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.

The Board and County Manager proclaimed October as National Arts & Humanities Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and October 10 -16 as National Case Manager Awareness Week. The BOCC also issued a proclamation for Imagine a Day without Water and more information on the importance of water infrastructure is available in this news release and this video.

BOCC actions for Oct. 21, 2021

• Approved the reappointment of Marcia H. Bailey- First District Representative of the Consolidated Fire District No. 2 through August 25, 2024. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent).
• Approved the reappointment of Janet Fanska- First District Representative of the Consolidated Fire District No. 2 through August 25, 2024. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent).
• Approved the reappointment of Dale Warman - First District Representative of the Commission on Aging through August 31, 2024. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent).
• Approved the reappointment of Richard Marien – Fourth District representative to the Developmental Supports Board through August 31, 2024. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent).
• Approved the appointment of Claire M. Reagan- Sixth District Representative to the Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board through June 30, 2022. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent).
• Ratified the appointment of Jarrod Ousley- Chairman’s Representative of the Commission on Aging through August 31, 2024. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent).
• Set a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. on November 18th for the purpose of receiving public input on proposed amendments to the FY 2021 Budget for the Mental Health Fund in the amount of $764,130 for additional grants. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent).
• Sitting as the Governing Body of Fire District No. 2 of Johnson County, authorized an agreement with Fire District No. 1 of Johnson County, to provide Fire/Rescue and EMS services within Fire District No. 2 territory, a portion of the City of Spring Hill, and a portion of Miami County Fire District No. 2, for the period commencing on November 28, 2021, at 8am and terminating on December 31, 2022. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent).
• Sitting as the Governing Body of Fire District No. 2 of Johnson County, authorized an agreement with the City of Overland Park, to provide Fire/Rescue and EMS services within Fire District No. 2 territory commencing on November 28, 2021, at 8am, thereafter, renewing automatically for successive one-year periods, and terminating on December 31, 2032. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent).
• Approved a request from Matt Schlichter, Network Real Estate, LLC, applicant, and Jennie Storm Revokable Trust, Landowner, for a Conditional Use Permit to allow a new 155-foot telecommunications monopole with antennae and ground equipment on property in Section 33, Township 13, Range 23. Located at 24465 W. 135th Street. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent).
• Approved City of Gardner Application No. Z-21-03 for a rezoning of approximately 2.12 acres from City C-3 (Commercial District) to City R-3 (Garden Apartment District) and associated site plan Application No. SP-21-03, for Treadway Apartments; and Application No. PP-21-03, preliminary plat, and Application No. FP-21- 04, final plat, for one 34-acre lot; located in the vicinity of the southeast corner of 175th Street and I-35 Highway, within 1 mile of New Century Airport. Voted 6 – 0, passed (one commissioner was absent for the full discussion of the item).
• Approved a request from Nick Ewing, Sullivan Palmer Architects on behalf of JR Dodson, applicant, Johnson County Airport Commission, landowner, requesting a Final Development Plan for construction of an airplane hangar on 2.56 acres, on property zoned PEC-3, Planned Research, Development and Light Industrial Park District, located at 270 Gardner Drive in Section 18, Township 14, Range 23. Voted 7 – 0, passed.
• Accepted the Emergency COVID-19 Supplemental Grant in the amount of $296,695 to provide mental health services to individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness in Johnson County. Voted 7 – 0, passed.
• Authorized the Mental Health Center to add 7.0 FTEs and authorized the reclassification of FY2022 Mental Health reserves in the amount of $718,000 for proposed co-responder positions to provide crisis intervention assistance to the City of Overland Park, City of Shawnee, and the Northeast Cities. Voted 7 – 0, passed.
• Conducted a public hearing and authorized $6,648,400 for Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) pre-construction phase services for the Nelson Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements Project, increasing the total project authorization amount to $22,733,400 and approved a contract with McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. for CMAR pre-construction phase services in an amount not to exceed $5,940,000. Voted 6 – 1, passed.
• Approved of a Master Development Plan with VanTrust Real Estate for the New Century Commerce Center and Authorization of the Phase 1 of the Infrastructure Development Plan as recommended by the Johnson County Airport Commission. Voted 6 – 1, passed.
• Amended the FY 2021- 2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to include New Century Commerce Center – Phase 1 capital project in an amount not to exceed $20,286,467; and authorized the use of general obligation internal improvement bonds to pay for these improvements. Voted 6-1, passed.
• Authorized and approved certain airport improvements in an amount not to exceed $75,340,894; authorized the issuance of general obligation bonds to pay for these improvements plus costs of issuance and other related financing costs as authorized by K.S.A. 3-301 et. seq.; and authorized the publication of notice of intent to issue general obligation internal improvement bonds in an amount not to exceed $75,340,894 in the official County newspaper. Voted 6 - 1, passed.

Manager’s Memo, Penny Postoak Ferguson, County Manager

City of De Soto – Original Town De Soto Properties, LLC Project (Notice of Public Hearing) 

The City of De Soto will be conducting a public hearing on Thursday, October 21, 2021 to consider approving a property tax abatement in connection with property financed with approximately $1,600,000 million in industrial revenue bonds for acquiring, purchasing, constructing, installing and equipping an approximate 8,800 sq. ft. commercial multifamily facility to be located at the southwest corner of 82nd Street and Shawnee Street in De Soto, KS. The applicant has requested a 10-year, 100% property tax abatement for the property constructed or purchased with the proceeds. A copy of the notice and cost-benefit analysis is available here.

City of Lenexa – Ridgeview Mining TIF District Project Plan (Notice of Public Hearing) 

The City of Lenexa will be conducting a public hearing on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, to consider adoption of Redevelopment TIF Project Plan 8 for Ridgeview Mining TIF District in the City of Lenexa. The TIF district is generally located in the southwest corner of 95th St. and Renner Blvd in Lenexa, KS. The notice of public hearing is available here along with the project plan.

COVID-19 and Vaccination: Johnson County Updates 

The COVID-19 report prepared by Dr. Sanmi Areola and Charlie Hunt is available here. 

The Board held a Committee of the Whole on a strategy for Johnson County Transit. More information is available here.

Items currently on the agenda for the Oct. 28 meeting:

• Consider whether to approve and adopt Resolution No. 090-21 to authorize and direct the issuance, sale and delivery of General Obligation Internal Improvement Bonds, Series 2021A of Johnson County, Kansas for the purpose of providing funds to finance certain wastewater improvements and certain airport road improvements in an aggregate principal amount to be determined but now estimated to be $41,495,000; providing for the levy and collection of an annual tax for the purpose of paying the principal of and interest on said bonds as they become due, and making certain covenants and agreements to provide for the payment and security thereof; and authorizing certain other documents and actions connected therewith. 
• Consider authorizing the acquisition, design, construction, equipping and furnishing of certain improvements to the County Administration Building, New Century Adult Detention Center, a new Med-Act Facility, and Central Booking Facility; approving the issuance by the Public Building Commission of Johnson County, Kansas of its Lease Purchase Revenue Bonds (Master Lease), Series 2021A in the aggregate principal amount to be determined but now estimated to be $7,105,000 for the purpose of paying all or a portion of the costs of such improvements; and authorizing the execution and delivery of certain other documents and the taking of certain other actions in connection therewith. 
• Conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed 2022 Action Plan with an estimated funding amount of $2,551,351 consisting of an estimated $1,354,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and $1,197,351 in Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds for housing and community development activities, consider authorizing the County Manager to execute related documents, and consider authorizing the submission of the plans to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as recommended on August 18, 2021 by the Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee. 
• Consider approving the 2022 County Assistance Road System Program expenditures, in an amount not to exceed $16,841,000. 
• Consider approving the 2022 Stormwater Management Program expenditures, in an amount not to exceed $19,873,800. 
• Consider setting an official meeting calendar for the Board of County Commissioners for 2022.

Items currently on the agenda for the Special Public Building Commission Oct. 28 meeting:

• Approve and adopt Resolution No. PBC 004-21 authorizing the issuance of the Public Building Commission of Johnson County, Kansas Lease Purchase Revenue Bonds (Master Lease), Series 2021A, in the aggregate principal amount to be determined but now estimated to be $7,105,000 for the purpose of paying all or a portion of the costs to acquire, design, construct, equip and furnish certain improvements; and authorizing and approving the execution of certain documents and the taking of certain actions with the issuance of said bonds.

On JoCo on the Go, episode #110, Medicare open enrollment is here. Although the process can be complicated, Johnson County K-State Research and Extension is here to help – offering residents a free service, where they can sit down with a trained Medicare expert who will help program participants navigate the enrollment process and even review medications and more to look for cost savings. Sometimes those cost savings can be in the thousands of dollars. 

Look for JoCo on the Go where you regularly listen to podcasts. Learn more about JoCo on the Go and get a complete transcript of this episode.