The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, Aug. 31 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

The BOCC issued a proclamation declaring September as National Preparedness Month.

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 Consolidated Fire District No. 2

Reappointed Richard Boeshaar - First District representative to the Consolidated Fire District No. 2 through Aug. 25, 2026. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Submitting Corrections report to the state

Approved the submittal of the Johnson County Department of Corrections’ SFY 2023 Year-End Outcome Report to the Kansas Department of Corrections as recommended by the Community Corrections Advisory Board on Aug. 1, 2023. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Submitting Correction’s Juvenile Services report to the state

Approved the submittal of the Johnson County Department of Corrections’, Juvenile Services SFY 2023 Year-End Outcome Report to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Juvenile Services as recommended by the Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board on Aug. 11, 2023. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Rezoning downtown Olathe area

Approved the inclusion of specific county-owned properties in the application of the City of Olathe to rezone the downtown area of the City of Olathe from Commercial District to Downtown Core District and authorized the Chair to execute the Ownership Affidavit and Consent. The rezoning was requested as part of the city’s Envision Downtown plan. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Purchase of EMS protective clothing

Authorized the purchase of EMS protective clothing (bunker gear) from Weis Fire Safety for use by Johnson County MED-ACT for a total amount not to exceed $200,000 to be paid from the MED-ACT uniform budget. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Budget for Consolidated Fire District No. 2

Approved the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for Consolidated Fire District No. 2. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Budget for Northwest Consolidated Fire District

Approved the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for Northwest Consolidated Fire District. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Budget for Johnson County Fire District No. 1

Approved the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for Johnson County Fire District No. 1. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Budget for Johnson County Fire District No. 2

Approved the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for Johnson County Fire District No. 2. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Budget for Johnson County and CIP

Approving the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget and FY 2024 – 2028 Capital Improvement Program as proposed. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Motion was made to reduce the county taxing district mill levy from 17.495 to 16.148 mills, requiring a budget reduction of approximately $19.7 million. Vote: Failed 2-5.

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

Motion was made to reduce the overall county mill levy by 0.50 mills, including the 0.250 mills as proposed in the budget by an additional 0.250 mills. Vote: Failed 3-4.

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

Motion was made to keep proposed $4 million to refresh Spring Hill Library in reserves. Vote: Failed 2-5.

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

BOCC joint response to KOMA complaint

Approved the BOCC joint response and exhibits 2 through 12 to the Kansas Open Meetings Act complaint filed with the Kansas Attorney General regarding the June 29, 2023, executive session. Vote: Passed 4-3.

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

Submitting carryover reimbursement budget

Authorized the submittal of the Johnson County Department of Corrections’ SFY 2024 Carryover Reimbursement Budget to the Kansas Department of Corrections as recommended by the Community Corrections Advisory Board in the amount of $274,189.98. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Live Well Age Well set Sept. 7 at Arts & Heritage Center

The 2023 Live Well, Age Well expo, featuring several informational booths by county departments, takes place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park. The event will also feature a vendor fair with more than 50 private businesses, health organizations, community partners and other service providers. The focus is keeping aging adults healthy, independent and well-connected in Johnson County. View additional information regarding Live Well, Age Well.

Tomahawk Creek project receives recognition

The Tomahawk Creek wastewater project was named the Engineering News-Record Midwest Best Project for Water/Environment. Two panels of judges selected 29 winners in 18 categories: projects that represent outstanding quality of work, spurred innovative ideas and overcame intriguing challenges. Of the 63 submittals, only 15 projects earned Best Project designations. View the article listing winning projects.

Set hearing on building Sunflower Fire Station Project

Resolution No. 081-23 Consider scheduling a public hearing for September 28, 2023, at 9:30 AM in the BOCC Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building to conduct the meeting on the proposed utilization of the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) alternative delivery method for the Sunflower Fire Station Project.

Declaring local disaster emergency for severe storms

Resolution No. 082-23. Continuing a declaration of local disaster emergency for severe storms beginning July 14, 2023 and the continuing impacts thereof.