differently-abled individuals. She also echoed Commissioner Allenbrand’s comments about the public behavior of Commissioner O’Hara at county-sponsored public meetings. She read from the Rules of Order, voted on by the BOCC, regarding the will of the majority being binding on the body, designating the Chair as the official spokesperson (especially to the media), and that individual commissioners should not undermine the Board or its members. Circulating denigrating cartoons and related behaviors regarding other Commissioners or the BOCC do not meet the Rules of Order on professional decorum. Commissioners are expected to rise above division, not contribute to it, and to remember that each is elected by the constituents of their individual districts to represent the entire county.
Commissioner O’Hara reviewed the public comments, talked about Bible study, and tried to excuse her behavior by stating that she has the right to her opinion.
Commissioner Allenbrand attended the JOCO Budget Hearing and the Homeless Center Informational Meeting this week and thanked staff for their management of these meetings. She called out Commissioner O’Hara for her troubling behavior, which denigrated staff & other commissioners at public forums and for expressing her opinions to the media at those events. After multiple unsuccessful attempts at addressing the issue privately, Commissioner Allenbrand felt the need to express it here in a public meeting.
Chair Kelly concurred with the comments regarding public behavior while encouraging everyone to take a beat.
Aug. 15, 2024
After the roll call and Pledge of Allegiance, Chairperson Kelly announced National Aviation Day for Aug. 19. Johnson County has the busiest airports in the state.
Public Comments lasted about 20 minutes.
In order to address the many transportation needs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup event here, the Board authorized an exception to competition with Master’s Transportation to lease 50 Ford F650 Glaval Concorde III and 35 passenger vehicles for $1,500,000, using $1,200,000 of federal section 5307 funding and a local match of $300,000. Vehicles will be scarce. Two members of the public objected. Chairperson Kelly explained that it will be important to plan ahead so that County residents can get to work and other places during the crowded conditions. Commissioner O’Hara voted No.
Commissioner O’Hara and public commenters repeated disinformation about elections and County finances. Nevertheless, because the County has grown, we need to buy more electronic poll books and other equipment to support in-person voting for an expected record high turn-out in November.
Commissioners approved a contract with KNOWiNK to buy the additional items for an additional $40,280, for a total project amount of $601,780. Commissioner O’Hara’s amendment to table failed.
A public hearing will be held on Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m. about proposed amendments to the 2024 Budget for the Transportation Fund for $9,991,140 for additional grant funding. Transit was recently awarded additional state and federal grants, including the local match required, for this amount. The grants were originally voted on and accepted by the Board previously.
A public hearing/informational meeting will be held on Sept. 11 about the Belinder Pump Station Improvements Project, located at 5700 Belinder Road.
Commissioner Hanzlick reported that the Commission on Aging is working on their legislative platform for 2025. She also presented a program with David Warm to the Rotary of Western Johnson County about the work of Mid-America Regional Council.
Commissioner O’Hara repeated the public comments and reiterated disinformation and slurs about immigrants and people struggling with houselessness. She complained about her own taxes.
Commissioner Allenbrand thanked Greg Baldwin and Peg Trent for helping to get some statutes changed concerning evictions.
Chairperson Kelly stated that the canvass for the primary is Aug. 16.
Johnson County Library Board of Directors
Sept. 12, 2024
Observer: Nancy Kalikow Maxwell
The Johnson County Library Board of Directors met on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Shelley O’Brian announced that the Friends will be holding Advocacy Training to help teach members how to speak up for libraries. Other staff reports included an update on renovations planned for the Spring Hill and DeSoto Branches. Announcement was made that the next step on the proposed Corinth/YMCA/Prairie Village facility will be to hold another public engagement session next month. If all parties agree to go forward, Prairie Village residents will then be asked to vote on the matter sometime in 2025. The Library Board approved a state-mandated tax revenue neutral resolution, using the same language as the County Commission’s resolution. The final item was an update on refreshing the Library Master Plan, after which the Board went into Executive Session at 5:20 p.m. to discuss personnel matters.
To learn more, click https://www.jocolibrary.org/about/library-board-meeting-summaries
Blue Valley Board of Education Meeting
Sept. 9, 2024. Viewed via Livestream
Observer: Ann Schuster
The meeting began at 5:55 p.m. with a moment of silence for the victims of the Apalachee High School shootings. All Board Members were present.
Board Committee reports followed from the DEI, Communications and Finance/Operations committees. All mentioned that their first meetings of the year covered missions and goals to familiarize new members. Superintendent Tonya Merrigan and Communications Director Kristi McNerlin are attending each Board Committee gathering to introduce the work that will be done on the District Strategic Plan update. A virtual walk-through for the new middle school to open in 2026 was provided to the Finance /Operations group.
Board Members reported their activities for the past month including attendance at the following events: Education Foundation Breakfast, KASB Board of Directors meeting, luncheon with legislators to familiarize lawmakers with BV’s legislative agenda, Board committee meetings, Missouri/Kansas Equity in Education Summit, Mahaffie Center event featuring Governor Laura Kelly, and the Suicide Prevention Coalition conference. Board Member Clay Norkey urged the BV community to challenge legislators to enact laws that curb gun violence.
Dr. Merrigan’s Superintendent’s report highlighted the District’s recognition by Forbes Magazine as one of the state’s best employers. She also noted that there were 783 students designated AP Scholars in the District this past year. In addition, she drew attention to several student/staff recognitions and sports and academic honors.
The following agenda items were then discussed:
- Approval of the Straub Construction Company contract for an addition to the weight room at BVNW HS (a result of the 2023 bond issue).
- Approval of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield renewals for employee insurance coverage.
- Approval of the Delta Dental contract for employee dental coverage.
- Approval of the Standard Insurance contract for short and long-term disability coverage as well as voluntary insurance offerings for staff (e.g. critical and cancer care) and legal services options.
- A lengthy discussion on the 2024-25 Legal Maximum Budget and Estimated Tax Rate preceded its approval by the Board.
- A presentation was given on District design and construction updates, including completed summer projects.
- The soon-to-be-constructed middle school was given the name Wolf Springs Middle School.
- Communications and C and I Board Advisory committee appointments were then approved, as were two KASB Assembly delegates from the Board.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:23 p.m.
To learn more, click here.