The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, Dec. 15 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building. 

Tower crane flag presentation 

Kerry Klausnern of McCarthy Building Companies presented Chairman Ed Eilert and the board a tower crane flag from the expansion at the Tomahawk Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility. It is the county’s largest-ever completed capital project to date.  

LiA recognition 

Leadership in Action award winners were recognized by the board. They are Jon Batenhorst and Mike Hobart, Emergency Services; John Grant, Human Resources; Jenni Leation, Mental Health; and Daryl Thompson, Sheriff’s Office. View the video.

United Way Campaign results 

Aaron Witt, Johnson County Wastewater, and Brent Christensen, FMA, co-chairs for the Johnson County United Way campaign,  announced the annual fund drive collected $84,765. 

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.  

Reappointment to Public Art Commission 

Approved the reappointment of Christopher Leitch - First District representative to the Public Art Commission through Dec. 31, 2025. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Reappointments to Criminal Justice Advisory Council and to Criminal Corrections Advisory Board 

Ratified the reappointments of Annabeth Surbaugh, Pat Colloton, Michael McCulloch, Stephen Tatum, Mark Keating, Simon Happer, Julie Brewer, Lee Jost and Erik Erazo – Chairman’s representatives to the Criminal Justice Advisory Council through Oct. 2, 2024, along with the reappointments of Julie Brewer and Richard S. Kaiser Jr. – Chairman’s representatives to the Community Corrections Advisory Board through July 1, 2023. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Cancellation of outstanding checks 

Approved Resolution No. 101-22 authorizing the cancellation of outstanding county-issued checks that are at least two years old. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Renewals for security software 

Authorized annual support and subscription renewals with SHI International Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $181,630.85, for Check Point Endpoint Security software, utilizing Sourcewell Contract #081419 – SHI. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Contract for technology upgrades at Justice Annex 

Authorized a contract with Mission Electronics, Inc. for Audio Visual Technology Upgrades at the Justice Annex building, 588 E. Santa Fe St., Olathe, in an amount not to exceed $101,229 per State of Kansas Contract 42601 and create a project account for this purpose in the amount of $110,000 to include Owner’s contingency. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Prohibition of truck traffic on certain county roads (Tabled from 12-8-22 agenda) 

Adopted Resolution No. 097-22 to prohibit truck traffic on unincorporated roads designated by Johnson County Public Works and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Prohibition of truck traffic on other designated county roads (Tabled from 12-8-22 agenda) 

Adopted Resolution No. 098-22 to prohibit truck traffic on additional unincorporated roads designated by Johnson County Public Works and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Approval of property and liability insurance policies 

Approved the property and liability insurance policies for calendar year 2023, with the quoting carriers in an amount not to exceed $2,990,610. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Enlargement of Consolidated Main Sewer District 

After a public hearing, approved Resolution No. WD 22-038 in approval to an enlargement to the Consolidated Main Sewer District for a tract of land at 18475 Mission Road known as Overland Park Fire Station 411. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Loan application for funding wastewater project 

After a public meeting and a public hearing, approved Resolution No. WD 22-036 and authorized the Wastewater General Manager to execute a formal loan application requesting $276,740,000 from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Water Pollution Control State Revolving Fund program as part of the approach to finance the Nelson Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements project. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Declaring AirCenter property as surplus 

Adopted Resolution No. 099-22declaring certain real property at New Century AirCenter as surplus, authorized the Johnson County Airport Commission to request from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense the release of such real property from the covenants, conditions and restrictions placed on the property, and amended the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2026 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to include Airport-KDOT Maintenance Facility Relocation capital project; approved a real estate contract with the State of Kansas to simultaneously acquire approximately 17.67 acres and transfer 10.097 acres and to reimburse KDOT in an amount not to exceed $4 million to construct or move existing facilities; authorized the reallocation and expenditure of General Fund Reserves (Countywide Support Funds) in the amount of $4 million to fund the project; and approve the creation of a project account in an amount not to exceed $4 million. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Contract amendment for airport engineering services 

Authorized a contract amendment with Burns and McDonnell, for on-call Airport engineering services to include land release, at a cost not to exceed $800,000 for a period of one year with the option to renew for an additional three additional one-year renewal options. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Contract for HVAC improvements at Crime Lab 

Authorized a contract with Stanger Industries, Inc. to modify the humidification and HVAC system at the Criminalistic Laboratory (Crime Lab) located at 11890 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe, in an amount not to exceed $585,000. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Additional employees for Mental Health Center 

Authorized the Mental Health Department to add 21.0 FTE positions for the Johnson County Mental Health Center and authorized the reallocation and expenditure of fund balance (reserves) for FY 2023 in the amount of $2,100,000. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Additional funding for Johnson County Square Phase 2 project 

Approved and authorized an increase of $900,000 for the Johnson County Square Phase 2 project, bringing the total project authorization to an amount not to exceed $2,900,000; and authorized and approved the reallocation and expenditure of General Fund reserves (Countywide Support Funds) in an amount not to exceed $450,000 for partial funding of the project in cooperation with the City of Olathe. Vote: Passed 4-3.

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

Reallocation of reserves for increased employee payout costs 

Authorized the reallocation and expenditure of fund balance (reserves) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 for the County General Fund in an amount not to exceed $900,000 to cover increased employee payout costs related to vacation and sick leave; and the reallocation and expenditure of fund balance (reserves) for FY 2022 for the 911 Fund in an amount not to exceed $640,000 to reimburse the City of Overland Park for costs associated with their 911 system.  

Motion 1: Reallocation and expenditure of fund balance (reserves) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 for the County General Fund in an amount not to exceed $900,000 to cover increased employee payout costs related to vacation and sick leave. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Motion 2: Reallocation and expenditure of fund balance (reserves) for FY 2022 for the 911 Fund in an amount not to exceed $640,000 to reimburse the City of Overland Park for costs associated with their 911 system. Vote: Passed 6-0.

Fast was temporarily absent at time of vote. 

Contract to purchase handguns and equipment 

Authorized a contract with GT Distributors, Inc. in the amount of $455,297, and the subsequent purchase of 350 Glock handguns, holsters, and related attachments utilizing Kansas State cooperative contract # 44085. Vote: Passed 7-0.

MoU for creation of Sunflower Fire Station 

Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Northwest Consolidated Fire District for a fire station within the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant and authorized the reallocation expenditure of General Fund reserves (Countywide Support Funds) in the amount of $500,000 to fund the initial phase of the fire station project; and to approve the creation of a Sunflower Fire Station project account in the same amount. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Spotlight presentation shines on Friends of JCDS 

The latest periodic spotlight of a Johnson County Department/Agency program featured a presentation by Chad VonAhnen, JCDS director, and Janel Bowers, chief executive director of Friends of JCDS. They highlighted the Friends of Johnson County Developmental Supports who are focused on addressing the continued need of affordable and accessible housing for individuals in JCDS. The presentation also provided an update on housing projects and key partnerships. 

County prepares for 2023 Community Survey  

The 2023 Community Survey is being prepared to be sent out after the first of the year. Upon meeting with the Board of County Commissioners following the survey last year, one change that is proposed to be made to the survey is to update the demographic section to include whether the respondents rent or own their dwelling. If there are no additional changes suggested by the board, staff can move forward to mail the survey in early February and present results to the board in the second quarter.