…participating in the community’s events

Early in 2023, along with the rest of the metro area, Johnson County was celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Big Game. In the midst of the revelries we joined metro partners on coordination of the necessary logistics for a successful Chiefs victory parade, and our largest role was offering free shuttle service to help people get to and from the festivities.

Some participants in the Johnson County Developmental Supports' Emerging Artists program had their art featured in the Peripheral Visions art exhibit at the Kansas City Public Library’s Central Library.

After sitting out for more than a decade, Johnson County Government employees re-entered the competition of the Kansas City Corporate Challenge. As a Division A competitor, we vied for medals in 98% of the events and finished in our division’s Top Ten!  

We love to engage with the public when you spin the trivia wheel at our booth at events such as Old Settler’s, the Johnson County Fair and Live Well Age Well.

…offering ample opportunity for the public to weigh in

New this year, the county held two open houses where the public could learn more about the FY 2024 proposed budget, ask questions and fill out an optional questionnaire. Open houses took place the evening of June 22 in the Johnson County Administrative Building in Olathe and June 27 at the Northeast Offices in Mission. 

The public had multiple opportunities to provide feedback on updates to land use compatibility plans in 2023. One plan involved the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant area, and the other focused on land near Johnson County’s two airports. The process for both land use plan updates included multiple public meetings or workshops, and the community’s feedback was utilized as plans and recommendations went through policy-making groups including the Planning Commission, the Airport Commission and the Board of County Commissioners.

The Department of Health and Environment provided several engagement opportunities for the public in 2023. The Community Health Assessment Survey offered the public the chance to provide their thoughts on topics such as green spaces, affordable housing, schools and medical care in their neighborhoods… data that could lead to health improvements for the community. DHE also asked for volunteers to hit the streets on one of the hottest days of the summer to help with a heat mapping campaign.

If you visited the Johnson County Motor Vehicle, Register of Deeds, or Treasury and Taxation offices in 2023, you may have participated in a new way to share if you were “happy (or not)” with the service you received. The county launched the HappyOrNot survey tool to encourage the Treasury, Taxation and Vehicles department’s customers to rate their experience at the point-of-service in a short 3-question survey. The feedback received from 7,617 customers since September 2023 resulted in an 87% positive feedback and provided real-time customer insight to drive operational decisions.

Also new in 2023 was an online method to provide feedback on our Community Development Block Grant program, where we have funded hundreds of community development projects and benefitted thousands of low- to moderate income households. As a recipient of these federal funds, Johnson County is required to have a Citizen Participation Plan.  In addition to the public hearing (available for in person or virtual participation), in 2023 the public was able to provide their feedback by visiting jocogov.org/needsassessment.