Phone: 913-715-0725
111 S Cherry, Suite 3300, Olathe, KS 66061
The County Manager's Office is responsible to the Board of County Commissioners and the residents of Johnson County for the effective and efficient delivery of programs and services, using sound management and financial principles while emphasizing high ethical values, innovation, and continuous improvement.
The City of Olathe and Johnson County Government celebrated the opening of a new Compressed National Gas (CNG) fueling station today, located at 1385 S. Robinson Dr. in Olathe. Adding this station, the third for Johnson County, allows more departments to consider moving to CNG vehicles, even for critical response units such as snow plows and buses.
Compressed Natural Gas provides cost savings and reduced emissions. In 2017 alone, Johnson County saved more than $40,000 by using CNG over diesel fuel in portions of its fleet. With 20 to 30 percent less greenhouse gas emissions and 95 percent less tailpipe emissions than petroleum products, CNG is beneficial for the environment as well.
In addition to CNG, Johnson County incorporates flex fuels and hybrid vehicles as other alternative fuel vehicles within its fleet. Currently, 33 percent of the county’s light vehicles, 23 percent of medium vehicles and 7 percent of heavy vehicles are classified as alternative fuel vehicles. The county continues to add more CNG vehicles to its fleet with buses being the primary area of growth.
In 2015, a city/county agreement was approved for the construction of a shared CNG facility; capable of “time-filling” up to 50 city CNG trucks and “fast-filling” county transit buses. In 2015, Clean Energy was hired for the design/build of the CNG Fueling Facility.
Every three years the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) joins with the nonprofit hospitals and other community partners to conduct a Community Health Assessment (CHA).
The purpose is to identify factors that affect the health of our residents. At least 150 volunteers are needed on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, to go to preselected neighborhoods and survey citizens about their health and the health of the community.
Volunteers will start the day at 8 a.m. with training and then go in pairs to neighborhoods to conduct the surveys until approximately 4 or 5 p.m. Each survey takes about 10 minutes.
This help is very much needed. Not only is this a great way to help the community and enjoy a nice walk, but volunteers will also receive a t-shirt, meet new people and are eligible to win a gift card for their participation.
To sign up to volunteer, please use this SurveyMonkey link.
Questions? Please call or email Barbara Mitchell at JCDHE - 913-477-8364.
The interns from the 2017-2018 class of Project SEARCH have graduated! Project SEARCH is an education and employment program managed by Johnson County Developmental Supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are 18 years of age or older and interested in community employment.
Earlier this month, 15 interns received their certification from Johnson County Community College in front of a roomful of friends, family members, JCDS staff, JCDS governing board members and representatives from the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners.
JCDS governing board Vice Chair Dale Chaffin shared with the interns ways to be successful on the job.
The keynote speaker was Olga Deckman, a Project SEARCH intern last year who is now working as a Telephone Administrator for Johnson County Court Services. She talked about her journey to employment and overcoming tough times to gain a full time competitive job. She encouraged future interns not to give up with the process and to work hard.
The first class of Project SEARCH, in 2014-2015, consisted of seven interns, all of whom are currently employed in the community. The 2016-2017 class had an 80 percent job placement rate. In the current year, two interns secured employment prior to graduating.
The Board of County Commissioners today authorized the publication of the proposed fiscal year 2019 maximum budget, totaling $819.5 million in expenditures and $283 million in reserves.
After today, FY 2019 budgeted expenditures can be decreased, but not increased.
“The FY 2019 proposed budget includes the potential to reduce the mill levy by a quarter mill, returning resources back to taxpayers,” said Chairman Ed Eilert.
Last year’s quarter mill reduction, combined with the potential 2019 quarter-mill reduction of the county mill levy, creates cumulative more than half-mill reduction in the mill levy.
The current total estimated county mill levy is 26.351 mills — 19.318 for the county taxing district; 3.921 mills for the library taxing district; and 3.112 mills for the park and recreation taxing district. However, with a quarter-mill reduction the county’s mill levy, the levy would drop to 26.101 mills —19.068 for the county taxing district.
The budget proposal funds a maximum 4,011.04 full-time-equivalent employees, including 18 new positions funded by county tax support and nine FTEs that are fee supported. The remaining new positions include 20.9 for libraries and 15.6 FTEs for parks and recreation.
“We encourage residents to review our proposed budget online and to attend our public hearing July 30 to learn more about the specifics of our budget and provide us feedback,” said Interim County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson.
Next steps
If you or someone you love is suffering thoughts of suicide, know that you can get help, here in Johnson County, and through national resources.
More information is available from the Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition online.
On Thursday, June 7, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners voted to assume governance of the Johnson County Fire District No. 2 effective immediately, after several months of assessment and discussion regarding the governance, personnel and the ongoing financial viability of the district.
The board voted to approve a resolution to change the governance of fire district No. 2 to the BOCC.
Commissioners also discussed the need to establish an advisory board comprising taxpayers from fire district No. 2.
Formal discussions about fire district No. 2 began on March 15, 2018, when the BOCC asked county staff to look into the financial future of the district and explore options from a feasibility study that was completed in July 2017.
One of the identified threats to the financial stability of the fire district is the impending loss of a contract with the city of Overland Park in 2022 totaling $770,000, annually. The potential for the loss of the city of Spring Hill's annual contract was also a factor in today's decision.
Earlier in the year, the fire district board voted not to formally approve county ethics guidelines for its employees.
Get access to published meetings, resolutions, transcripts, management reports, and general files from the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners board meetings.
111 S Cherry St, Olathe, KS 66061 | 913-715-5000 | TDD: 800-766-3777
© Johnson County, KS, USA 2018
