The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, April 18 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

The Board proclaimed April 21-27, 2024 as National Volunteer Appreciation Week 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.

Appointment to Fire District No. 1 Governing Board

Approved the appointment of Tamela J Stockton – Sixth District representative to the Fire District No. 1 Governing Board commencing July 2, 2024 through July 1, 2027.

Contracts for wastewater repairs

Authorized term-and-supply contracts with CarbUSA LLC, Norit Americas, Inc. and PureAir Filtration to furnish and replace activated carbon media and perform necessary repairs on Johnson County Wastewater’s odor control vessels in an amount not to exceed $800,000, for a 1-year term with the option to renew for up to four additional 1-year terms. Consent Agenda Vote: Passed 7-0.

Plat approval for Louis Allen Development

Approved a request from Matt Serrano, Louis Allen, LLC, applicant and landowner, for preliminary and final plats for eight lots on 81.5 acres, to be known as Louis Allen Development, on property zoned RUR, Rural District, located at 151st Street and Edgerton Road, in Section 12, Township 14, Range 21. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Petition to add Astra Enterprise Park into fire district

After a public hearing, adopted Resolution No. 024-24 approving the City of De Soto’s petition to add all land comprising the Astra Enterprise Park into the Northwest Consolidated Fire District.

Motion was made to table action on resolution. Vote: Failed 1-6.

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

Vote on resolution. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Contract for transit consultation services

Authorized an exception to competition to contract with HNTB Corporation to provide consultation services for the Johnson County Transportation Connection Plan – Southwest Metro Area for a total cost not to exceed $249,569. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Amendment to contract for Homeless Services Center

(Item added to the agenda). Approved the third amendment to the real estate purchase contract with MAA Krupa Lenexa, LLC for the properties at 9461 Lenexa Drive and 9471 Lenexa Drive, both in the City of Lenexa, which extends the contract’s original 270-day due diligence period an additional eight weeks to close on or about Oct. 31, 2024 and includes payment of additional funds towards the franchise liquidation fee and (2) authorized the reallocation and expenditure of Countywide Support Funds from General Fund reserves in the amount of $350,000 for the buyout of the hotel’s franchise liquidation fee.

Motion was made to have separate votes on timeline and funding in amended contract. Vote: Failed 2-5.

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

Vote on third amendment. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Friends of JCDS cuts ribbon on 22nd home

In her weekly memo, County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson announced Friends of JCDS, a non-profit organization, had a ribbon-cutting celebration on Tuesday, April 16, for its 22nd home. It is the first home that was built from the ground up. The organization provides special assistance and affordable and accessible housing for those receiving JCDS services. The Friends of JCDS has set a goal of providing 24 homes by 2024.

Leawood approves plans for State Line Road Pump Station Project

The State Line Road Pump Station and Force Main Project involves the construction of pumping stations and a common force main in the City of Leawood to convey flow generated in the Leawood basin to the Tomahawk Wastewater Treatment Facility. Currently flows from these areas, generally in the vicinity north I-435, flow to Kansas City, Missouri for treatment. This project will divert up to twice the daily average flows to the Tomahawk WWTF for treatment, saving Wastewater ratepayers $100 million over a 20-year period. On Monday, April 15, the Leawood City Council approved the final development plan for the pumping station at 8900 State Line Road and final development plan and plat for the pump station at 10346 State Line Road. Wastewater plans to bid the project in May 2024 with construction anticipated to start later this year.

ECC has leadership communications boot camp

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Johnson County Emergency Communications Center is hosting a three-day leadership communications boot camp to enhance leadership skills in the communications center at all levels. Attendees include those from Johnson County area dispatch centers, Sedgwick County, Kiowa County and others from around Kansas.

MARC recognizes Johnson County ECC staff members

At the 2024 MARC Public Safety Telecommunications Awards and Recognition banquet, three ECC members were recognized for their tenure and dedicated community service, leadership and innovation. They were:

• Memorandum 2 Emergency Communications Specialist Mike Babcock received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served at the ECC for more than 27 years.
• Kate Dorsey received the 2024 Outstanding PSAP Leader Award for her ability to effectively lead her staff and manage the operational aspects of the ECC.
• Burke Slocum received the 2024 Everyday Hero Award as an emergency communications specialist and his innovative work at the ECC.

Other Reports

Mark Dapp, deputy director of Budget and Financial Planning, provided a preliminary CIP report budget.

The Board received a presentation from Bryan Johnson, executive director of the Johnson County Airport Commission, and Justin Duff, vice president of VanTrust, on the New Century Commerce Center East Side Development.

Motion was made to direct staff to prepare an action item and bring before the Board of County Commissioners to utilize previously authorized ARPA funds in the amount of $2.6 million and authorize approximately $4 million to be financed by GO Bonds for water and sewer as well as grading improvements at the New Century Commerce Center. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Motion was made to direct staff to bring an action item for to Accept an update to the Master Development Plan for the New Century Commerce Center. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Modifying expenditure authority in contract

Consider increasing expenditure authority for a term-and-supply contract with Security Transport Services, Inc. in the amount of $422,500 for a total annual contract value not to exceed $700,000 for the current contract term and the remaining two 1-year renewal options available, per Request for Proposal (RFP) 2020-079.

Conversion of some election workers to county employees

Consider authorizing the conversion of certain election workers to county employees through the addition of 4.4 FTE, which breaks down as three - 0.4 FTE part-time, no-benefits election workers and 32 - 0.1 FTE on-call election workers in the Election Office to support elections in Johnson County. Positions will be funded within the current Election Office budget for FY 2024.

Approval of Juvenile Services Comprehensive Plan Grant Application

Consider approving and submitting the 10th Judicial District’s SFY 2025 Juvenile Services Comprehensive Plan Grant Application in the amount of $1,811,753.80 to the Kansas Department of Corrections and authorizing the associated positions, contracts, and client services.

Submitting 2025 Community Corrections Adult Comprehensive Plan

Considering authorizing and submitting the Johnson County Department of Corrections’ SFY 2025 Community Corrections Adult Comprehensive Plan and Funding request to the Kansas Department of Corrections in an amount not to exceed $2,689,675.30.

Annual Noxious Weed Eradication Progress Report

Consider approving the Johnson County Annual Noxious Weed Eradication Progress Report for 2023.

Annual Noxious Weed Management Plan

Consider approving the Johnson County Annual Noxious Weed Management Plan for 2024.