The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, Dec. 14 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

The Board celebrated the county’s 2023 United Way campaign that collected $86,203 and presented department awards from the annual fund drive.

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.

Contract renewal with The Ferguson Group

Authorized a contract renewal for Federal Appropriations and Regulatory Representation with The Ferguson Group, for a 1-year period in an amount not to exceed $96,000 with an option to renew the contract for one remaining 1-year period and authorizing the County Manager to execute the contract on behalf of the Board. 

Amending resolution on Opioid Settlement Fund

Amended Resolution 048-22 to ensure that the Johnson County Opioid Settlement Fund aligns with the requirements of the 2023 Kansas House Bill No. 2082.  

Contract renewal for lobbying services

Authorized a contract renewal for lobbying services with Federico Consulting, Inc., for a 12-month period in an annual amount not to exceed $73,500 with and authorizing the County Manager to execute the contract on behalf of the Board. 

Agreement for commercial real estate brokerage services

Authorized a professional services agreement with Newmark Zimmer to provide commercial real estate brokerage services for the buildings located at 600 New Century Parkway and 561 Sumner Way at the New Century AirCenter for a 1-year term with the option to renew four additional 1-year terms. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Adjusting fares in 2024 for micro transit service

Approved adjustments to the fare structure for Johnson County Transit’s micro transit service, raising the fare from the current $3 or $5 fare to $5 for the first five miles traveled plus an additional $2 per mile for every mile after, to begin Jan. 1, 2024. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Rezoning and final plat for Casper Commons

Approved two resolutions regarding a request from Mark and Mary Sutton, applicants and landowners, for rezoning from PRU1B and RUR to PRU1B, preliminary and final plat to serve as the preliminary and final development plans with one plat exception and one minimum infrastructure waiver for a one lot residential lot to be known as Casper Commons at 15360 Lake Road 10 St., Gardner Township. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Request remanded for soccer complex

Consider a request from Dan Finn, Phelps Engineering, applicant, on behalf of Cogent Enterprises LLC, landowners, for a preliminary plat (preliminary development plan) for four lots on 67.07 acres and a conditional use permit for a soccer complex on 54.4 acres and for a 10-year term at 20305 Metcalf Ave. 

Motion was made to remand request back to the East Consolidated Zoning Board for reconsideration and further discussion. The zoning board will meet Feb. 7, 2024. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Contract for law enforcement equipment

(Tabled from 12/7/2023 meeting.) Consider approving the Sheriff’s Office to enter a contract with Axon Enterprises, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $4,998,868.52 over five years for body worn cameras, Tasers, interview room cameras, fleet cameras and unlimited video storage using a Sourcewell contract and authorize the reallocation and expenditure of General Fund balance (reserves) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 in the amount of $3,354,575.60 for the first year.

Motion was made to reallocation $500,000 from the Sheriff’s Office forfeiture fund and General Fund balance (reserves) for FY 2023 for new equipment in the amount of $2,854,575 for the first year. No vote was taken.

Substitute motion was made to reallocation $204,000 from the Sheriff’s Office forfeiture fund and General Fund balance (reserves) for FY 2023 for new equipment in the amount of $3,150,575 for the first year. Vote: Passed 4-3.

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

Motion was made to approve contract with revised funding sources for the first year. Vote: Passed 4-3.

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

Real estate purchase contract for Lenexa properties

Approved a real estate purchase contract with MAA Krupa Lenexa, LLC, to purchase the properties located at 9461 Lenexa Drive and 9471 Lenexa Drive, in Lenexa at a price not to exceed $6 million plus up to an additional $500,000 for due diligence activities to be funded through Coronavirus SLFRF received from the United States Department of the Treasury.

Motion was made have review and approval by BOCC of future steps and funding in establishing the homeless shelter. Vote: Failed 3-4.

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

Motion to approve original request. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Funding for new Health Services Building capital project 

(Brought forward from the COW 12/17/2023.) Approved and authorized an increase of $30 million for the new Health Services Building capital project bringing the new project authorization to an amount not to exceed $113,454,000; reallocation and use of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 General Fund reserves in the amount of $10 million from Countywide Support Funds and $10 million from the Auxiliary fund reserves; and transfer of $20 million to the Public Building Commission for the new Health Services Building capital project. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Funds for wet weather storage facility project

After a public hearing, authorized funds for the construction phase of the Mill Creek Wet Weather Storage Facility Project in an amount not to exceed $36,519,000, increasing the total project authorization to $39,187,500; entered into a cooperative land use agreement with Johnson County Park and Recreation District; and granted authority to the Johnson County Wastewater general manager to execute necessary utility agreements. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Contract to construct wet weather storage facility

Authorized a contract with Garney Companies, Inc. to construct the Mill Creek Wet Weather Storage Facility Project in the amount of $30,678,000. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Investment in Habitat for Humanity project in Olathe

Authorized a $1 million investment of Olathe HOME funds in Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City’s Pathway at Heritage Park project, consisting of 14 single family homes in Olathe and authorized the Chairman to sign an agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the investment. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Addition of CARE coordinator at Aging and Human Services

Authorized the Aging and Human Services Department to add 1.0 FTE CARE coordinator position to assist in administering the Client Assessment, Referral and Evaluation program that will be funded by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services; and authorized the reallocation and expenditure of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 General Fund reserves in the amount of $80,200. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Funding for services regarding opioid epidemic

Authorized the allocation of Opioid Settlement Funds received from the Kansas Municipalities Fights Addiction Fund in the amount of $617,368 for the purposes of treatment, combating and educating the community about the opioid epidemic.

A motion to table this item was made. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

2024 Federal Legislative Platform

Adopted the 2024 Johnson County Federal Legislative Platform. 

A motion to add an amendment to urge Congress to fund border security. Vote: Failed 1-6.

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

Motion to approve original request. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

2024 State Legislative Platform

Adopted the 2024 Johnson County State Legislative Platform. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Transit staff to work on strategic plan in 2024 

Transit staff will be working with procurement to issue a request for proposals for the development of a strategic plan for Johnson County Transit to occur over the course of 2024. The tentative scope of work includes an analysis of the current state of our transit system, trend forecasting for demographic and geographic needs, and an analysis of the economic impact and return on investment of providing transit service in Johnson County. The goal of this strategic planning process is to create a plan that defines options for improved transit service scenarios, within the existing transit budget based on input gathered from the BOCC, the public and a wide variety of stakeholders. 

Joe Waters retires on Dec. 22 after 29 years

Joe Waters, Assistant County Manager, will be retiring on Dec. 22. His tenure with the county includes two tours of service for a total of 29 years. He previously was the Facilities director for the county, and then transitioned to the County Manager’s Office in 2013. In his county roles, his work included 21 new building, purchase/remodel of nine buildings and remodel/expansion of 12 others. In addition to facilities, Joe Waters has led many other county operations over the years, including central services, the elections office and the courts. He acted as liaison to the Johnson County Library and Johnson County Park and Recreation boards. His influence is reflected not only in the county’s facilities but in community programs and services as well. View the press release announcing his retirement. A retirement reception is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 in the Jury Room of the Johnson County Courthouse.

The BOCC did not hold an Agenda Review because the Board will not meet on Dec. 21 or Dec. 28. The first meeting in 2024 will be Jan. 4.