The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, Feb. 1 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

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 of a vice-chair

Affirmed the Chairman’s appointment of Commissioner Jeff Meyers as the vice-chair of the Board of County Commissioners. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Permit renewal for athletic training complex

(Item remanded from 12/7/2023 BOCC mtg). Recommendation from East Consolidated Zoning Board was approval of request from Polsinelli PC, applicant, and LC Town LLC, landowner, for a conditional use permit renewal for an athletic training complex (baseball and softball), located at 19220 Nall Ave., on 9.8 acres, zoned RUR (Rural District) with permit renewal for a 3-year term, hours of operation to end by 7 p.m. and no CUP authorized activities on the site between Oct. 30 and March 15.

Motion was made to adopt Resolution No. 008-24, which approves a conditional use permit to allow for an athletic training complex (baseball and softball), located at 19220 Nall Avenue, for a term of 5  years, hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday, with no limits for time of year for CUP activities.

Motion was made to amend operation of sports complex activities to end at 8 p.m. Vote: Failed 1-6.

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

Motion was made to approve original motion. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Special permit for air monitoring station

Approved a special permit for Kansas Department of Health and Environment, applicant, and Johnson County Park and Recreation District, landowner, to allow the continued use of an air monitoring station and equipment, on a 40-foot x 40-foot lease area on property zoned Residential Neighborhood 1 District. The site is located at 159th Street and Widmer Street in Heritage Park. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Purchase of fleet vehicles

Authorized the purchase of various fleet vehicles and equipment from competitively solicited contracts in an amount not to exceed $5,478,956. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Becoming a Kindness County

(Added Item to Agenda). Accepted an invitation to join area cities, counties and other organizations to support SevenDays® 2024 becoming a Kindness County. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Johnson County earns 36th achievement award for financial reporting

Johnson County was notified on Jan. 23, 2024 by the Government Finance Officers Association that the Dec. 31, 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and excellence in financial reporting. This is Johnson County’s 36th consecutive award. “This is a very prestigious award that is won by very few,” said Becky Jones, deputy director of Financial Management & Administration for Johnson County. “Out of 105 counties in Kansas, only three won the award. Nationally, approximately 18% of counties across the country have won the award. We are very proud of this accomplishment.”

Board receives follow-up memo on budget calendar

A committee of the whole was held on Jan. 18 to discuss the 2025 budget process and calendar with the board. Based on the feedback received during the committee of the whole, Budget Director Robin Symes prepared a memo with recommendations.

Report updates major projects

This report is for major projects over $1 million and master plans. The report is provided bimonthly and supplements the Public Building Commission bi-annual reports in February and August. The information contained in this report is through Jan. 26, 2024.

Other Reports

Mark Dapp, deputy director of Budget and Financial Planning, presented a legislative update through the week of Jan. 22.

PBC Project update and financial reports were presented.

Appointment of PBC secretary

Appointed Commissioner Janee Hanzlick as the Public Building Commission secretary for 2024. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Appointment of PBC bond counsel

Appointed Gilmore & Bell as bond counsel for the PBC. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Bonds for new Human Services Building

Approved and adopted Resolution No. PBC 001-24 to authorize the issuance of revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $113,454,000, plus the cost of issuance and related financing costs, for the purpose of constructing and equipping a new Health Services Building within the county’s Sunset Campus; to demolish the existing Health Services building and to demolish the Olathe Mental Health building pending a future decision; to authorize the execution of a cooperation agreement between Johnson County and the Public Building Commission; and providing for the giving of notice of said intention. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Contract to design new Human Services Building

Authorized a contract with Finkle + Williams Architecture for Phase 2 Design Services for a New Health Services Building in an amount not to exceed $7,290,300. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

The Board held a Committee of the Whole session to receive an overview of the opioid settlement. PowerPoint materials from that session are available here.

Motion was made to have staff bring back to a future BOCC agenda the recommendations from the opioid settlement funding committee of the whole presentation for further review and consideration.

Amendment to motion was made not to consider funding requests for two mail scanners and two down draft tables. Vote: Failed 2-5.

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

Motion was made to approve original staff direction. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Funds for wastewater project

Resolution No. WD 24-001. Conduct a public hearing and consider authorizing additional funds for the design and bid phase of the Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Wastewater Treatment Facility Influent Screening and Disinfection Improvements Project (IMB1- Contract 37) in an amount of $472,685, increasing the total authorization to $1,779,985; consider authorizing an engineering contract addendum with Carollo Engineers in an amount not to exceed $464,555, increasing the total contract value to $1,632,614; and consider authorizing the Wastewater General Manager to sign the addendum.

Purchase of five transit buses

Consider authorizing the purchase of five low-floor, wheelchair accessible 30-foot diesel transit buses from the Gillig Corporation, including the requisite ancillary equipment, with $2,450,576 of Federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ), and a county match of $612,644 for a total cost not to exceed $3,063,220 per Kansas City Area Transit Authority (KCATA) contract #F-19-5001-53.