The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, Feb. 22 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

The Board proclaimed  February 2024 as Black History Month in Johnson County.

Below, you can find a recap of the items discussed during the meeting.

More information, including official minutes, votes, videos, information about how to make public comments and how to request accommodations is available at boccmeetings.jocogov.org. This recap is not the official record of the BOCC meeting.

Final plat for 15 residential lots

Approved Olathe’s application for a final plat of Pathway at Heritage Park, involving 15 residential lots on 10.8 acres at the northeast corner of West 159th Street and South Black Bob Road, within one mile of Johnson County Executive Airport. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Final plat for two commercial lots

Approved Olathe’s application for a final plat for Black Bob 151st Shops, Third Plat for two commercial lots on seven acres, PR23- 0016, a preliminary site development plan and final site development plan for Chipotle restaurant on 0.97 acres at the southeast corner of 151st Street and South Alden Street, within one mile of Executive Airport. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Plats for a new city park in Overland Park

Approved Overland Park’s applications for a preliminary and final plat for one lot and a preliminary and final development plan for a new city park and associated uses on 6.17 acres at the northeast corner of 159th Street and Quivira Road, within one mile of the Executive Airport. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Site plan for commercial garages

Approved Olathe’s application for a final site development plan for Mather West Commercial Garages, located south of 151st Street and west of Old 56 Highway, within one mile of the New Century AirCenter. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Site plan for apartments

Approved Gardner’s application for  a site development plan for Treadway Apartments Phase 2 at 25901 W. 178th St., within one mile of the New Century AirCenter. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Plats for 36 residential lots

Approved Gardner’s applications for rezoning to RP-1 and RP-2 and revised preliminary plat for Prairie Trace on approximately 145.07 acres, and final plat for Prairie Trace, 3rd Plat, for 36 residential lots on approximately 7.9 acres, located near 177th Street and New Trails Parkway, within one mile of New Century AirCenter. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Amendments to Rural Comprehensive Plan

Adopted certain amendments to the Johnson County Rural Comprehensive Plan, relating to updates to the New Century AirCenter and Executive Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Additional staff for Mental Health

Authorized the Mental Health Department to accept a grant of $1,480,705  from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services and add 14.6 FTE positions for the establishment of a Youth Crisis Stabilization Center and authorized the reallocation and expenditure of Mental Health fund balance (reserve authority) for FY 2024 in the amount of $1,480,750. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Staff for homeless outreach services

Authorized the Mental Health Department to accept a grant of $643,567 from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services and add 6.0 FTE positions to provide homeless outreach services and authorized the reallocation and expenditure of Mental Health fund balance (reserve authority) for FY 2024 in the amount of $643,567. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Needs Assessment Public Hearing set March 11 for 2025 CDBG and HOME allocations

As a recipient of Federal CDBG and HOME Partnership Investment funds, it is required to develop a Citizen Participation Plan that includes a Needs Assessment Public Hearing to encourage participation of those with low and moderate incomes, social service providers and public agencies, in areas where the use of CDBG and HOME funds are being proposed. The public hearing will be held the evening of March 11 at the County Administrative Building to gather input to assess the community development and housing needs. Citizens also have the opportunity to provide input online by visiting jocogov.org/needsassessment. Staff will gather the feedback to propose plans and programs to meet those needs, aligned with the Board of County Commissioners Strategic Priorities, in cooperation with county departments, cities, and other public and private partners. The information will be evaluated by the BOCC this fall for the 2025 Action Plan and 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan.

Appraiser’s Office offers Property Value Appeals Portal

The Johnson County Appraiser’s Office has launched a new online portal for property owners in the county to appeal their property value. The portal will allow users to file one of two different types of appeals. The first is an informal appeal when Notices of Appraised Value are delivered in the spring. The second type is payment under protest in late spring or fall when taxes are due. Informal appeal applications are due no later than 30 days after you receive your Notice of Appraised Value. Notices started hitting mailboxes for commercial real property on Feb. 12 and will begin being delivered for residential real property on Feb. 26. The Property Value Appeals webpage, accessible here, explains the appeal process and using the new portal.

PM Magazine features article on JoCo’s HPO program

The January 2024 issue of Public Management (PM) Magazine features an article by Johnson County, in collaboration with Joe Conner (CMO), Jody Hanson (PIO), Grace Hanne (BFP) and Tiffany Hentschel (HRD). This article explores the High-Performing Organization (HPO) program and its impacts on the county’s organization and culture. The article details the program’s early days, its revitalization and reintroduction, and the positive impacts it has had on the employee’s job satisfaction. View the full article, “Becoming and Remaining a High-Performing Organization."

Other Reports

Mark Dapp, deputy director of Budget and Financial Planning, presented a legislative update through the week of Feb. 12.

Board met as a Committee of the Whole and received an update of Countywide Support Funds.

Motion was made to direct staff to set aside $6M from the Countywide Support Fund to purchase the Homeless Services Center for ONLY in the event closing of the building is not achieved by the Dec. 31, 2024 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds deadline. Vote: Passed 5-2.

• Yes: Fast, Meyers, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Kelly
• No: O’Hara,  Ashcraft

Motion was made to direct staff to make recommendations for use of Countywide Support Funds for the county’s Home Repair/Weatherization Program and contractor recruitment for future consideration by the Board. Vote: Passed 5-2.

• Yes: Fast, Meyers, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Kelly
• No: O’Hara,  Ashcraft

Condemnation for road safety improvement project

Resolution No. 020-24. Consider adopting Resolution No. 020-24 authorizing the acquisition, by condemnation, of the rights-of-way and easements necessary for the Black Bob Road Safety Improvement Project between 159th Street and 167th Street.

Agreement to participate in transportation connection plan

Consider approving a seven-party agreement with Douglas County, the Kansas Department of Transportation, the City of Olathe, the City of Gardner, the City of Edgerton, the City of De Soto and Johnson County for the funding of and participation in the Southwest Metro Area Transportation Connection Plan with the Johnson County portion of the total not to exceed $62,500 and a project total not to exceed of $250,000.

Funding for Wastewater Integrated Plan Program

Resolution No. WD 24-005. Conduct a public hearing and consider authorizing planned annual funds for the Johnson County Wastewater Integrated Plan Program in an amount of $3,606,000, for a total program authorization amount of $15,623,000, and approve a contract amendment for $3,606,000 with HDR Engineering for a not-to-exceed contract amount of $15,314,000.

Contract to enhance county cybersecurity tools

Consider authorizing a contract with Optiv to enhance county cybersecurity tools in the amount of $1,177,740 for a three-year agreement, paid annually in the amount of $392,580, per NASPO Contract AR2472.

Funding for finance and administrative manager at Election Office

Consider authorizing the addition of 1.0 FTE for a finance and administrative manager for the Election Office at an expected cost of $95,000 in FY 2024 and authorize the reallocation and expenditure of reserves for FY 2024 in the amount of $95,000 from the General Fund.