APRIL - 2009

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Gateway Study

Johnson County along with other local, state, and federal agencies, will be participating in the Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) Gateway study. As the region continues to grow and traffic issues develop KDOT needs to determine what improvements should be made to best handle future traffic demands, accommodate public transportation, and support economic development efforts. This study will seek to develop an ultimate design concept for the I-435/I-35/K-10 interchanges (known as the Johnson County Gateway).

Public Works Transportation Study - www.jocogov.org/pubwrks/planning/Transstudy.htm

KDOT has a web site dedicated to providing information on this study. Click here to visit the web site - www.JoCoGateway.com.

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County Commission approves 2009 Citizen Survey

A 2009 Citizen Survey of Johnson County to assess community needs and priorities was authorized Thursday, April 9, by the Johnson County Board of Commissioners.

The survey is conducted every two years. On Thursday, the Board authorized $31,055 to fund the 2009 survey. It is the same amount approved by the Board in 2007. The 2005 survey was completed for $29,860.

The 2009 survey will be conducted by ETC Institute, an Olathe firm that’s one of the nation’s leading community-based market research firms in public surveying and polling processes. ETC also conducted the 2005 and 2007 surveys.

“This survey helps us measure how the county is doing in using its resources effectively to provide the services that our citizens want and expect from their county government,” Commission Chairman Annabeth Surbaugh said.

The timing of the 2009 survey is planned to gather citizen viewpoints regarding issues in the upcoming FY 2010 Budget deliberations that start in early June and end in mid-August with approval of the new budget.

As part of the survey, ETC will seek residents’ levels of satisfaction with Johnson County services and programs, including perceptions about overall quality of service, availability, affordability, accessibility, expertise, timeliness, and responsiveness.

The surveys will be mailed out by mid-April. ETC plans to select a random sample of about 4,000 Johnson County households for the six-page survey involving approximately 25 questions. The survey is expected to take about 15 minutes for residents to complete. Only one survey will be sent to each selected household.

The goal is to complete at least 1,200 surveys by a combination of initial mail responses and follow-up phone interviews to achieve an adequate data base. At least 200 surveys will be completed in each of the county’s six commission districts.

Plans are to have initial survey results tabulated by mid-May for presentation to the Board. A final report of findings from the 2009 Citizen Survey is expected in June.

ETC was founded in 1982 by Dr. Elaine Tatham and has worked with more than 300 state and local governments across the nation in citizen and public surveys. Chris Tatham, the founder’s son, now serves as president and chief executive officer of ETC.

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County’s dual triple-A ratings reaffirmed in latest bond sales

There was good news on the financial front in the latest bond sale on Thursday, April 23, by Johnson County Government. The county’s triple-A bond rating was reaffirmed by the nation’s top two credit rating agencies.

Citing Johnson County’s “very strong financial position” backed by good financial management practices, both Standard and Poor’s Rating Services and Moody's Investors Service have given the county an AAA bond rating, the highest rating possible, in two separate bond issues, totaling $31.3 million.

Receiving a renewal of the dual AAA designation is a significant accomplishment in light of the current economic conditions, Annabeth Surbaugh, chairman of the Johnson County Board of Commissioners, said.

“This rating is an important measure of our financial position and clearly demonstrates that our management of county business is solid and fiscally sound as we face the challenges of the economy,” she said. “With the AAA ratings, we will be able to obtain lower interest rates on bonds to finance necessary capital improvement projects, thereby achieving significant savings for Johnson County Government – and ultimately Johnson County taxpayers.”

County Manager Michael B. Press agreed.

“To maintain a triple-A in this climate, I think, is tough, quite frankly,” he said. “Credit ratings are especially important during economic downturns. Johnson County’s ratings are further evidence that that our prudent fiscal planning is paying off and affirms the county’s commitment to being good stewards of our taxpayer’s money.”

In its report, Moody’s acknowledged that Johnson County and the Kansas City region were not immune to the national recession, noting “a relatively modest housing market decline” and the county’s “rate of tax base growth has slowed somewhat in recent years.”

In its final analysis, Moody’s believes Johnson County’s financial operations remain sound due to “prudent financial management, ample reserves, and revenue diversity” with a “minimal” direct debt burden.

The Standard and Poor’s report revealed that its AAA-rating decision was based on the fact that Johnson County’s management practices remain “strong,” describing them as “well embedded and likely sustainable.”

According to the report, Standard and Poor’s expectation was that “the county will continue to maintain its strong and conservative financial operations and sustain the prudent management of its ongoing capital improvement program, allowing debt levels to remain manageable should remain vibrant as long as population and property values continue to grow.”

Johnson County remains one of approximately three dozen counties among 3,141 counties in the nation to receive the highest possible bond ratings for a local government from both agencies.

On Thursday, the Board approved the issuance $16,345,000 in Internal Improvement Bonds for 20 projects involving wastewater improvements. The Board also accepted the best bid of 3.6052 percent from BMO Capital Markets for the purchase of the wastewater bonds. The firm submitted the lowest bid among four valid bidders. The other bids ranged from 3.6676 to 3.6961 percent.

The Board authorized the bond sale by unanimous vote.

The issuance of the $14,995,000 in lease purchase revenue bonds required two separate actions. First, the Board of County Commissioners approved the two capital improvement projects, authorized the bonds, and directed the Public Building Commission (PBC) to complete the bond issue and sale.

The lease purchase revenue bonds will fund the second phase of funding (approximately $11.8 million) for construction of the Juvenile Services and Family Resource complex for the Corrections Department. Bonds also will provide the first phase of funding (approximately $3.2 million) for design and construction of a new Criminalistics Laboratory for the Sheriff’s Office.

The Board has approved a total authorization of $17,745,000 for the Juvenile Services project that will be built in western Olathe and issued $2,335,000 in bonds in April 2008. A third, and final, bond sale will take place in the future as final funding of the complex. The project is now in the final design phase with construction scheduled to start later this year and completion in late 2010.

The county plans two future bond sales involving funding for the new Crime Lab that will be constructed on the county complex at 118th Street and Ridgeview Road in Olathe. The design phase of the project is scheduled for later this year with construction to start next year.

The Crime Lab site is adjacent to the new County Communications Center (CCC) that has been completed and is scheduled to become operational by early summer. A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the CCC is scheduled at 11 a.m. May 6.

In the final action Thursday, the Board convened as the PBC to authorize the issuance, sale, and delivery of the lease purchase revenue bonds and then accepted the best proposal for the purchase of the bonds.

The bid of 3.7454 percent was submitted by BMO Capital Markets. The firm submitted the lowest bid among three valid bidders. The other bids were 3.8357 and 3.88 percent.

Vote to finalize the sale was unanimous.

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County website details federal stimulus funding the county receives

The Johnson County Manager’s Office has established a website to inform Johnson County citizens about funding received and administered through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The website at recovery.jocogov.org was unveiled Thursday, April 23, to the Board of County Commissioners during its weekly business session. For a limited time, the link also is accessible through an icon on the county’s main website at www.jocogov.org. It will serve as a “one-stop” information location so residents can see how the county spends the recovery funding. The website also provides links to federal and state of Kansas websites to provide timely information and funding updates about the overall ARRA stimulus package.

County Manager Michael B. Press said the website was designed to provide transparency about stimulus funding Johnson County Government receives through the ARRA signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.

“It is our goal to keep all Johnson County citizens informed about the ARRA,” he said. “With an emphasis on transparency, this website will be a clearinghouse of information on all stimulus matters relating to Johnson County Government.”

On Thursday, the County Manager also provided a weekly update to the Board about ARRA funding Johnson County has received. The latest overall total was slightly more than $11.4 million. Of that amount, County Government expects to receive approximately $8 million and administer about $3.4 million in pass-through funding to cities and other governmental units.

Federal stimulus funds benefiting Johnson County departments include:

• Public Works and Infrastructure, $846,000 for replacement of the bridge over Captain Creek on 143rd Street;
  
• Community Development Office, $313,055 in Community Development Block Grant funding for activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development;
  
• Transit Department, $2,077,069, to purchase one 40-foot, low-floor, wheelchair-accessible transit bus and ancillary items. Funds also will be used to upgrade the Transit’s facility in west Olathe, including concrete repairs and canopy expansion to accommodate an additional 15 buses that have been purchased for increased transportation service in 2009;
  
• Airport Commission, $336,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for pavement slurry seal of a taxiway and T-hangar ramp at the Executive Airport in Olathe;
  
• Sheriff’s Office, $66,505 from the Edward Bryne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Formula Program for discretionary public safety uses. The funding is part of $920,495 in ARRA funding awarded to the county through the program. The Sheriff’s Office is serving as the fiscal agent for distribution of the funds that will be allocated to 10 Johnson County cities on a reimbursement basis; and,
  
• Facilities Department, $552,500 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program for activities to save energy and environmental sustainability in partnership with the cities of Overland Park, Lenexa, Olathe, and Shawnee.

Johnson County’s Human Services and Aging Department has received the most ARRA funding to date. It includes $1,899,000 for its weatherization program with the funding being expended equally over the next three years at $633,000 annually. Funds help low-income residents of Johnson County make their homes more comfortable, safe and energy efficient.

The Housing Division of the department has been awarded $1,889,369 for the new Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The funds will purchase foreclosed or abandoned homes and rehabilitate, resell, or redevelop the property to stabilize neighborhoods and stem declining house values of neighboring homes.

Johnson County is receiving $4,468,739 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds with $1,889,369 going to the city of Olathe and $690,000 to the city of Overland Park.

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Court Monitoring Project needs volunteers for community awareness

The Community Violence Action Council Justice Committee has volunteer openings for the new Court Monitoring Project in Johnson County District Court.

The purpose of the Court Monitoring Project is to increase community awareness around the issues of domestic and sexual violence and enhance victim safety. It is a pilot program of the Kansas Coalition of Sexual and Domestic Violence in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women.

Volunteers must be available to observe court hearings on Wednesday or Thursday mornings, from 9 until 11:30 a.m. every other week. They must be able to commit to volunteering for at least six months, must pass a criminal background check, and be at least 18 years of age.

Johnson County was one of five project sites selected in Kansas. The other sites are in the cities of Lawrence, Leavenworth, Great Bend, and Garden City.

More information about the Court Monitoring Project is available by contacting Joanne Rice, volunteer coordinator for the project, at (913) 648-5827 or by email at courtmonitor@jocogov.org.

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Wastewater projects receive $15.6 million in federal stimulus funding

Johnson County Wastewater has received $15.6 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 for two “green” projects.

On Friday, April 24, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced the two projects were selected from among 12 projects to improve Kansas’ wastewater infrastructure. The projects will be funded almost entirely through monies provided by the ARRA. Two projects in the city of Pittsburg also will receive funding; single projects in eight other Kansas cities also were awarded funding.

Each of the 12 selected projects includes some portion of funding on which the principal will be forgiven. The remainder of each project’s funding is being provided as a low-interest loan. The amount of forgiveness funding, meaning Johnson County will not have to repay the principal, or low-interest loans was not identified Friday.

Either way, Johnson County was pleased with being selected for additional stimulus funding.

“Investing in green projects is a win-win situation because of Johnson County’s strong commitment to sustainability, energy conservation, and reduction of greenhouse gases,” Annabeth Surbaugh, chairman of the Johnson County Board of Commissioners, said.

“Achieving sustainability and accomplishing our environmental goals are important because County Government is helping to provide a more sustainable future for all our citizens.”

John O’Neil, general manager for Johnson County Wastewater, agreed.

“This is really great news,” he said.

Funding allocations to each JCW project were not announced Friday.

One involves the construction of sludge handling improvements to the Douglas L. Smith Indian Creek Middle Basin Treatment Plant in Overland Park. The project, with a construction authorization of $15.4 million, was approved by the Board of County Commissioners in early March.

The project includes a new storage basin for fats, oils and grease; expansion of the anaerobic digestion sludge treatment system and digester gas handling system; and the installation of a new co-generation power production system to burn methane gas produced in the wastewater treatment process as a new fuel source in producing electricity to power the plant.

A fats, oils, and grease waste receiving station also will be installed at the middle basin plant site. The station will serve contract waste haulers carrying fats, oils, and grease from restaurants and other industries. The materials will be added to the anaerobic digesters along with the sludge produced in the wastewater treatment process where one of the by-products of the bacteria eating the material is methane gas. Use of the fats, oils, and grease will increase power production from the new cogeneration system.

The second project selected by the KDHE is a system-wide energy audit of the Johnson County Wastewater utility to increase overall energy efficiency in its facilities and operations. The department, which requested $400,000 in its application for ARRA funding for the study, has not done an energy audit since 1987.

The audit will include evaluation of the addition of a cogeneration system at the Nelson Wastewater Treatment Complex in Mission in providing a future alternative power source by using methane gas. The review also will study the possibility of the addition of geothermal and/or solar heating and cooling to wastewater facilities.

With the funding to the Wastewater Department, Johnson County has received more than $27 million in federal grants through the ARRA signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama. The total includes approximately $23.6 million in direct funding. The county also is administering about $3.4 million in pass-through funding to cities and other governmental units.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it had awarded $35 million in ARRA funding to KDHE to improve wastewater infrastructure across the state. The funds went to Kansas’ Clean Water State Revolving Fund program which provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control and watershed and estuary management.

At least 20 percent of the funds provided under the ARRA are to be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects. Each of KDHE’s selected wastewater projects has a green component to it. Some of those components include the reduction of electricity needs, the use of solar-powered energy and the completion of system-wide energy audits.

KDHE plans to supplement the $35 million in ARRA resources with other monies from its Clean Water State Revolving Fund to fund projects costing just over $36 million. Funding for the 12 selected projects totaled slightly more than $29 million. For the additional $7 million in funding that is available, KDHE is soliciting additional innovative green project proposals that will provide stormwater water quality enhancements and treatment of non-point sources of pollution.

Cities and counties across Kansas submitted approximately 70 project proposals for funding consideration. Proposals were reviewed by KDHE staff which made the selections based on readiness to proceed and the green component included in the project.

Recovery.jocogov.org

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Communications Center ready for unveiling

Johnson County’s new County Communications Center (CCC) will be open for public tours until 2 p.m. following a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 6. The center is in the county’s government complex on Sunset Drive, located at Ridgeview Road and 118th Street in Olathe.

Featured speakers will include Johnson County Commission Chairman Annabeth Surbaugh; Sheriff Frank Denning; and Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland.

The building has already been recognized by Construction Communications, which selected the facility from more than 2,500 nominated projects as a Green Building of America Award-winning project. The CCC will be featured in an upcoming special Real Estate & Construction Review-Midwest Green Success Stories edition.

When it becomes fully operational in early summer, the CCC will house the existing Emergency Communications Center (ECC), now located in Mission; the Sheriff’s Communications Dispatch Unit, now located in the Johnson County Courthouse in downtown Olathe; and the Olathe Police Department’s emergency communications operations. The CCC also will provide secure space for the county’s Information Technology disaster recovery systems, and serve as a backup Emergency Operations Center for the county’s Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

Johnson County currently has eight emergency dispatch centers, including the 34-year-old ECC in Mission. The CCC is designed to accommodate other city police department dispatch centers should they choose to relocate to the facility.

The $21 million facility was built to accommodate emergency dispatch operations for natural disasters and human-caused events such as terrorism. The CCC is a secured “hardened” building with 12-inch concrete walls that are designed to survive an F-4 tornado, with winds up to 240 mph, and remain functional. The new facility will allow emergency communications for fire, emergency medical, and law enforcement services to continue without interruption.

The county anticipates receiving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification from the United States Green Building Council for the facility. The LEED Green Building Rating System is based on specified criteria with Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels. When certified, the CCC will be the third Silver-level building in the State of Kansas, following the Applebee’s Support Center in Lenexa and the Service Center for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Manhattan.

If certified LEED Silver, the CCC will be the second LEED building built by Johnson County Government in the past three years. The Sunset Drive Office Building, located on the same complex, is the first LEED Gold building built in the county and was only the second LEED Gold building in the Kansas City Region and the State of Kansas. The other is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s EPA Science and Technology Center at Kansas City, Kansas.

The LEED standard has been adopted nationwide by federal agencies, state and local governments, and interested private companies as the guideline for sustainable building facilities that are environmentally responsible, enduring, and healthy places to work.

The CCC dedication is occurring during National County Government Week May 3-9, sponsored annually by the National Association of Counties. The observance’s theme is “Greening Our Future.” Johnson County is a member of NACo.

In brief: Johnson County adds another “green” building

The new County Communications Center is Johnson County Government’s newest “green” building.

Sustainability efforts in its construction include:

• Diversion of construction waste from landfills to recycling programs
  
• Use of regional and recycled-content materials
  
• Use of sustainably harvested wood products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Sustainability plans in design of the CCC include:

• An 11,000 square-foot vegetated “green” roof that will extend the life of the roofing membrane, increase the thermal performance of the roof, and absorb stormwater that would otherwise be released off-site.
  
• Water conservation measures such as drought-tolerant, low maintenance landscaping, low-flow plumbing fixtures and waterless urinals.
  
• Improvement of the indoor air quality through the use of low-VOC and formaldehyde-free interior finishes and furnishings
  
• Reduced energy consumption with high-efficiency HVAC systems, a highly insulated building envelope, including a R-30 roof and high-performance, low-emissivity (low-E) glazing, and high-efficiency lighting controlled with dimming, occupancy sensors, timers, and daylight sensors.

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